Cinderfella - 2. Chapter 2 Demetrius and the Chase

It was nearly a week before I saw Demetrius again. It was early Spring and I had a few months before I made a decision. Several decisions. Who was I to marry? Would I sacrifice myself and marry the person best to rule Blethos? Would I love this person? How could I make such an important decision? Who was I to do that? Did I tell Christian that I hoped to marry a man? Demetrius told me to not jump to conclusions, but a marriage of this type was for the most part, forbidden. Even if I found a man willing to marry me, would he love me? It was these thoughts that kept my mind occupied most of the time. Even while I was sparring with Jason. He was a formidable man in the palace guard and swordsman that had yet to meet his better…yet. A large man, but his looks were…while not unpleasant, did not attract me at all. He was blonde. Nothing against blondes, but I was not attracted to blondes. At all. Yes, Ella was blonde, poor thing. But I wasn’t married to her, so my opinion of her looks wasn’t important. I was awakened from our spar when his wooden blade made contact with my abdomen. That sort of thing hadn’t happened since I was fifteen.

“You’re distracted, my lord.” Jason said softly and solemnly. “You should have been able to defend yourself from the blade.”

I nodded. “I am, Jason.” I sighed. “I’ve got a lot on my mind.”

He grinned, but his face held understanding. “Deciding the future of not only Blethos, but A’Dore as well has got to be heavy on the mind.” Then he sighed with determination. “But in spite of that, if this had been a true battle and the blade real, you would be dead.”

I nodded kicking myself mentally. “I know, I know…” I muttered. “You’ve been an excellent teacher. You’ve drilled it in my head enough. I just slipped a moment.”

He nodded again. “A moment you won’t get back in the real world.” He leaned forward and put his hand on my shoulder. “But I understand. Just get your mind back on the task and let’s do it again.”

I took the stance. “Ready.”

His teeth showed as he all but grinned like an angry bear and growled. A common threat he effectively used to intimidate opponents. “We’ll see if that’s true.” And he struck. Only this time, I was ready.

It was later, of course, I was in the bath before dinner, as was our custom. Cleanliness next to Godliness or something like that. We, the royal house had to set the example. I had just used a bucket of clean warm water to get the soap from my hair when I heard him again.

“Rubba dub dub.” I heard a chuckle.

I nearly lost my balance on the marble as I had to grab the side of the tub to keep from slipping. “Demetrius!?” I grabbed for the drying cloth and rubbed my eyes clear of the water. “Why do you do that?” I demanded.

His eyebrows rose. “Do what?”

“Appear at the least convenient of times. In the middle of the night, while I bathe….what’s next? Are you going to appear in the midst of intimacy and my intended mate?”

He grinned a little too readily. “Can I?”

“No!”

“Drat.” He pouted. Then instantly brightened. “Well, things are in place for you to make a decision.”

“What things are in place? How do I decide in one night whose best to rule Blethos? Do you know how many people will be attending…whatever? How do I get to know all of them and decide that is the person I want to spend my life with?”

Demetrius held his hands up. “Wait. It’s not that difficult. But let me say, there are those who would do anything to get the crown. Even lie. Some are very shallow. Some are just not bright at all. There will be virgins of course, but many won’t be. Some will pretend to be younger to keep you interested…” He sighed and sat on a stool near me. “Ten years ago, or so…do you think Christian spoke to all that attended that ball? Once Ella entered the ballroom, he pretty much spent the entire night with her spending little time with anyone else.”

“But he was looking for a wife. Naturally, he would go toward the one that attracted him.”

“And looks were the essential qualities that made him fall in love?”

I frowned hearing that. “Of course not. He’s not that shallow, but it did play a huge part in getting his attention.”

“And what was the one thing that sealed the deal?” Demetrius asked.

I shrugged. “I assume he spoke with her, got to know more about her and liked the person she presented. A smart, articulate woman.”

“Is she?”

“Without a doubt,” I said.

He nodded. “Are you able to decide if a person is smart, articulate and have all the qualities a person needs to have as your mate?”

“Turn around,” I commanded.

