30 Days As A Substitute Prince

Chapter 6

"You'll be just fine, Chad. I am certain of it." Joshua had tried to assure his new friend after seeing the nerves evident in the way he stood, as he tried hard not to laugh. 

But Chad didn’t find it funny. Even after spending the past four hours learning a simple waltz, he was nervous. 

Since Chad was a child, he had never had a single dancing bone in his body. His art was in paint and drawing, never dance. It didn’t occur to him when accepting Zadkiel's offer that he would have to attend balls. He was also sure that this wasn’t going to be the last. 

And as King Andreas explained, this ball was in honour of the prince's arrival, so all attention would be on him. What will people think when they see that he cannot dance? 

"What if I step on the princess' feet? Heavens, that would be disastrous." Chad complained as he paced in his room. They were both ready to go, and the ball was to begin in five minutes, so Chad's nerves were both understandable and indeed hilarious. 

"I have spent at least half my day dancing with you, Chad, and you dance well enough to get through the night," Joshua told him honestly. Even though it was a bit awkward at first, both men put in the work to get Chad somewhat ready for tonight. 

After Princess Aria gave him the tour of the castle, which was a magnificent experience to spend time with her and admire how she keeps her voice soft and her eyes bright as she spoke, Chad knew he had to excuse himself to get somewhat familiar with how a ball works. And Joshua was just the man. 

Even though Imperial's royal family didn’t host balls, given that they were keeping Zadkiel's existence a secret, Joshua had his fair share of experience. And when Zadkiel had his classes, he was always present with him. 

Joshua was certain that Chad would be just fine. But as always, everyone was more confident than him  than in his own self. 

"If you go out there like this, then surely you'll make a fool of yourself," Joshua scolded, seeing how Chad was basically having a panic attack in front of the mirror. "Have a little faith in yourself. So far, you've been an excellent Zadkiel."

"It has been less than twelve hours." Chad pointed out in a not so impressed tone.

Joshua chuckled. "All you need to do is smile and tell the princess that she looks lovely. I'll be close by if you need me." 

Gratitude welled in Chad's heart for a quick moment. Him and Zadkiel had pulled Joshua in their crazy plan, and Joshua was going along with it quite better than even he has without questioning or reluctance. 

Chad agreed then that if he wasn’t sure of anything else, he was sure that Joshua would have his back. 

A knock sounded on the door, and a servant in a red and black tunic stood tall behind it when Joshua pulled it open. 

"Your Majesty." He bowed to Chad, and Chad almost bowed back before catching himself. "I am here to escort you and your right hand man to the ball. The king's orders," the man said, and they nodded in agreement before leaving. 

The walk to the ball room was quite long, and Chad noticed that Aria hadn’t shown him the room on their tour. But when he stepped inside, he suddenly felt out of place but got a grip on himself quickly. 

The room was richly decorated in gold and white sitting everywhere, and the floors shone so bright that he could almost see his reflection in it. 

Guests of obviously high class were already scattered about the room, drinking from glasses and conversing quietly with one another. 

As if the world had stopped, all heads turned towards them when the doubled doors opened and Chad entered. Almost immediately every face in the room lit, and each person bowed as Chad walked by. He felt awkward but he didn’t show it. 

Just as he was taught, Chad held his head high, put confidence in each of his steps and walked further into the room as he greeted a few people politely. Joshua looked pleased by his act, since he already knew Chad would pull it off. 

A familiar face came into view and Chad almost sighed in relief when he saw the king already beaming at him. As much as he was just as nervous around the king, he couldn’t begin to describe how he felt around strange dukes, duchesses and people of high class who came just for this ball--his ball. 

"This is a lovely ball," Chad said once he was in front of King Andreas. The king beamed proudly, already loving Chad as his son-in-law, with a just as brightly beaming Queen Sylvia beside him. 

"I am glad you like it," the king replied before his eyes searched the room frantically. "My daughter should be here any minute-" 

As if right on cue, the doubled doors opened widely again, and the princess in all her beauty emerged with her never falling smile. Chad's breath hitched as he eyed her from her head to her toes. 

She was gracefully adorned in white dress with gold trimmings, which brought out her smile even more. Chad acknowledged that his feet felt weak and he shouldn’t have been feeling this way, but he simply couldn’t help it. 

There is no crime in admiring a woman's beauty, right? 

"If you would excuse me," Chad mumbled, not even looking away from Aria as he slipped away. 

The king and queen shared a look of knowing as Chad left, and Joshua's promise of staying close to him suddenly evaporated when his eyes landed on Princess Aria's sister as she strode in behind her. 

Tina. 

Joshua had recognised Tina's beauty from the minute he entered the throne room today, and something about her caught his interest. The way she walked and smiled at people as she strode in told him that she was only here because she had to be, and not because she wanted to. But it wasn’t something someone who wasn’t focusing could see. 

She was an odd woman, Joshua thought to himself, but decided not to dwell on it too much. His ficus was getting Chad through this month. He surely needed the help. 

Joshua quickly diverted his gaze when Tina's found his, but she had already caught him staring. Still, they went along as if nothing had happened. After all, they were just two strangers in a room, right?

In front of Tina, Chad had already appeared before Aria, as he respectfully bowed to her while she curtsied to him. He then took her gloves-covered hand and placed a small kiss to her knuckles, not once breaking eye contact as she smiled down at him.

"You are looking rather beautiful tonight, Princess Aria. It brings me pure delight to tell you that you are the fairest  woman in this room tonight," Chad said, not even knowing where his former nerves went, but found it easy to talk to her. 

"Why thank you." Aria giggled as butterflies danced in her belly. "I must say you look quite dashing yourself, Prince Zadkiel."

Chad visibly gulped at the name that wasn’t his, but played it off quite well so that she didn’t notice his delay. 

"Would you do me the honour of dancing with me?" This was the last question Chad wanted to ask, but what else to do at a ball?

"Of course." 

Aria beamed as he led her to the centre of the room as the orchestra began the most beautiful song he had ever heard. The song oddly gave him a feeling of a new beginning, and the intensity with which they played bloomed passion in him for every step he took with the princess. 

Soon Chad realised that he was actually dancing, and he was dancing well. Aria's gaze never fell from his as they waltzed across the room, as if communicating the message of a new life in every step they took. 

With every dip, Aria's lips would part only a bit as she took a breath of air, but not out of fear that Chad would drop her, nor was it nerves. But it was simply the rush she felt every time his hands grew tighter around her waist when he dipped her, and the smile that would creep up on his lips when he saw that he did it well. 

Joshua had been right. He did pretty well for a man who didn’t know the first thing about dancing, and when the song came to an end, Princess Aria looked as if she wanted more. 

The crowd applauded lightly as the orchestra strung their final note, after which Chad and Aria then realised that barely anyone else but them were dancing. From the corner of his eyes, he saw Joshua beaming proudly with a look on his face that said 'I told you so', and Aria's parents looked more than pleased. 

It was settled. Chad knew there was no backing out of this until Zadkiel himself returns to do it himself. 

He was determined he'd be the best prince he could be, for the sake of the wonderful young woman that fit so perfectly in his arms. 

And it all started here tonight at his very own ball.