Margo groaned again, “I’m telling you that you do not have to wear the cursed thing.” Her hand held on tight to my mask. 

“I have to, it’s for the showing. All the butlers will be wearing their own.” I held my hand out waiting for her response. Her eyes narrowed as she looked at my hand.

“I want to be able to see you,” she paused, “Without the mask,” she added as she placed the mask in my hand. 

“Hey. It’s only for the showing. Just for three months.” I held the mask to my face.

It was odd that they made us wear masks too, but it had to do something with how the personal maids and butlers were like family. We devoted our lives to the royal family. Many of the other staff didn’t see it that way and only saw having a place to live and make money. Many of the staff still had relations with their family and would send money to them. Very few would go home on the weekends while others stayed at the palace for the rest of their lives. 

I remember visiting the Queen’s grave when Margo and I were thirteen. Margo wanted to talk to her mom. She sometimes would wait for a response that would never come. The Queen’s headstone was an elegant white marble cube that had a giant vase on top of it that was filled with Picasso calla lilies and white anemones which are changed on a weekly basis. There is a place near the bottom that is meant to be where you can burn incense or leave offerings. Sometimes there will be little pound cakes or oranges left behind. I never left anything for the Queen. It never felt right since I never knew her. 

Right next to the Queen’s headstone is a matching white marble slab hidden by grass and sometimes yellow weeds, offerings are not typically left for this headstone or individual. The Queen’s personal maid died shortly after her so they both were buried next to each other. It was always like this. If you walk by any grave in the family’s graveyard you would find that every personal maid or butler is buried next to the person they served. As Margo talked with her mom about her day I couldn’t help but stare at the forgotten slab. When Margo talked with her mom, I would take the time to take care of the forgotten slab. 

The dressing room door slammed open and the head maid ran into the room with heavy steps. “You two are taking way too–” She stopped in the middle of her sentence and stared at me. Then at Margo.

“Maargo, you look beautiful,” she said walking towards her. Margo laughed,

“It’s the same thing I always wear.”

“I know,” the head maid responded and turned to me. She let out a long sigh, “You aren’t ready yet?” She walked over and grabbed my mask from my hands and helped place it on me. I can’t remember the last time she did that.

“I’m very excited for the two of you,” she added as she looked over at Margo. Margo raised an eyebrow and tilted her head.

“The two of us?” The head maid nodded her head and walked over towards Margo.

“I hope that the two of you will find happiness. You will meet the person meant for you during the coming months,” she placed a hand on Margo’s shoulder and brought her in for a hug. Margo pulled back first a puzzled look on her face, “The two of you?” The head maid sighed.

“Suki might be able to meet one of the butlers.” Margo slowly nodded her head. “She also has a chance of finding a partner, don’t you agree?”

“Oh. Yeah. I didn’t think of that,” Margo said with a solemn tone and looked toward me.

I never thought of the butlers during this process. They too would be coming to help their Princes figure out this whole thing. I fully intended to be a part of the process for Margo. The butlers and I would have something in common. Our whole world up until now had been our Princes or Princesses. I would spend all my time encouraging or helping Margo. A feat that Margo would call out from time to time. She would worry about me and tell me that I needed to focus on myself more. The thought of meeting others like me never crossed my mind. It didn’t need to. I wasn’t interested in meeting them. I was here for Margo. Not for me. She comes first.

The head maid smiled and brought Margo in for another hug. This time the head maid was the first to let go. It looked like she was about to cry. She forced a smile.