“What?”

“I refuse to have this conversation while I’m in the tub,” I said flatly. “Talking while I’m naked is not the best way to decide anything.”

Demetrius smiled but turned around. “I don’t know. Humans are more truthful when they have nothing to hide.” He shrugged. “But okay.”

I got out, dried off with the cloth and put my britches on. “I can decide who I would marry, but that’s only a small part of it. This person is going to rule a kingdom.” I pulled my shirt over my head. “Okay, you can turn around again.”

“And what model are you using?” Demetrius asked. “Who is the person you admire as a leader to try and see what they’ve got? What qualities are you looking for?”

I thought a moment. “Dad, I guess. He was a good king. The people loved him. And of course Christian.”

Demetrius smiled. “Good examples, so go with that.” Then he narrowed his gaze. “But don’t use your eyes to see.”

“Huh?”

“Beauty is not just on the outside.” Demetrius cautioned. “But you know that. The idea, anyway. You’ve said yourself. Just don’t fall for the first pretty face.”

I frowned. “How am I to see them for who they are, if they know who I am? They’ll present the face they think I need to see.”

Demetrius grinned a little evilly. “And that brings me to my next thing. How do you go about, see them for who they are unnoticed?”

“I’d have to be invisible.”

“And who are frequently the most invisible people?” He asked. “Who made your bed? Who filled the tub with hot water? Who cooks your food?”

I was a little surprised at this. “I thank my servants. They are certainly not invisible.”

“To you, yes, you do.” He nodded. “But you are rare for someone of your station. Your family taught you to be appreciative. I’m suggesting you move among these people as a servant.”

My face must have shown my astonishment. “How do I do that? I’m Prince Erik.”

He nodded. “You are. But suppose I make it possible for you to be seen, without being recognized. Even by Christian.” He took my right hand. “Ella was given a chance to be at the ball and no one knew who she was, not even her step-mother or step-sisters. I can give you the ability to be there unnoticed. You will see and hear people who don't know who you are.”

“How?”

He touched the one piece of jewelry I had. A ring that had the royal family crest on my right hand that glowed a second. Then he slipped it off. “Take this off and no one will recognize you as Prince Erik. But as you may need to interact with people as a prince, put it back on and you will be seen as Prince Erik again.” He slipped it back on.

“How will I mix with the others if they don’t know who I am?”

“Decoys.” He grinned.

“Decoys? People pretending to be me? How will that work?”

Demetrius waggled his eyebrows. “How many people from Blethos have you met?”

I shrugged. “A few.”

“Masks.” He waved at a table and five ceramic decorative masks appeared. “Five young men in masks will be at the ball as well. All will be told that only one is the real you. The thing is none of them will be. They will be instructed to speak very little to the guests and listen to what the people say to them. All the while, you will be serving drinks, tasty party things and whatever while listening as they are away from the fake princes.”

I nodded as I was starting ro understand his plan. “And this will work?”

“Of course it will.”

I grinned at his misunderstanding. “The ring, I mean.”

Demetrius frowned. “What is it with you humans? You doubt me now? After all, I’ve done.”

I shrugged with a grin. “We are human.” I agreed. “And humans can’t do what you do, so naturally we ask for proof about doing something we can’t imagine.”

“Fine.” Demetrius stood sighing wearily. “Take the ring off, put it in your pocket and go into the hall. When the guards notice you, they won’t know you. What will happen?”

“I’ll be chased.”

Demetrius nodded. “Well, you’d better dash around a corner and put the ring on before they get there. Once back on, you’ll be Prince Erik again.”

I like this idea. I slipped my shoes on. “Okay. Let’s try it.”

“Just remember,” Demetrius cautioned, “their weapons are real and can really hurt you, so don’t waste a lot of time in the game.”

