Chapter 29
1214 Words
“E-L-A-Y-N-E.”
“Amelia? Amelia!”
I embraced the beautiful creature I called my best friend tightly.
“What are you doing here?!”
“I’m a plus one. I’m already looking towards a permanent patron.”
“A patron important enough to be here? Who’s that?”
“The Duke of Edmorough.”
“That old fart? You’re really stretching thin.”
“He wanted a pretty thing to show off and I volunteered. He’s paying real good.” She rubbed her index and thumb pads together.
“I can imagine so. You look stunning.”
“Elayne, perhaps you haven’t looked in a mirror today! You look gorgeous! I don’t know they dressed nurses like this nowadays.” She wiggled her brows and I shoved her lightly.
“Oh stop it. The Prince got this for me. I have to be present in the ball with the little prince.”
“Oh... What is this I sense -”
“You’re not sensing anything. Why so far apart from your date?”
“I came to see you, why else?! Let’s sneak off to drink later tonight, as per our tradition.”
“Of course. Now hurry along.”
“I’ll see you later.”
She gave one last tight hug and left. A different type of anxiety creeped up to me when I was left on my own. I stood at the entrance of the ballroom with the prince, watching people walk in. I had already seen Lady Andrella enter with a date, a man I recognized as the one who threw our debut party and Prince Klaus walked by with his date. Many wondered who I was until they saw the prince standing beside me.
Of course they chose to whisper loudly and give me various looks from disdain, to disgust to pity. For a bunch of aristocrats, they behaved like a bunch of children. It was annoying.
The only reason I stood there was because I was looking for the perfect opportunity to enter. No member of the royal family had arrived so if I entered now, the judgement would only increase. I waited it out and didn’t notice him until he was standing behind me.
“You look lovely in that dress. I knew it would be a perfect fit.”
“Your highness.”
It was like he enjoyed scaring me. I was surprised but I chose not to show it, bowing.
“Thank you for the dress.”
“If you really want to thank me, be my date.”
What?
“Pardon me your highness, but I don’t think -”
“We’re even matching.”
This bastard! He set me up!
“What about your reputation, your highness?”
“I don’t think anything drastic would happen to it since I have such a beautiful woman on hand.”
How convenient. Can you throw me into a pond now?
“If his highness wishes, I will accompany you.”
“Great.” He offered his hand. “Let’s go.”
“I can’t take your hand. I have to take his highness inside.”
His mood dipped and he directed a frown at the back of his brother’s head. I thought my insistence to hold Prince Miyon would at least discourage Prince Kron but he really was insistent on having me as his date. The option of not standing out was thrown out of the window when we walked in without linking arms and I held a little boy.
It was only worse when Amelia winked as we walked past. She was definitely going to bug me about being the prince’s date. The only thing that would make the day better was if the ground opened and I fell in.
The music playing in the background suddenly stopped and trumpets went off. The other doors leading into the ballroom opened and all breaths were held.
“Presenting His Majesty King Mival Lithonius and Queen Kierra Lithonius of Casella.”
There was a bright smile on both their faces as they walked in. King Mival held her hands like she was a porcelain doll and she beamed like it was her wedding. They were both dressed in the national colors, gold and white, wearing the proud dragon insignia. Behind them, the rest of the Queen’s harem followed, all smiling brightly too, with the exception of Lady Java who brought in a surly expression.
King Mival sat on the throne and the image of the benevolent leader in my mind warped into the image of the man I had five years ago, a man covered in blood, holding on to a severed head like a trophy. The bloodlust in his eyes was abundant and it sought to suck my soul in.
It was only for a moment but those grey eyes snapped to mine, an amused twinkle in them. It was almost like he was taunting me.
“...castle? Miss Greycastle?”
“Yes?”
“We have to go greet my father now. Is anything the matter?”
“Nothing. I was just thinking they all looked lovely this evening.”
“I am quite jealous, Miss Greycastle. You didn’t give me a comment when you saw me this evening.”
I would’ve if you didn’t trick me into being your date!
“I was lost for words when I beheld you, your highness. You simply shone as if the gods bestowed radiance on you.”
“You don’t have to be so sarcastic about it,” he commented, chuckling.
“You don’t believe I was being honest?”
“Miss Greycastle, you have a record for being sharp with your words.”
“A compliment I can appreciate from you, your highness. I am honored.”
“Please, let’s just go.”
When he smiled, he really looked more handsome. Although he closely resembled his father, he didn’t have the same air of hostility and he was polite. I hoped he wouldn’t be anything like his father.
It was an informal queue to go greet the king. The crowd parted for Prince Kron and more eyes were on as we approached the royal couple. I finally let go of Prince Miyon’s hand, doing a curtsey.
“Greetings to his majesty and her majesty.”
“You may rise, child.”
I tried hard to not let it show how much his presence affected me. While half of me was screaming at me to run, the other half wanted to tear into the pretentious bastard.
“I can finally see why you wanted to choose your date for tonight. You have a good eye, just like your father’s,” King Mival said with a somewhat proud smile. The meaning of his words hit differently when I realized who Prince Kron’s mother was.
Just like that, any hopes I had for Prince Kron were crushed.
- Writer
