In The Name of Love
18: Eavesdropping

“It’s nice to see Lord Ingemar at court again. It feels like he hasn’t been here in forever.”

“I know, and he’s looking so well, too! I had no idea he was such a good dancer.”

“He is, isn’t he? And so is Lord Ragnar.”

“You danced with him? But he looks so mean!”

“I was afraid to say no, but he was actually really sweet and considerate. He’s honestly been my best dance partner so far tonight.”

Fifi smiles to herself, overhearing these remarks between the other young ladies who are present to dance with Minna’s suitors. Her original intent had been to speak with them tonight, but she’s just finished an exhausting galliard with Prince Emiliano and would prefer to sit quietly at the edge of the room, overhearing what she can and enjoying a few honey-stewed apple slices.

“Well, I’m glad you’re having a good time so far. Prince Ramiro was a rather sulky dance partner. I don’t think he wants to be here anymore.”

“Why would he? It’s clear he’s too young for Princess Wilhelmina and he’s not going to be her choice.”

“I’d rather dance with Prince Ramiro than dance with Prince Emiliano again. He seems to think he can touch his partner wherever and whenever he likes.”

“No! You’re joking!”

“I wish I was.”

“He’d best behave better dancing with the princesses. King Ansgar won’t stand for any kind of disrespect.”

Fifi bites her lip to keep from snickering. They’re not wrong about Father. But Emiliano was better behaved, dancing with me. Just exhausting, she reflects. His long legs and seemingly boundless energy kept her constantly in swift motion the entire time, and his conversational skills leave quite a lot to be desired. His greatest flaw, in her opinion, is that he doesn’t seem to be aware that other people can have perspectives and feelings and desires that are different from his own.

The gaggle of young ladies moves away from Fifi’s place of repose. Across the room, the Royal Orchestra members are stretching their legs and adjusting the tune on their instruments. Her parents and younger brother remain in their places of honor at one end of the dancing area; Emrik appears to have fallen asleep, and Fifi cannot blame him. He’s never liked formal functions, and the past few days have been very hard for him. He begged to be allowed to dance tonight, but King Ansgar and Queen Ingrid agreed that he is too young to dance at this Ball and that inviting suitable partners for him would be an unnecessary hassle, and so he is trapped in his chair. Fifi wishes she could help him at all, but it’s not worth starting a fight with their parents. He only has to endure tonight, and then his world will return to normal.

He was thrilled that Prince Adalberto agreed to work with him on his swordsmanship, though. A shame none of the other suitors Minna asked were willing to tutor him, she muses before raucous laughter nearby attracts her attention. A glance to her right reveals that the royal brothers from Syazonia have chosen to gather near her niche between two tapestries. Unsurprisingly, Casimiro and Emiliano are the source of the noise.

“Enough, you two,” Adalberto orders. Though he speaks Syazonian, Fifi has no trouble understanding him; she and Minna have both studied all the languages spoken across Lokva, in preparation for their Quests for Favor. That man is done putting up with their nonsense, Fifi observes. “You’ve been taught better than this.”

“Lighten up, will you?” Casimiro brushes him off. “You’re like storm clouds during the feasts of Friggenter. We’re at a party, remember?”

“And it’s a good party,” Emiliano adds. “Lively dances, attractive ladies…”

“And we seem to have the king’s favor. One of us ought to be claiming the prize tonight.”

Fifi gags noiselessly. The worst thing would be to attract their attention now. Wait til they’re gone, then tell Minna. Or maybe don’t. She would never pick Casimiro or Emiliano, anyway, and she doesn’t need anything else to be anxious about.

“D’you suppose we have enough of his favor that he’ll let us take both of his daughters?” Emiliano wonders. “The younger one is pretty and light on her feet.”

“Do you even know her name?” Lisandro asks, voice laced with disgust.

“This is neither the time nor the place to discuss such things,” Adalberto warns. “Anyone could overhear. And your hopes are misplaced. King Ansgar is a shrewd ruler, and he knows full well that there is a shortage of marriageable royal daughters across Lokva at present. He won’t marry them both off to princes of the same country.”

