PRICE OF ROYALTY

3. Dance

Chapter 3: The Dance

As I grew closer to my chambers, my heart picked up speed. The thought of who the proxy was clouded my mind. Could he be a highborn or a man from the low class? Was he just as arrogant as Prince Theo or was he endowed with respect? Were his looks rich or was he just another man with no great looks?

“Has anyone entered my chambers while I was gone?” I questioned the sentry by my door.

“No Princess. Is there a problem?” He asked, suddenly alert and read to unsheathe his sword.

“No, no problem at all. I’ll call you if I need anything,”

He bowed his head as I walked in. Closing the door behind me, I scanned my chambers. There was no one inside and if there was, then he must be very good at hiding. Everything was in place which made me even more nervous.

“Is anyone there?” There was no reply.

Maybe this was just a prank by the men of Varci to seek the king’s reaction. I sighed, sitting on my bed and that is when I noticed the letter with the seal of Varci on my candle stand. Anticipation built inside me as I picked it up, breaking the seal.

Dear Princess,

It is with utmost sincerity that I must apologize for this inconvenience. I know you were expecting your suitor in your chambers but instead all you behold with your eyes is a sealed letter. That however does not mean, he is not here. As a matter of fact, by the time you read this letter, you’d know who he is because you’d have met him. Keep this to yourself. You owe me a dance Princess.

Prince Theo of Varci.

I read the letter again. Prince Theo was the proxy? Why did he not say it at the throne room? I almost snarled. He was not just a prick but a liar too. And I owe him a dance? He must be out of his mind. Nobody had ever managed to get on my nerves this much but Prince Theo had managed to do it so at the first encounter.

As Monica and Laila helped me into my dress, I tried not to picture the face of that prick in my mind. In all truth I hated his attitude and how he was so determined to undermine my father.

“So did you meet the proxy?” Monica asked as she fastened the straps to my gown.

“Not yet,” I answered without thinking.

“Well, no need to worry. You will be with your real husband soon and I hear he is really good looking. Even songs have been sung all over the five kingdoms,” Laila sung as she wore several bangles around my wrist.

“Lucky me,” I was tempted to bite my bottom lip in frustration but instead I gathered the edges of the gown in my hands and walked to the mirror.

The red royal dress with golden embroidery, slithered over my body perfectly. Sewn by the best seamstress in the whole kingdom, it was meant to draw attention but as I stood waiting for my arrival to be announced and the double doors open, I could not help feeling nervous. All eyes would be on me tonight and I was not sure if I was ready for that.

“Princess Elizabeth of Gatiah, First of her name,” The Page announced.

I drew a deep breath, faked a sweet smile like I had been forced to do many times before and walked inside in small, well calculated steps. The ball room was full with nobles as far as the border of the kingdom. They all held wine glasses on one hand, while flaunting their mistresses and wives on the other. The moment I reached the high table, the king tapped his wine glass with a spoon twice to gain the attention of everyone. From the corner of my eyes, I spotted the Queen and her daughter enjoying the evening.

“Nobles, the patriot citizens of Gatiah and our guests, the convoy from Varci, I welcome you to Princess Elizabeth’s banquet. She will be departing to join her husband, the king of Varci and rule beside him soon enough,”

The nobles grunted in agreement, yet all this while, my gaze ran across the room trying to locate Prince Theo but he was not in the crowd. As if he could hear my thoughts, the door opened wide and he strode in, very much aware he was late. Nobles of Gatiah immediately began to murmur in pure disapproval at Prince’s behavior while the convoy from Varci had arrogant smirks on their faces.

“Were you going to start the celebration without the Prince of Varci?” He questioned.

From the smirk on his face, I knew he was going to belittle my father in front of his nobles again but this time I would not let it happen. I touched my father’s arm

“Your Majesty, if I may speak please,” I interjected respectfully.

All eyes were now on me and I could feel drops of sweat forming underneath my armpits but I was not one to show my weakness. Masking my fear, I swallowed the bitter goal stuck in my throat while waiting for the king to acknowledge my request.

“Yes my child. What is it that you wish to address?” his blank face never faltered and for just a stroke of a second I wondered if I had really made the right decision in trying to intercept him.

From the looks of displeasure on the nobles’ faces, they clearly did not approve of father’s decision to let me talk.  I stood up from my seat, refusing to be deterred by their opinions and instead went down the small steps, stopping where Prince Theo stood with a surprised look on his face. He was trying to gauge my next move and well, it was not really quite one he would have anticipated. I stretched out my palm to him.

“Can I have this dance, Your Majesty?” I watched his face.

“What is this? I asked a question and this is what you do?” He raged.

“Well, take this dance as a sign of forgiveness for your tardiness, Your Majesty. The people of Gatiah are quite forgiving. Now be kind enough and let me have this dance with you,” I smiled and I could have sworn by the gods, his lips parted slightly in shock.

The entire room had fallen quiet and Prince Theo who clearly had never really had anyone beat him at his own game, had no choice.

“Of course Princess. It would be my honor,” He bowed head in respect before taking my hand, the rest of the crowd paving way for us.

With his right hand placed on my lower back, and the other entwined with mine, we began moving to the slow rhythm of the music.

“You think you’ve won princess but this is just the beginning,” He whispered against the nape of my neck.

“So you say,” I replied while keeping up a straight face.