A message was sent to him from an unknown source claiming that Emma was the mysterious woman. Emma had paid a handsome amount to have that message sent. This was the first hint as to who the woman was and the King was quick to follow it up.

When he turned up at Emma’s home she feigned complete surprise, but when pressed admitted that it was her. She claimed that she had been too shy to take off the mask in his presence and begged him not to be angry with her.

The King accepted her explanation for Emma was, if nothing else, the consummate actress. She batted her eyes at him and had the King eating out of her hand. Yet there was something nagging at him, something he could not put a finger on.

Emma was going to be introduced to the Court at a Grand Ball and a week after that would be the Royal Wedding. As the day arrived Emma was so excited, all her devious planning was coming to fruition. After this Ball would be the wedding and then she, not the King, would rule the Kingdom. She would make sure that he would take second place to her.

Everything was going so well at the Grand Ball, until the mysterious woman arrived. She was wearing the same gown that she had worn to the Masquerade Ball and even wore the same mask.

The King stopped mid dance, he was utterly confused. You might even say that he was shocked. Emma could not believe what was happening. So close, so close to ruling the Kingdom and this woman was going to spoil it all.

Without thinking Emma started to rant and rave, telling the King to ignore her; telling him that she was an imposter trying to spoil things. The more she ranted and raved the more the King’s eyes were opened to the point he suddenly realised who she really was. She was the woman in the beautiful gown who had been so rude to all and sundry.

He ordered the guards to restrain her. Slowly he approached the mysterious woman. Just a few words and he realised how, in his loneliness and desperation, he had been fooled. This was really the one he had fallen in love with.

Carefully he removed her mask. The beauty of her face matched the inner beauty that he had found. Emma screamed when she saw the face behind the mask. The face that looked out was Riberta, her step-sister. Lavina had given Riberta the chance to go to the Ball by combining both gowns into one.

Riberta and the King lived happily ever after. Lavina, though not a Queen, did marry a highborn and also lived happily ever after. Emma, although her crime was of such an heinous nature that she could be sentenced to death, through the kindness of Riberta was spared and only sentenced to work with the pigs for the term of her natural life.

It has been noted that there are two brothers travelling around the countryside retelling these types of events in a manner that is far from the truth. It is unknown why they are doing this but at least here the truth is recorded.