Dear Diary, the New Year's Ball was amazing.  And weird.  And fun.  And what the heck! 

Alvize is back for the winter break.  Since neither of us had a partner we entered together.  He wore a blue suit with yellow accents to match my dress.  We looked adorable. 

Everything was atwinkle in the grand ballroom of the palace for the New Year's Eve ball.  The decorations, the dresses, even the wine was sparkling.  There was an electric atmosphere in the air as we entered.

I quickly located my friends and went to join them.  Alvize split off toward a group of his friends.  As we were parting, I told him to come find me if he had trouble counting past one.  He told me they'd been teaching him counting at the academy so maybe he'd be better at it, but that I could also come find him when no one would dance with me.  I questioned the "when" and he said it was his duty as my brother to make sure no one undeserving approached me.  (I think he was joking, Diary, but as you know I'm new to having a brother, so I wasn't quite sure.)

Sir Stronner approached Arianna early for their first dance.  Once they'd departed for the dance floor, we joked that he had come too early, and would have trouble waiting until midnight for the second dance.  We were divided on whether or not he'd be able to stop himself from asking again before then.  I told my friends I had confidence in him.  I wasn't actually sure if I did, but I was afraid if he didn't that it might mean Arianna had been right that they weren't courting.

Emma and Lord Darl stole glances at each other across the ballroom, but he did not engage so early.  Still, he seemed preoccupied with looking at her every time any other man asked her to dance.  And she certainly seemed more interested in Lord Darl than any of her dance partners. 

Martina and I also had a speckling of dance partners.  I felt very radiant twirling in my sparkling dress, casting little shimmering fragments of light around me as I moved.  Everyone was made up and shining, but I still felt special every time I twirled on the dance floor.  Even if I did have a different partner every time.

Even the buffet was sparkling.  The food was all topped with specks of gold or silver.  While it looked more pretty than appetizing, it was somehow still delicious. 

About an hour into the night Lord Darl came to request his first dance with Emma.  There was a slight blush in her cheeks as she accepted.  We watched as she entered the dance floor with him, all of us feeling a little envious.

Even Arianna looked like she wished to dance again.  She had been asked to dance once after her dance with Sir Stronner.  There was a brief flash of dismay on Sir Stronner's face as he watched her depart to the dance floor again.  He quickly composed himself, but when she came back he stayed close to her, to dissuade any other requests she might get.

Arianna clearly enjoyed Sir Stronner’s attention, but I think she missed the exercise.  To make up for it, she and Sir Stronner excused themselves for a quick stroll in the gardens.  Martina and I were left alone as Arianna departed and Emma danced.

It was obvious that we each were hoping to be asked to a second dance.  Probably not at midnight.  That didn't normally happen unless you were already courting.  Still, we hoped for some sign of interest, some potential courtship to come.

We discussed our partners, and who we thought there was even a slightest chance of asking us.  Neither of us thought it likely, but there were a few that might be possible.  It was nice imagining it at least.  And why wouldn't they after all?  We were both great people and looking gorgeous.

I caught sight of my brother approaching.  He was probably coming to ask me for a dance, but I didn't want Martina to be left alone, so I tried to signal that he should ask her instead.  Alvize seemed to catch my meaning, because he did redirect to her.  Martina looked to me and I insisted that I'd be fine before she accepted.

I was watching them position themselves to begin their dance when I heard the crown prince's presence being announced.  Upon turning to look, I caught sight of pink hair just as Lucia was also being announced with him.  I was surprised to see her with him again, but also realized since Alvize was back Carmine should be too, and I wondered if he would swoop in and whisk Lucia away soon. 

Lucia and the prince moved to the dance floor as well, and began twirling in-between the other couples.  Somehow, even amidst all the extravagance, they seemed to hold the spotlight.  There didn't seem to be anything in particular that stood out about them, and yet I couldn't look away. 

"How are you standing all by yourself?" I heard a voice say next to me.  "I'd think for you, they'd never let you sit out.”

I jumped and turned my head.  Carmine had come up beside me.  He looked elegant, in a white suit trimmed with white sequins, his black hair slicked back, and his red eyes holding a mischievous sparkle.

I told him my brother was scaring them off.  After a glance toward Alvize, he extended his hand and asked for a dance, commenting that my brother appeared preoccupied.  I accepted, but I was confused why he had come to me.  

I had rejected him, and he had gone to the academy for Lucia.  The story had appeared to be back on track.  It was possible, I told myself, that this was his method of getting closer to Lucia.  It could be that he didn't want to embarrass her by interrupting her dance, but he did want to be near and sweep in directly afterward.  By choosing me, he could be sure that his temporary partner wouldn’t pine for him or be jealous of Lucia after he’d moved on.

One thing was certain; Carmine was still an excellent dancer.  By far my best partner of the night.  I felt even more dazzling every time his palm directed me to twirl.

The dance ended and we thanked each other.  I walked off the dance floor, and found Carmine following me.  That was not what I'd expected from him.  Lucia and the prince were headed off in the opposite direction. 

