Ariadne's POV


"He sounds so perfect," my sister, Eileithyia sighed, clutching her newest book to her chest. El, a nickname much easier to pronounce, and Diana were the book lovers in the family. The difference between the two was El could read anywhere and everywhere, whereas Diana preferred a quiet room with no one to bother her. Which was why she disappeared so often.

I smiled and nodded. After the ball, all my sisters had been asleep and didn't get to hear how it was. Because of this, Eileithyia woke me and our other sisters up before the sun had even risen, begging me to tell them everything.

"Not perfect enough to be woken up so early," Bellona, or Bell as she preferred, complained. I looked up at Bell amused, she was 16 now and woke up at least this early every morning, but she was headstrong and wanted to be the one who woke herself up. Her twin, Charities was the opposite, she was happy to be woken up by anyone. Charities was the exact replica of our mother who died giving birth to the last set of twins, Khione and Leto. The past two years had been very difficult for us all, but Charities was our main source of comfort. Being the oldest child, you would think the mother role would have been taken by me, but I was constantly busy studying to be queen and I did not have the patience that Charities did.

"Ardeen! Wake up!" Fortuna yelled as she burst into my room, if we weren't all awake already, that would have done it. "Oh, nevermind."

I looked at her curiously. "What's going on?" I asked quietly, trying not to wake Iris, even though I knew she could sleep through anything.

Fortuna grinned. "There's a gent here to see you. Although I can't possibly know what got into him to come this early in the morning."

Butterflies erupted in my stomach. "Who is it?"

"How am I supposed to know," she said shrugging. "I think he was at your ball though."

"What if it's the prince?" El squealed.

I quickly sent for my maid, and she helped me get ready as fast as possible. I couldn't help but wonder what he was doing here. It seemed to take forever before I was finally ready. And it took all my willpower not to run down the hallway and stairs. I was still a princess after all. Before entering the drawing-room I took a breath to compose myself and then walked in.

Lord Tweedle quickly rose to his feet as I entered. "Good morning milady, it is good to see I am not the only early riser in the 12th Realm."

I attempted to hide the disappointment from my face. "Lord Tweedle, how gracious of you to come visit at this hour. Was there something desperate you had to say to me before the next ball this evening?"

He laughed. "I would not come without good reason, I assure you, Princess."

I smiled politely and sat down, preparing for another one of his long conversations. "And what would that reason be?"

He sat down across from me and scooped up my hand in his. "I just had to make sure I reserved a spot with you at tonight's ball. I will not be able to make it before your dance card is full, so I had to come now."

"I could not say no to a man who has seemed to put so much effort forth just to swing me around the floor. I promise I will reserve a dance for you, Lord Tweedle."

His eyes lit up like candles in a dark room. "Thank you ever so much, your highness. I promise this dance will be the highlight of your evening!"

Standing up, with forced me to stand as well for he was still holding my hand, Lord Tweedle thanked me again and kissed my now sweaty hand. Then he practically skipped out the door.

I groaned. I did not want him to think I was approving of some courtship between the two of us, it was just unladylike to refuse someone a dance without good reason. Surely he knew that.

"Ariadne, are you here?"

I turned to see my father's large frame standing in the doorway. "Yes, I am here."

"Good. Bell and Charities need help with their dresses since most of their maids are helping down here if you would be so kind as to help them." He phrased it as a question, but I knew it was not one.

"I'll go and see what they need," I said then a little four-year-old with surprisingly good taste popped into my head. "Where's Juno?"

Father laughed. "I believe she's already there."

I smiled at the thought of Juno telling Bell and Charities what to do as I ran up the stairs and into their room.

"No. Dis one is pweety, just twy it," Juno told Bell.

"Juno."

"Do it."

"Oh! That will look gorgeous on you Bell!" Charities said coming out from behind a curtain in a beautiful lavender gown that made her look like a fairy: happy, beautiful, and perfect.

I stared at my 14-year old sister in stunned amazement as Juno clapped her hands. "Pweety! Pweety!"

Charities twirled, at the request of Juno, and laughed in excitement.

"Fine. I'll try it," Bell said and grabbed a mint green gown.

"Well, it looks like I wasn't needed after all," I said smiling.

"Ardeen!" Charites exclaimed and ran over to me. "Do you like it?" She twirled again.

"No." I paused. "I love it! It's perfect for you," I said and hugged her. Then, after a minute, we released and I saw Bell come out. "Wow. Bell, you're-"

"A big fat ogre."

"No! Not at all," I said walking over to her. "You're beautiful."

"Very." Juno nodded smugly.

"Now all that's left is your hair," I said trying to think what would go best with my beautiful sisters.

"Messy Bun," Juno said pointing at Charities, then she pointed at Bell, "Curwled up-do."

"You always surprise me with your ideas," I said to Juno, who shrugged and smiled.

"Start with Char, I have to go get something," Bell said.

"Okay, but be careful with that dress," I warned.

"Since when am I not careful?" Bell said with a mischievous grin.

"Please, Bell-"

"Don't worry. I'll be back before you can say fiddlesticks."

"Fiddlesticks!" Charities called as Bell disappeared from the doorway.

"Very funny!" Bell called back.

"Okay," I said rubbing my hands together. "Let's get started."

Charities sat down and I started twisting and pulling her beautiful light brown hair into a bun while Juno gave me advice.

"Are you two done yet?" Charities asked after a few moments of concentrated silence.

"One. Last. Pin. There! Done. I'm surprised you didn't say 'Ow' once," I said sitting on her bed.

"I guess I'm immune to it now since it's been pulled so much," Charities teased and tried to glare at me but she burst out laughing instead.

After we overcame our laughter, a wave of fear overcame me. "Where's Bell?"

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