Royal Treatment

 Pick one Chloe. Only one.

 

 Ok so we got one for Van, one for Zane, two for both and many undecided.
 Who do you think would be the "killer"?
Next post with ONE prince, breaks the tie.  Please only pick one.

 

I gave this a little extra time because people were struggling to decide. BUT.
 3-2 Accuse Van.
Voting closed *sob* I miss my gavel

Next part coming soon 

 

I swung my finger up and pointed at Van. "I think it must be you." I felt a little faint as everyone looked from me to Van. "Y-Your highness," I added belatedly.

Van looked shocked but then his eyes narrowed in glee. He plucked the bright red tag from his coat and flipped it around so I could see the back. It read 'Killer'. "Ding, ding; winner!" he said and tossed it carelessly aside. "How did you know?"

Zane snorted. "As if I would participate," he said irritably and discarded his tag as well.

I blushed, as I had thought that as well. "I just knew it had to be you," I mumbled, embarrassed at being out on the spot.

"As expected from our princess," Van purred his voice low. "What should your reward be?"

Van reached for me, his eyes glittering in unrestrained passion, but Zane cut in just then. "Prince Orcello, your little stint has been amusing, however this is my gathering and I think I've had quite enough of this." He forcefully grabbed Van's hand and pushed it away.

Van shook his head in irritation, knocking a stray hair from his face as he glared up at Zane. It seemed he wasn't in the mood for direct confrontation however and he pulled his arm jerkily from Zane's grasp.

"As you wish, DeGillus." There was no playfulness in his tone. He turned to me next. "I'm sure you'll be coming to return my jacket at my masquerade ball tomorrow night," he said cheerfully. "I'll be expecting you." He walked briskly away, rousing the crowd from where they stood about. The noise level quickly returned to normal.

Zane shot me an enquiring look but he did not ask. "It's getting late," he said. "Shall I arrange a ride for you to return you to your hotel?"

"Actually, your highness..." I mumbled, feeling shy suddenly under his intense presence. "The notebook..."

Zane stared down at me. "Oh, that." A small smile crossed his lips. "Of course, if you'd follow me."

It was hard keeping up with his long strides as he led me from the ballroom. He walked quickly but so gracefully I almost believed he was floating as he moved down the hallway and into a corridor. He opened a door and motioned for me to enter. I did so, ducking my head as I passed by him.

Inside the room, it was surprisingly sparse of the usual elegant decorations that were placed ubiquitously across the castle. There was a single stand sitting in the far corner in front of a row of tall imposing oak bookshelves that were crammed to the teeth. Upon the stand was a slender violin. Zane moved to the desk on the opposite side of the room and grabbed the notebook that lay upon it.

"It's a shame I don't get to see what's inside," he said in an uncharacteristically mischievous manner. "But I have no doubt that this is yours."

I took the notebook from his outstretched hand and pressed it tightly to my chest. I could never be so careless with something this precious instead. It was my livelihood after all. A pain filled me as I remembered that I was here at Isola del Paradiso for work and nothing more. Suddenly my silly crushes and romances inside those pages seemed incredibly shallow and deluded.

"Do you play?" I asked, motioning to the violin, trying to fill the silence and distract me from my negative thoughts.

 

 *put on the spot

Please forgive any minor spelling issues. I hate my keypad.

 

Zane looked at me curiously and walked to the violin. Casting a sideways glance at me, he lifted it from the stand and placed it under his chin. He picked up the long now and moved it over the strings, creating a wonderful clear sound. I was transfixed by his playing, and sunk down into a plush love seat that was sitting near the door.

My eyes watched his graceful fingers moving in a whirlwind, depressing the strings as he drew melodic notes from the instrument with the now. The next thing I knew, Zane was gently shaking my shoulder to wake me. I gasped as I realized that I had fallen asleep. This night had been exhausting so far and it was after midnight for sure.

"I'm so sorry!" I exclaimed, mortified.

"You may stay here if you wish," Zane said, ignoring my discomfort. He had replaced the violin upon the stand and looked a little tired himself. "We have more than enough room here. There's also a car waiting outside if you need to return to your hotel."

"Thank you very much," I blurted out, standing abruptly. "I still have work I need to do, so I'll return immediately!"

Zane's blue eyes widened at my outburst. Then he laughed, a soft crystalline sound. "All right; let me lead you back outside."

The party in the ballroom had wound down and people were leaving although other persistent guests continued to drink. The lifestyle of nobles really was a different one. Van grabbed my arm as I passed. "Don't forget, tomorrow."

Prince DeGillus grabbed my other arm and gently pulled me away. "Of course Prince Orcello," he said firmly and led me outside. A car was indeed waiting and he watched as I got in. "By the way, you may keep the dress," Zane called out as he shut the door. He smirked at Van. It was obviously alluding to earlier when Van had asked for his jacket back.

"Ah, well she looks much better in it than you would, Zaney-poo," Van said, unable to resist returning a jab of his own at the Avyys Prince.

Those two were like oil and water. I didn't hear what Zane responded as the car pulled away. By the time it had driven up to Hotel Calla I had drifted off again. Stumbling sleepily to my room I almost missed the note that was stuck upon the door handle. I grabbed it and went inside, divesting myself of the dress as carefully as I could as I headed for the shower.

Setting the note upon the sink I rinsed off quickly and searched for some pajamas before going to my desk. Despite my body craving sleep, I finished off the article and sent it to Werner, adding the events of Prince DeGillus's party. I forgot about the letter in the bathroom entirely and fell upon the bed, asleep almost instantly.