In The Name of Love
17: Princes

Minna’s heart pounds in her chest as Prince Adalberto takes her hand. Outside she is all smiles, leading him onto the dance floor to start the first pavane of the evening, but inside she’s panicking and praying she won’t trip over her own feet. His hand is larger than hers, warm and lightly calloused—probably from all that swordplay, she thinks—and his grip is gentle but firm.

“Thank you for agreeing to work with my brother on his swordsmanship,” Minna tells Adalberto as the music starts and they begin to dance. “He’s spoken of almost nothing else since yesterday afternoon.”

“It was my pleasure. He is an apt pupil,” Adalberto answers.

Minna is pleased not only that her partner is conversing with her, but that he is a good dancer, despite his grief and his claim to have little musical ability. His steps are light and graceful, his posture impeccable, and dancing with him feels effortless.

“I’m glad he wasn’t any trouble. Sometimes he…cannot resist the urge to make mischief,” Minna replies with a slight giggle. “But then again, growing up with four younger brothers, I’m sure you’re used to such things.”

“Prince Emrik is quite well behaved compared to Emiliano at that age.”

“What was it like, growing up with all of them? Do you have any sisters?”

“One sister, Manuela, between Casimiro and Lisandro. She is married to a prince of Claiamean now, with a daughter of her own. My brothers and I have mostly competed with one another. Like we are now, I suppose.”

A few moments pass with neither of them speaking. Minna gets the impression that Adalberto isn’t much of a conversationalist, but she knows she cannot let this opportunity to get to know him better go to waste.

“Have you traveled abroad much, before coming here?”

“Only to Khandazar, twice.” He winces at the mention of his first wife’s country of origin, and Minna’s heart aches for him. “But I’ve traveled extensively within Syazonia.”

“What is your favorite place in your kingdom?”

“We have a smaller castle in the mountains, many leagues from Zosya. It’s old-fashioned and the rooms are small, but you can see practically all of Syazonia from the upper windows. It gets a bit cold in the winter, but that’s the best time for riding a knight’s shield down the mountainside or hunting foxes and rabbits, and for cozy evenings reading by the fireplace.”

“And in the summer? Is it just as lovely?”

“Summer is the best time to go for long walks or rides in the surrounding countryside. Valeriya and I found a few waterfalls, when we rode together.” He pauses, frowning. “Does it bother you, that I speak of her?”

“No. I…would expect no different. I can only imagine how difficult it has been for you, and how difficult it must be to be here.”

“You know well enough of duty, and what it means to be royal.” His eyes meet Minna’s with poignant intensity. “At least, from what I’ve seen and heard the past two days. It cannot have been easy, enduring some of your suitors.”

“Compared to your burden, light and trivial.”

“I don’t mean to compare, except to say that I believe you understand…. We do what we must, that our kingdoms may prosper.”

“Yes.” The song ends, and they make the customary obeisances to one another. “But even so, we should still enjoy some happiness.”

“Perhaps, in time—”

“All right, brother, you’ve had your turn,” Prince Casimiro interrupts, shouldering past his older brother, who rolls his eyes and backs away while Minna barely keeps herself from doing the same. “The next dance, Princess?” Casimiro offers her his hand with elaborate showmanship.

“As you wish,” Minna agrees, but she really means ‘if I must.’ Casimiro wastes no time in pulling her after him as the next dance, a spirited galliard, begins. Every movement he makes seems to be calculated to attract attention to himself and show off his physique, with little concern for the needs of his dancing partner. Minna feels she must practically run to keep up with him. It’s all she can do to keep her movements elegant, and she has no desire to speak with Casimiro.

“You’re pretty good,” the prince tells her as he spins her around. “It’s not just any lady who can keep up with me.”

Minna smiles tightly in reply.

“Everyone’s watching us,” he continues.

“Yes.”

“And why wouldn’t they? We look absolutely stunning together.” He twirls Minna again, and her stomach flips.

Because of your ridiculous idea of dancing? she wants to retort, but instead she bites her tongue.

“The Syazonian galliard is rather more…energetic than we dance it here,” she remarks a few moments later.

“Not really. This is the Casimiro galliard.” He shows off some fancy footwork.

