Maude’s head was starting to feel light and bubbly. She stopped a waiter and grabbed another glass of the white wine.

I suppose if they think there’s still a chance with Jaspar, I shouldn’t be too terribly upset, Maude thought, sipping her new glass. But I can’t get my hopes up from this. I could end up with them crushed again. She took another swig of her wine. I guess I’ll just have to see what happens, regardless of how much I want to know the outcome. I’ve already put myself out there. There is no turning back now. Maude let out a huff at her thoughts.

“How dare you?” a voice that was high pitched and proper said behind Maude. She whirled around and was suddenly face to face with Lady Fronica Von Wickten.

“I’m sorry?” Maude asked, playing dumb. She knew exactly where this conversation was probably going to go.

“You know exactly what I’m talking about,” Fronica said. “You came to the ball with Duke Rosenberg.” Maude blinked at her. So Fronica was only bold enough to call Jaspar by his name behind closed doors.

“Who else would I go with, Lady Von Wickten?” Maude asked. “I don’t know any other gentlemen in Aulbert.”

“You could have asked him for a different partner,” Fronica answered. “Instead, you hung onto him like the leech that you are.”

Maude raised her eyebrows at Fronica. She’d been called a lot of names in her life, but “leech” was definitely a new one.

“What would you say if I told you that Duke Rosenberg asked me, himself, to come with him to this ball?” Maude asked.

“Liar,” Fronica shot back. “Duke Rosenberg probably doesn’t even spare you a thought throughout the day.”

“Lady Von Wickten,” Maude said. “That’s a bold statement from someone who’s not currently engaged to the duke.”

Fronica crossed her arms across her chest. “Then how do you explain your comment to Duke Rosenberg on the dance floor? She asked. “Last time we talked, you told me you had zero intentions towards the duke. It sure seems like you’re a liar,” Fronica said.

Maude felt her jaw open a little. She quickly closed it, hoping Fronica missed it. She’s not wrong, Maude thought. I did tell her one thing and ended up doing something completely different.

“Have nothing to defend yourself with?” Fronica said while a smirk wiggled its way across her face. “I warned you to stay away from him, Lady Maude!” Fronica took a step towards Maude. She was being very loud enough that onlookers were beginning to stare.

Why is she making such a big scene out of this? Maude wondered. Doesn’t she realize that she’s going to make herself look like a fool?

Maude did a quick glance around and noticed that people were looking at Fronica with pity while looking at Maude with disdain. Why? Maude wondered. Fronica is petty!

Fronica grabbed Maude’s shoulder and sunk her nails in. Maude gasped in pain. “Stay the hell away from Duke Rosenberg,” Fronica exclaimed.

Maude felt like a small child, looking up at her father and Zara. How many times had she been told that she wasn’t allowed to have what she wanted?

“That’s quite enough. Lady Von Wickten,” a familiar, male voice said. Fronica let go of Maude’s shoulder. A little bit of blood trickled out of the half moon shaped wounds. “You’ve gone too far, now.” Both Maude and Fronica turned their faces off towards the side. Standing there was an absolute rage filled Jaspar Rosenberg. Maude noticed that his hands were balled up, and he was shaking.

“Duke Rosenberg!” Fronica exclaimed. “Lady Maude came up to me and was making all sorts of accusations towards me. And as your fiance…”

Jaspar cut her off. “You are not my fiance, Lady Von Wickten.” Maude heard a few people in the crowd gasp at her words.

“Bu…but!” Fronica exclaimed, her face as red as a flame.

“How dare you treat a guest of the Rosenberg manor in such a manner!” Jaspar gestured to Maude’s shoulder. Maude noticed that the blood was starting to near the edge of her dress. Jaspar handed her a handkerchief, and she began to clean up the mess.

“She came after me first!” Fronica protested at the duke.

“Lady Maude is not the kind of person who ‘goes after’ someone, Lady Von Wickten. You are. Why would you think I’d believe such a farce?”

It was Fronica’s turn to be at a loss for words, her mouth opening and closing like a fish gasping for water.

“Do you not realize that a future partner’s behavior can also make you more or less attractive?” Jaspar asked her. “Aulbert does not need a duchess that acts like you, Lady Von Wickten. With great power comes great responsibility.” There were a few gasps and giggles in the crowd that surrounded them. “Your behavior has made a match between us far less appealing. I will make sure that my mother hears of your behavior tonight.”

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“No…” Fronica said, her hands in her hair, pulling tightly at the roots. “You weren’t supposed to see, you were just supposed to be mine…!”

Jaspar looked disgusted. He offered Maude his arm again. “Lady Maude,” he said. “Let us go somewhere a bit quieter.”

Maude took his arm with a nod. He began guiding her across the ballroom, towards the private balconies. He peeked into a couple before he found one that was vacant. In the meantime, Maude grabbed herself another glass of white wine.

The pair walked out onto the balcony, their arms interlocked. The air was still chilly though the scent of spring was starting to become apparent. Maude felt her heart fluttering in her chest. They were alone again. I really should have thought what going to the ball would really entail with Jaspar, she thought. I also basically unexpectedly confessed to him earlier. Her stomach did flip-flops at the thought, and she took another gulp of wine.