I nodded slipping the ring from my hand and stuck it in my pocket. I took a deep breath and stepped into the wide hall. My room was in the family portion of the castle. It was patrolled, but there were no guards right there. For anyone to get to this part of the palace, they had to come a certain way, I knew of a passage no one really knew and opened the hidden door and crept down a flight of narrow stairs which led me to a lower floor. Opening the door, it let me into a study my father and now my brother used. All castles had passages, but I knew them all. The reason was if we ever were attacked, the royal family had an unknown way out to escape. Another hidden door, another passage and I came in another part of a hall. Here there were guards as I came out from behind a large decorative plant. Stepping out.

“Halt!!” A guard shouted at me. “Who goes there?” His sword was drawn instantly. I knew him! He knew me.

“Stop him!” His fellow guard, someone I also knew, commanded and they were instantly in pursuit.

I didn’t waste time; I took off down the hall. Wrong move. Other guards were posted in that part of the castle and reacted as the first two, swords drawn and came after me. If I didn’t know the castle as I did, I was going to get caught. I rounded a corner and ducked into a room I knew held supplies. I put the ring on again. Then stepped out as the guards came rushing around the corner.

“Sire.” The same guard I had been asked to know who I was, stopped. “Be careful, your highness. A stranger entered the castle. You should return to your room until we find him.” He took his fellow guard's arm. “See that Prince Erik is safely returned to his quarters.”

The second guard nodded. “Of course, sir.” He bowed slightly. “If you will, please?” His hand pointed the way I knew well. “No one breaks in. At least they haven’t for some time.”

“Was the person young, old, fat, skinny?” I asked.

The second guard frowned. “Young, I guess. He sure took off like a young man.”

I nodded. “Probably just a kid that wanted to see the inside of the castle. I’m sure he didn’t mean any harm. Was he carrying anything?”

“No, but that doesn’t excuse unauthorized access to the palace.” The second guard stated. “You should return to your room. I know you can defend yourself…”

I grinned at him. “Of course you do, I licked you a few times.”

He smiled at that stifling a chuckle. “That was luck, sire. That was all. Wait until next time. I won’t be so…easy on you.”

I nodded as we headed back to the stairs to lead us back upstairs. “Oh, really? Three times? You were taking it easy on me.” I jabbed him in the gut lightly. “Believe that if it helps you sleep.” Like I explained. Many of the guards were more than guards, most were friends. Delbert was one.

Back in my room, I shook my head looking at my ring. Then I glanced around. Demetrius was gone.

“Demetrius?”

He came out of the shadow. “Guards were in here a few times, looking for a stranger.” He emphasized the word stranger.

“You were right.” I nodded chuckling. “Delbert didn’t know me, and we’ve spent a great deal of time training. Sorry I doubted you.”

Demetrius nodded and shrugged. “Well, you’re only human.” He chuckled.

“That’s big of you to be so forgiving,” I said. Then I looked at him seriously. “Why are you doing this? Helping me out like this.”

“You asked me to,” Demetrius stated simply.

I nodded and sat down. “There are a lot of people that need help. I’m sure others have much greater causes than to find love.”

He grunted as he sat across from me. “True.” He sighed. “But…how do I explain this?” He thought a moment. “There was one of my kind that told someone that asked the same question. There are servants that deserve to be princes and princesses. There are princesses and princes that deserve to be servants. We do that, too. But every once in a while, someone impresses on us the need to help. Your sister-in-law was one of those. She deserved help to find love and a way out of miserable existence. You impressed the one that helped her to get out of that situation with her step-mother and step-sisters, impressed her enough to ask me to help you. Love will always find a way to help if you can find it. It’s best of emotions. I’m just here to help you in your search.” He said as if were totally logical.

“And what do you get from this?”

He shrugged. “Balance. A happier world? Some situations will require a little magic to rectify. So why not?”

I liked his answer. Then I smiled at him. “Thank you.”

His smile broadened. “And that’s one of the reasons as to why I’m helping you.” He reached over and patted my knee. “Now, tell Christian what’s going to happen. That you will be at the ball. You can be presented to King Alexander, you will be there but unseen. The reason is to find out what the others are really like and decide who's best. Tell him of the decoys and give him the masks. Things will start to settle into place.”

I nodded. “The ball is to be in Blethos.”

Demetrius nodded. “As it should be.”