It was not long before everyone in Belcourt found out about the raid. The source was not from within Belcourt but from outside.

The gossip spread like wildfire, from one court to another. The true nature of the Belles was finally out and all of Belcourt was astounded, most particularly the younger ladies who had little knowledge of other courts.

Now, everyone knew of the presence of an enemy.

It was a secret gentlemen's club, they said.

And a Belle was responsible for the exposure of their existence.

Who was the Belle?

Sasha! The re-courted lady!

Sasha saved the kingdom.

Belcourt was saved, but only for now.

The Palace issued a statement through the Mistresses that it was indeed a Belcourt mission that led to the raid, adding a mandate that all ladies within the institution were required to practice utter secrecy, most particularly the ladies who had any contact to the outside due to the nature of their tasks and most importantly around the children in the Manor.

Additional specific mandates were distributed amongst the Belles. More weight was added upon them and their obligation to Belcourt as the presence of the Royal Circus had finally been confirmed.

Trust no Gentlemen of Belcourt. That was the first mandate. Every man was an enemy from now on.

Lady Mariam found Sasha in her bedchamber in the Court of Flowers, her blue eyes serious. But the way she spoke to Sasha as she said, "Your presence is requested in the Palace, Sasha," indicated that perhaps the Mistress had finally accepted her as one of them.

As the woman escorted Sasha to the Palace in a small stagecoach, she turned to Sasha. "I am disappointed that I was deliberately left out of the mission, Sasha, but it was a Maiden who gave the orders and I could not complain. They have always taken delicate investigations in secret and they have always—always—been proven to be successful. This one was not an exception for you have succeeded tremendously. Belcourt is at an advantage because of you."

Sasha smiled. "Thank you."

The woman turned her blonde head to face the road. "And I find it a great honor that you chose to stay with us in the Flower Garden."

Sasha lifted her chin, her face hard and her eyes determined. "I have started this mission, my lady, but it is far from finished."

Lady Mariam nodded and a small smile curled her lips. "You have become a true Belle, Sasha."

For the first time, Sasha felt proud. It was odd, really, but she was proud.

Arielle entered the drawing room the moment Lady Mariam left. Beautiful as the last time Sasha saw her, graceful as ever.

This time, she was not wearing her cloak. She was wrapped in an intricate white gown, a goddess in a palace, fated to be there.

"Sasha," Arielle greeted, surprising Sasha with an embrace. "I am very pleased to see you."

Sasha cleared her throat, immensely feeling awkward to be wrapped in a Maiden's embrace. It seemed surreal.

Arielle stepped away, the smile on the woman's face genuinely proud.

"We do not know each other, Sasha, but I do feel that we shall be the best of friends."

Sasha's brows cocked high. "I intend to leave for Strait soon, my lady. I do not think we can have more time to be... friends."

Even the woman's laughter was delicate. "And Maidens cannot leave the palace to visit friends?"

Sasha smiled. "If you wish it, of course, I shall welcome you in Strait."

"I will personally deliver your missions from now on, Sasha. And if I cannot, Gabrielle can."

Sasha squared her shoulders, ready to talk about business. "If you do not care my asking, my lady, have they found anything in the Royal Theater?"

"They found Reginald's painting and a few other things, yes," Arielle said, taking the winged chair opposite Sasha, taking her back to that night when everything was revealed to her. Sasha maintained a straight face. She had given West warning about the raid, of course, they would not find anything. But it was something she had to do to start a fair game.

Whatever happened from now on would be up to all players. And this time, Sasha did not intend to be a pawn. She had chosen her side of the chessboard and she would rise as its queen, Maiden or not.

"But you must be disappointed."

"Oh, far from that. If there is anything I am disappointed with, it is the fact that a gossip started within Belcourt. But it is one we can readily contain, is it not?"

"Of course. The Circus, on the other hand, seemed to have contained the matter quite well as I have heard. Nothing was reported on the Sutherland Post about the raid."

"Of course they did well. They are good or have I not told you that?" Arielle sighed. "You should also know that Lady Eastwell and Lady Mariam are trying to blame the other for the lack of trust upon them, but I am to address that matter over dinner." Arielle looked at her with a soft smile. "You are a rare Belle, Sasha. Your loyalty has been tested too many times and you had enough reasons not to trust Belcourt, but you still chose us."

The pang in her chest was not strong, but it was still there. Soon, she would get used to it. "I vow to protect Belcourt at all cost, my lady. I am ready for another mission."

Arielle smiled. "We will get there soon enough, Sasha. For now," the woman stood and walked over to a nearby table. She opened the drawer and took out the leather-bound book. "For now, we have to work on deciphering the clues hidden in this journal." Settling back into the winged chair, Arielle's light blue eyes met Sasha's. "We have this because of you, Sasha, and you know it is a treasure."

Sasha stared at Addison Blackwood's journal.

"He gave his son specific instructions to get rid of this journal, but West Blackwood did not. It may be his first mistake."

Sasha nodded. "The first of many."

The two of them stared at the journal. "Blackwood should be the first and last from the Circus to enter Belcourt."

"Belcourt should take more effective measures in filtering every application from now on."

"And that, we shall. We cannot simply expunge all Gentlemen of Belcourt for they have always proven to be useful. We can only prepare the Belles to apply more caution from now on. And you should be ready, Sasha, for your tasks will be more difficult. It is now your responsibility to watch over the Belles who are away from Belcourt."

