My Light in the Night

Chapter 4

I spent well near an hour dancing with the Dukes, Earls, Lords, and Lords-to-be. The last Lord-to-be took his turn before I started in on dancing with Princes. Sir Jacob was the last Earl-to-be to ask me to dance. “May I have this dance, Princess?”

I would have rather I’d said “no” but at the time he was still a suitor so I had to dance with him. “I would be delighted, Sir Jacob,” I said through near gritted teeth.

We spun around in a waltz as we spoke to each other. “You know, Princess, I starting to think that you don’t like me all that much.”

Stop. Thinking doesn’t suit you. That’s what I wanted to say. Instead I said, “What could possibly have given you that idea, Sir Jacob?”

“Oh, just some subtle hints… I have a strong suspicion that you’ve already made the choice of who is getting the rose tonight.”

“Of course not.” Yes I did. “It is usual for a prince to get more attention from a princess than a duke or a lord.” I forced a continuously diplomatic smile, the same one I used when helping to negotiate peace with my father. “I haven’t given them out yet, have I?”

“Very true although I never said it was the princes.” He set his fingers seductively under my chins. “I guess we’ll just have to see which of us is still here come morning.” The pricing glint in his eyes set a strong twinge of chilling fear strait into my heart. His eyes were power hungry and evil. The bright happiness in his eyes at the possible threat he’d given me was bone chilling and I would have run and hid if I were a weaker woman.

I felt myself grow tense in his arms and looked away from his eyes as all the heat in my body came into my face. There was no way my face wasn’t rose red. I had no clue why I’d started blushing so hard. Is it because he’s so power hungry? Or maybe seductive? Why the hell am I being so awkward!? Is it because we’re so close together? Is it all of his self confidence that I don’t have? Whatever it was it had caused a rush of blood to flash flood into my cheeks. I finished the dance without looking back up at Sir Jacob. We bowed and curtsied to each other before I was almost literally passed to the first prince in line. Eventually, another forty minutes later, I was nearly done. I had finally danced with all but two pf the suitors: Prince Mateo and Prince Valor.

Prince Mateo approached me first. “May I have this dance my lady?” He offered me his hand.

“Of course.” I smiled. My feet seemed to wish for the restfulness of death. I took his hand and we spun through the crowd of nobles dancing around us. “I am quite happy that you decided to come out with me in the morning.”

“I am quite excited that you asked us to go with you. What time will we be leaving in the morning?”

“Eight a.m.”

“Eight!” He nearly yelled, attracting the attention of some of the people around us. “Sorry. I don’t normally get up until at least ten.”

“Eight is sleeping in for me.” I giggled lightly. “Public schools here is Eshistan begins at eight.”

“Glad I have a private tutor then,” Mateo smiled playfully.

I gave a small, quick laugh. “Yes I suppose that is always nice.” Our dance came to an end almost too quickly and it seemed to go much faster than many of the others. “So, tomorrow at eight?”

“Tomorrow at eight,” he confirmed. Mateo bowed to me and walked off.

I took a deep breath. “Last dance, Jerica. Here we go.” I found Prince Valor across the room and started towards him.

Prince Valor noticed me walking towards him and finished up his conversation with those around him. He smiled a bright smile and turned to me. “Hello, Princess,” he bowed to me.

I bowed back to him. “Prince Valor.”

“I guess that means that the princess is as quick witted you” he laughed.

“Yes,” I giggled, “I suppose it does.”

“Do you really want to dance?” Prince Valor asked.

“Honestly, no. I’m so tired of dancing…” I smiled politely at him. “It’s really up to you though.”

“Well if you don’t want to dance, we don’t have to. We could do something else.” Valor grabbed my hand and I couldn’t keep myself from thinking about how soft his hand was. “Come on, let’s sneak out of here.”

“I don’t think we’ll get past Sebastian.” I laughed, following as he pulled me past the doors. “He tends to keep a pretty close tab on me thanks to Dad’s orders.”

“Don’t worry,” He smiled back at me. “I can get you out.” He led me balcony overlooking my mother’s rose garden, weaving in and out of people to lose Sebastian’s attention. Valor pulled himself up onto the balcony floor above. He leaned over the edge, offering me his hands. “Come on.”

I took his hands and he helped me pull myself up. My dress didn’t fit through the space under the railing so I struggled to stand on the outer edge of the balcony and pull up my cage. I felt myself begin to fall backwards. “Valor!”

He caught my waist. “Don’t worry, Princess. I’ve got you.” He picked me up quickly and nearly tossed me to his side of the railing, both of us falling against the metal cage of my dress.

I smiled and stared out at the garden. The lantern style lights made the roses glow in a beautifully romantic light. I leaned against the balcony railing as Valor continued to rub his arm where it had hit my cage. “Hey, Prince Valor? How did you know this was here?”

“It’s not that important,” he leaned against the rail beside me, “but we were friends when we were younger… we we’re even pretty close…” his voice sounded only as nonchalant as a man with something to hide.

“Oh…” I felt a little bit bad. If we had been close then it really wasn’t fair to him that I didn’t remember him. “I’m sorry, Valor. I feel bad for not remembering you.” I wasn’t sure if I should hug him or what to do but I didn’t feel I could just stand there beside him like that.

“It’s fine. It doesn’t matter anyway.” He turned around and I no longer felt the need to do something. “I didn’t remember you at first so I can’t expect you to remember me.” He smiled. “So who are the front-runners for your hand? Certainly it’s not Lord Jackass downstairs who was eyeing you like bacon throughout supper.”

“I think you mean Sir Jacob no, he is not anywhere near the top. I’d say it’s Prince Mateo and you.”

“And so the royal Eshistanian roses are cast for good.” He looked from the roses up to the stars in the full moon light. “It’s good to know I get one.”

“Valor…” I looked at him, his face illuminated in a beautiful light as he watched the stars. “I was wondering what would happen if… well, if we got married? I mean, you are the only prince of your kingdom.”

“My kingdom is fine. I’m not even first in line for the throne. I have three sisters. My oldest sister is even married.” He looked at me with a bright smile.

“Oh,” I looked out at roses. “Well, at least you know your marriage won’t make or break your county.”

“Why?” he sat on the railing. “Why get married? You have a little brother or you could always just become a crowned princess rather than the queen.”

“No,” I shook my head. “I can’t do that.” I sighed. “If I don’t marry before my father dies then my rights to the throne will be revoked entirely and absolutely. Everything would to Alexander and he would throw this fearful country into war the first chance he got. He wants an empire, not a kingdom.”

“Your country is fearful right now? Why?”

“Politics. How boring they can be. We’re on the edge of war with Iverance. I’ve been controlling the peace talks with the king and Alexander hasn’t even been listening to them. He is ready to fight tooth and nail to control the land that belongs to Iverance. After Iverance he’d go after Linwood. Then the rest of the world.”

“Well that’s not good… wait. Why would your rights be revoked?”

“I was borne out of wedlock.” I stood strait and looked up to the stars. “I must become queen before my father dies or my crown falls to Alexander and I will lose my home, birth right, and social status. That’s the law of my land. This is how it works in the Eshistanian line of succession.”

“That sucks ass.” Valor stood straight as I gave him a death glance that said not to cuss all the time like that. “Sorry, Princess. A proper noble shouldn’t cuss. We should head back down.”

I smiled and backed up placing my hand on the handle of the door and making sure it was unlocked. “I think we should go, but, uh…” I pushed the glass doors open behind me. “Let’s take the stairs.”