Chương 32: The night of the Spring Ball
The night of the Spring Ball the Palace was lit up brightly, the royal guard were all dressed in their formal armor. The palace knights were in their formal uniforms with full regalia. As each pair of guests arrived they would be announced to the ballroom with great fanfare. It was customary for the lower ranked nobility to arrive early and then the higher ranked nobility would come. It was not uncommon to see the Counts and the four Dukes carriages pulled over outside the palace gates as they waited for enough of the Lords, Barons and Palace officials to arrive first.
Olivier asked for the other members of the Council of Mages to arrive near the end so that they could impress upon the nobility their extreme importance. Olivier and Guy decided that in order to really make a splash, they would use a gate to enter without coming in a carriage.
The gathered lords and ladies on the first floor would chatter and gossip as each couple was announced. Some couples received a round of applause if they were well dressed or well matched. The doorman called out, "Sir Charles de Évreux, Baron of Évreux and Lady Doreen de Leon." A round of applause sounded. Lady Leon looked incredibly beautiful and the valiant knight on her arm was in his formal knight's attire with glistening medals including the much coveted King's medal.
The Doorman paused and waited for the couple to walk up to the second floor before he announced he announced another couple. Each couple came in and went to their specific floor. When the four Dukes arrived everyone clapped, even if they didn't much care for the way the couple was dressed. It was simply expected. A moment later a silver liquid oval appeared in the doorway, causing people to gasp in alarm, a few of the armed guards even drew their swords. Then a couple walked out and handed their invitation to the doorman who announced, "First Mage Diggory Berger and Royal Librarian Annette Du Bois." They were greeted with silence as the entrance was so shocking.
A moment later another couple arrived through the portal, "Second Mage Guy de Montfort and Third Mage Madeline Celeste d'Aumont." a round of applause sounded this time as people could not ignore the beautiful couple in their matching uniforms with King's medal pinned to their chest.
Another couple walked out, "Four Mage Olivier de la Marche and Princess Odila de la Marche." Another round of applause sounded no one would disrespect members of the royal family.
Finally, a fourth couple walked out from the portal which closed behind them, "Lord Claude de Rouvroy and Fifth Mage Alicia de Foix." Once again there was a round of applause for a beautiful couple. Each of the couples from the Council of Magic walked upstairs. The meaning clear, they were to be treated the same as higher ranked nobility.
*****
Prince Wolter von Plettenberg did a final inspection of his men and then warned, "The Imperial wizard only has enough reagents for 1 cast of Bless each. He'll be able to open the gate to return here after the mission is complete. If you are caught, you will end your own life. If the Imperial wizard is caught, I will personally kill all of your families down to the last living generation. You understand?"
"As you command, my prince." The men said as one with a fist over their heart.
Prince Wolter turned to the Imperial wizard and said, "You must return here. You are more valuable than even their target. Leave them there if you have to, their lives are meaningless compared to your value."
"As you command, my prince." The Imperial wizard bowed.
*****
Guy and Madeline found themselves once again on the dance floor, Madeline stared into Guy's eyes as he asked, "Has my dancing improved at all?"
"It's not as good as Claude's but I feel more comfortable dancing with you." She smiled up at him as he led her around the dance floor.
Off to the side, Duchess Montfort and Duchess Aumont were chatting as their husbands stood turned away from each other. Duchess Montfort smiled and said, "They are such a beautiful couple, I have always worried about Guy. He was such an unruly boy. When he got into all that trouble I thought it was over for him."
Duchess Aumont smiled and said, "I haven't see Madeline this happy since she was a child, that Prince Andre left her jaded and cold. All she ever did was study and practice the sword as if her entire life depended upon it." She looked at Duchess Montfort and said, "I heard all the rumors about your son, but the man he is now is nothing like what I heard. If he can make a girl who never laughs or smile and laugh and smile like that, he can't be as bad as they rumors would say."
Duchess Montfort lost her smile and then said, "I wish I could say that the rumors were untrue. He was a vicious animal in his youth. He was caught by a mob and his crimes were exposed for everyone to see. His father spoiled him and covered for him for too long. Thankfully, his father turned him over to our captain of the guard who treated him as one of our common soldiers. They broke him down and then built him up into the fine young man you see now."
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