The icing was a cream cheese vanilla that blended with the rich texture of the chocolate cake. I’d never tasted cake so rich and moist. There were small pieces of milk chocolate baked into the cake that melted as they hit my tongue.
“Wow,” I said, closing my eyes and focusing on the delicious chocolate and vanilla explosion in my mouth. “This is amazing.”
Henry smiled with pride as he took a bite and nodded. “Just like home.”
“If this is how you eat in Paradisa, I’m going to need to be on a serious diet.” I took another bite, finding it just as rich and creamy as the first. “How do people not weigh a million pounds with food like this?”
“We play rugby,” Henry replied with a chuckle. “And this is usually saved for special occasions. It’s not an everyday treat.”
I took another bite and let the flavors melt on my tongue. I peeked open one eye to look at him smiling at my enjoyment. “Thank you for sharing this with me,” I told him, my mouth full of cake.
“It’s my pleasure,” he replied. He played with his fork, not really taking another bite, but not setting it down either.
“You said this cake is for special occasions?” I asked. He nodded. He was still nervous about something. He hid it well, but I knew him well enough now that I could see it written all over his face. “I know that a date with me is pretty amazing and definitely qualifies as a reason to have cake, but is there another reason you brought this?”
He set his fork down and focused his blue eyes on me.
“Have you ever heard of the Paradisa Ball?” he asked.
I swallowed my bite of cake. “Um, a little. It’s a major national holiday in Paradisa. Everyone wears a mask for the day and you dress up as royalty. I always thought it sounded like a fancier Halloween.”
“A little. Not near as much candy.” He nodded. “There’s usually lots of parties and masquerade balls. The dressing up is important. Do you want to hear the story of why we do this?”
I nodded. This didn’t explain why he was nervous, but I had a feeling it would lead into it. His words sounded almost rehearsed, so I wasn’t going to pressure him. Besides, I wanted to know more.
“Yes, please.” I put my chin in the palm of my hand and listened as he began to speak.
“Once upon a time, several hundred years ago, there was a prince of Paradisa. He was the beloved only child of the king and queen. He was supposed to marry a princess and continue the royal line as his father and his grandfather had done before him.”
Henry’s accent made listening to the story so much better. It sounded richer and I could almost see the prince he spoke of. I imagined he looked a lot like Henry.
“One day, the prince looked out his window and fell in love with a peasant girl. He saw her watching the sun set over the palace wall and lost his heart to her smile. Everyday he watched her, falling ever more in love with her. He knew it could never be, but he had to meet her. So, he pretended to be a commoner and snuck out to at least learn her name.
“She was everything he wanted in a woman. Smart, funny, beautiful, and kind. She treated him as an equal, rather than a prince because she didn’t know who he was. Despite his best efforts, he lost his heart. When he confessed his love to her, he found that she loved him back. For a moment, they were happy.
“The prince knew she would make the perfect queen for Paradisa, but that her common birth would be a problem. It was law that the prince marry a woman of noble blood. He knew his father wouldn’t even meet her without a title to her name. Legally, they could never be together.
“When he revealed that he was a prince, and their happy moment was shattered. She broke down in tears knowing they could never be together. It seemed hopeless, until the woman came up with a plan for the king to approve the marriage.
“The prince declared a masquerade ball to announce his beloved to the court. The king and queen were excited that their son had finally chosen a bride, and happily agreed to meet her at the ball. The prince then dressed his love in silks and a beautiful silver mask. She looked the part of a queen, even if her blood was common.
“She was the most beautiful guest of the ball. She charmed the king. She charmed the queen. They felt she was the right choice for their son and the country. The king gave his permission for the two of them to be wed. It was after this declaration that the woman removed her mask and revealed her station to be nothing more than that of a servant.