Rowan knew that Adeline's wrath would be devastating once she returned from the party, especially because Rowan had been defended by Lord Kaizen himself. So the moment she reached her room, she changed into comfortable clothes complete with a scarlet hood to hide her face, and she threw her more valuable possessions into a bag.

     She tucked the emerald dress beneath her arm, slinging the satchel bag over her shoulder as she headed for the door. Rowan met Silvia down by the kitchens, thanked her again for the dress, pushed it into her arms, then hurried towards the door.

      She left swiftly into the night, telling herself she wasn't running away, only hiding out until her stepmother's anger calmed down. But as she was passing the stables, she heard a voice say: "Where are you going?"

       Rowan paused in her steps, looking back to see Kaden staring at her through the dark, "K-Kaden!" she stepped back, "Going on a walk."

      "With a bag filled with your things?" he asked skeptically, "Come on, Rowan, I'm not stupid. Why are you leaving?"

      Rowan sighed, pulling down her hood so she could see him better, "I'm not going to be gone long. Long story short, I went to the ball anyway, and got busted by my stepmother. Now she wants to kill me, so I'm going to... lay low for a bit."

       "In the forest?" Kaden glanced in the direction she had been heading, "You could just stay with me for awhile."

        "That would get you in trouble if I was busted there," Rowan shook her head, "Besides, I've had enough of men tonight. Thanks for the offer though, nice to know I've got a friend willing to do that."

      Kaden shrugged, glancing back at the dark forest, "If you're sure. Be careful though, would ya?"

       "Well, I'm not planning on getting hurt," she said dryly, pulling her hood back over her head, "If anyone asks, you never saw me. Okay? If no one knows, you can't get in trouble."

        "Alright," Kaden shoved his hands into his pockets, "If anyone asks, you were never here. Sounds good to me."

       She gave him a relieved smile, "Thank you, I owe you."

         "See ya," he gave her a weak salute that she returned before continuing on her path towards the forest.

Back in the castle...

         "I demand to speak with the king," Kaizen said briskly to Adeline, who had managed to regain her composure in Rowan's absence, "Unless you're going to tell me who that woman was."

        "She's just a servant girl!" Adeline insisted, "That's why I forbade her to come to the ball!"

        "Why? Because she wasn't born into a royal bloodline?" Kaizen turned away in disgust, "May the Lord forbid you are like your husband or we will most definitely have a war."

       "Adeline?" A voice spoke up behind them, and to Adeline's dismay, it was the king himself, "Adeline, what's going on?"

       "Oh, it's nothing," Adeline prayed Kaizen would keep his mouth shut, but he bowed low to the king.

      "Pleasure to meet you, your Majesty," he said respectfully, and the king returned the bow and formal greeting. Kaizen straightened, "This is a lovely party you have made for my people. But tell me, do you usually exclude servants from the party that they put together?"

        "No, all servants are welcome here tonight," the King said, and Adeline face palmed behind her husband.

        "Then why was I just witness to one being ordered away?" Kaizen asked coolly, his tone lined with mistrust as he eyed Adeline icily. He knew she was lying. That girl had not been some servant.

        "Was there?" The King glanced in confusion at his wife.

       "She was covered in filth, so I simply told her to go clean up," she tried, but quailed under the fierce look Kaizen gave her.

       "I would adore it if you told your husband the truth," he said in a cold voice that intimidated the usually unwavering woman, "That woman wasn't a mere servant. She carried herself with the pride of a royal, and there was not a speck of dust on her. Your wife had alternate reasons for sending her away, and I'd love it if she revealed them to me."

       "Adeline," the King began, trying to keep his tone light but his eyes begged her to tell Kaizen the truth. The last thing he needed was to annoy Tiberia's ruler when they were so close to battle.

      "Mother! Father!" Quinn twirled as she danced up to them, "Hello!" She glanced at Kaizen and recognized him as the man who had been dancing with Rowan, "Oh, it's you again! I see you're getting acquainted with my parents. But do you know where Rowan is?"

     "Quinn," Adeline said through gritted teeth, "Now is not a good time."

     "Rowan?" Kaizen gave her a quizzical look, "Who is Rowan?" he asked, but his eyes glinted as if he suspected.

     "She's—" Quinn began, but Adeline gave her a look sharper than flint that made her break off and step back uncertainly.

     "Lord Kaizen," Adeline pushed Quinn forward, "This is our daughter, Princess Quinn."

     "Nice to meet you," Kaizen said, trying to keep his tone light so he wouldn't sound rude, but he was beginning to get irritated, "But could I please get a reply to my question?"

     "Of course," Quinn's father nodded, "Ask away. Adeline, would you mind getting us something to drink?"

      "But-" she began, but Kaizen nodded.

      "Yes, a drink sounds amazing right now," he said, watching with pleasure as Adeline stormed off, no longer having a choice unless she wished to seem inhospitable. He looked to the king, "There was a woman I danced with, wearing a green dress. I believe this belongs to her," he held up a light green colored shoe that Quinn instantly recognized.

      "That's Rowan's!" Quinn burst out, "She couldn't walk in heels without falling everywhere, so I let her borrow my flats that matched her green dress!"

      "Was it Rowan you're looking for?" The King asked Kaizen, a ray of hope in his eyes.

     "She was dancing with you earlier," Quinn told him as she saw Kaizen's uncertainty, "Tanner skin, a few freckles, dark hair?"

      "Yes, that was her!" Kaizen's face lit up, "Is she a servant here?"

       "Servant?" Quinn laughed, "No, your Highness, Rowan is my sister!"

      "And my daughter," the King added, "Why did you think she was a servant, Lord Kaizen?"

      "Because your wife told me she was and sent her away," Kaizen's excitement at discovering his dance partner's name faded as he recalled Adeline's lie, "Why was that so?"

      "I have no idea," he blinked, looking in the direction his wife had gone.

     "She didn't want Rowan to come either," Quinn said, "I sneaked her in without her knowing. I asked, but she would only tell me that Rowan didn't fit in at a ball and should stay somewhere that wasn't underfoot."

      "Why didn't you tell me this?" the King gave his daughter a disapproving look, "Of course Rowan could come to the dance!"

      "I was going to tell you," Quinn said quickly, "But Rowan said you had bigger things to worry about and I shouldn't bother you. She only came in the end because I made her, and... oh, please don't let her get into trouble!"

       "She's not in trouble," her father sighed wearily, "However, I do need to talk to my wife. If you'll excuse me," he gave a respectful dip of his head to Kaizen as he passed, then began to walk away.

       "Do you know where Rowan might be now?" Kaizen asked Quinn, and she cast her glance around the ballroom.

      Then she shook her head, "No, I'm sorry."

      Kaizen sighed, but tried to force a smile, "Ah, well, if you see her, tell her I wish things could have ended differently. But I can't sulk in front of so many people." He offered Quinn his hand half-heartedly, and she took it, allowing him to pull her into the dance.

       "I'll tell her," Quinn promised, "And I'll tell you something too. Rowan hates dancing. If she let you dance with her, you must've made quite an impression."

       And Kaizen suddenly found it much easier to keep up his smile.