Masks of Society

Chapter 5

    The morning after the party, Quara met with Solia as agreed. After telling her what Duke Nicolas did and Lord Ardon's rescue and offer, Solia was left staring at her friend in disbelief as Quara finished her tale of the previous night. 

    "You agreed to do what?" Solia asked not believing what she heard come out of Quara's mouth. 

    "A fake courtship with Lord Ardon," Quara replied. "This way I am safe from suitors like Duke Nicolas and Lord Ardon can keep his relationship hidden. Once my brother is crowned king, we can end this mess and he can be with who he truly wants without fear for his people."

    "What about you?" Solia asked worried and upset at the thought of her friend being with someone, even if it was fake. "What will you do if you fall for someone else and they think you two are courting for real? Are you really prepared to make that kind of risk?"

    "The man Lord Ardon is with is already on board with this plan," Quara reminded her. "And you are the only person who I can tell about this. My sisters simply cannot keep a secret from our parents to save their lives and my brother might say something while under the influences of rum or wine. Lord Ardon and I have already discussed the details and are willing to play the long game with this."

       "If you are certain this will work, I will stand by you on this," Solia relented but remembered something else that came up in Quara's list of events the previous night. "Is Duke Nicolas still in this castle?

    "No," Quara answered. "He is currently residing with a friend of his in their estate before leaving this afternoon."

    "Alright then," Solia replied and then got up from her seat. "I am truly sorry to do this, but I have to run into town to get supplies for this potion I am making."

    "Will I see you later today?" Quara asked upset that their time has once again been cut short. 

    "Of course," Solia replied smiling. "I just need to get some plants that are commonly sold in town. It is to be a quick trip and I will still be back for our nightly conversations."

    "Very well then," Quara replied. "I shall see you this evening." Quara then curtsied causing Solia to let out a soft giggle before she left the library to get ready to go on her journey.

 --

    Solia never planned on going into town. She actually had all of the supplies she needed for the potion she was planning to show Quara. Instead, she went to Julian to discuss a certain matter. As she opened the doors to his chamber, she saw the prince tired and seemingly suffering a headache from the events of last night.

    "How are you feeling your highness?" Solia asked condescendingly as she walked over to his desk to check the guest list from the previous night's party. "Did all that rum give you a headache?"

    "What do you want Solia?" Julian asked exhausted and frustrated with Solia's condescending tone. 

    "I need the address of the person Duke Nicolas is staying with," Solia explained as if it were basic English. "He was rude and tried something on Quara. I want to teach him a lesson."

    "The addresses are on my desk," Julian claimed. "Take them and get out of my room."

    "Okay," Solia said point-blank. "And here I thought you cared about your sister." She then left the room surprised that the sibling Quara was closest to and couldn't care less about the fact that someone tried to do something.

    Solia then left the castle after grabbing her cloak and went to the address listed. Once she had arrived, she was greeted by a simple yet fancy estate with a simple garden. After briefly admiring the estate, she knocked on the door to be greeted by one of the maids of the estate. 

    "Good morning young lady," the maid greeted Solia as if she was 4 years old. "How may I help you?"

    "I am here to see Duke Nicolas," Solia explained. "There is an urgent matter that requires his attention."

    "Oh," the maid replied. "Who shall I say is requesting him?"

    "Tell him it's a friend of the princess," Solia replied with a smirk.

    The maid, knowing what was about to happen closed the door without inviting the mage in to get ahold of the duke, leaving Solia to her own devices. While waiting, Solia thought of the interaction with Julian regarding Quara's safety. While it was common knowledge in the castle that Julian was distant from his siblings, she thought that Julian at least cared enough to ask about what she was going to do.

    Before Solia could reflect more on her closest friend's siblings, Duke Nicolas walked out the door to greet the mage.

    "Greetings," Duke Nicolas greeted Solia smugly as he closed the door. "You called for me with matters regarding the princess?"

    "Yes," Solia replied bluntly. "I was told that you made some ill-advised moves towards Princess Quara last night and that it was a great disrespect."

    "What?" Duke Nicolas questioned. "Is that what you wanted to discuss with me? I thought it was something actually important."

    This response made Solia extremely angry. If it were just a douche like him disrespecting her friend that would be one thing. However, after seeing both Prince Julian and Duke Nicolas treat her as if she was nothing, she felt as if something had to be done about it.

    "You see," Solia began to explain in a tone so calm it made the duke start to tremble. "I am not just a royal mage. I am also the princess's best friend and I do not take kindly to those who treat her as if she is some sort of novelty prize." Solia then rolled up her sleeves and uttered words so quiet no one could hear them. When she was done with her silent whispers, Duke Nicolas' regal nose was slowly replaced with the snout of a pig.

    "Now wherever you go, people will see you for as you truly are," Solia claimed in a dark tone. "Now unless you want to develop a tail to go with it, I suggest you do what I say. First off, you will apologize to the princess for your action, through a letter. Second, you will tell no one of this conversation, or else I will do so much worse than give you a tail. Do you understand me?

    "Yes ma'am," Duke Nicolas replied terrified of the mage's threat. He then used his coat to try to cover up his nose and rushed back inside the manor.

    ---

    "That was a truly impressive display miss," a person who followed her into town said. "You surely taught that man a lesson."

    Solia turned around to see who followed her only to be greeted by Count Charles. Remembering what Quara said about him, Solia found little need to be alert in his presence.

    "Count Charles," Solia greeted as she gave a small curtsy. "What do I owe the pleasure?"

    "I was hoping to discuss some matters relating to the princess with you," Charles explained. "I also wish to praise you on how you handled the duke earlier. Hopefully, now women will be wary around him."

    "I did not do it for them," Solia confessed as she paid for the last of the stuff she needed. "I only did it for Quara. Despite what people may think, she is not someone people can mess with or treat like trash."

    "I fully agree with you," Charles admitted. "No woman should ever consider that. I was hoping you could send this letter of apologies for treating her like that to maintain my secret." Charles then pulled a letter out of his coat pocket to hand it to Solia. 

    "She wasn't offended by your action last night," Solia revealed to him as she took the letter out of his hands. "Once she heard about your relationship with Lord Ardon, she completely understood."

    "That is a relief, but I still wish to send my apologies," Charles requested, causing Solia to laugh.

    "I am so sorry," Solia apologized for her laughter once she calmed down. "It's just that you and Quara are so similar I am starting to think that you may be her real brother." The comment then caused both of them to laugh for a little bit at the comparison.

    "As much as I would love to continue our talk outside, I believe I should take my leave," Charles said. But before he left he had one question to ask before he went his way. "Solia, will you keep our secret please?"

    "I will," Solia answered without hesitation. "But I am only doing this for Quara." The answer caused the count to smile as he took his leave saying something about meeting the following week.

    "I' would do anything for Quara," Solia whispered. "Even if I get in trouble for being there for her.