The Two Packages

Brother's room was as splendid as it ever was. Sure, my favorite bed of flowers were long gone from the floor and walls, but it still smelled of it. I was sitting on the outermost room of his suite; a reception area of some sorts. Two satin draped couches with delicate and soft throw pillows faced each other in a far corner. My brother occupied one while I the other.

For a while, we only stared at each other. Then,

"Did you see who left the invitation?" he asked.

I shook my head. "No. Well, I was... away from the infirmary when they probably snuck it under my pillow."

In truth, I didn't tell him yet about being found out. If I told him about how I had appealed to the senses of Professor Whitaker and the head nurse, I would probably find myself whisked back to the Kingdom. I knew that things were getting more dangerous now, but... I couldn't just leave everything behind.

I cleared my throat, hoping my inner thoughts wouldn't be noticed by my perceptive older brother. I then asked, "So, what have you come to know about the invitation I sent?"

He paused for a while, probably already guessing that I was hiding something from him, but then he shook his head. "Not much, unfortunately. However, I did find something more from it."

Then, he looked over to his trusted aid (Lamonte I believe his name was) and as though the aid didn't even need any more words, he walked towards my brother and procured the very letter without missing a beat. The prince took the invitation and then offered it to me.

Looking at his slightly upturned lips, I wondered what he wanted me to look at. I've already seen and observed that invitation for more times than I could count. Taking it from his hand, I glanced at it. It still had the same message. My name and the invitational message. I frowned, not knowing what this was about.

"Look at the back," brother aided me.

I blinked at him before turning it around with my fingers. My mouth then gaped at it. Where it had once been blank, there were now words etched into it. "How-!"

Clement laughed slightly and explained, "It's a silly new trick nobles have been adding onto their invitation letters. When you circulate concentrated notes into the paper, the invisible ink shows. Well, it's meant to add even more exclusivity to such social matters. Those who know of it belongs to the higher group, and those who don't are excluded."

I made a face. "And how is that supposed to work?"

"Well, as an example," he said, leaning forward to tap at the cardboard in my hands. "If you weren't aware about that little trick, you never would have come to the venue in the right attire."

I read the new words on the invitation again.

'Theme: Masquerade'

"How tasteless," I muttered, and really thought so. Masquerade balls were long out of fashion since before I was born. The masks were tacky and the feathers itched on the skin. I would rather prefer it if I hadn't been informed about this theme at all.

Clement chuckled. "I know it isn't particularly a well-made theme, but I believe it suits more for its purpose rather than its aesthetics and comfort."

I looked at him in confusion, and thought deeply about it. "... Masquerade, as in to mask our identities?"

He looked at me with pride in his eyes. "Well, that's what I think, anyway. From what I know, you aren't even supposed to be present in the Advancement Ball, so I suppose it means for you to keep your identity hidden from the normal passers."

I breathed out slowly. "That does make frightening sense, but I'm even more curious as to who would even send it. I would reckon it isn't just a silly prank..."

"I too think it looks too official to be a prank," he said. "Only the finest magicians could be hired to make such tricky invitations."

"Like hardened criminal groups," I mumbled with a pout.

"Or professors of the Academy," he countered with a small endearing smile. "Don't fret too much. Maybe the announcements were wrong and you actually passed."

I rolled my eyes. "You and I both know that can't be the case."

He only laughed in reply. Looking at how at ease he was, though, I felt like he wasn't telling me something. I asked, "Are you really sure you didn't find out anything else?"

"Hm?" he said, his head tilted cutely to the side. Even when he's now a little bit older, he still looked like the sweetest sunflower child, with his fine blue eyes and golden hair. But no matter how adorable he is in my eyes, I wouldn't let this go by.

"You know something," I murmured with squinted eyes. "You don't even look that worried about my receiving the invitation."

He let out a nervous laugh and then shrugged. "I've heard some rumors, but I won't be spoiling anything for you."

I raised an eyebrow at him. "Spoiling, huh? Care to explain?"

He looked like he would want to run away, and instead, he promptly changed the topic. Gesturing at the aid, he said to me, "Regardless, you will need to wear something to the Ball, so I prepared it all for you. I won't have you going there in your... commoner clothes."

I frowned. "What's wrong with my clothes? And anyway, don't think you can just change the topic and run away-"

But he was very good at changing topics.