Back where I'd been before the dance, I regrouped with Martina and Alvize.  Alvize eyed Carmine, and I could sense an uncertain tone in his eyes, like in his letter wondering if this would be a good or bad connection.  I ignored it for now.  If Carmine had gone to the academy for Lucia, surely he'd find her soon.  It was possible he felt like leaving me so abruptly would seem rude.  Maybe he was trying to make sure I knew our friendship could continue even though I'd rejected him. 

Martina raised an eyebrow at me when she realized that Carmine was approaching with me.  I glanced back at him, then shrugged at her, trying to convey that I didn't know why he was there.  There was a slight smile on her face, like maybe she'd taken my shrug the wrong way, like she thought I was trying to convey that I had resigned to his interest. 

I could only imagine that her thoughts were heading toward the midnight dance.  That she was ready to tease me, just like we'd teased our other friends, when she got the chance.  It wasn't the same, but I knew I'd never be able to convince her of that, and I could see how it would look suspicious. 

Carmine greeted Martina and then Alvize and Carmine greeted each other.  The latter greeting felt tense, and I wondered what conversations they might have had about me besides Carmine expressing that he and I were dear friends.  Or maybe that was all and my brother was wary due to my insistence that we weren't dear friends. 

We stood around chatting through the next dance, and then Alvize asked me for the following one.  I was hesitant to leave Martina alone.  I opened my mouth and almost said I was too tired, but Carmine reached his hand out to Martina before I'd said anything.  Since she wouldn't be alone, I accepted Alvize instead. 

Once on the dance floor, Alvize peppered me with questions about Carmine.  He sounded concerned for me, and it felt good to have a protective brother.  Still, I assured him that Lord Carmine and I are just friends, and I wasn't interested in anything more with him nor he with me.  Alvize looked skeptical, but gave me a twirl and then moved on to other conversation topics.

When that dance was over, we gathered again.  Martina, Alvize, and Carmine still.  Emma joined us too, from some acquaintances she had stopped to talk to after her last dance, and Arianna and Sir Stronner came back from the garden.  With the presence of all the men, Lord Darl seemed to decide it was now appropriate for him to join the group as well, and Emma's face lit up as he approached. 

The night wore on as we stood conversing.  Soon it was approaching midnight.  Sir Stronner and Lord Darl were asking Arianna and Emma for the midnight dance as the orchestra began the last dance of the evening. 

Lord Carmine turned to me.  My heart jumped, afraid that he was about to ask me to dance.  Instead he asked if I'd be interested in strolling the garden with him.  I looked around, trying to find an excuse to say no. 

Martina was accepting a dance (a new partner, not a second one for the evening), and Alvize had been caught in conversation with one of his friends.  In the absence of an excuse, and finding myself without my friends, I accepted.  As we left the room, I caught the prince guiding Lucia onto the dance floor for their second dance, and I felt an uneasiness.  It seemed the story still hadn't righted itself.

The garden was chilly.  It was welcome at first.  The crowded ballroom had been hot, and even more so considering all the material I was wearing.  Soon, however, the chill moved from pleasant to cold.  I started shivering, and then felt a coat draped across my shoulders.  Carmine must have noticed. 

I wondered if I should offer it back.  I couldn't imagine that he wasn't cold as well.  Or maybe his male lead superpowers kept the weather from affecting him.  Besides, it felt warmer and I didn't actually want to give it back. 

At first we walked in silence.  The moon was almost full and offered plenty of light.  The colors of the flowers seemed muted by the night, and it held a different beauty than when I'd seen them by day. 

Eventually Carmine broke the silence by telling me he was attending the academy now.  I informed him that I'd heard from my brother.  For some reason he seemed pleased by that, and he continued by saying that he'd decided to become serious about positioning himself as a potential heir to his father.

There was something expectant in his tone, and I didn't think I liked the direction the conversation was going.  I tried to steer it elsewhere, towards Lucia, by observing that I'd seen her with the prince at the last couple balls.  He seemed disappointed, but I didn't think by what I wanted him to be disappointed by.  Simply replying, yes, he'd noticed that. 

There was silence for a couple steps before he tried again.  This time he remarked on the weather.  After discussing that as far as we could, we transitioned into talking about what we'd done since the last time we'd seen each other.  He described his studies at the academy (the same as what my brother had told me of his, except much more accelerated), and I told him about the painting parties and charades.

When we went in, we found that the dancing had ended.  There were still some circles of people chatting, but many were heading home having celebrated in the new year.  I excused myself from Carmine to bid my friends adieux and find Alvize so we could start home. 

So that's how the New Year's Ball went, Diary.  It was fun, and exhilarating, and not everything I wanted it to be, and confusing.  I'm still left to question why Carmine would spend his time with me.  If he went to the academy for Lucia, why is he not concerned about Lucia dancing with the prince, especially their midnight dance?  And while I'm thrilled with Arianna and Emma getting their dances, I still hope for Martina and my time soon as well.