Upon entering the majestic chamber, the two youthful, handsome scions arrived at the Queen's Court, basically the throne room where the Queen was seated. She had few guards around by her side and her personal servant. There were few audiences with Her Majesty and her principal, advisor stood next to the queen. As soon as they made their way in the long hall, the queen dismissed the audience and beheld them. They ushered into the regal presence of their beloved sovereign, the Queen of Belgracia.

One of them came forward with a letter and handed it delicately into the hands of the Queen. The queen first looked at them suspiciously and then tore the stamped letter. Scanning inside the letter, she read between the lines through the letter in one glance and then her Majesty, the famous queen of Belgracia uttered with low sonorous tone, worn out by the patina of time,

"So, who is the prince among you two?"

"I....my sovereign," He told and came forward, carrying an air of veneration and profound respect for the Queen, he bent down with a courtly flourish and crouched his knee. Taking her hand, he politely kissed on her knuckles as a gesture of homage.

"Edward ....my dearest......how is my brother there?" Queen Clarissa asked.

"Happy yet living his lonely days alone in his castle, worried and terrified, engaged in wordless meetings and he greatly misses you...." He replied and the Queen laughed lowly.

"Worried because of you?" Queen chuckled, "When am I going to see the wedding of my nephew?

"Just after Richard decides to do it...."

"Which means I am never going to see it while I am alive and breathing."

"Why would you say that? Richard will get marry and so I. You will be seeing grandchild and the grandchild's wedding too, my queen, my dearest aunt."

And the Queen's face hung down the moment she heard it. Her eyes were shrouded with a veil of misery. She began to explain the tottering of her son's life.

"Richard is not in his senses anymore, slowly becoming a drunk yard......I do not know what has gotten into him...." She spoke sadly, " He does not pay attention to me anymore. He is lost, his mind his vacant, he talks less but meanders around the alehouse every day and night. I cannot recognize my son anymore. I am worried for my crown, my next heir, and the future of this country."

"And that is why I am here, to help my cousin." The Prince said courteously holding the Queen's hand " Do not grieve, while I am present. I shall not allow you to tear anymore. Richard will marry and you will see the grand wedding of Belgracia." He assured her., " Where is he now? I must meet him."

"In his dark chambers......" The Queen replied.

"Escort me to his chambers." He asked a foreman.

The Prince along with his friend reached the dark chambers where Richard was lying down. He ventured into a very tenebrous recesses where he found his cousin laying in such physical state that even his condition seemed very pitiable

"Richard......" His voice broke.

"Finally, you have arrived in time to see my demise, what a great fortune you hold, my brother."

"Oh Please refrain yourself from uttering such words. You are not going to die any sooner. You will be married and soon become the king. And, I am here to witness all of these....get up young chap."

And he got up with his weakest strength and clung on his shoulder in order to embrace him. But he clung on the wrong man.

"I am here.......you foolish." He told from behind, chuckling his head.

"Then who are you?" Pushing him away, Richard took out a sword, " Are you my enemy? Trying to kill me?"

"A fool will always remain a fool. He is John Clare....my friend from my land, assisting me throughout my journey to Belgracia."

And Richard turned left, " EDWARD....." He screamed in delight the moment he saw him.

"What have you done to yourself brother?" Prince Edward concernedly asked him, " Staying in such somber and dismal apartments? Why giving such pain to yourself?"

"Because ......" And he began to shed a paroxysm of tears like a child.

"Can you tell me what happened? What has led you to this pitiable state?"

Prince Richard, had a short love story to share. As he wiped his tears, he began to tell his old tale and with great effort, both John and Edward listened it patiently until he fell asleep due to exhaustion. The effect of drinking needed to slow down and for which Richard deserved a good sleep.

After they left his dark chambers, Edward met the queen again and discussed to arrange a ball to help him find a woman. Edward thought may be it would help him to forget his woes but Queen Clarissa was not satisfied.

She informed that a few days prior, she had occasionally hosted a grand ball and had sent invitation letters to all the houses, inviting young men and woman with a hope that Prince Richard might avail a good opportunity to find a comfort of a suitable girl. But the festivities came of no use as the Prince was missing. He did not appear and subsequent searches by some Royal guards provided that he was in some local ale house.

"At present, nothing charms him." Queen Clarissa told.

"Believe me, now that I have come, I am not going to leave my cousin even for a second and I assure you by this season, we will find him a woman in his life." Edward spoke with glinted eyes.

The queen's proclamation of hosting a ball this evening reached in every doors of the house again.

"Is it a Royal Proclamation?" Sarah asked as soon as she received it from her maid's hand.

"Indeed yes..." The maid replied.

It was issued forth from Her Majesty's own hand and the declaration says "A GRAND BALL THIS EVENING AT THE ROYAL COURT."

Both the sisters sat with their mother and looked at the invitations. Evelyn at first, demurred, citing her disinclination to attend this ball. Her attachment with Hester, a gentleman of her acquaintance made her to think she had no purpose to attend it. She did not want to attract any more pursuits, instead, she prayed for Fiona.

"You must participate in this grant fete." She said amusingly to her sister.

"And why do you think so?" Fiona questioned back.

"Because your romantic pursuits with Wilkins is anyway not going further. You are slipping and before you become a spinster, you must look a good man." She said erratically.

"How dare....you say this? I am your sister." 

"Sister, who is turning old, gradually." She laughed.

"I am still young," Fiona replied, taking a stand against her sister's comment," I aam still bonny and beautiful and you do not know, how many young dashing men are suffering in pain, since I rejected all of them." And they burst in laughter, later the two group of sisters were joined by their mother, Lady Sarah. 

"You cannot undermine Evelyn's statement. She is absolutely right." Her mother interrupted in middle, " It is not also visible to me. I fear you are going to disappoint me again. Are you really courting Wilkins? tell me you have succeeded at least a little?" 

"You are wrong mother. It is not me who is courting. It is him." She said, taking the spotlight on her, "he speaks to me calmy but I have not yet seen that spark of love which I always wanted. I am not yet sure if it is love or lust. Sometimes he is mad with his over-expressive, gigantic speech. I am sometimes, confused. Sometimes he avoids me.....I think I just need some more  time......." She ended and rested her back on the couch. Then she looked at her sister and mother.

"WHAT? Do not blame me now..." She said casually. 

I knew this was going to happen" Lady Sarah said panicking. You have all the time until your sister's wedding." Lady Sarah finally dropped the deadline for her to scare. 

The letters of invitation had also reached in the house of Marston and it was received by Barbara.She excitedly read the letter aloud, "Mother it's an invitation."

"I am so thrilled to hear this......." Lady Finsbury said, "This time you will have a singular and advantageous opportunity."

Verily, lady Finsbury words seemed to be slightly true as her instincts said, this time, Fiona would not intervene in her daughter's chances. Barbara had an auspicious chance to capture heart of the most propitious man for herself.

Lastyear, as both mother and daughter believed that it was because of Fiona thattheir arrangements with the marques ended, but with announcement of the ball,they predicted, she might not attend this time as she had clearly stated hergrowing understanding with Lord Wilkins on the table.