“You have a dance named after you?”

“Just my variation on the traditional steps.”

“And I thought you spent all your time in athletic pursuits.”

“Is dancing not athletic?”

The look in his eyes suggests to Minna that he would need very little encouragement to take her words as a challenge, and she replaces dancing with him more than challenging enough as things are.

“A marriage of music and sport, perhaps,” she amends.

“Like ours would be.” He winks at her and tries to pull her closer than the dance would normally allow. Minna chooses to spin past him with a little fancy footwork of her own. She doesn’t have any desire to compete with him in showy behavior, but she does hope that he might take a hint.

“Playing hard to get?” he asks, one eyebrow raised.

“Prince Casimiro, I mean no disrespect, but I would thank you to remember where you are, and be mindful of decorum.”

“I didn’t realize the Aethyrozians were so particular about such things.”

“You said yourself, everyone is watching us. Including my father.”

Casimiro’s eyes widen for a second before he laughs dismissively, but much to Minna’s relief, the song ends and she can curtsey and walk away in search of another partner without seeming rude. However, she only makes it half a dozen paces before someone taps her on the shoulder.

“Princess Wilhelmina,” none other than Prince Didier greets her with a dazzling smile as she turns around. “May I have the next dance?”

“Of course,” she agrees with breathlessness she tells herself is owed to Casimiro’s strenuous dancing style. Didier offers her his arm and matches his gait to hers as they travel across the dance floor, away from the offending Syazonian prince.

“It seemed as though you might appreciate a change of pace,” he murmurs in a conspiratorial tone.

“Whatever would have given you that idea?” Minna replies with feigned innocence. The Royal Orchestra begins playing the next song, and Minna thanks Chuezoh that it’s another pavane, slow and stately and not at all meant for wild leaping and spinning and complex steps.

“Just the impression I had. I could be mistaken.” He flashes her a charming but knowing smile. There’s no fooling him, she realizes as she smiles back.

“Have you been enjoying the Ball so far?”

“Very much. I don’t think I have had so much fun since my sister Arlette’s wedding last year.”

“You have a sister? Older or younger?”

“Both. Arlette is older, and Gisèle is only thirteen. I also have a younger brother, Ludovic, who is sixteen.”

“Are you close with any of them?”

“I get along well with all of them. But I wouldn’t say that I’m as close to any of them as you seem to be with your sister.”

Minna blushes a bit. “She’s my best friend. Even though we’re very different from one another. I don’t know what I’d do without her.”

“What do you mean?”

“I think it’s good to be reminded that…there’s more than one way to see the world.”

“I couldn’t agree more.”

Minna replaces herself tongue-tied, unsure of what to say next. In contrast, Prince Didier seems perfectly at ease, and he’s the best dancer she’s been partnered with so far.

“I know the journey from the Palace of Roses to Adelhyod is a long one…. Is the weather much different?”

“It’s warmer, at least at this time of year, and more things are blooming. Bretor is one of the most beautiful times of year at home. Not that it isn’t lovely here, of course.”

“There’s no place like home, though,” Minna smiles with understanding. “What’s your favorite thing to do at home?”

“I actually quite enjoy being part of my father’s meetings with his advisors. All the trade and finances, and hearing the petitions of the people…. It’s all fascinating.”

“But for leisure?”

Didier laughs. “It depends on the day. Sometimes I paint or practice music, sometimes I go hunting or ride into the nearest village. But there is little leisure time for the heir to the throne.”

“I can imagine. And of course, a prince must always do his duty.”

“Without fail.”

“You said you get to hear petitions from the people?”

“A tradition started by my great-grandparents, after the Uprising of Discontent. The common folk may bring disputes and problems to the crown once a week, that we might solve them. As a result, they feel that their voices are heard and that their monarchs truly serve them.”

“How interesting. My father only hears the most extreme cases, the ones that his nobles could not solve, or else disputes amongst the nobles themselves.”

“I believe that is how most kingdoms do things. Vyrunia is simply…special.”

Minna wants to ask him to elaborate, but the song ends, meaning they must separate and she, at least, must replace another partner.

“You’ll have to tell me more about it when next we dance together,” she invites as she dips him a half-curtsey.

“It would be my pleasure.”