"I must admit," Prince Nikolas started in his heavy Russian accent. "I am quite surprised that you are Queen Klara's maiden for this year." He hands were snapped smartly behind his back, and he wore a white coat over a navy blue sweater.

Great. I didn't need him reminding me that I was his servant two days ago. "I'll bet," was all I said.

"This is a very good opportunity for you, Cassie. I hope you take advantage of it," he said.

I rose my eyebrows. "Oh, thank you!"

"I suggest you try and get to know many people throughout this day. It is important that you network today—otherwise you may not have an opportunity like this ever again," he said seriously.

In his strange, harsh Prince Nikolas-y way, I appreciated his advice. "Thank you, Prince Nikolas. I'll do my best to follow your advice."

"You are welcome," he nodded his head, and stepped out of my way.

Alright, Cassie. I thought. I need to network. I still felt myself looking around for Prince Coleman, who I found talking to a cluster of young men laughing at something he had said. He caught my eye and I smiled lightly. He did not return a smile and quickly turned his attention back to the group.

Whatever. I thought.

"Hi!" A friendly face appeared before me. Sunshine locks, an orange button down t-shirt, and a bright white smile. "I don't know if you remember me, but we met a couple of weeks ago."

"Lord Mercucio," I answered, smiling. "Yes, I remember you. We hiked Mount Laykard together. I must admit, I'm a little surprised you remembered me."

Mercucio. I thought. He was clearly a jokester, I had gathered. He had seemed fun and bright, though I hadn't talked to him personally.

"How could I forget you?" He laughed. "Coleman was in a terrible mood after you left that morning. It was quite strange behavior from him."

"I see," I said, smiling awkwardly. "Oh, how is that girl. Um, what's her name? Lilly?"

Mercucio scratched the back of his neck. "Oh, Lila? I'm afraid she dumped me."

"Oh!" Way to go, Cassie. "I'm sorry to hear that, Lord Mercucio."

"Just call me Mercucio," he said. "Or Merc if that's too much of a mouthful. And it's alright, really." He glanced around for a second. "Say, let's go say hi to Roiben! I'm sure he'd love to see you."

"I don't know that he would," I admitted. Sure, we had had a nice chit chat for two seconds about his interest in Lady Madeline, but before then he really seemed to hate me. I was sure he would despise the notion of a servant becoming Queen Maiden.

"Nonsense!" Mercucio assured me. "Roibey likes to act all prickly but he's not so bad."

"Roibey?"

Merc laughed. "Well, maybe don't start out calling him that. It's not his favorite nickname."

I chuckled. "I can only imagine."

"Here," Mercucio said, jutting out his elbow. "Take my arm!"

"Okay," I grinned, placing my hand on the crook of his elbow.

"Roiben!" Mercucio called, leading me over to the man in question before lowering his arm. Roiben rose he eyebrow as we approached. He had light brown hair, hazel eyes, and a red coat.

"Ah, Mercucio. Miss Carmichael—it's been a few weeks, hasn't it?" He said in his stuffy voice.

"It has," I nodded. "And, um, how have you been?"

"Quite well, thank you. I congratulate you on your appointment to Queen Maiden."

"Thanks!" I said. "It's a great opportunity."

"You're going to like the ball, I think," Merc piped in. "It's a real blast."

"Oh yeah?" I said.

"That's not the word I would use," Roiben said. "I find glamourous to be more appropriate."

"That still sounds nice to me," I said.

"I noticed that Prince Nikolas approached you a few minutes ago," Lord Roiben said. "I must admit that I am surprised. That Nikotan normally skulks in the corner."

"Well, he just came to tell me that I should use this opportunity to expand my network."

"That is good advice," Roiben said, while Mercucio complained,

"Those stupid Nikotans always beat us at winter sports. It's because it's so blasted cold up there. They might as well be in Antarctica!"

I smiled. I didn't really know what to say to Roiben and Mercucio.

"If you'll excuse me," I started. "I'm going to grab a plate."

There. I thought. And on my way to get food, I'll stop and speak with whoever comes up to me. As I headed over towards one of the food tables, however, no one really stopped and talked to me. Maybe I was supposed to be the one to talk to them?

I approached the food table and found about a million options of weird looking appetizers that I was going to have to eat 50 of in order to feel remotely full. Prince Nikolas was also holding a plate and looking at the table, looking surprisingly lost.

"What do you recommend?" I ventured to ask him.

He turned to look and me and sneered. "Real food."

I stifled a laugh by pursing my lips.

"I do not understand this custom. Why must we all pretend like we are not starving and eat these tiny portions?" he asked.

"You know, I'm from America, and we aren't exactly world-renown for our small portions, so I really couldn't tell you," I said.

And then it happened. I saw a small smile form on his lips. I felt like I had just stumbled across a unicorn in the banquet—a mythical, impossible thing.

"Indeed you are not," he said. Prince Nikolas then proceeded to pile—and I mean pile—on appetizers on his plate and then he strode off. I decided to try a brownie, and then headed off to socialize.

If no one was going to talk to me, guess I had to go up to people myself. I approached a small cluster of people I didn't know and inserted myself into their group.