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A Maid's Tale	By : tealover Category: Final Fantasy VIII > Het - Male/Female Views: 886 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Final Fantasy VIII, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 7
- 8
- 9
Master Leonhart held his arms out to the sides as two men
continued to suit him up in the dressing rooms. On top of layers of pure white
shirts, which were ironed and starched to perfection was a white jacket, which
was cut away at the front but with no tails at the back. There was no waist
seam and the sleeves were noticeably long while expensively trimmed. It was as
though the garment itself was specifically tailored to not bring any attention
to the wearer, yet upon closer inspection it would show a high level of quality
and detail.

A light knock sounded at the door.

�Yes?�

�It�s Rycharde,
Sir.�

�Enter.� The Master waved away the two men who had finished
their job and they silently exited. As soon as Rycharde revealed that he was
fully decked out like a respectable Knight, Leonhart turned back to the mirror,
�Sharp suit you have there.�

�Tch tch, that�s not how you tie it...� Rycharde walked in
and adjusted Leonhart�s neckerchief. �We�ve shared the same tastes ever since
boarding school at Balamb. �Rather die than dress like a dandy.� Wasn�t that
the saying?� Rycharde puffed the neckerchief up until it was properly
positioned. �You are certain you want to attend? I know how much you hate this
sort of thing.�

�I liked my scarf that way.� Leonhart said while loosening
it and putting it back in place. �If I don�t come, who will protect you?�

�I�m sure I can handle Madame Fuujin�s advances this time.�
Rycharde said while placing a long silver-haired wig and mask over the younger
man�s head. When he was satisfied with the placement, he looked at their
reflections in the mirror.

�You know what I mean.� Leonhart scowled. Rycharde suddenly began
to pose at the mirror with his arms crossed. �What are you doing?�

�What does it look like? I�m getting my �Squall� on.�
Leonhart threw a swing at Rycharde�s head but the old man moved with an
unexpected agility and dodged the attack.

�You would hurt an old man?� Rycharde chortled.

�You�re not just any old man.�

Rinoa marched into Selphie�s room while carrying her things
in their respective boxes or hangers. Rinoa had never gone to Selphie�s room
before, it was in an area of the chateau which wasn�t even a part of the maid�s
wing. Rinoa dumped her boxes onto a couch and looked around while holding onto
her dress, wondering if she was in the wrong place. One wall was decorated with
a tapestry showing some sort of crest while the walls were lined with random artifacts
and vases from around the world, all of which Rinoa couldn�t place.

�Selphie? Ba?�

Ballari emerged from one of the inner rooms of the large
quarters and yelled, �Rin! Over here!� Rinoa picked up her boxes and brought
them to the next room.

�Your rooms are huge! How on earth did you get all of this?�
Selphie turned around to show that the ends of her short red hair were curled
upwards. Her dress was a fashionable gown in three shades of yellow embroidery
with fringing. It had many panels fitted and gored from shoulder to hem, which
gave her petite figure some shape.

�It�s a long story Rin, we have to get ya changed right
now!� Selphie said while assisting Rinoa out of her uniform and into the softly
tiered, sky blue colored dress. It was ornamented with black bows and frills,
yet it was slim fitting and sentimental looking. �I love how we all matched by
getting open-shouldered dresses!�

Ballari squinted at a mirror and continued to apply Trabian imported
makeup while sitting at Selphie�s vanity. Her vivid green dress had a wide
skirt that flared toward the garment�s back with contrasting white lace
trimming. Her long brown hair was held and pinned up with a dark green ribbon
running through it, while strands softly fell around her face. �You do know the
proper etiquette and dances for such occasions, don�t you Rin?�

�Why yes, Ba! I�ve studied at the Deling School of Ballet
and have gone to similar events when I was much younger. I remember the
waltzes, contra dances, quadrille...�

�Good!� Selphie clapped her hands together. �We should fit
right in!�

�Do hope you two will be able to fit in. I�ve only read
about dances and the like in books, so you won�t see me trying any.� Ballari
stood up and started to brush Rinoa�s long black hair. She braided two small
pieces of it and used the braided pieces to hold the hair away from her face,
then weaved small white roses into the braids at the sides of her face.

�Oh, right. Rin, we�re going to need your help in
getting a driver to bring us to Deling and then past the gates into the Royal Palace
Theatre.� Selphie remarked. �So leave your necklace here.�

Rinoa bit her lip; she didn�t want to use Telepathy more
than needed. �I�ve got a better idea.�

�He�s very smart and acts like an adult! I�m sure he�d
understand that we just want to have some fun!� Rinoa said as she tugged at her
long black lace gloves for the tenth time. They were a size too big and
continued to slip off her arm.

�RIN! He�s not even ten years old!� Selphie stamped her
glass slippered foot on the cobbled ground in protest while the sound of a
carriage driven by two chocobos approached the side driveway.

Ballari sighed, �Well� he does read a lot of my books and
even drinks tea��

�Are you serious, �Ba? Some kid drinks tea and suddenly that
makes him��

�Don�t call me kid.� A small and cold voice from the driver
seat said as the carriage came to a halt.

�Are you ready, Vincent?� Rinoa looked up at the small boy
and he simply nodded. Rinoa waved her hand at him and his appearance gradually
changed to that of a grown man in his thirties with long dark hair, wearing a
driver�s uniform that was embroidered with a winged crest. Rinoa then changed
the look of the carriage to one like that of a foreign queen�s, whose crest was
a heart-shaped wing.

�My word, you always did act like a grown up. Now you can
look like one!� Ballari exclaimed while Selphie silently stared. Ballari handed
Vincent her small mirror and he looked into it.

Vincent held his face as he examined his reflection, �I
look�� he paused in shock, as he realized his voice was an extremely deep one.

