The Courtesan

Chapter 32

“I’ll be blunt for your sake, your highness. I am a former courtesan, taking care of your brother. If word gets out that I am even close to you, your reputation will take a dive and you might lose your place as crown prince. I’ll decline for your sake.”

“It’s really not that serious.”

“Pardon me your highness but it really is. I have to go now. I had such a lovely time dancing with you.”

“Are you upset Miss Greycastle? Whatever for?”

“I’m not upset. I’m too tired to continue. I must check on Prince Miyon now.”

I gave a curtsey and walked out, not looking back. If I had done that, god knows I would have done something drastic.

After searching for my friend and the prince for a while, I realized they were nowhere to be found. But in my search for them, I ran into some familiar faces.

“Elayne! Oh my, you look stunning.”

“Thank you Lady Geraldine. You look beautiful yourself. As do you, my lady” I curtseyed. Lady Miriam responded with a small nod and a smile. There was a third person there, a man that looked so familiar.

“You look pretty for a nurse. Makes me think you might be more.”

The voice too. Don’t tell me, it’s…

“Dr Rivers?”

“In the flesh.”

She swept her hair to the side, smirking at me. Her long hair was reduced to a masculine short hairstyle which suited her sharp face quite well. She wore a brand new tailcoat and walked like a man. In fact, if nobody knew who she was, they would think she was a man.

“Lady Geraldine here couldn’t bear the thought of having a man as her date so she did this to me. I looked so handsome that she gave me a scar for pointing it out.” She gestured to her chin.

“Want me to give you another one?” Lady Geraldine threatened, her sweet smile turning into a scowl.

“We’re at a social event. Do you really want your reputation to plummet?”

“I’ll console myself with pummeling you.”

“So violent. Lady Miriam, do something about this before she becomes a husband beater.”

Lady Miriam looked away immediately, busying herself with the people dancing. I looked around and noticed she didn’t have a date.

“Is Lady Miriam’s date not here?” I only asked out of curiosity.

“She… doesn’t have one.”

“Huh? Why?”

“There’s no Duke for the Horps Duchy at present and none of the noblemen are willing to be her date because she’s mute.”

In a place where men would marry solely for connections, no man was willing to marry a woman with such power because she was disabled? Their thinking was more disabled than she was.

“I can see it annoys you but there is nothing we can do about it,” Dr Rivers shrugs. Lady Geraldine side eyes her.

“It’s better this way. Having a man take over the Horps Duchy will do more harm than good,” Lady Geraldine said and Lady Miriam nodded.

“Perhaps. Men have a tendency to be disappoint.”

“Let's stop talking about that. Where’s Prince Miyon? Is he your date?”

“No. Prince Kron is. I was going to find Prince Miyon before I ran into you.”

“Eh… so, it was you dancing with him.”

“Yes.”

All three women displayed blatant repulsion. Lady Miriam even rolled her eyes. I was more surprised by Dr. Rivers authentic reaction. She seemed to genuinely know and therefore dislike the prince.

“Good luck with that one,” Lady Geraldine said, patting my shoulder.

“I’m just going to look for his highness.”

“Do be careful. The men out here are out for blood.”

“I’ll be. Thank you.”

Giving one last bow to the ladies, I leave in search of Amelia and Prince Miyon. The ballroom was a huge place that accommodated up to a hundred guests. Just the thought of that gave me anxiety as I weeded through the crowd.

Eventually, I reached the entrance and I still hadn’t found them. I decided to try my luck at the west quarters and the kitchen. Taking one more step forward, I was petrified to the spot by a pair of clear brown eyes. I could’ve given a greeting, bowed or pretended I didn’t see him at that moment but all I could do was helplessly stare into his eyes with all my feelings hooked in my throat.

I forced my body to move, tearing my eyes from his. I gave a short nod and tried to walk past him. I could still feel a scorching gaze on me as I passed him. I had barely walked past when he called my name.

“Ariana?”

Hesitating was probably the worst thing I could have done at that moment. I kept on walking and not to far behind, I heard a distinct set of footsteps.

“Ariana, Wait.”

I ignored him, walking faster.

“Please, Wait,” his voice broke and I faltered again. Steeling my heart, I kept walking. Thankfully there was no one around but if he kept following me, my cover was bound to get blown. In the middle of the palace, such a thing was a horrible idea.

“Please, just wait. I’ve searched for you for so long... I thought you were dead. I’m so happy to see you’re alive and well.”

“Pardon me mister but you are bothering me. I don’t know who you’re mistaking me for but I really am in a rush.”

“You’re joking, right?”

I didn’t reply, fastening my steps. He did too, soon closing the distance and my path of escape. I tried to feign anger but one more look at this face and everything melted away.

“Ariana, look at me,” he said gently, trying to grab my chin. I evade, looking away.

“My name is not Ariana.”

“I cannot believe that unless you can look me in the eyes and tell me that.”

“I really am in a hurry...”

“Then reject me straight to my face.”

From experience, I knew Prince Kalvin was stubborn and almost always got his way. So, I took a deep breath, calmed my emotion and looked up. He had... tears at the corner of his eyes yet he looked happy. He looked relieved that he had finally found me and I was about to tell him that I was not who he wanted me to be.

“I am Elayne Greycastle, the nurse of Prince Miyon. I don’t know who you’re expecting me to be but I’m sorry I’m not the one. And as much as I want to help you, I have to find my ward. You’re a bit inebriated so I suggest you go lie down. Now if you’ll excuse me...”

“Ariana, you don’t have to pretend...”

“I don’t even know who you are. I’ve been polite long enough but you’re delaying me from carrying out my duties. I’m stressed out looking for him already.”

“You’re still insisting on that?”

“Mister, you are drunk and mistaking me for another woman, that’s the truth here.”

He looked at me, speechless. I used the opportunity to slip away, wrapping those feelings in a box and throwing them to the depths of my heart. I hardly had the time to care for him with my present worries.

I hadn’t walked far when I saw Amelia playing with Prince Miyon. He was tired but still fighting sleep to stay awake.

“Where were you? We’ve been here a long time.”

“I should be asking you that. You just disappeared and I had to go through a grueling affair to find you.”

“I thought I should give you space so you could finally catch your prey. So, how’d it go?”

“Well...”

I picked Miyon up and pat his back rhythmically.