Prince Alejandro Álvaro Aguíla de Agustín of the Kingdom of Castilya was perfectly aware of how long his name was, thank you very much. yet his best friend and most valuable source of gossip, Vhalery de Mirabel, insisted on reminding him of this fact [i]every single day[/i].

"Mirry, my darling, deadly [i]pearl[/i], you simply [i]must[/i] lay the matter to rest," he said to her. Most people could not fathom calling Vhalery de Mirabel a "darling pearl", for she was quite possibly the most accomplished operative that had served the Castilyan military so far-and very, very deadly indeed. However, [i]nothing[/i] was 'unfathomable' to Alejandro, save for perhaps a leopard-print miniskirt or wearing purple with green. 

Vhalery gave a noncommittal shrug. "I am merely suggesting that it will be a mouthful to say, when you are introducing yourself to the other royalty in attendance," she answered, arching an eyebrow.

Alejandro sighed dramatically. "You [i]droll[/i] little [i]buttercup[/i]; since when has that stopped me?" he asked in a lightly teasing tone. 

Vhalery shrugged again, as if she were saying [i]there's no helping you at this point[/i]. Alejandro grinned widely and continued filing his nails as their transport made its way to the Aciran royal palace. Alejandro was late, of course, but he was [i]fashionably[/i] late, and there was quite a world of difference in between that and just [i]plain[/i] late, thank you very much. "I am so looking [i]forward[/i] to the ball tonight. Perhaps you would be amenable to refresh my memory on who shall be in attendance, my dearest [i]jewel[/i]?"

Vhalery scowled. "You insufferable man," she answered him. Both she and Alejandro knew full well that Alejandro knew exactly who would be at the Aciran ball. 

Alejandro's eyes twinkled with mischief. "Mmm, indeed, but you love me for that, don't you, my [i]sweetling[/i]?" Vhalery did not deign to respond to that. Just imagine it-Vhalery de Mirabel, a woman who could kill a man in ten different ways with her bare hands, being called a [i]sweetling[/i]? Any person with a modicum of common sense would see how, well, contradictory of an image that was. Alejandro, being Alejandro, thought nothing of it. "So," he continued, inspecting his nails, "back on topic. Just [i]who[/i] shall be there? Anyone little old [i]me[/i] would be interested in?"

Vhalery gave him an inscrutable look. She decided to humor the outrageous prince. "Mai Mei of Liang is there with her betrothed, Niklas Konig of Konigreich der Welten. Fareeha Amari of Mamlakat Alssahra as well, without a betrothed. Liviana Traianus of the Lusitanian Empire is to marry Edwin Drake of the Britannian Empire-both are in attendance-and one Andronikos Telesphorides of the Athenian Federation shall be present too. Is that good enough for you, my logical, [i]reasonable[/i] prince?" she inquired in a sarcastic tone of voice that even Alejandro could not pretend miss.

Alejandro smiled delightedly. "Very good, my dear Mirry, very good indeed!" He paused delicately and pretended to think over the list of names that Vhalery had just mentioned. "Mai Mei of Liang, you said, my dear?"

Vhalery rolled her eyes skywards. "Yes, my prince, Princess Mai Mei of Liang, soon to be Queen Mai Konig of Konigreich der Welten, 'Mai' spelled m-a-i, 'Mei' spelled m-e-i, Liang being the large country located in the eastern part of the world. Do you understand my meaning?"

Alejandro grinned. "[i]Splendid[/i], my darling [i]flower petal[/i], absolutely [i]splendid![/i]" he exclaimed. "I do recall that she and her cousin visited a few years ago, with her uncle. That beautiful [i]weapon[/i] of a woman, hmm?" he thought out loud in a slightly more serious tone of voice. "If I recall, she was [i]quite[/i] charming, and her cousin, oh-what a headache he was to my poor, dearest [i]brother[/i]." Alejandro popped a compact mirror open and checked his reflection. His honey-blonde hair fell in waves down a couple inches past his shoulders, though for the Grand Ball, it was tied back in a neat little ponytail. Alejandro had left a couple tendrils of hair hanging loosely in front of his face, in the same way that a woman would leave a curl or two out of an updo to frame her features. Alejandro was mightily proud of his hair, in fact. It was soft and silky and shiny, and he'd be damned if there ever were a man who had better hair than he did.

"As for her betrothed...a military type, Prince Niklas, if I am correct, my dainty [i]doll[/i]. Hmph. Reminds me too much of my brother. Oh, how awkward they shall look, standing together-can you [i]imagine[/i] a drab old military uniform next to my [i]darling[/i] Mai's [i]wondrous[/i] ball gowns? It's unspeakable, such a thing, simply [i]unspeakable[/i]." Vhalery largely ignored Alejandro's rambling. She had learned the hard way that it was the best method to preserving one's sanity when he got into a state like this. 

"Next, you said Fareeha, didn't you, my [i]sweet[/i] Mirry? How charmingly [i]fiery[/i] that one is, hmm, yes indeed. I should like to have words with her about her choices in [i]fashion[/i], though, if you perceive my meaning. There is [i]so[/i] much one could do with her hair, and complexion, and figure, yet she seemingly has [i]no[/i] inclination to take advantage of it!" cried Alejandro, his voice noticeably distressed. "This simply won't [i]do[/i], my [i]dewdrop[/i]. It won't [i]do[/i]. I shall have words with Princess Fareeha, indeed!"

Vhalery sighed and continued to ignore him. Alejandro, however, was not so easily discouraged.