“Now, you two better be on your way. The showing is about to start.”

~~~~~

Margo and I walked side by side toward the ballroom. The Victorian crown molding in this hall was carved with people dancing, vines wrapped around some dancers and not around others. I could feel Margo’s hand reach for mine and she grabbed it tightly. Her face turned to me as we walked but she said nothing. She just stared at me until we made it to the door. We could already hear the clicking and flashing of cameras. Margo’s hand grew tighter and her breath shakier. 

“Deep breaths,” I whispered, tightening my grip now. Her hand loosened as she slowly took a breath in and out.

“I’m not ready,” she mumbled, letting go entirely and bringing her hand to her chest. I could see her eyes begin to water from behind her mask. She started to blink rapidly and hard, trying to disperse the tears.

I swallowed the lump in my throat still present, reminding me things don’t get solved so easily, not all the time at least.

“You have to be ready. We don’t have a choice.” I wanted to say better words but I wasn’t sure what to say. Margo was always confident and sure of herself, except in times like these. When she had to do something that would change her life forever she often struggled to make that choice. It wasn’t normal for her, though. Her head slowly nodded and we let go of each other's hands. Margo’s hand lingered for a moment before she reached a hand up to knock on the door. We could hear the whispered conversation of excitement from behind the mahogany door. She turned to look at me one last time. I nodded and she slowly nodded back. She took another deep breath and finally knocked. Her knock was loud as if she was sure of what she wanted. 

Everything went silent. 

I opened the door to be met with the flashing lights of cameras. The ballroom was big and filled with tables on each side of the room. Chairs were covered in a red velvet fabric and tables had white tablecloths. Already people have helped themselves to glasses of red wine or juice. A large crystal chandelier hung from the middle of the ceiling and it sparkled with light. A violin played quietly in the corner of the room. Very few people were allowed to come in person, only the camera crew, staff, and the very rich. 

I could already see the three Princes in their white suits with silver ties. Next to them kneeled their butlers who wore a similar outfit to mine. Silver pants and a white button-up shirt. The shortest Prince wore a mask that resembled an elephant. He had dark red hair that blended nicely with his tanned skin, but his green eyes were sharp. The elephant mask with its dark gray tones and long white tusk didn’t suit him. The mask only covered half of his face so it looked like the elephant was in the process of devouring him alive. The butler next to him wore a crow mask, his skin was white, and he had deep gray hair. Unlike the elephant Prince, the crow mask went well with the butler. Blending in smoothly and not too big either. The crow mask was made with black feathers and had a long gold-rimmed beak. His brown eyes almost blended into the mask.

A taller prince wore a fox mask that looked too similar to Margo’s rabbit mask, his pale skin made it seem like he never stepped foot outside and his short black hair only made him look even more pale. His eyes didn’t help either, they were a dark black color. His lips were tilted up in a smile, giving him an amused expression. His butler was the same size as him but had a rich dark skin tone. He had a completely gold-toned mask that resembled an ox. He glanced up slightly and gave a small smile. His eyes were a light brown.

The last prince stood out, the only one with blonde hair and blue eyes. His skin tone had a pink hue to it and he wasn’t as nearly pale as the fox masked prince. He wore a wolf mask. His lips pointed downward into a small, barely noticeable, frown. His butler wore a white chicken mask, he had dark black hair and blue eyes.

I walked in front of Margo and she followed behind me, her head bowed toward the floor. Once we were only a few feet away from the Princes, I took my kneeling position and Margo stopped beside me. Kneeling was unusual, something we don’t do anymore, but this was a special event so we had to. It showed a tremendous amount of respect. 

Then the final person entered the room. He didn’t have to knock, this was his palace and kingdom. His presence immediately made the Princes kneel next to their butlers. The butler kneeled even lower now, bringing their heads to the ground. Everyone kneeled for the King. The music stopped and so did the flashing. The King wore a black suit and wore a red royal mantle that dragged out behind him. He stood tall and held his head up high. A stern look was plastered on his face and his eyes narrowed as he observed the crowd. The King walked until he was next to Margo and placed a hand on her shoulder. He smiled. Then the cameras returned to their flashing and a video camera was aimed at him. Silence filled the room when he brought his hand up.

“Thank you everyone for coming to the momentous occasion. We all are excited for Margo and these three princes.” His voice boomed across the room. He turned to look at Margo, a smile still on his face. “I hope you are able to find happiness.” Margo gave a firm nod in response as the King turned towards the Princes.

“I give you all permission to try to steal my daughter’s heart. I wish you all the best of luck. May you too find happiness.” The camera panned back, I imagine to show the entire room and the reactions among the crowd.

The crew started to clap loudly and slowly, and so did the staff who stood in the corners of the ballroom. The rich soon followed, clapping politely and quietly. The Princes slowly stood up and then the butlers. Everyone stopped clapping and went quiet. Cameras were pointed at us once more. The Princes walked toward Margo, each offering a hand. Breath felt like it was gone from the room. All eyes are on Margo and all wondered who she would grab first. Instead, Margo reached her hand out and waited for me to take it. All eyes were on her hand and me. She pushed her hand closer to me and with reluctance I took it. A few gasps were heard in the crowd, I assume among the rich or the crew. I could hear the King shift uncomfortably. I could hear a few sharp breaths. Margo pulled me up to stand with her and she turned back to the Princes. We made eye contact briefly and with a smile on her face, she gave a firm blink. She let go of my hand and brought them towards the front of her. Her face turned to the Princes and she bowed her head.

“It will be a pleasure to meet all of you,” Margo started.

The Princes kneeled in response, and Margo took a step forward.

I felt her hand brush against mine as she moved.