-

"Anastasia, sit down. You look awfully tired." The queen said as Lady Bennet enters the room. As soon as she takes her seat, a servant offers her some tea and the pianist starts to play.

"What do you think?" The queen asks referring to the piano.

"Of the music? I find it quite beautiful. Is it Mozart?" Anastasia asks.

"I became acquainted with Mr. Mozart when he was not ten years old. The boy accompanied me as I sang an aria, and I declared then and there that he should become one of the finest composers in Europe." The Queen responded while feeding one of her dogs some creamed butter.

"And certainly you were right." Anastasia said taking a sip of her tea.

"Anastasia, darling." The queen puts down her dog. "The reason I asked you here, is because I need to ask you an important favour."

"Go ahead, your majesty."

The Queen moved and sat closer to her. "My nephew is visiting in 5 days time and I would like for you to host a ball to welcome him. Like you did your daughter."

"Why of course, your majesty."

"And it would be a good opportunity for Elena or Daphne. You see, one of them must marry my nephew and your ball might be the chance.

But anyways, we'll see who he prefers. Are you in?"

"I shall not let you down."

-

It was a normal day in London, no women had any visitors. It was just like a normal day. At the Bennet's house, everyone was bored and had nothing to do, except for Lady Bennet that was preparing tomorrow night's ball with the help of the servants. Lord Bennet stayed locked up in his study doing god knows what, Arthur and Thomas were chatting in the drawing room, and there was Elena who was reading in her room alongside with Isabella.

But she had enough of reading, she wanted to practice her archery but her mother would stop her from doing it. She would say that it is not a tool for women. She slammed her book closed and headed out the room.

"Sister, where are you going?" Isabella asked.

"To have some fun..." Elena answered. "If there is any." She mumbled the last sentence.

-

After walking all around London, Elena did not have the slightest of fun. She thought about the only place she could go to have some alone time and ease her mind.

There she stood in a quiet field where there were lots of flowers by the side of the lake. She picked up a bouquet of flowers and sat in front of the lake, dipping her feet in the water.

She started making a flower crown with all the different sorts of plants she picked. But suddenly she felt a presence behind her.

"I knew I would find you here." Said the man behind her. Elena hears the rustling of the grass meaning he's coming closer. He takes a seat next to her and sighs. "Hello, Elena."

She puts down her half-done crown, still looking ahead and not looking at the person. "Hello, Benedict."

"How are you? I haven't seen you for 4 days." He asks, concerned about his friend.

"Is there no fun in this world?" Elena randomly asks.

"Beg pardon?" A puzzled Benedict says.

"Fun. Am I really gonna have to wear a tight dress and do nothing for the rest of my life?"

"I could show you some fun. Benedict suggested "Come on, Elena. Shall we have some fun?" Benedict smirks at her and she smirks back.

"Alright." She stands up and runs to a bush.

Confused, Benedict does the same and follows her. "What are you doing?" He laughs at the sight of Elena in a bush.

She takes out 2 swords from the bushes and throws one to Benedict who catches it. She wipes off the leaves on her and picks up her sword, pointing it at him. "I've always wanted to fence against someone who is not my brothers."

Benedict who gets it now, smiles at her and straighten his sword. "En garde, Miss Bennet."

(This part was very very bad. I had nothing to write I just cringed)

The fun started when Elena saw Benedict again. He showed her many things she didn't know about and she was fascinated. She got to use a rifle for the first time and she almost killed someone. And Elena showed Benedict what it was like when no one knew who she was. What it was like to be free. She showed what's better than, balls and suitors. Royalty in general.

-

It was late, pass 7 pm and the sun was slowly disappearing and we could see the moon shining a little. Elena and Benedict stood in front of the Bennet house, saying their goodbyes.

"Thank you, Benedict. No words can describe how amazing this day was." Elena told him with a wild smile on her face.

"It is my pleasure, my lady." Benedict gently lifted Elena's hand and placed a kiss on it.

"I shall see you tomorrow night?" Elena asks.

"How so?"

"My mother. She's hosting a ball here for god knows what. Will you be coming?"

"Of course, Miss Bennet."

Elena hesitates at first but she soon kisses Benedict on the cheek and rushes inside her house, not turning around. Benedict touches his blushing cheek and heads home all happy.

-

When Elena enters her house, she closes the door and slides down from it. Her whole body shaking because of what she's done. But then she notices that one pair of shoes more in the entrance. And they're were shoes she's seen before.

This could only mean...

Her face lights up. She stands up and rushes up the stairs towards the drawing room. She slams open the door and sees everyone in her family gathered around her older sister, Elizabeth.

"Lizzie!" She calls making everyone turn towards her. She walks to her and engulfs her in a big hug with her sister returning it.

"Lena! How I've missed you." Elizabeth said and they released.

"How is the countryside?! Are you staying for long? Is Robert being a good husband?" Elena started bombarding questions at her sister.

"Good, yes and yes. Now enough about me. We have so much to catch up on, Lena." Elizabeth said, putting her arm around Elena's shoulder. "I heard that you're popular with the gentlemen."

"Let's not talk about that."

The siblings chatted and played and caught up from the lost time. Elena was relieved now that everyone was under the same roof.

-

The next day, at The Bridgertons, the family relaxes in the drawing room. It was the morning before Lady Bennet's ball.

"Daphne, have you thought about with whom you would like to dance at tonight's ball?" Lady Bridgerton asked her daughter.

"Well I have some ideas. Lord Weaver is a fine dancer." Daphne responded.

"Lord Hardy was asking about you at White's last night." Anthony mentioned.

