His eyebrows drew together remorsefully, and he broke our eye contact and cast his gaze downward. "I'm sorry, Cassie. I—I just panicked."

"Panicked?" I asked.

"And then," he continued, brushing over a proper answer. "And then you chose Prince Nikolas. Over me." He didn't sound angry anymore, just hurt. Of course, I had connected the dots—the matching clothes, the haircut, his assumption that we would talk at dinner. He had expected me to choose him. He had prepared for it.

"I had to," I said. "You wouldn't even look at me."

"That was wrong of me."

"It was." A twirl. "I wanted to choose you, don't you know?"

A sparkle of hope in his eye, a slight smile on his lips. "You really did?"

I said nothing for a moment, before surrendering, "Of course I did. Who else would I have chosen?"

The smile that had been toying at his lips grew on his face. "Oh Cassie, I wish you had."

But I didn't smile back. "I wish you hadn't ignored me, Coleman. I wish you hadn't told everyone that I was a maid."

His smile dropped, and again he cast his eyes downward. "I just—I never know with you. I was worried you would choose someone else."

"What are you talking about?"

"I told everyone you were a maid because, because—" Coleman looked ashamed. He didn't finish his sentence, but I could presume his meaning.

"You still shouldn't have done that," I said, though my chastisement lacked any strong conviction.

"I know. And I am so sorry."

I could have hounded him on it more, but I didn't. Perhaps it was the delirium of his close proximity, but at that moment I didn't care that he told everyone I was a maid. I didn't care because I didn't care about any of them.

"I've missed you," he told me. "First your bedrest and then you had to serve Nikolas. It's been boring."

"You managed without me for a long time, you know," I answered.

"I did have to manage without you for a long time." And perhaps this dance was emboldening Prince Coleman as well, because he leaned forward to whisper in my ear, "why do you think I was so determined to keep you on?"

My heart pounded against my ribcage, I tried breathing correctly. "Coleman, I don't know what to say."

"You don't have to say anything," his deep voice tickled my ear, sent shivers down my spine.

"Saying nothing? That's not really my style," I answered quietly.

He pulled away from my face much to my disappointment, but I was met with a grin. "No, it's really isn't," he said, looking at me with admiration.

"Why are you telling me all these things now?" I asked.

He didn't answer for a few beats. "I don't know."

His face was close to mine, I could feel his breath and his gaze. And despite my prior comment about my incessant need to speak, I suddenly found that I didn't need to say anything, I didn't need to press him for further explanation. Coleman and I just danced, the sparks flying between us, our chemistry palpable. I was certain that the only thing keeping us from kissing each other was the gaze of hundreds of people upon us. We knew our dance was center stage, we knew everyone was watching us, but it was like they were there and they also weren't. We were aware enough to know that we had an audience, that we couldn't do whatever we liked, and yet it was just Coleman and I.

It's just me and you.

The song ended, but neither of us were prepared to part.

"Cassie." Coleman clasped my hands in his, almost desperately.

"Yes?" I asked.

"Let's dance the next one," he said, breathing heavily. "It wouldn't be so strange, really."

I felt like I was in a trance, I felt intoxicated by his presence. "Okay," I said, squeezing his hands.

But the next song wasn't starting. Coleman and I looked at the orchestra to see what was the hold up, but our attention was quickly was drawn to the top of marble staircase where I had first entered in, where Queen Klara stood in her emerald green dress next to Prince Nikolas.

"Mama's making an announcement first," Coleman said. He looked at me, and started to let go of my hands, his fingers tracing my palms as he pulled his hands away. "We'll still dance after."

We turned our attention to the front of the ballroom, though I hardly cared about whatever Queen Klara had to say. She went on about some trivial "I hope you are all enjoying yourselves" and whatnot. My fingers itched to grab Coleman's hand, only mere inches away from me, and I had a feeling that his fingers felt the same way. Queen Klara said something about Prince Nikolas, and I wasn't paying attention until he started to speak.

"Hello," he started.

Maybe the Autumn Prince always makes some speech, I presumed.

Beside me, Coleman groaned. "You have to go up and stand next to him," he whispered to me. "Just come back when his speech is done. It will be short."

