"Did I hear something? Are you going against me now?" Beatrice asked.
Margaret began to cry, "I do not want to miss seeing the crown prince today! What if he happens to like me? He might fall in love with me at first sight."
Beatrice said nothing. She stepped out and called, "Guards, I want this room watched. The lady, Margaret, must not step out of her chambers. Only food and water can be brought in.
***
The party began and guests arrived. Lady Beatrice did well telling everyone that the crown prince would be attending. Those who did not bring their daughters wished they had. But all wondered and had the same question: Why would the crown prince attend this occasion? Also, what was his intention?
Two hours passed, and the crown prince and his friends were nowhere to be seen.
A noble woman walked up to Beatrice smiling. "You have such a wonderful event here. All would have been well if you had not lied that the crown prince would be in attendance. You raised our expectations for nothing."
Beatrice's cheeks burned. "I speak the truth. The crown prince did inform us that he would be in attendance." "Well, too bad it is not true." The woman walked away, a little laugh on her lips.
***
Tiffany was a lady in her fifties and had been the head of the servants in the minister's castle for a long time.
She walked up to Patricia and said, "You will serve food to Lady Margaret in her chambers".
Patricia did not complain; she just did as she was told. Tiffany had never liked Patricia for some reason and had always assigned the most spiteful tasks to her. Patricia took it all in stride. After all, she had a goal in mind. She would use this chance to lure Margaret out of her room.
Patricia took the dishes and went off to Margaret's room. When she entered and set the dishes before Margaret, Margaret flung a pillow at her. "You are mocking me, are you not? In your heart, you mock my condition." Patricia spoke calmly, her head lowered, " I do not."
"Tell me… has the prince arrived?" Margaret asked. Her eyes widened in anticipation.
"Not yet, my lady," Patricia responded.
Margaret smiled, "Maybe he will not come." Patricia did not care. She had something else in mind. "Lady Margaret, I can help you escape this place and get to the banquet. In case the prince comes, you will not miss a thing."
Margaret smiled. This was wonderful news for her.
***
The trumpet sounded at a distance, and everyone heard it. It was a clear indication that the prince was around. The minister and all in the banquet heard it and rose to their feet. Eunuchs shouted at a distance, "The royal Crown Prince Edward." The prince and those accompanying him walked in. The prince was very tall, with brown hair and high cheekbones. He was wearing the most lavish material money could buy.
Prince Edward walked up to Minister Collins and his wife. They bowed to him. The prince smiled and said, "Minister Collins, a word in private please. Your mansion would be a most preferable spot."
Minister Collins and the prince walked away.
Lady Beatrice could not feel prouder. Her nose was in the air as she walked around the banquet. No one could laugh at her now.
Inside the mansion, the minister and the prince enjoyed cups of tea in the study as they discussed crucial matters.
The prince heard a familiar noise. "Minister Collins, I need the red royal scroll. Please can I have it?"
Minister Collins remembered that he had kept the scroll in a secure spot because of the vital matters contained in it.
The minister rose to his feet. "My apologies, my prince. The scroll is not here. I kept it in a secure location. I will go get it at once." He rose to his feet and hurried out of the room.
After the minister was a safe distance away, the prince smiled and said, "You can come out now."
Philip emerged from the shadows. "You knew I was here a long time ago. You should have sent the minister away more quickly.
Just because you pretend to be me in public does not mean you should become haughty. I can take all the benefits you enjoy away with just a snap of my finger."
Fake Prince Edward bowed his head. "I do all you ask, my prince. I do not mean to offend you. Ever since I have been your public face, I have tried to abide by the rules."
Philip gazed at him. "It is good you know your place. You know what to do. Distract everyone in the banquet."
"I also come with a message from your father," fake Prince Edward said.
Philip turned, a question in his eyes. The fake prince continued, "The King of Lafenia says he is choosing a bride for you among the minister's daughters."
Philip frowned, "Tell my father, the king, that I am in no mood for marriage. The king sent me to infiltrate the rebel groups and sabotage their plan. I am still doing that."
"The king says to tell you that your marriage is timely according to the stars to bring good luck to the kingdom. As for the rebels, you may let the king know of their hideout, and all of them will be wiped off," fake Edward said.
Philip swallowed, then asked, "Does my father, the king, have a bride already picked out for me?"
"Yes," the fake prince responded. "Lady Perry, the daughter of Minister Collins, will be your first wife and future queen of this kingdom. Other women will be added in time. And if the prince has any woman who suits his taste, servant or freeborn, she may become a concubine. This is the oral edict of your father, the King of Lafenia. He also added that you have no choice."
Philip sighed and said, "Go back to the banquet and do as I told you earlier."
***
It was already night time. The party would end soon. Patricia came out of the mansion happy. She would join the other servers now. From what Patricia could see, the crown prince was dancing with Lady Perry. And from a distance, Patricia sighted Margaret and smiled. This was where things were going to get interesting.
After the prince finished dancing with Perry, he moved to take a seat. Margaret limped over to the prince and bowed, "A dance, my prince?"
Lady Beatrice sighted Margaret and half-ran towards her. "Now, if you will let the prince be."
Margaret would not listen. She reached her hands to touch the prince, smiling, "Do not refuse me, my Prince. Dance with me."
Fake Edmund remembered Philip's orders. He could not dance with Margaret.
"I am tired. Maybe another time, Lady..." He did not know her name.
"Margaret," she responded. "Let go of me," the prince said.
Margaret tried, but she could not. She was stuck, and she did not know why. She tried to pull away again. When she failed, she said, "I can't."
"What a joke," Lady Beatrice chuckled.
Patricia watched all this from a distance. She smiled and immediately found shade. Suddenly, there was thunder and lightning.
Almost immediately, heavy rain began to pour. Since the party was done outdoors, it spared no one, especially Margaret and the prince.