THE King of Nigren put on an elaborate ball to welcome us.
I was awed by the crystal chandeliers hanging from the ceiling, reflecting flecks of light around the ballroom. The orchestra was playing some lively music and everyone was chatting, laughing, and having a good time.
“Princess Annabel.”
I turned to see Harold.
“Prince Harold. Thank you for making some time for us and accommodating our request.”
“Ah, not at all. After all, it was I who originally asked this favor of you.” Harold smiled, then leaned in to speak right into my ear, so no one would overhear. “Karina will be arriving any moment. I’ve already warned the guards, so don’t worry.”
“Understood.”
I nodded, pulled my notebook from my dress bag, and began scribbling a quick note. Then I sent it to Ed using my magic.
The request I’d made of Harold was to give us time to treat Elena without Karina’s presence. Harold set everything up so we could use this pocket of time during which Karina was due to make her appearance at the ball.
“Amazing! You use magic as easily as breathing. It makes me feel like even I could master it.”
Harold looked at me with admiration and envy in his eyes, his voice tinged with excitement.
I remember agonizing over why others could use magic so easily when I couldn’t.
“Our country is working on creating Magic Sigils, which will allow even non-magical folk to use magic. If we succeed, you’ll be able to use magic too, Harold.”
“Seriously? Wow! I’ll be looking forward to that!”
Harold’s eyes were sparkling.
Ed’s research would open the door for people like Harold, who wanted to use magic but didn’t have the natural aptitude for it. If the research succeeded, it’d be an invention great enough to change the world.
I wonder how far along the research has gotten?
Whenever the topic came up, Ed’s expression told me that things weren’t proceeding as fast as he’d hoped. If Ed couldn’t get results in the next year and a half, I’d end up married off to the highest political bidder…
And my future husband might even end up being…
My eyes located Daniel, smiling an easy smile and laughing with a young woman from an aristocratic Nigrenian family.
Just then, I felt a magical disturbance in the air.
Something flashed before my eyes and a sheaf of paper came floating down. It was Ed’s response.
I snatched the paper out of the air and scanned it.
“Huh?”
“What’s wrong?”
Harold leaned in to read too, alerted by my surprised yelp.
“Karina’s come by?” Harold’s voice went up an octave in shock.
Apparently, Karina had come to Ed’s room that afternoon, asking him to show her the magic she hadn’t gotten to see this morning.
“What should we do?”
Harold looked at the clock on the wall.
“There’s only half an hour left until the rest of the royal family is scheduled to make their official appearance. Karina should arrive before then. But probably not too much before. Recently, Karina doesn’t seem to want to attend balls and so on. She’ll probably just put in a brief appearance before returning to her room. If we’re going to move, we’d better do it now.”
“Understood.”
I nodded, scribbling furiously on my notepad.
I told Ed to leave Karina to Toll and go directly to Elena’s room.
Then I sent the letter magically again. The reply came quickly. It just said: Roger that.
“It looks like the situation is handled.”
“I see; that’s good.” Harold breathed a sigh of relief. “Well, then, how about a dance?”
“I’d love to.”
I took Harold’s hand with a smile and we went out onto the dance floor.
The ball had only just begun.
After I finished dancing with Harold, I was asked to dance by a succession of Nigren politicians and various members of the aristocracy. The ball was lively and everyone seemed to be having fun.
I checked the clock on the wall. It was five minutes before the Nigren royal family was due to make their official appearance.
Karina’s still not here yet?
I looked around the ballroom. I couldn’t see Karina anywhere.
“Princess Annabel.”
It was Daniel speaking to me as I glanced around the ballroom. He was wearing a dark blue frock coat with intricate navy embroidery. An outfit fit for a prince.
“Prince Daniel.”
We made eye contact and I smiled as Daniel walked over. The young ladies he’d just been speaking to all frowned with dissatisfaction.
“It looks like those ladies weren’t done talking with you yet, my prince.”
“Unfortunately for them, I only want to talk to you, Princess Annabel.”
Daniel grinned and took my hand, kissing the back of it. I could feel jealous eyes on me and I shivered.