I nodded, and plastering on a fake smile, I hiked up the stairs as gracefully as I could and stood next to Prince Nikolas.

Why did this announcement have to be at this moment? I lamented.

Once I took my place next to Prince Nikolas, he began saying, "I would like to thank you all for welcoming me to the Autumn Festival, and I would like to thank most of all the Queen Maiden, Cassandra Carmichael, for selecting me as her Prince for the day."

Polite clapping ensued.

"And while I am here, I would also like to take this opportunity to announce that Miss Carmichael has graciously accepted my invitation to join me as my partner at the annual Nikotan Winter Ball in February!"

I smiled a little awkwardly. My first thought was to look over at Queen Klara, who looked so shocked and pale that I thought she might faint.

"Thank you, that is all," Prince Nikolas announced with a nod, though this last part of his announcement was mostly unheard as people had exploded into chatter. Prince Nikolas turned to me and tilted his head. "I daresay that surprised them all, no?"

I laughed a little. "I think so. But, they all had to find out eventually, right?"

"Indeed they did," he said.

I turned out to the audience with the intent of finding Coleman again. While some of our tension may have dissipated slightly, I was more than ready to reconvene with him. However, the very Prince in question was marching up the stairs, though he his face had lost all its previous tenderness.

I furrowed my eyebrows, and as he got to the top step, he started to storm away.

"Coleman?" I called after him.

He whipped around and stared at me furiously. "Are you kidding me, Cassie?" He angrily gestured towards Nikolas before turning around again and storming for the door. Queen Klara, who had been leaning on a railing for support, once again looked surprised, and she stared after her son.

I didn't know what to say, how to respond.

"Coleman!" I cried again, but he ignored me and headed out the door.

"Well?" I heard Prince Nikolas say next to me. I turned to face him. "You should talk to him. He is clearly quite emotional right now and may be more forthright with the answers you seek."  

I nodded resolutely, and holding up my skirt to the best of my ability, I started to chase after Prince Coleman.

Was this how Prince Charming felt? Chasing after Cinderella at the ball? Because I sure hated it.

My short heels echoed in the hallway as I spilled out the ballroom and began briskly walking after Coleman. The few people lingering in the hall stared at me as I passed by them in pursuit of Coleman's matching red coat ahead of me. Coleman took a sharp turn to the left, so I picked up my pace and followed in suit down that empty hallway.

"Prince Coleman!" I cried, my voice echoing in the space.

He turned his head and looked at me with contempt for a moment before turning and walking into an abandoned room on his right. I followed him in there and slammed the door behind me to be faced with his back.

"Coleman!" This time, my voice wasn't pleading. There was anger there.

He finally turned to face me fully, his arms crossed. "Are you serious? I mean, going with Prince Nikolas to the Winter Ball?" He uncrossed his arms and placed his hand near his head, his fingers contracting in frustration. "Come on, Cassie!"

I clenched my fists. "What do you want from me, Coleman?"

"What? Is it so crazy that I don't want you parading around with Prince Nikolas?" He growled.

"Prince Nikolas asked me to go with him." I took several steps closer to Coleman as I continued, "And why would I say no, huh? Why would I? You haven't given me a reason not to."

He didn't say anything, so I continued.

"I mean, you are so hot and cold, you know? I mean, last night you take me to my room and you're sweet and romantic and caring, and then this morning you couldn't care less. No, wait, that's not true because you cared enough to refuse to sit by me. At the banquet you wouldn't talk to me, you wouldn't look at me. And the thing is, this is how it always is with you!" I cried. "I mean, we have these moments where you act like you like me and then other times you're mean and you hurt my feelings." And suddenly, I felt hot, frustrated tears burning my eyes, but I swallowed hard and blinked them away. "So what do you want me to do, Coleman? Do you want me to sit around and wait for those rare occasions when you care about me? Just refuse any opportunity that comes my way because you sometimes seem to like me? It's not fair. It's not fair." Then, I asked the question that had plagued me for weeks. I wanted the truth.

No, I needed the truth.

"Coleman..." I needed to hear his answer. I needed to hear what he had to say. "Do you like me? And I mean more than how you like Madeline or Marstella or all the other girls. Am I special to you? Do I mean anything more?" I took a few steps forward. "I need to know. Do you even like me?"