Alejandro clutched the notebook in his hands as he watched Alicia walk back to the limousine, willing her at every moment to turn around so he could get one more look at her. He had almost given up when, moments before she reached the car, her head turned back to face him and her hand gently brushed a stray hair out of her face.

I'm being totally irrational. He ran his hand across the back of his neck. This is such an irresponsible decision. I have one night to find someone and I bank it all on one girl? He shook his head and returned his book to his breast pocket. It was time to return to the ball and make the rounds.

By the end of the night, he had collected another half dozen names of girls he thought might be suitable, knowing it would be expected of him and knowing he needed a back-up plan.

He felt he'd done a pretty good job until the next morning when he sat in his parlour with Martim and Yolanda, trying to plan his week around figuring out which of the women was most suitable.

"Well, I found three who would be lovely," Yolanda said as she pulled a small piece of paper out of her jeans pocket. "And before you ask, none of them are my friends. Don't get weird."

Alejandro rolled his eyes, and Martim lightly punched his sister's arm.

"Let's start with Alejandro's choices, no?" Martim suggested.

"Fine, but I'm sure he needs help. He's always been sadly ill-equipped when it comes to getting himself a girlfriend."

"Thanks for that reminder," Alejandro said, sliding his notebook across the table toward his friend. "I have a few choices, I think."

Martim perused the names as Yolanda eagerly looked over his shoulder. "You know," she said, "it would be a lot easier to figure out who these women are if it weren't for the masks. Who decided to have a masked ball?"

"It's supposed to be symbolic," Alejandro spouted the answer they had taught him since birth. "It's not supposed to be about looks, but about finding someone who can rule the country."

Yolanda chuckled as Alejandro's eyes glossed over and a small smile pulled at the corner of his lips.

"Some of it's about looks anyway, isn't it, man?" Martim flicked the book back toward Alejandro. "Spill it. Who's Alicia?"

"Is she the one I caught you with before the ball?" Yolanda's excitement was palpable.

"Caught him with?" Martim's eyes were so wide they looked like they were about to pop out of his head. "Caught him how? Alejandro!"

Yolanda was laughing so hard she was struggling to draw breath. "Thanks, Yolanda." Alejandro shook his head. "She caught us dancing to a song in the nearly empty ballroom before the ball had officially begun."

"Oh, is that why her name is first? My bad. Who was your favourite, then?"

How truthful do I want to be? Alejandro's eyes wandered back and forth between Martim's eager face and Yolanda, gasping for air. She knows.

He took a deep breath and then couldn't get the words out, instead ending up shrugging and trying to suppress the goofy smile that had appeared on his face. He hid his face in his hands so he wouldn't have to watch Martim's reaction.

"So what are we going to do about this?" Martim asked. "Obviously we need to find her. Have you called her yet?"

"Have I called her yet? It's eight in the morning."

"So? Call her."

Alejandro managed to convince Martim that planning the date before calling her was a good idea. He was definitely not ready to take that leap. Everything seemed scarier without the cover of a mask and a party. What if she realizes she didn't really like me that much, now that she's had time away? We barely know each other!

"So what are you going to do besides feed her?" Martim asked after Alejandro had laid out the plan. "Surely you have an activity planned."

"Look at his face, dearest brother. He most definitely does not," Yolanda laughed. "But you really should, Alejandro. What does she like doing?"

Alejandro rested his head in his hands. "I don't know. I met her once, remember?"

"Well, what do you like doing?" She asked it like it was a simple question. Which it definitely was not.

"You could paint?" Martim jumped in to save the day. "Or go for a walk. Or stargaze. Girls love that shit, right?"

Alejandro eyed his friend. "Girls love that? No one let you near a girl. I don't know if she likes that. She did seem to enjoy being outside. Maybe we do both? Or should I ask her which one—"

"Alejandro! Dude!" Yolanda gripped both his shoulders and stared into his eyes. "Listen to me. Calm down. Make a decision. Call her."

"Oh. I forgot work!" Alejandro exclaimed, reaching for his phone.

"This is work?" Martim and Yolanda were both looking at Alejandro like he had no head.

"No, she said she had to work. I need to call her and figure out when she can meet me, and then maybe I'll flip a coin about what we're going to do."

Yolanda shook her head and rolled her eyes. "Just take a few deep breaths before you call her. You sound like a crazy person. Come on, Martim, let's leave him alone for this part. I could do with a snack."

Alejandro opened his little notebook to the page she had written on. Alicia. Two deep breaths were all it took for him to dial her number and press send, but keeping his nerves down while her phone rang once. Twice. Three times. That was the hard part. He stood and began pacing the room, shaking his free hand by his side as he walked. You can do this.

The phone rang a fourth time, and he was starting to worry he'd picked the wrong time to call.

"Hello?" came her voice from the other end of the line.

"Alicia?" he asked it as a question, though he already knew the answer. It's her. She picked up the phone. That means something, right?

"Yes," she said, swallowing and taking a deep breath. "Hi."

He couldn't help but smile. She sounded as nervous as he felt. "This is Alejandro from the other night. I don't know if you remember me."

The joke landed well, and her laugh rang through the phone. "Hard to forget meeting a prince," she said. "I wasn't expecting you to call..." there was a pause before she added, "this early in the morning."

"How are you doing?" he asked, avoiding the question he knew he ought to be asking.

"I'm a little tired," she answered. "But I'm having a pretty good day so far."

"That's good." He paused, and they both sat in silence, the slight static of the line the only sound between them. "So I was wondering if you were free this afternoon or evening for a date," he spat out finally. "I mean, I know it's short notice but this whole thing is a little rushed and I want to—"

"Yes," she said quietly.

"Yes?" He hadn't meant to say that part out loud. "Yes! Oh,

that's great. How does four o'clock work? I was thinking I'd show you around the grounds and we could have dinner and just talk and stuff." Talk and stuff?

"I'd like that."

"Good," his nerves had finally left him and been replaced by a contentment. The difficulties were by no means over, but he had a chance.

As soon as the two had hung up the phone, Martim pushed his way into the room. "Sorry, Alejandro, but your mother needs you urgently. I think it's—"

"It always is," he sighed. "I'll go at once. Thanks for all your help."