"You mean I shall assume a role like Aliya?"

"Aliya is amongst the best, but you have the most experience dealing with a member of the Royal Circus. And a Master Royal at that."

"West Blackwood never revealed many things, but I shall try my best." Sasha blinked and took a moment to ask her next question. "I expect that Belcourt will enact on Blackwood's crimes?"

"Oh, no," Arielle said, gently shaking her head. "We shall let him free. We do not have enough proof. This journal was his father's, not his. Have I not told you? The king is just and so is Belcourt. We play our game fair and square. But a free West Blackwood is good. He will continue to find ways to get to me because that is his mission. And with that, he is bound to make mistakes. And you and the other Belles will lead him and his beloved Royal Circus to their ruin. Will you be able to do that, Sasha?"

Sasha's lips curled into a confident smile. "West Blackwood and I understand each other on many different levels. He is very cunning, but I can be more than that."

"Very good. Now, are you ready to know who your next flower will be?"

"I am always ready, my lady, and I am hoping he will be quite interesting?"

Mirth was written all over Arielle's beautiful face. "Oh, he is indeed interesting." Sasha remained calm, but her heart hammered against her chest. Was she ready for this?

Yes, of course. She had to be. A new flower. A new mission. The game was on.

"You have been to Humbrick, yes?"

Sasha nodded.

"And you know of Lady Renee."

"Yes."

"And the nephew of her deceased husband, yes?"

Sasha stiffened. "The missing Marquess of Rothsker."

Arielle nodded. "The man has just recently returned. His debts have been paid and much to Lady Renee's disappointment, he also reclaimed his title. And just recently, he sent Belcourt his application, finally ready to join Sutherland society and the finest it could offer. He is a new addition to the growing flowers in the Garden, Sasha. And you shall be his first Belle."

Sasha blinked and moistened her lips. "What do you expect me to do with the Marquess of Rothsker?"

"Find out where he had been, why he returned, where he got his money, and what his plans are, Sasha."

"I am bound to transfer to Strait. I am assuming that is where he will settle?"

Arielle smiled, pleased. "He has recently purchased an estate in the same city. And he is expecting his Belle to arrive soon."

"And she will," Sasha said, squaring her shoulders.

Arielle gazed at her for a long time before she sighed and said, "That is all for now, Sasha."

Sasha nodded and retreated out of the drawing room. An Elected lady with her purple hood up and her face hidden, was already waiting for her outside, and wordlessly escorted her to the main entrance of the Palace, where two more Soldiers stood motionless.

Sasha's stagecoach was already waiting for her outside with Briana holding the reins.

"How did it go, my lady?" Briana asked.

"I have a new flower, Bree."

"Oh, you do?"

"Yes," she said, looking behind her at the Palace. "And he is another interesting man."

*****

Arielle waited until Sasha disappeared form the drawing room before she picked up Addison Blackwood's journal.

She studied the contents, frowning at every word.

It was filled with instructions, but there were cryptic messages hidden everywhere. It would take them months if not years, she thought.

The door opened and Gabrielle walked in, accompanied by an Elected cloaked in purple.

"You called for me, my lady?" Gabrielle asked.

Arielle nodded and waited until they were alone. "I need you to guard this with your life, Gabrielle," she said, handing Gabrielle the journal. "You will only take it out if I ask you to."

Gabrielle nodded.

"And how is your brother?"

"He is well."

Arielle slowly nodded. "The Royal Circus may use him again and we cannot allow that to happen. You should take more precautions."

"I intend to."

"We cannot let your family's sacrifice go to waste, can we?"

Gabrielle shook her head. "No."

Her light blue eyes looked into Gabrielle's green ones. "I am here because my mother disobeyed Belcourt. You are here because yours is loyal to Belcourt. But together, we work for one goal."

"Yes, my lady."

A knock on the door came and another Elected came in. "The High Priestess wishes to see you, my lady."

Arielle sighed and nodded. "You may leave, Gabrielle," she ordered before she turned to follow the Elected out of the room, down a long corridor and out of the building. They crossed the garden and stopped in front of a tall wall covered with vines.

The Elected took out a key and disappeared into the leaves. The moment Arielle heard the creak of the door, she stepped forward and parted the vines to enter the hidden doorway.

There was nothing inside but another garden. Arielle walked down the path that led to a mound of dirt. She circled it and waited for the Elected.

The young woman lifted the wooden doors near Arielle's lace shoes and remained where she stood while Arielle stepped down the stone staircase, going deeper underground. The doors above her were dutifully shut by the Elected who remained outside in the garden.

The underground chambers were always washed with enough light for the High Priestess hated the darkness.

Arielle turned to the right and into another carpeted corridor until she reached the doors at the end.

She knocked and the High Priestess's voice spoke from inside.

As Arielle sashayed inside the grand chamber, she found Albert sitting in his favorite corner.

"Did it go well, dear sister?" he asked.

Arielle settled at the opposite side of the chessboard and studied the pieces. "Of course, it did."

Prince Albert smiled at her. "Forgive me if I doubted you."

Arielle picked up a pawn. "I told you from the very start, did I not? We do not train Belles." His horse was down. "We create them."