Masks of Society

Chapter 3

    "Where have you two been?" Queen Crimson asked angrily at two of her children's disappearance. "We have guests over and it is almost time to introduce you to them Quara, so you can find a well-connected man to marry. And you Julian, as the future king you are expected to set an example for the kingdom and already start mingling with the guests to establish connections. We simply can not marry your three sisters to all the people we need connections with."

    Julian then woke up a little bit then started speaking to his mother. "Mummy," Julian called out in a drowsy, dizzy tone. "What's the rush with connections and all diplomatic issues. It's a party let's have some fun." Before Julian could move a bit further, all of the content he drank at the tavern spewed out of his mouth and he once again collapsed.

    "What in God's name happened to him?" King Leonard asked as he went to check on his son.

    "Too much rum I believe," Lord Ardon interrupted. "Forgive me for interrupting your conversation, but I wanted the truth of what happened to be heard before rumors spread." He then walked up to the royal parents and proceeded to explain what happened. "You see, your future king decided to waste away at the tavern down the trail into town and your daughter, Quara here, worried for his safety went after him with the mage for aid. I was out there enjoying the night sky when I saw Princess Quara here guiding her sick brother out of the tavern away from the criminals and  I offered them and her friend a ride back to the castle to ensure they were not late."

    "Thank you for the report Lord Ardon," King Richard responded to the Lord's recap of the events that just transpired. "I will take Prince Julian to the healers and we will see you back at the party. Princess Quara, please wait in your chambers for one of the maids to help fix your hair."

    "Yes your majesty," Quara replied and then went back to her chambers where she sat at her overly decorative vanity to wait for one of the maids to help her with her hair. 

   "Thought you said you can do your own hair," Solia questioned as she magically appeared in her room. 

    "I can," Quara reconfirmed. "But my mother usually wants other people to do it for things like this, so I don't "embarrass myself in front of suitors."" 

    "Well can I try something with your hair then, if you are not allowed to do it?" Solia asked Quara as she walked behind her and began to undo the messy blonde braid in her curls.

    "I don't see why not," Quara replied nervously. "I mean as long as my mother doesn't know, we should be fine."

    "Don't worry she won't find out," Solia reassured her as she grabbed Quara's brush from the side of her vanity and helped Quara remove her midnight cloak. "Just relax and let me handle it, okay?"

    "Okay," Quara responded calmly. "I put my appearance in your hands." Quara then closed her eyes and allowed Solia to do her work, calmed by how Solia treats her with gentle touches with her hair without ever yanking it. After a few minutes, Solia completed her work.

    "Okay, you can open your eyes now," Solia told her and presented to Quara her new hairstyle and placed her hands on Quara's shoulders. "What do you think?"

    "I love it," Quara replied admiring the simple curls and the part of her hair that was pulled back. "Shall we head out then," she asked offering her arm to Solia.

    "You know that if I was allowed to I would," Solia explained. "Unfortunately, you know what your parents think about us 'wizardry folk' being at her parties."

    "Right," Quara remembered as she put her arm down. "Will I see you tomorrow at the library?"

    "Try and stop me from being there," Solia answered, she then walked up close to Quara again and wrapped her arms around her in a gentle hug that Quara immediately reciprocated. "If it were up to me though, you would be far away from all these parties and be with me in the library for eternity."

    "That sounds like a perfect life," Quara agreed then broke apart the hug. "I'll see you tomorrow, goodnight." Before Quara could leave her chamber though, Solia grabbed her arm and pressed a quick kiss to her cheek.

    "Night, Princess," Solia replied and then magically transported herself of out Quara's chambers leaving the blushing princess to enter the ballroom.