The aid had brought out a large package in his hands. And try as I might not to seem too interested, I asked, "You really prepared me a dress robe?"

"Well..." he muttered with a sly grin. "Open it up and see."

Still laden with suspicion, I stood up slowly to head to the center table where the package was. I remembered the package that Charles carried with him a week ago. I wondered if this would also look like the school robes that were used by older students...

Ripping through the package, I came to feel the soft material of the outfit. I realized that it was a deep midnight blue color, just like my eyes. It glittered with tiny and shiny translucent silver gems. Even though I was admiring the material, I also found myself wondering: Isn't this too much for a suit or a dress robe?

So, I fully took it out, and I watched how the cloth pulled down and lengthened out from the table and down to the carpet floor. I flinched as I finally got a good look at it.

Beautiful.

The sleeves were transparent, etched with dark blue gems arranged in simple, yet elegant swirls, and I was sure with the stretch it had that it would hug my arms firmly. The body of the gown transitioned into a full dark color, where the gems both acted as gradient and design. Just at the hip, the skirt started with a gentle balloon of silken waves. When I allowed the dress to move in the air, the sparkling gems of silver shone and twinkled like the stars in the night sky.

I would have loved it, just like I always did with the gifts my second brother gave me, but this one brought me the slightest bit of anger.

"Why-?" I asked with furrowed brows.

"Don't look at me like that. I love spoiling my sister," he whispered. "... Will you wear it for me, Elle? I rarely see you now with your beauty in display."

I pursed my lips. Ignoring his request, I asked, "And what of the Ball? I won't be caught wearing this no matter what you say."

He smiled at that, as though this was all a joke, but I sensed the disappointment in his eyes. This was his way of telling me to go back to the way I was. To wear pretty clothes and be the belle of the ball, but...

He shook his head. "Of course I prepared you a suit. I just... wanted to give you this as a present."

I glared at the stupid gown, and punched it back into its package, struggling to hold down the ruffles of the skirt. "I don't want it-"

I felt his hand on my arm. He looked at me with pleading eyes and a strained smile. "Please just accept it, sister?"

After a moment, I sighed. And looking down at the gorgeous outfit, I slowly nodded. "It'll be a shame how I'll simply outgrow it without wearing it once, though. It must have been expensive."

He shrugged. "It doesn't matter. It serves it purpose."

I frowned in thought. How can a gown that will never be worn serve its purpose?

He only smiled at me mysteriously. Then, he gestured at another package in the arms of his aid. He said, "Lamonte here has the suit I've prepared for you. It won't be as beautiful as the first one, but it too will serve its purpose."

Then, taking something from above the package in the aid's hands, he offered it to me. I took it gingerly. It was a black and white mask, with a black ribbon to keep it in place. It wasn't one of those flimsy masks that only covered the eyes and nose, but one that covered the whole face completely. With a dark cloth masking the opening for the eyes and mouth, I wondered if I could even see and breathe through it.

"Try it on," brother said.

At his prompting, I brought it to my face and Clement himself tied the ribbon at the back of my head. I was surprised at how almost nonexistent it was. I could see and breathe easily with no problems...

"This is..." I murmured.

"Amazing, isn't it? It's like you're wearing nothing at all," he said.

I giggled at his wording but simply nodded my head, "Thank you, brother."

"To thank a family member is to scorn the natural dynamics of their love for one another," he chided me lightly as he plopped back down on his couch. I carefully started to remove the mask while sitting back down. He then said, "Instead, you can pay me back by enjoying your time in the Ball."

I snorted, struggling with the ribbon. "I doubt I'd feel very calm enough to enjoy it. I'd always be on guard for what daggers are pointed at me."

"You're exaggerating this, Elle," Clement said. "Just attend it and have fun. Make friends. I heard one of the members of your team passed the Test of Waning, right? I reckon you could enjoy it with him."

I glared at him. Alas, the stubbornly unremovable mask prevented my glare to be seen by brother. He only smiled at me incessantly.

'You know full well who passed in my team,' I told him in my mind. 'You're just teasing me because he was once supposed to be my fiancé.'

Then, I grumbled, "You should have taken the test. You were seeded, too, weren't you?"

Brother laughed. "Of course I was. I'm way stronger and smarter than that other prince."

"..."

Sighing, I said, "Then why didn't you take it?"

