Madeleine hastened to defile near Prince Yamina, who came from the kingdom of Batillos. He was born fourth, had an older sister and two brothers, and maybe that's why he grew up to be the most agile. Yamin received little attention from his parents. From an early age, he realized that he probably would not wait for the crown, and therefore, convinced that he had to become a profitable and attractive party, on the other hand, he chose the weapon. Even as a boy, Prince Yamin left his native kingdom so that the best teacher could raise a real warrior out of him. Here is just the knowledge and skills the prince began to use at tournaments, and, of course, always won. Yamin himself was a medium height, wearing long white with a silver tint of hair collected in the tail. His bright green eyes and the right face drove even the most persistent and reasonable ladies mad. Perhaps every woman who saw him with her own eyes dreamed that it was this beautiful prince who was with her in the Middle Ages and certainly saved her from captivity in the high tower, defeating the terrible dragon. Oh, those girlish dreams! Yamin skillfully used his appearance, success, and popularity. He succumbed to many enviable women, but none of them dared to talk about it, so as not to defame themselves. In such a simple way Yamin remained impeccable in the eyes of others.
- Your Highness, Princess Madeleine," said Yamin in a bow. The trick worked, and the prince noticed it. - Let me note that there is no beauty like you in the whole world! Believe me, I've been everywhere.
- Thank you," Madeleine smiled coquettishly.
- May I have the pleasure of inviting you to the dance?
- Please!
Having taken a place among the formed pairs, Yamin led Madeleine smoothly in a ring of gracefully soaring skirts, lace, and ribbons.
- I've heard a lot about your beauty. I know you've conquered thousands of men's hearts. And that's why I confess: I am immensely happy to be there and to see you in the dance.
- You embarrass me, right, stop it! - continued to flirt with the princess.
- I heard you rejected many princes. But what is the reason? I guess I'm not exactly the same?
- Oh, come on, right! Everyone is beautiful in their own way. You'll laugh, but I'll tell you, I'm looking for love. The eternal one!
- Just like any other girl. Well, I knew you would find my dream stupid.
- Not at all! I confess that I dreamt about it myself, but time showed that people honor riches, not love.
In Yamina's eyes, the princess saw a thin thread of deep pain. He is the fourth child in the family, of course, and his status as a prince was viewed by society in a very different way than the firstborn, who received everything. Beauty is beauty, but to give him the wife of a princess with the kingdom of no one in a hurry.
- And from that, they are poorer than others, - supported Madeleine Yamina's words.
- Would you understand correctly if I said you were different? - The princess applauded her black eyelashes with curiosity. - You are as pure as a dew.
Madeleine smiled gently, got overblown and put her eyelashes down. The etiquette required her to keep her eyes open and, following the rule, she looked up, ran into a charming prince and tried to slip away again, shifting her attention to neighboring couples. The dance was over and the partners bowed down to each other.
- I would like to spend the evening near you," Yamin said, "if I may.
- I'd be glad to," Madeleine replied with restraint, though her soul was screaming with delight.
Yamin pulled out his hand, and the princess gently lowered her hand from above, and he took her companion to her friend, who was shooting at them with her eyes unceasingly. Ursula praised the dance when Prince Maximilian and his general joined them. Yamin flashed with sincere joy when he met a good friend:
- Kinsley, how glad I am to see you!
- We saw each other yesterday - the general's face was touched by a slight smile.
- And yet you did not say that you would attend this ball. Let me introduce you, - Yamin addressed Madeleine, - Count Kitsiliy Borey, general, my friend and teacher. I owe him everything! Kicily is like a brother to me! - The prince spoke of him with unveiled delight and open love.
- I have the pleasure of knowing the young princess of the kingdom of Vesper, - the general bowed his head respectfully.
- Is that so?! Does she know how badly you, my friend, dance mazurka?
- Kitsiliy, do you dance? - Maximilian clarified with a smile.
- Not at all," the general replied with restraint.
- We danced with you. You are a rascal! - I jokingly swung Madeleine's fan.
- I'll tell you what," Ursula confirmed.
- Kitsiliy, will you dance the mazurka? - Princess Vespera smiled widely, looking at the general in a completely new way, who, as it turned out, is not alien to fun.
- A friend of mine said I wasn't dancing well. And believe me, he's not lying.
- But now I want to see it. Do not refuse me the pleasure of looking at your dance.
- I'm not joking.
- In vain, my friend, you didn't please the lady, now she'll please the other one," Yamin reached out to Madeleine. - Let me ask you to dance. I won't make you laugh, but I won't disappoint you either.
- Please," the princess bowed her fingers in the calling palm of her hand.
They left their friends behind and plunged into the declared mazurka.