"Whoever decided to pair little [i]Liviana[/i] with Edwin must have been either drunk or crazy, my sweet [i]emerald[/i]. How [i]terribly[/i] awkward it must be for them, poor [i]dears[/i], with one so small and one so decidedly [i]tall[/i]? I simply cannot fathom how that will even work out! Just [i]how[/i] will Princess Liviana be able to take Edwin's arm when he offers it to her, [i]how[/i]? Is it even [i]possible[/i], Mirry darling? Oh! How [i]painful[/i] it will be to watch. You have tissues with you, in the even that I [i]do[/i] start crying, don't you, Mirry dear?"

Alejandro looked expectantly at his friend. Vhalery, who hadn't been paying one bit of attention, was at a loss, before she decided to nod slightly and make a noncommittal "mmm" sound to please the outrageous prince.

Finally, Alejandro had arrived to the last individual in question-Andronikos Telesphorides of the Athenian Federation. "Such a long name, is it not?" he mused out loud, earning him a derisive snort from Vhalery's direction. "I think I shall call him Ronny, hmm? [i]Excellent[/i]. He is bound to be an interesting one to talk to, what with our suspicions of his [i]plans[/i], oh yes. We shall have to confirm these plans, of course, but that shall be quite simple if Liviana and he are to be in each other's vicinity, shall it [i]not[/i]? It will be quite simple indeed, my dearest Mirry. Quite simple indeed."

Vhalery rubbed her temples and prayed that they would arrive soon, just to end Alejandro's stream of incessant chatter. Her prayers were answered as their transport pulled up in front of the Aciran palace. "Oh, how [i]wonderful[/i], my sparkling, shining [i]jewel[/i], how wonderful! We've arrived; and we are perfectly, [i]fashionably[/i], late!" With that, Alejandro stepped gracefully out of the vehicle, revealing the pristine, silvery-white jacket, trousers, and dress shoes he wore, complemented by a lavender bow tie and a pair of unduly large amethyst stud earrings. Strands of amethyst glittered around his neck, and rich purple swirls artfully adorned the fabric of his tight-fitted jacket and pants. It was really a rather simple ensemble, for Alejandro's standards, anyway, yet his decidedly [i]unusual[/i] manner of dress still garnered quite a few looks. Alejandro responded to these looks by flashing people a wide, cheery smile, breezing past them-like he was walking on air-and into the ballroom.

"Tastefully decorated, wouldn't you say, my dear Mirry?" Alejandro commented as he took in everything-the chandelier, the paintings, the people, the [i]gowns[/i]. He skillfully wove his way through the crowd, Vhalery close on his heels, as he searched the room for anyone in particular.

Alejandro's eyes alighted on the familiar profile of Mai Mei. Her back was to him; she was talking to a wiry prince whom Alejandro recognized as Andronikos, and her arm was threaded through Niklas's. The diminutive girl who stood with them could only be Liviana Traianus, and Alejandro would have recognized Fareeha's brazen, devil-may-care attitude from a mile away. 

Alejandro narrowed his spring-green eyes and analyzed what he saw. The slight stiffness in Liviana's shoulders, the hint of irritation in Anton's features, the way that Mai was leaning in conspiratorially-[i]Ah. Andronikos and Liviana must have immediately clashed, upon seeing each other, whereupon Mai intervened to keep the situation from getting out of hand.[/i] Alejandro nodded in approval. That was just like Mai; the girl had a way with words, that one. She could flatter and insult someone in the same breath without them realizing it, and Alejandro considered that to be a noteworthy accomplishment indeed.

Vhalery had noticed the potential confrontation as well, it seemed like. Alejandro glanced at his friend's chocolate-brown eyes and tilted his head ever-so-slightly in the direction of the others. Vhalery's eyes shifted imperceptibly, and Alejandro knew that she was saying [i]might as well[/i] to his question of [i]shall we?[/i] A pang stabbed Alejandro in the gut. The way that Vhalery immediately knew what Alejandro was saying, and vice versa...he shared that with Eduardo, too. Alejandro's features tightened at the thought of Eduardo, and his beautiful hazel eyes, flecked with gold and brown, and his fine, chestnut-colored curls, and his sweet, soft mouth....

[i]No.[/i] Alejandro thought ruthlessly, shutting down that line of thinking, mercilessly crushing the longing inside of him. [i]That doesn't matter right now.[/i]

Vhalery, god bless her heart, was as perceptive as usual. She crinkled her brow at him, and Alejandro gave her a little half-smile before prancing off in the direction of Mai, Niklas, Fareeha, Liviana, and Andronikos. Vhalery didn't follow, instead melting away into the crowd to better observe everything that was going on.

Alejandro's trademark wide grin fell over his face as he glided over to the group of princes and princesses. "Why, [i]hello[/i], my darling, precious friends," he said, giving them all a bow accompanied by a flourish of his hand. His gaze flitted toward Mai, and Alejandro's expression lit up. "My, my, my, if it isn't Princess Mai! My sweet [i]rose petal[/i], how do you do?" Alejandro flounced closer to her and planted an airy kiss on her cheek. "Well, I hope, my beautiful [i]ruby[/i]?" Alejandro's eyes slipped towards Niklas, and his eyes lit up in delight. "Your betrothed, is he? How [i]divine[/i]!" Alejandro studied Niklas curiously for a moment, before lowering his voice conspiratorially and whispering audibly to Mai. "What a [i]wonderful[/i] catch you have caught for yourself here, my [i]dear[/i]," he said dramatically, winking playfully at Niklas and making a show of looking him up and down. Alejandro whistled softly and grinned innocently at the rest of them, waiting to see how they would react to his rather unexpected intrusion. [i]Oh, this shall be fun, very fun indeed.[/i] 

"Oh, but where are my manners? I am Prince Alejandro Álvaro Aguíla de Agustín of the Kingdom of Castilya, and I am most [i]delighted[/i] to make your acquaintances!"