"Politics," he said with a nonchalant shrug. "We can't have two high royals in the same competition. Too much rivalry, if I have to say it. Besides, the Test of Waning is tricky. One prince can pass while the other loses in a perfectly unfair way, but the masses won't look at it that way. They'll probably use it as a valid basis for our magical and intellectual strength. So, I backed out. With grace, mind you. I am, after all, a year older than the Crown Prince Kareem."

But I also realized the hidden messages underneath his words. If the political world was fragile enough to tip at the competition between a pair of princes, then I could only conclude that a war was looming over us.

Well, it wasn't uncommon. In my past life, many minor wars and coups occurred in the Aerim Continent, most of which almost always involved the Saule Kingdom and the Mond Empire.

However...

"This is too early," I murmured.

Indeed, maybe it could be because I ran away and botched the plans for a political marriage with the crown prince, but... that was doubtful. The peace should stretch on for a far longer time. I recall how the first notable war occurred in my early teens, but right now I was only seven.

Staring at my brother, I placed my hands back on my lap, already giving up on trying to remove the mask. I asked him, "Something happened to the Kingdom. Am I wrong?"

He flinched, maybe because he didn't expect my question, especially since he couldn't read my expressions through the mask.

He sighed. "I really can't hide anything from you."

I waited patiently for him to continue.

"The truth is..." he started, but then glared straight at me. "Let's take this off first. I feel like I'm speaking to father."

I snorted as he leaned over to remove the knot at the back of my head. "What, like you're talking to an icy king?"

He huffed a short laugh. "More like I'm speaking to a wall with no emotions."

We laughed. Looking at me laughing, he said, "Good. Now that I see your face, I feel a lot better."

It never occurred to me that Clement might not have had a good relationship with father. In fact, I had rather thought that both my brothers were well-loved by my king father. However, now that we were openly speaking about him since we were far away from the Kingdom... I found myself at ease. I really started to realize that this was what having a sibling felt like.

"So," brother began before sitting back down leisurely. "The truth is, I'm very busy these days. Our relationship with the Empire is rocky at best, but that's not the only problem. Due to the... incredibly helpful letter you bestowed on me, my party has been on the rise since you left the palace. That in itself is good for us, but not so good for the stability of the Kingdom. Already, the noble lords of fiefs around the Kingdom have began to split more extremely, betting on either my party or Ara's. Although my own political party stands for free commerce and better mercantile privileges, it also means that I would give more power to those who value money. And combined with the fragile peace amongst our neighboring nations, and the need for money for defenses and for militia..."

"Then those who agree to an open war would likely side with you," I finished his words, half in shock and terror.

He shook his head. "No, they wouldn't side with me. That would only happen if they looked at me as their equal. I reckon they would only outwardly support me, make use of my resources, and stab me in the back when it really matters."

"I never liked those radicals..." I grumbled angrily, not knowing what else to say.

He coughed slightly to catch my attention. "Well, anyway, that's how it is back in the Kingdom. I planned to strategically back away from the drama there, and that's mainly why I'm here in the Academy, carefully picking out my allies as I go, but... it's hard. And combined with these new magical happenings all over the continent-"

"What sort of happenings?" I interrupted, curiosity plain on my voice.

He sighed. "Only very few people know of this, so I do hope you keep it to yourself."

I rolled my eyes. "Please, brother. You know I wouldn't go talk about it."

He smiled easily, but it broke down again with the gravity of the topic. "There seems to be... portals opening all around the continent. So far, there have been two found in the Kingdom, and they were only ever found out so quickly because both of them were located very near to populated towns."

I pursed my lips in thought. "What kind of portals?"

Brother shrugged. "No one knows yet. Last I heard the Empire would be sending in a cavalry to check the destination, but no word has come yet from their end. Anyway, nothing much is known about these portals. For all we know, it's simply a gift from Solus."

"... Or a retribution for our sins," I murmured sullenly.

He let out a breath. "Either way, it's a problem. One of them is already blocking a major road through Maslow City. Even though I don't always agree with the ideals of my... radical supporters, I have to utilize them still for the betterment of the Kingdom."

"Hence the letters," I murmured, glancing at the small stack of unrolled parchments left to dry on a far away desk in the adjacent study room.

He nodded. "Hence the letters."

~~

Before long, I knew I had to leave for the night. It was already nearing the later parts of the evening, and it wasn't decent to stay too long in a boy's room, even though he was only my brother.