Then the music stopped to signal the appearance of the king himself.
He stood on the high stage and gave a brief speech about the importance of friendship between Nigren, Najir, and the Sunruta Kingdom.
After that, the orchestra started playing their beautiful music again.
“Princess Annabel, would you honor me with a dance?”
“Prince Daniel!”
Daniel was interrupted by a loud shout.
We looked over to see Karina, who’d appeared all of a sudden, looking very beautiful.
She wore a yellow dress that showcased her fiery red hair and was adorned with flowers. Her neck and earlobes sparkled with fat, shiny diamonds.
“Princess Karina. You’re late. We were wondering what had become of you.”
At first, Daniel seemed taken aback by Karina’s abrupt intrusion but soon regained his signature smile.
“I was busy getting ready. But here I am.”
Karina didn’t seem to notice the change in Daniel’s expression at all. She grasped her dress and curtsied, her eyes fixed on him like a predator setting its sights on prey.
Daniel shot me a concerned look, but I gave a small nod and took a gracious step back.
“Princess Karina, would you care for a dance?”
“Certainly. I’d love to.”
Smiling, Karina’s gaze flickered to me for just a second. I thought I saw a glint of triumph in that look, and I was struck speechless.
Is Karina in love with Daniel?
Thinking back, I remember hearing that Karina had been the one to strongly push for a marriage between herself and Daniel for the political benefit of both Nigren and the Sunruta Kingdom.
I watched them as they headed out onto the dance floor.
“Princess Annabel. Do you think the Princess Karina you met yesterday is really the same Karina that we know?”
Daniel’s question was on my mind again. Her expression just then…it was just like the one worn by the other Karina, from my old world…
Why did she change all of a sudden?
What could have prompted this?
She’d been her usual warm self when she visited Najir. But after that, things started getting weird with her letters. So, it must’ve been going on these past few months. This would coincide with when Elena first got sick and around when Karina’s Magic Crystal broke. Perhaps that was the reason, then?
I wonder if Ed managed to heal Elena?
If Elena got well again, perhaps Karina would go back to being her usual kind, friendly self.
I watched Karina and Daniel dancing. After the song finished, they headed over to greet the king. I pulled my notebook out of my bag again and scribbled a quick note to Ed asking for updates.
“It’s worse than I thought. I need more time.”
That was all he said, but I could picture his expression as he wrote the words.
Who cast a spell on Elena, though? And for what purpose?
If an elite magician like Ed could examine Elena and determine that she was under a spell, then there was no mistake in my mind. The only question was…why?
Maybe Elena herself wasn’t the target? Maybe it was someone wanting to hurt Karina?
As I was mulling it all over, I heard someone say “Princess Annabel” from behind me.
“Are you all right? You’re staring into space. If you’re not feeling well, perhaps you should return to your room?”
It was Daniel back again, looking concerned.
“Prince Daniel. Where’s Karina?”
“Oh, she went back to her room. She said she doesn’t really care for parties like this…”
“What?!”
Harold had said that Karina would probably return to her room as soon as she could, but I had no idea it would be this soon!
If she returned to her room now, she would bump right into Ed, who was currently examining Elena. I looked frantically over to the doors to see a woman who looked like Karina leaving through them. I quickly sent a note to Ed that said “She’s coming back! You need to leave now!” Then I chased after Karina.
“Princess Karina!”
I ran down the hallway after her, calling her name. Karina stopped and turned to face me.
“…Princess Annabel? What is it?”
“I’ve been wanting to give you this!”
I pulled out the box I’d put in my party bag, determined to give it to Karina tonight. Inside was the hair accessory with the Magic Crystal in it that I’d gotten for Karina as a replacement gift.
“What’s this?”
“A gift from Najir. Remember how sad you were when the one you got in Najir ended up breaking? Well, I got you the same one to replace it!”
Karina untied the ribbon and opened the box.
Looking inside, she smiled a perfectly polished smile.
“Oh, the hair accessory, of course! Yes, I was so sad to lose the last one. Thank you.”
I stared at her in surprise.