"Lord Hardy? What about the Duke?"

"The Duke has not proposed, Mama." Daphne said opening her book. "I am still considering my best course. And Lord Hardy is a fine option. Although, he is rather boastful."

"My dear, why ever do you complicate matters so? You must simply marry the man who feels like your dearest friend." Lady Bridgerton advised.

"Oh. Is that it, Mama? Well how very simple indeed!"

"Yes, quite!"

"It's not that simple." Benedict said, grabbing everyone's attention.

"I'm sorry, young man. Do you know anything about it?" Violet asked Benedict.

"No. I'm just defending my little sister." He shrugged while his mother looked at him suspiciously.

-

That evening, at The Bennet household, guests swarm up the large stairs of the house. In the ball room, the musicians are already playing and the couples are already dancing. Everywhere around the room had birds in cages, standing there watching all the humans.

In another room, Daphne and Lady Danbury chat with Elena and admire the peacock on her shoulder.

Some time after that, Simon arrives and takes Daphne away leaving Elena and Lady Danbury.

"You have grown, Miss Bennet. Last time I saw you, you were only learning how to speak."

If you are wondering, the Hastings family were very close to the Bennets. They were the only ones who knew who Elena was before the revelation.

"That I have, Lady Danbury. But I am still a child."

A few minutes later, Benedict swoops in. "Miss Bennet, Lady Danbury." He bows.

"Lord Bridgerton." Elena curtsied.

"If you do not mind, Lady Danbury. I would like to have Miss Bennet for the evening." Benedict said.

"I shall not mind. If you take good care of her. Excuse me." Lady Danbury says and leaves.

Now that they're alone, Benedict takes his time to carefully look at Elena. "I see that you have a peacock on your shoulder." He says pointing at the bird.

"Isn't it wonderful? My father thought that he should free his birds for the ball. He has a lot of them but, this one's my favourite." Elena laughs. "I would like for you to meet him, that is if we find him."

"I would love that, Miss Bennet."

"Lena. Who is this?" A little drunk Elizabeth asks her sister while tugging on her arm.

"Benedict, this is my eldest sister, Elizabeth. Elizabeth, this is Benedict. A good friend of mine." Elena introduced and fakes laugh a little.

"Alright, I'm gonna leave you 2 lovebirds~" She said and left. The tension now was very awkward.

"Sorry about that. She does that when she's drunk."

"I do not mind at all." He says and starts laughing a little.

"Oh my goodness that was embarrassing." Elena says, hiding her face from embarrassment.

"Miss Bennet." A man comes up to them.

"Lord Evans." Elena curtsies.

Lord Evans glances at Benedict and inclines his head and looks back at Elena. "I was wondering if you might do me the honour of a dance tonight."

Elena first looks at Benedict as he nods. She looks back at Lord Evans and smiles. "Of course, Lord Evans." She says and they head to the dance floor.

"So, tell me, my lord, do you prefer the city or the country?" Elena asked while they danced.

"I suppose I've never thought of it." Lord Evans replied.

"Well I am partial to the country, but there are certainly advantages to both. Where do you see yourself setting?" She asks again.

"Another excellent question."

-

Elena danced with many pleasing men but she was getting a little dizzy. She curtsied to Lord Brown and made her way to Benedict.

"And how did you find our eligible bachelors?" He asked.

Elena sighed. "I must confess, I felt more chemistry when being fitted at the modiste."

-

"They do not even know him." Daphne chuckled.

"They do not need to." Simon replied.

"And beside the fact that he is a prince."

"Surely you cannot be surprised. You know how this works. Was it not you who wrote the book on the very subject?

They both chuckle and look back at the Prince who's getting approached my Cressida Cowper.

"Watch as Miss Cowper lowers her eyes. Oh, so demure. Now she will look up at him, ever so quickly, and then allow her fan to slowly sweep across her bosom before casting her eyes back upon the ground. For one is much too timid to ever meet his Royal Highness's piercing gaze, of course. Oh now he will kiss her hand."

"Forever charmed by her submission."

"Precisely." Daphne says looking at the Duke. "Should I ever need assistance drafting an addendum to my book, I shall know who to ask." They both gaze into each other's eyes.

Then Simons look back to The prince whispering something into Cressida Cowper's ear. "I do believe he just told Miss Cowper that her gown is exquisite."

Daphne laughs. "Do you think so?"

"He is here to tell every lady the very same thing." Simon says and steps away from Daphne.

The queen approaches her. "Prince Friedrich, this is the young lady I was telling you about, the season's diamond."

Prince Friedrich kisses Daphne's hand. "So lovely to meet you, Miss Bridgerton. Your gown, it is exquisite."

Daphne laughs and snorts at the prince's comment and covers her mouth. The queen scowls at her.

"My apologies." Daphne apologize.

"No apology necessary." The Prince said.

"Perhaps a small one." The queen steers Friedrich away and brings him to Elena who was speaking with Benedict.

"This is the other young lady I mentioned about..." Elena notices and curtsies while Benedict moves to the side.

"My prince, this is Elena Bennet, my goddaughter." The queen continues.

The prince gently takes Elena's hand and kisses it.

"It is an honour to meet you, your highness." Elena said. "Are you staying here for long?"

"Not too long, Miss Bennet."

"Elena here, speaks 4 languages. English, French, Russian and Latin." The queen mentioned.

"Ah, fascinating. I do love a woman who knows more than one." The prince said. "It was nice meeting you, Miss Bennet."

Elena curtsied again and the Queen and Prince walked away.