“None of the other options can compare to us,” Casimiro boasts. “I’m sure both of them are already in love with me.”

If you only knew, Fifi stifles a snort and almost chokes on the last bite of her snack.

“You’re a fool,” Lisandro mutters, a sentiment Ramiro echoes more colorfully.

“The decision is Princess Wilhelmina’s,” Adalberto reminds them all with finality. Then, to Fifi’s immeasurable relief, the Royal Orchestra bursts to life with a prelude to the next round of dancing. The princes all go directly to the dance floor, leaving her space to move without their notice around the room to dispose of her bowl and, she hopes, replace a more amiable dance partner than Prince Casimiro.

***~O~***

Minna takes a deep breath as the Royal Orchestra starts playing in earnest again—her cue to return to dancing with her suitors. Thus far, the scales have not yet tipped in any one suitor’s favor, and it’s all she can do to keep the anxiety rising in her chest from becoming visible to those around her.

I’m not ready. But I will do what I must, Minna tells herself. Who to dance with next…

“Princess Wilhelmina?” someone asks at Minna’s elbow. She turns to replace Prince Lisandro beside her. “Would you do me the honor of dancing next with me?”

“Of course,” she smiles in reply, genuinely happy to see him. He takes her hand, and they begin to lead the next dance of the evening.

“Your Royal Orchestra is superb,” Lisandro compliments. “Did you choose the music for tonight’s festivities?”

“Thank you. And yes, I did. I wanted to make sure every song would be enjoyable for dancing.”

“Thus far you have succeeded.”

“I’m glad you think so.” And glad that you’re a good dancer, she adds silently. Her last partner, Lord Fredrick, was rigid and lacking style, despite his love of music. Lisandro, though, moves with fluid grace and seems to take joy in every step.

“This song is one of my favorites to play, actually.”

“On the dulcimer?”

“Sometimes, or the lute, or occasionally the hurdy-gurdy. But I don’t use that one often, because my brothers hate it.”

“Really? All four of them?” Minna frowns. She’s always rather liked the sound of the hurdy-gurdy, herself.

“Well, not quite. Adalberto has always encouraged me to play whatever instruments I want. But Ramiro always complains about noise while he’s studying, which is more or less whenever he’s awake. And Casimiro and Emiliano always tell me I should be out riding or hunting or practicing with some weapon or other instead of playing music.”

“How rude of them! But surely you have a place to practice at home. You played so well in the competition.”

Lisandro blushes. “Thank you. Yes, I use a drawing room in a part of the palace that we only really use when we have guests, which isn’t frequent, so I’m in no one’s way….”

Minna’s heart aches for Lisandro. “They shouldn’t be allowed to make you feel that way. Everyone should be able to do things for themselves, just because those things make them happy, without feeling bad about it.”

“Oh, it’s not so bad as that. I didn’t mean to…. The room is quite nice, with views of one of our best courtyards and the mountains beyond Zosya—that is, the Royal Seat of Syazonia—and it’s peaceful away from…everyone.”

“I take it that…Zosya has not always been a pleasant place for you.”

“I’m sorry. I’ve said…something wrong. It’s beautiful, and the weather and landscape are much the same as what I’ve seen of Aethyrozia. I’m sure you would feel quite at home there, should you choose—”

“Don’t. I’m not basing my choice on palaces or climate. Other things are more important.”

“What could be more important than your own quality of life?”

“Quality of life depends at least as much on the people around you as your physical surroundings, I think.”

“True enough,” Lisandro mutters, but he won’t meet Minna’s eyes.

“I don’t expect you and your brothers always get along perfectly, if that’s what you’re worried about,” Minna assures him. “Josefina and I fight sometimes, and Emrik also has his…difficult moments.”

“We promised Father we wouldn’t sabotage each other, during this competition. And so far all my brothers have upheld that promise. I don’t want to be the one to violate the agreement.”

“You have said nothing about any of your brothers that influenced the opinions I have already formed of them, based on their performances in the Quest for Favor.”

Lisandro chuckles, but there’s no mirth in his smile, only grim satisfaction. “I suppose that’s some comfort.”