��damn good.� Selphie finished for him while still staring.
�Okay, okay! I admit I misjudged your idea, Rin.�

�Once we get there, you need to return while staying hidden,
Vincent. I can�t hold such spells up all night! Be back to pick us up at
midnight.�

Vincent nodded, �Then we should get going.� and he began to
assist the women into the carriage.

Once they were inside and the
carriage began it�s trek to Deling, Selphie began to sing a strange song that
began with �Vinny vinny, take us away~!�

�We�re approaching the gates.� Vincent informed from the
driver�s seat. They had spent the last 20 minutes traveling on Rue de
Rosa-Rydia, which intersected the Saint Chere canal. The sounds of violins and
voices began to slowly waft into the carriage.

�Ready?� Selphie asked. Rinoa nodded and the carriage came
to a full stop in front of a large and old building, which was constructed in
the style of a Centran arena.

Vincent helped the women out of the carriage and an aged
Housekeeper got up from his seat at the foyer. Before he could greet the women,
Rinoa waved her hand at him and he smiled as though he had just recognized her.

�Queen Krile!� he bowed deeply and Selphie snorted, trying
to hold in her laughter. �It is an Honor to find you here with your entourage
tonight. If there�s anything you need,� he babbled on as Vincent drove their
carriage away.

�No, thank you. As you were.� Rinoa said. The old man then
went back to his place.

�Queen Krile? The moogle-talking princess in that old
children�s book?� Ballari whispered as they put on their masks and started to
walk up the carpeted stairs. Before Rinoa could answer, she suddenly swayed and
lost her balance. Ballari grabbed her left arm and steadied her, �Rin?�

�Ya alright Rin? Ya can�t get sick before the party even
starts�� Selphie took Rinoa�s right arm and helped carry some of her weight.

�It�s fading away. I felt� a strong wave of nausea came over
me just then.� Rinoa breathed out.

�Perhaps it�s motion sickness. You don�t ride very often.�
Ballari reasoned.

�I suppose so.� Rinoa and the two women made their way into
the first floor of the exquisitely decorated theatre. Two grand staircases
mirroring each other flanked the entrance to the main auditorium, which was
being used as a ballroom. The interior was elegantly decorated with Balambian
crystal chandeliers and columns of gold-flecked marble supported the vast
galleries. Rinoa and Ballari had never been so dazzled by a setting in their
lives and took it all in. There were people everywhere; even the upper levels
and all were fancifully dressed with masks that covered the top halves of their
faces.

Selphie�s usual relaxed posture took on a different
personality as though by instinct. She was not as impressed as Rinoa and
Ballari, so she had to help snap them out of their trance. The three walked
into the room and an abbreviated version of a popular Almasy produced Opera�s theme
began to play from inside the auditorium. A man with a strong Galbadian accent
announced the next dance and the men inside the room began to seek their next
partners after thanking their current ones.

As though on cue, dozens of heads turned in their direction
and voices began to whisper. People immediately took interest in the three
young women who had just entered. Rinoa happened to still be in between Selphie
and Ballari, which is why most observers took it as sign that she was in
charge.

�I believe I see a black haired woman.�

�Could it be another Witch and her attendants?�

�I wouldn�t think so, the fair haired one looks to be
more of the upper class.�

A man with long red
hair tied back into a ponytail with a brown ribbon looked at Selphie with
interest. �Do you see that? Are you even listening Edward?�

�I�m trying to find a
new partner, calm down my good Duke.� Answered a distracted young man with long
blonde hair that fell in waves around his mask.

�The way she walks and
smiles, she looks so lively and innocent. As though her heart could never bear
malice towards anyone.�

�Irvine, if you don�t
ask her to dance any sooner, I�m going to serenade her. Just to make you stop
fawning.�

Master Leonhart looked
towards the entrance with interest, trying to find the source of all the
commotion.

�I don�t think I can
dance the next number. My feet don�t think they can take it...� A masked
Rycharde groaned over the music.

Is that� Rinoa? The Master�s eyes were locked on the raven-haired
woman and he could no longer hear Rycharde�s voice.

�I�m going to take a
seat for now. Hopefully the ladies will take it as a sign that I�m fatigued...�
Rycharde began to realize that his main bodyguard was ignoring him.

�what is she doing
here? The Master jealously observed
as three men approached his Rinoa, introducing themselves to her.

Rycharde mocked the
young man in hopes of getting his attention, �My name is Squall Leonhart and I
have never asked a woman to dance all my life.�

�Stay in my sights,
Rycharde.� Leonhart began to walk in Rinoa�s direction, bumping into a tall
red-haired man on the way. The taller man lifted his large hat in apology but
Leonhart simply glared at him.

�Yes, Sir. Captain,
Sir.� Rycharde mock-saluted the younger man�s back in the old Balamb school
style. He noticed that his wineglass was empty and tried to hail an attendant
to no avail. What does Squall Leonhart need to do to get a drink around
here? The old man stood up and as soon as he did so, a light blue colored
beast attacked him.

�Ah� no� I mean� Ah!
Madame Fuujin!� Rycharde cleared his throat, �You look younger every time I see
you!� The aged woman raised a gloved hand and he just barely kissed it. Fuujin
had a light blue tailor made suit-dress, which had a severe cut and no frills.
It was based on the masculine military style and it perfectly reflected the
confident air she carried.

�Hello, Sir Leonhart.�
The dark red-eyed, white-haired woman purred. She had an oversized and
powdered white wig, a powdered face, and an equally over powdered bosom which
she pressed up against the poor old man. She licked her lips at him, �Shall we
dance?�

Squall� help me!!
- 7
- 8
- 9
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A Maid's Tale