So, I had already bid farewell and left the room. I carried the package with the suit and the mask in my arm as I passed through the loftier hallways of the upper floors of the student dormitories. I had only made it a few paces when the door to Clement's suite opened again and his aid, Lamonte, came towards me with a brisk pace.

"My lady, you forgot to bring this with you," he whispered silently so that only I could hear.

Sighing, I took the hastily repackaged parcel from his hands and balanced it on top of the other one. "Thank you, Lamonte."

He bowed deeply before going back. When I knew I was alone in the corridor, I began to walk again. Soon, my steps, muffled by the rich carpet, was the only noise in the long dormitory corridors. By whatever twisted fate it was, however, the door just right beside me suddenly opened with great noise and speed that I jumped in shock, both packages falling to the ground. I cursed.

Bending down to reach for one, I was surprised to see another hand already picking the other one up. When I looked at the figure, I realized just where my feet had brought me to.

Unknowingly, I had missed the first flight of steps to go down to the lower dormitories and instead walked on forward to the other high-class suites. And the suite where I had just stopped at...

Charles smiled at me while he scratched at his head, holding my parcel with ease. "Therion. Hi. Sorry, didn't see you there."

My eye twitched at the familiar words. I had told him those same words just a week ago, when he was the one waiting outside my door. Now, I was the one right outside of his. I fumbled for the right words. "I, uh..."

"I saw you standing there through the peephole. Were you waiting for me?" he asked and then asked again before I could even begin to answer, "Is this a gift for me?"

He held the package curiously, even bringing it up to his face to smell it. He murmured, "It doesn't smell like food."

I spluttered and coughed. "I, no! Sorry, that isn't a gift. I mean it is, but it isn't yours. It's mine, I mean, it was a gift for me. Ah, I don't know why I kept going and somehow I'm here by your door, but it's all a silly coincidence. I just came from Clement's, I mean, the High Prince Clement's room. I didn't come here to look for you at all!"

He looked more surprised by my panic more than by my actual words. He looked at me in worry. "Are you really alright? Are you sure these aren't... bombs or something?"

I groaned and snatched the package away from him before he would open it up. Lord Solus knows what would happen if Charles knew I had come to possession of an elaborate and expensively-made gown. "They're nothing."

"Well, then," he murmured almost awkwardly. "Do... Do you want to come inside? We can hang out and-"

"No thank you!" I replied rudely, my voice coming out in a higher pitch. "I've got to go!"

Before he could stop me, I had ran away. For whatever reason, I didn't want to speak with the boy. Maybe I was still remembering how he had made my life miserable in my past life... I simply felt weird around him.

I immediately crashed into my bed the moment I entered the room. Groaning into my pillow, though, I knew I was far too awake to be falling asleep any time soon.

So, I began to check the contents of the parcels again. The suit my brother prepared for me was a neatly elegant one: inky black jacket and pants, shoes of the finest dark leather, and a midnight blue dress shirt that matched my eyes. It wasn't anything flashy like the gown, but it was alright.

The gown...

Then, I stared at the repackaged parcel. The paper was clearly damaged in the places I had torn through it, mended by whatever ways my brother had done it. Somehow, I had the desire to tear through it again.

'Well, there's no harm in looking at something beautiful, right?' I thought, but I was already halfway through opening it.

Soon enough, the gown was in my view again. The only window I had made it possible for the gentle light from the full moon to enter my bedroom. Amidst the commonly furnished room, the dress shone even brighter in contrast.

I wondered how beautiful it would be if I spun around it in a dance.

And somehow, in the next few moments, I had already left myself in nothing but my chemise and started to inch myself into the gown. It was tricky, especially with no maids to aid me, but I managed. I've always been flexible, and tying the last ribbon at my back was soon done and over.

And I've never been so angry about not having a mirror.

But no matter, a commoner boy wouldn't have such lofty things. I'll have to keep this little bout of femininity a secret, even from my own eyes.

Giggling, I adored how the gems sparkled as I twirled around. Imagining the sounds of an orchestra in the background, the sounds of the best musicians gathered from all around the Kingdom and into the palace's ballroom, I hummed to myself and twirled and spun and hopped lightly on my bare feet, my hair, too short to ever be held up, simply hung in the air.

But the music soon stopped when I heard a click.

Belatedly, I asked myself, 'Did I lock the door?'