The Elusive Prince

Chapter 4: Dancing with a masked mystery

Merideth

As soon as King Philip announced the lost prince, the party was on full blast. Everybody was chatting and rejoicing over the fact that the prince was finally found and back again. I too was currently in a table with some of classmates, conversing about the news and of course the bets. There were only a few of us though seeing as the others were probably still hiding, hoping to win our bet.

As I sipped my wine and others were inviting who they fancy to dance with a few inviting me but I denied them leaving me by myself on the table that was once occupied by my friends who were now on the dance floor, I notice the mysterious person again. Although this time, he seems to not be hiding anymore but instead heading straight into me. I straightened up and looked at the guy, I confirmed, approach me on the now lonely table.

“Good evening, why is this pretty lady alone on this table?” he asked. At the sudden nickname, I remember Kairo who called me that earlier. I smirked, wondering if this was his way of getting my attention like he mentioned earlier. Well it certainly worked, but I won’t give him the satisfaction of knowing that.

I don’t know, but I’m not alone now that you’re here with me now am I?” He seems to be taken aback by my statement which made me smirk internally. Heh two can play this game Kairo.

“Is that so? Then you wouldn’t mind if I keep this lovely lady company tonight then?” he quipped back with a smirk. Oho, he seems to still be playing. Well, I guess entertaining his little act isn’t too bad for entertainment.

“Suit yourself.” I just shrugged and continued to sip on my drink as Kairo inched closer to me, also holding on a drink. Kairo seems to have a deeper voice now but I guess it’s part of his act of trying to sound mysterious.

“Say, what do you feel about the announcement?” Kairo asked me. I turned my body away from the dancefloor and fully faced him. He was sipping his drink all the while keeping his eyes glued on the dancing crowd, specifically the Crown Prince of Trost who was currently being introduced to important people by his father.

“Hmmm, you mean the lost prince?” I replied as I was stirring my wine gently. I don’t know why he would ask such a thing but I guess I could indulge him. He just nodded at me not taking his eyes off the Crown Prince of Trost who was now mingling with the crowd with his mask on. Not that it really matters, seeing as with that entrance, everybody knew who he was but I guess for the sake of the party, he kept it on.

“Well, I’m certainly happy about it. I heard from my father that King Philip, although smiling, was never really truly happy after the death of his wife. He was also always worried about who he would put next in line on the throne seeing as he refuse to marry someone again." I paused for a bit to assess his reaction but he was unmoving so I continued.

"But I guess now that his son is back, he could be happier again you know? And ease off that guilt and burden he has been carrying on his chest ever since that tragedy happened.” I answered while still stirring the drink in my hand. Kairo was still silent beside me and I just shrugged it off. Maybe he was planning to break his act soon that’s why he was keeping silent.

“Say, will indulge me with a dance tonight milady?” he asked suddenly which startled me a little, breaking the silence between us, as he held his hand out to me. I looked at him in the eyes, noting the pretty black mask he has on with gold trims painting the mask making his eyes a little prettier than usual. Although, his eyes seem to be a shade darker than usual but I guess it’s just the lighting.

“I thought you’d never ask.” I smirked as I took his hands and he smiled, leading me into the dance floor where a lot of people were already dancing.

He put his hands on my waist gently as I placed my hands on his shoulder and he took ahold of my other hand as he glided me in time with the beat. We were dancing like we’re the only one’s on the dancefloor. Kairo seems to be a bit more skilled in dancing than he was the last time. Guess he practiced because he wasn't stepping on my shoe on every turn.

I don’t know why though, but I felt a different sort of flutter when I look at him in the eyes than usual. It’s as if he was different person tonight as I look into those green orbs that looked like emeralds that hides a lot of secrets behind them. I was staring at those eyes, wondering what emotion is behind those eyes that he is suppressing as we swayed into the dance floor.

We continued dancing like that to the upbeat sound of music and then when the song came to an end, he dipped me low enough before pulling me back up, pressing me closer into his chest as I now come face to face with those magnificent eyes. The longer I stared at them, the more I feel like the color was different than usual, it was tantalizing that I think I’m being sucked in. I don’t know why but I never felt this way towards Kairo before. It might just be because I was closely looking at it now at such a close distance and after such a wonderful dance at that.

We were still staring deep into each others eyes, almost as if challenging the other to break first when the music started again, this time however with a very slow and sweet beat to it that was perfect for slow dancing. He inched me away from his chest and smiled at me and by gosh that smile is perfect. I've seen Kairo smile a lot of times but this one was by far his best one and saying that is not an exaggeration.

“Would you like to dance again?” he asked in the middle of the dancefloor where people were already started moving around us to the sweet sound of music.

“Of course.” I replied, this time, he took a hold of my arms and encircled them around his neck as he held both his hands on my waist and he started rocking us back and forth to the slow beat of the music filling our ears.

If I thought, our dance earlier was nice, then this one was 10 times better. I don’t know why but the emotion behind those emerald eyes were stronger now but not enough for me to determine what beyond them and it’s making me curious. Kairo’s eyes usually show what he feels at the moment but it seems to not be the case tonight.

“You really love dancing huh?” he whispered but more to himself than to me. I think I wasn’t meant to hear it, but given our close proximity I did.

“Of course, dancing is great especially if it’s with you.” I teased him and he just gave me a laugh at my attempt at flirting and tightened his hold on my waist, as if scared I would suddenly vanish.

“Well of course, you do look amazing when dancing. Like an angel gracing us with your presence by swaying slowly to the beat of the music.” He replied. I almost blushed at the statement but seeing as it was Kairo who always used to say these things, I forced myself to not let it get to me. Dammit, why am I suddenly affected so much by his words? He usually says cheesy things like this in his attempt at flirting but why did he suddenly level up? And it’s not like I really like him like that but why do I feel like my heart is racing now?

“Why you have a sweet tongue now have you? You could make anyone fall with that.” I teased to hide the panic rising inside my heart as he swayed me more to the beat.

“Well it’s useless if it works on anyone if it didn’t work on you.” He said but lacking his usual teasing smile when he flirted. He almost looked serious with his statement that I almost went red, key word almost. I had to remind myself that he was just teasing me so he could see me get frazzled. But dammit, I’m close to being frazzled by his words.

“And if I tell you it did what would you do?” I egged him on just to see how he will reply. Me and Kairo always flirted before but this was next level flirting that I can’t help but feel things I shouldn’t. Kairo just tightened his grip on my waist again as he pressed us close even further, so close that I could feel his breath fanning my face already. The panic inside me went on red alert at his sudden display but I wouldn’t be labeled as stubborn if I looked away so instead I stared at him dead straight into his eyes, never letting myself waver even if I feel like falling in the depths of those magnificent eyes. He didn’t reply for a long time, just staring at me but then he inched closer, if that was even possible, that I feared he would kiss me but instead of my lips he went close to my ear and he just stayed there, breathing into it, meanwhile I felt like my breathe was stuck in my throat as I waited for what he would do.

“Then I’ll be the happiest and luckiest man alive.” He whispered into my ear that sent a shiver run down into my spine for some reason and before I could even reply or even comprehend what was happening, the music came to an end and he let go of me slowly and started walking away, blending in with the crowd of dancing bodies and leaving me to gape in the dancefloor dumbfounded as my head tried to process what just happened. I let the breath that I was holding go as I calmed myself and processed the events. What the heck just happened?