“Thanks for helping me with Lady Von Wickten,” Maude said.

“I’m sorry that she was acting like that,” Jaspar said. “I didn’t realize that she had become that bad.”

“It’s not as though you are in control of her actions,” Maude said, taking another sip of her alcohol.

“You seem to really be enjoying that wine,” Jaspar said, leaning on the balcony. As a result, he was leaning closer to Maude. She could smell the clean, woodsy scent that she had earlier when they were dancing. “Do you typically enjoy alcohol?” he asked.

Maude shook her head and looked up into his eyes. “This is the first time I’ve ever had alcohol,” she giggled, noticing her sentence didn’t come out exactly as she said it.

Jaspar’s eyes widened with surprise. Then, he shook his head. “I should have expected as much with what you’ve told me about your background.” He took the wine glass from Maude. “Based on how you’re talking, though, I’d say that’s enough of that.” He drank the rest of the wine in the glass in a single gulp.

“My wine!” Maude exclaimed.

“No, no more wine for you tonight,” Jaspar replied, putting the glass on the balcony fencing.

“How dare you steal my drink from me,” Maude said, crossing her arms at him.

“I’m not carrying you to the carriage at your first ball. A lady needs more dignity than that would afford you.”

Maude grunted at him. “Speaking of a lady’s dignity, why did you leave me when I said I was enjoying your company?” she asked.

Maude noticed Jaspar’s jaw working, as if he was chewing on something. What the hell? She wondered. Everyone has been telling me that they think he has feelings for me. I found it in myself to go for it because of their encouragement. How could so many people have just been outright wrong?

“I basically confessed my feelings to you and it was ignored after I did,” she continued. “That seems pretty undignified if you ask me.” She turned away from him, feeling tears stinging her eyes once more from his reaction. I should have never listened to Cristyne and Melissa! She thought.

“What feelings are you talking about?” Jaspar asked softly.

“That I’ve fallen for you, of course,” Maude replied. “What other feelings could I possibly be referring to?” Maude felt her hands starting to shake. Her heart was thundering through her chest. This time, she’d made it abundantly clear what she’d meant by her feelings. There should be no doubts in Jaspar’s mind about how she felt about him.

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw him clenching his fists. Son of a…! She thought. I was right. Everyone else was wrong. Jaspar doesn’t feel the same.

Maude turned away from him, facing the entrance to the ballroom. “I knew it,” she said. “You don’t feel the same way at all. But still I…I thought it would be good for you to know.” Tears were threatening to fall. She started walking toward the balcony’s entrance.

“Wait,” Jaspar said, grabbing her wrist.

“What?” Maude replied. “What could you possibly have to say?”

“That’s harsh,” he said. “Maude.” He paused for a moment. “Maude, I feel the same way.”

“Liar,” she said, trying to pull her wrist away from him. The tears were falling now. “You’re only saying that because I’m upset and you’re trying to comfort me.”

“I’m not just saying that,” Jaspar replied. “I just…” he sighed heavily. “It’s not as simple as it would normally be, because you’re the empire’s sword saint. We captured you as a prisoner of war. I’ve been trying to find a way for us to be together before telling you how I felt.” He sighed heavily behind her. “I just have yet to figure something out that will allow us to be together. I used to not have any problem bearing the idea that I’d marry Fronia Von Wickten. I never liked her all that much, but now the thought of having anyone but you seems impossible. You came into my life and changed everything, Maude,” he said. His voice sounded impassioned. Maude had never heard him talk like this before. “You’ve become a part of my daily life, daily thoughts, and my world. It’s not something I want to mess up through not being patient enough.”

Maude turned around, tears still falling down her cheeks, but with her eyes no longer filled with tears. She looked into his eyes with her own. Inside of them seemed to be a mixture of desperation and desire.

Maude stood up on her toes, and pulled Jaspar’s face to her’s, planting a kiss on his lips. She felt his whole body recoil at first, then he pulled her closer, deepening the kiss. His arms wrapped around her, and he held her body close to his.

Maude’s body felt like it was on fire. She found her hands in his hair. It was so much softer than she’d expected. Jaspar pulled her in closer, holding her tightly. Then, he gently pushed her away from him. Even so, she was still in his arms.

“Why wait?” she asked him.

“You’re drunk,” Jaspar said softly. “It’s good to know you’re far bolder with some alcohol in you.”

Maude giggled. “You won’t be saying that when you look back at this moment.”

Jaspar’s face was bright red under the moonlight. I want to kiss him again, Maude thought.

“We should probably go back to the manor,” Jaspar murmured. “We can’t have you acting like this in front of the nobles.”

“Acting like what?” she asked, giggling while touching a single finger to his cheek.

He dropped his arms from her waist, and then offered his arm to her. “You know exactly what I’m talking about,” he said. Maude couldn’t help herself and giggled again. She linked her arm through his. “Please hold yourself together and attempt to be proper as we make our way to the carriage, Lady Maude,” he said. “High society has a long memory.”

“Your wish is my command, Duke Rosenberg,” she said with a little giggle.