Chapter 3 Grace: Mikah’s Reveal and Sophia

The rain had subsided by midnight. It had been about the time the ball was about to close.

The sound of glasses clinking and laughter still echoed in the air, but the music had stopped, and the once lively dance floor now lay empty.

Waiters and servers scurried about, collecting the last of the glasses and plates, the lights were gradually dimmed, signaling the official end of the ball. The guests made their way towards the exits, still chatting and reminiscing about the night's events.

Grace and Sophia stood at the entrance of the palace. The stairs descended to the roads with waiting carriages. In the night, the streets were orange from the lanterns.

"Grace, I don't know why you hate him so much…"

"It is not my fault, he is just a very unlikeable person."

Grace examines her friend. Sophia's golden hair shimmered in the glow of the lights. Her golden dress was neat as she gazed, entranced by the floor.

"Did that bastard Hisin do something?"

"No no, it is not that…" Sophia spoke softly. She shook her head.

"Are you defending him? Dear, Sophia… he does not deserve it."

Sophia did not speak, she only held the sides of her dress tightly, still looking down.

"Sophia… are you ok then? Has something happened?"

"Have you heard!? Have you heard!?"

A clatter took both their attention. Lysia ran to Grace's side.

"Grace, you might not believe it! But the war hero has come out!"

The war hero?

"Who is he, Lysia?"

"But yes! you know him as well! Dear Grace, you've loved him!"

"You've loved him!" she repeated, in her fervor she grasped Grace's hands and twirled about.

"You've loved him all those years ago! Have you forgotten? He is Mikah!"

"Mikah!" Lysia repeated.

Mikah, that boy from her past? she had loved him once, then he had entered the war.

It was under the apple trees, that she had gazed upon him so affectionately. She curled her finger in on her palm. She could not meet him!

Her face was flush with excitement, most of all embarrassment.

"But…"

At the same time, she wanted to gaze upon the man he had become.

"Grace?"

"I want to see him." She breathed out her reply, barely composing herself.

The red blush ran to her ears.

The war hero…

The war hero she adored, and Mikah.

She could not wrap her mind around the concept; Mikah had been so different. She could not imagine he would hurt a fly…

"Oh gosh Grace, trust me we are all as excited as you are!" Lysia hugged her.

Grace gazed over the shoulders of the enthusiastic girl and looked at Sophia who returned her a smile.

Lysia held their hands and ran off towards a gathering crowd.

"We have to hurry they are about to leave,"

Their Heels sink into the puddles left behind by the recent rain. The sound of splashing water echoes, interrupted only by the occasional clop of horse hooves, the creaking of carriage wheels, and voices from the nearby crowd. The air is cool and damp, and a mist hangs low.

They came upon a path divided with crowds on either side. The midnight air chilled grace, enough that she pulled her arms closer around herself.

"This way," Lysia led them through the masses.

They stopped in front of soldiers, stopping the crowds from advancing into the path of the carriages.

"Settle down! Settled Down!" said a man leading a procession away.

"Dear Lysia, where is Elizabeth?"

"Ah, yes, she has gone home early, her father…"

"Poor Elizabeth."

"Oh there he is!"

The man leading the carriage bows back towards the open carriage. Soldiers lined either side of it.

On it sat a man. His dark hair she could remember and his blue gray eyes that had taken her in once. He was not overtly handsome, just slightly above average, but he had taken her breath away long ago. And again today her lost feelings welled within her, the thought that he had ended the war gave more to his credit in her eyes.

On his uniform medals and jewels shone brightly.

"I know him!" Grace heard the mutter of her friend. But of course, Sophia had been friends with Mikah as well, why had she said that?

Grace was confused by her words, but her attention was quickly returned by Mikah's gesture towards the crowd.

Lysia spoke again, "apparently they'll hold a publication tomorrow in celebration. The general had been at the ball today."

Grace nodded. Still taken in by his figure, in the distance.

"It was too long ago. Perhaps he'd forgotten my name."

As the carriage followed the path to leave though, Mikah met her gaze and he bowed fancifully towards her. His manners were the epitome of elegance as she'd remembered from their past. She felt the blush running up her cheeks.

They watched as the carriage quickly passed.

Sophia giggled by her side, "dear Grace, Looks like I don't have to worry about your future. Your hero has been found."

Grace looked at her amusement, she seemed especially happy now.

Lysia quickly added, "If all things goes as plan from here on, perhaps she'll be married in a month."

"You ladies should stop teasing me…"

They both giggled.

Sophia's earlier downcast seemed to have disappeared, perhaps she had really wanted to meet the war hero as well?

"Dear Grace… I would like to speak to you formally." Sophia spoke suddenly.

"I-I-I Believe." She managed to say although she sputtered her words.

"I believe…" her words were careful as if afraid to upset her friend.

"I am in love as well." she smiled shyly.

Lysia was bewildered, "To the Hero, Mikah as well?"

"Oh! No no!" she quickly shook her head in protest.

Grace fell a weight on her chest as she waited.

"I believe I'm in love with Hisin!"