She Charms the Ladies

Christian asked again. "The wine, was it that bad? I saw your mouth pucker up like you had tasted something nasty."

She raised a quizzical eyebrow. "If it truly was bad, then wouldn't the king have said something?"

"I know that." Christian rolled his eyes. "But, did you not like the taste of it? That's Fathe-ahem! That's his Highness, the King's, favorite brew."

Robin thought about it. "No. It wasn't the wine."

"Then it was something?" He asked.

Robin looked at him with a sad smile. "Memories." She said. "Happy, bitter memories."

Then she stood up, leaving a puzzled Christian behind. How could happy memories be bitter? How could bitter memories be happy? Unfortunately, he didn't have much time to dwell on the contradiction. He needed to escort Jasmine that night, after all.

-----------

Somehow, Robin felt lighter, as if all of a sudden, a great burden was lifted from her. But, that didn't stop her from being cautious. Christian's warnings were accurate. In the ten minutes alone that she had been standing there, she had recieved at least twenty invitations to go visit a noble's estate for some reason or another. At the beginning, she was mobbed, not by women, but by noblemen.

Well, the women still had to keep a proper sense of decorum. The noblemen could easily approach her with excuses of business.

"Our estate has the most delicious berries. You should definitely come over and try them, sometime!"

"I have a son who is around your age. If you're ever in our province, feel free to drop by. He could use a good friend to steer him on the right track."

"I'm the owner of The Noble Merchant Company. If you ever need to buy or sell goods, please do come and see us first!"

And all of them, before they left, asked her to dance with their sister/cousin/daughter. However, after that glass of wine, Robin was not quite in a dancing mood. After going for a few rounds just for formalities, and when she could stand it no longer, Robin excused herself to go find the loo.

But she did not actually go to the loo. Instead, she found a quiet balcony where she could stand and look up at the somewhat large moon. The otherworld's moon was much larger than the one back on earth. Here, out of sight of anyone, she let the tears fall. How long they fell, she did not know, but eventually, they came to a stop. After letting out the waterfall, Robin stayed there on the balcony, enjoying the night air.

"You know, if you're gone too long, people are going to mob Christian again." A voice came from behind her. Robin turned to look. It was Jasmine.

"What? I can't find a quiet place to be miserable?" Robin asked.

"Why are you miserable? Isn't a banquet a happy thing?" Jasmine asked.

"Not always." Robin answered placidly. Jasmine noticed the trails of teardrops on her face.

"Are you homesick?" Jasmine asked.

"Very. But...the home that I wish to return to....can no longer be found." Robin sighed. "And the one that I could possibly return to has the only important person left for me."

"I wouldn't say that, if I were you." Jasmine scolded. "Aunt Emmy and Uncle Zeph would be very sad that you don't consider this place as your home, too."

Robin sniffed. "I can't help it. Whether it's hormones or heartache, I really can't cry in front of everyone."

"Well, at least you have some sense of decorum." Jasmine replied. "Christian was afraid that you had run off back to your rooms, after being mobbed by ladies."

"Hmm? Was I mobbed by ladies?" Robin asked, not remembering feeling crowded.

"You were. I even saw you smiling at a few of them." Jasmine pointed out.

"Oh? Was Christian jealous?" Robin asked, venturing a joke.

"Very!" Jasmine laughed. "If he wasn't standing nearby out of concern for you, you would have probably been picked up and carried away by your adoring fans."

"What?" Robin shivvered at the thought.

"It's true! He even ignored me several times in order to keep an eye on you."

"You make it sound like I am the pinnacle of troublemakers." Robin snorted.

"No, I leave that title up to my cousin." Jasmine giggled. "You will have to suffice being in third place."

"What!? Why am I not even in second place?" Robin exclaimed.

"That's because Keith has solidly claimed second place for his own." Jasmine's smiling eyes danced in the flickering of a bonfire in the garden for those who wished to take a walk in the fresh air.

"I suppose I can't argue against that!" Robin finally laughed, and her strange mood seemed to melt away. Maybe she couldn't go back to the golden times she remembered. But that didn't mean she had to be morose all the time.

"You better go clean that salt off your face, or someone will thing that I'm bullying you." Jasmine warned cheerfully.

"What? You? Bully me? Everyone knows that you only save that for your dear cousin, Christian." Robin sniggered, as she dampened her handkerchief with some water from her magic bag. After confirming that all traces of tears had disappeared, they returned to the ballroom.

-------------------

Once they returned, Robin was startled, when she was immediately surrounded by ladies.

"Robin! What took you so long?"

"You were gone for ages!"

"We had almost given up hope!"

Robin smiled.

"Sorry, about that, ladies. I am still a bit unfamiliar with the castle, so I got lost on my way back. If it weren't for Magi Jasmine, I would probably still be lost out there."

"Well thank goodness for that!"

"Shall we dance, now, Robin?"

"No, please dance with me, this time!"

"You? You've already danced with him once! Make way for those who haven't!"

The ladies began to fight amongst themselves over who would dance with the Hero. Robin didn't know whether to laugh or to cry. So, this is what he meant by 'swarms'....

Jasmine had retreated back to Prince Christian's side, as he chatted pleasantly with the more elderly noblemen.

"You owe me one, now." She murmured at his side, so that only he could hear.

"Fine, we'll talk later." Christian replied in a similar low murmur.

Robin was worried about how to break up the fighting, when suddenly, she had an idea.

"Ladies, please. If there is any fighting to be done, it must be me against the evils of this world! Don't marr your beautiful appearances with ugly words and sour faces. After all, a virtuous lady is not quick to offend or to take offense."

'Bleck. If it was not necessary, I would never say such sappy words.' Robin inwardly cringed. It sounded like something that some host from a club would say. But, it was the only way to solve things peacefully among the excited ladies.

Instantly, all of the ladies present began trying their best to display how good of a lady they could be.

"After you."

"No no, after you."

"Miss Campbel, would you like to accompany me over to the refreshments table to grab a glass of lemon water?"

"It would be my honor! Thank you very much, Miss Maria."

The idol phenomenon which Robin had only heard of was unfolding before her eyes, even as she stood there. Robin could only smile and laugh as she thought. 'Robin used cajollery. It's super effective!'

"Then, Hero, whom do you wish to dance with?" One of the ladies asked. But, before Robin could answer, she was interrupted by the sound of a scuffle nearby.

"Wait, what are you-oof!"

"Yikes, Danny! You just pushed your own sister over!" A young voice exclaimed.

"It's her own fault for running at me like that! I just meant to make her stop, not fall over!" A begrudging voice answered.

Robin approached the voices, and when she saw what had happened, she spoke with a stern repproval.

"And you think that intentions are all that matters when it comes to your actions?"

The youth, Danny turned around to argue, but when he realized who was speaking, his face turned white. "H-Hero!" He stuttered. Danny and his friend appeared to be around ten years old, while the younger sister, who was in tears on the ground seemed to be only eight or nine.

Robin glanced pointedly at Danny, then got down on one knee, to help the young girl stand up.

"Are you all right?" Robin asked, concerned. "Can you stand?"

The young girl felt like she was dreaming. The Hero had come to rescue her from her embarassment and misery like a prince on a white horse. The actual Prince Christian was standing not too far away, observing the event. 'You, Robin...you're even going to charm little girls, now?' Was what he thought.

The girl nodded. "I...I'm alright. I was just...just...upset." She took Robin's hand to get up.

Robin smiled kindly. "That's good."

Then she turned to Danny and his friend. "Well, Danny?" She asked, indicating that she was waiting for something.