Topic: To Keep A Royal Secret

Rori Dunn

Date: 2010-12-31 20:24 EST
The television flickered into life, with a sweeping shot of the Nyan'Din Royal Palace, lit up to perfection against a dark night sky. Carriages and cars were lining up to disgorge their occupants, all dressed in their finest, greeted and announced by the Chamberlain of the Palace before stepping in through the great portal. With the cameras staying on the ball-goers as they arrived, a female voice spoke over the visual.

"Good evening, I'm Zondra Markolos, and welcome to the fifty-first Royal New Year's Eve Ball, here at the Nyan'Din Royal Palace! King Roderick and Queen Nadine have opened their doors once more to celebrate the coming of the new year with people from all walks of life. Among those invited are politician, magi, seers, designers, artists, performers, owners of businesses both large and small, and staff from all the public services on offer in the city. Also invited this year is the Governor of Rhy'Din, Sheridan Driscol, as well as various members of the elite of our mother-state.

"Of no little import to the gossip-hungry of Nyan'Din, we can now confirm that tonight's ball will be the first official public engagement of Crown Prince Philippe and Princess Rosalynn, who were married in August of this year. The newly-weds returned from their grand tour just in time to spend Christmas with the king and queen, and will be taking up their duties in the coming new year. Also in attendance will be Princess Aurora, returned for the holiday from the University of Rhy'Din, where she has been studying History and Archaeology. Young Prince Giavanni will not be joining in the festivities this year, due to an unfortunate accident involving a tree lit with candles only this morning. However, we are pleased to report that he has suffered only minor burns, and will be returning to school as scheduled on the 4th of January ..."

There was a thump as a heeled shoe impacted with the television screen.

"Turn it off, for cryin' out loud," Rori complained, brandishing her other slipper in dangerous fashion even as Angelica, her personal assistant, hurried to flick the shimmering screen to a deadened lull. "It's bad enough I have to come back and be paraded around like some kind of fairytale princess, let alone have to listen to that vapid excuse for a journalist big up what is basically an over-budget party for the rich, famous, and invited."

Angelica, who was unfortunately very new on the staff and not at all used to the princess' temper, turned wide, worried eyes on her employer.

"You don't enjoy the festivities, your highness?" she asked in some concern.

Rori groaned, rolling her eyes.

"No," she said petulantly, and relented with a sigh. "Oh, alright, yes, I do. I just ....it's not like we're even proper royalty, we're just royal by birth. Dad does all the administration as though he was elected democratically. I don't get why I have to join in the parade like some prim and proper little sugar-puff princess."

"Because you are a sugar-puff princess, Aurora," an unexpected voice entered the conversation, and Rori turned to greet her father with a guilty look on her face.

As Angelica hurriedly left the royal presence, King Roderick the Fourth wandered in through the main door of his daughter's suite of rooms, his crown and shoes hanging from his hand. Just like Rori, he had an intense dislike of all the pomp and display, but unlike his daughter, he knew just how necessary it was. Nyan'Din was proud of its royal tradition, and it paid to make sure that everyone knew they existed as a royal household.

"Rori," she corrected her father, but it was in a fond tone of voice, and slightly muffled as he kissed her forehead. "I'm just happy being plain old Rori Dunn, who works loads of jobs to pay for her tuition, and has a boyfriend she keeps having to lie to."

"You don't have to lie to him," Roderick told her mildly, lowering himself into a nearby chair with a thump. "Or pay for your own tuition, you know that."

"Everyone else does it," she insisted. "Works, I mean. I'm not going to be one of these layabout, does-nothing-and-gets-Daddy-to-buy-my-degree people. And how, exactly, am I supposed to know if Correy likes me and not the crown you forced me into when I was born without lying to him?"

Roderick chuckled. He thoroughly enjoyed his only daughter's outbursts, especially since she was one of the few people who actually spoke to him as though he was a fallible human being. The others being, of course, his wife, and his sons.

"Well, from everything you've told me about the boy, he's put up with your bad temper and jealous nature far longer than anyone could have expected," he pointed out. "Especially without knowing that you are Princess Aurora Magdalena of the Nyan'Din Royal House of Dunnaysa. Your assumed name is hardly the best you could have thought of, dear."

"Rori Dunn suits me just fine," she pouted, finally remembering that she was still holding her unthrown shoe in her hand. Hopping around, she worked to get it back onto her foot underneath her voluminous skirts. "And for your information, when I'm in Rhy'Din, you're just plain old Roger Dunn, the banker."

"Ah, yes, how is old Roger doing?" her father asked as the door opened, and a third member of the royal family entered. Resplendent in rich blue, Queen Nadine was impeccably turned out, as always, but her lips curved into a grin as she picked up on the conversation between her husband and daughter.

"Roger's just fine, thank you," Rori informed him primly, turning a smile onto the queen. "Hello, mother."

"Aurora," Nadine smiled, moving to stand beside the chair where her husband slumped comfortably. "I see we're discussing false identities again. When are you going to tell your young man who you really are, darling?"

Faced with that daunting question, Rori paused in mid-hop, lowering her foot to wiggle her toes into the second of her dancing shoes. She'd been considering that very topic almost constantly since that phone call with Correy. The one where he'd told her he loved her. As if she didn't feel bad enough about lying to him already.

"Soon," she said quietly, lowering her eyes. She truly was terrified that he would never speak to her again after she told him the truth about herself and her background. "And I'll probably come back here to cry about him losing his rag and throwing me out, too."

"Perhaps you should invite him here for a few days," Nadine suggested, knowing her daughter's moods very well indeed. "The palace is large enough that we can separate you both if it proves necessary."

"Oh, yeah, I can just see that happening. 'Hey, Correy, you know we're in a palace" Yeah, I grew up here, I'm a princess. Want an earldom"' That'll go down like a lead balloon."

"Really, Aurora, you are a terrible pessimist -" her mother began, but Roderick cut them both off.

"I think your mother's idea has some merit," he said, with the quiet authority that made him the definitive head of their little household. "Bring him here for your birthday celebrations, Aurora. That way you can introduce him to everything involved in being your suitor in one fell swoop, and know for certain if he can handle it in a manner which is appropriate."

"Just make sure you tell him the truth in advance," Nadine added.

Rori sighed again, laying her hands on her hips. She loved her parents, truly she did, but they had a dreadful habit of being far too calm and right far too often.

"Oh ....fine," she agreed in an ungracious tone of voice. "We'll do it your way."

As the king grinned in triumph, there was a knock on the door, and the familiar features of Ronaldo, his own private secretary, peeped in.

"They are ready for you, your majesty," he informed three fifths of the royal family, nodding to the footmen who opened the doors fully. "Prince Philippe and Princess Rosalynn are waiting for you in the White Chamber."

"Of course, Ronaldo, thank you."

As the private secretary moved out of sight, King Roderick the Fourth rose to his feet, stepping into his shoes and settling his crown on his head once more. He offered his arm to his wife, sending a warm smile Rori's way.

"Shall we then, ladies?"

"Oh, by all means," Aurora, princess of Nyan'Din, grumped as she followed her parents toward the ballroom. "Let's get the farce over with, shall we?"

Never mind that it was a large-scale public event ....Rori knew for a fact that the ball was available to view on not one, but two channels in Rhy'Din city. She was just praying that Correy had better things to do with his New Year's Eve than watch the fifty-first Royal New Year's Eve Ball, transmitted live from Nyan'Din city. This was a hell of a way to keep a royal secret.