“I’m not sscaredd,” I attempted to correct him, but the alcohol was already slurring my words. Apparently Drothmore’s wine was much stronger than the watered-down bottles we used to sneak from the village mother’s cupboards.
Lukas tilted his head, smiling in amusement. “It seems I shall have to keep a close eye on you tonight. So much for you making a good impression on the other royals…”
“I caan be good,” I told him with far too much confidence as my gaze caught on his perfect nose. How had I not noticed how beautiful his nose was before? And his toned arms too…Ancients.
“I’m sure you can be,” he chuckled, taking my arm to carefully lead me down the steps. “And please, stop staring at me like that, or I might start to think you were lying when you said there’s nothing between us.”
We spent the next half-hour arm in arm, greeting the various royals who had visited for the ball. I tried my best to keep my mouth shut, only curtsying politely to greet the other guests – though occasionally, Lukas would have to help me back up again as I wobbled on my feet. While the visiting royals were mostly lovely, I doubted I would remember their names in the morning. Every time a servant wandered past with a tray of wine goblets,I’d snatch one up and finish it before Lukas had a chance to stop me. After the fourth glass, I even started to enjoy the taste of the scarlet liquid as it pooled in my throat.
“Fantastic soirée, dear princeling!”
Lukas spun us around to face a snooty-looking, middle-aged lady. She was plump, her extravagant low-cut gown straining against her ample figure, while her powdered face and rouged lips made her appear as if she’d dunked her head into a sack of flour before kissing a tomato. Standing beside her was her equally portly husband. He was dressed in a lavish velvet suit that looked more like it belonged in a carnival than at a royal ball.
“Queen Marigold and King Thorian of Hallshire,” Lukas introduced them to me. It was difficult to remember much about Hallshire with my wine-dampened mind, but I could just about recall the basic facts that Lukas had shared with me over our dinners. Hallshire was the kingdom that specialised in farming and textiles. They traded their produce for other resources across the three other kingdoms, but there had always been tension. Apparently, Hallshire had a habit of being unfair with their trades, claiming every year was a poor harvest, while their people never seemed to go hungry.
“How delightful it is to be invited to your humble palace.” The woman forced her lips into a smile, her tone dripping with insincere sweetness. “And who is this?” She glanced at me. Her eyes swept from my head to my slippers in a manner that made me feel more like a piece of meat than a human being. “I don’t think we’ve met this one before,” she purred while gripping her husband’s arm.
“Allow me to introduce Princess Naria of Corlixir,” Lukas answered, his voice unwavering, “my betrothed.”
“How quaint,” Queen Marigold cooed before turning to her husband. “I didn’t realise there were any Corlixins left, did you,dear? I thought they’d all been reduced to cinders.”
Her husband grunted in response, clearly more focused on the buffet than any conversation.
Ignoring him, she twisted to face Lukas again. “You needn’t bother with this one.” She flicked her wrist in my direction. “What use is a Corlixin girl to a future king? If you want a real princess, one a bit more—” her gaze swept over me again, catching on my bodice – “substantial, then do ask your father to have a discussion with me. As you know, I have plenty of lovely daughters.”
“Thank you for the offer, but that won’t be necessary.” For once, I was glad that Lukas spoke for me because, at that moment, I wanted nothing more than to snap something cruel right back and then slap the powder off her plump cheeks. Though the feel of a strong arm wrapping around my waist pulled me back to the present. Lukas pressed me tightly against his side, a silent plea to remain calm and unaffected – as much as it might pain me to do so.
Although, what if I had smacked her? Would that have started a war? In my wine-tainted state, I couldn’t help but feel that a war would’ve been worth it just to see the look on her smug face.
“I must ask, though,” Queen Marigold carried on casually, “where is King Ikelos? I know your mother is always ‘ill’, or something of the sort, but I don’t think we’ve had the pleasure of meeting dear Ikelos tonight.”
“At this moment, the King is preoccupied with important matters of state. As Crown Prince, I represent him in his absence,” Lukas informed her, just as he’d told all the other royals who’d questioned the King’s whereabouts. It seemed his curse was not yet common knowledge.
“Interesting…” The Hallshire Queen’s expression gleamed with curiosity. She looked as though she wanted to probe further, but then the music in the Grand Hall flowed into apompous waltz. Her round face lit up with excitement as she shook her husband’s arm. “This is our wedding song, dearest! We must show the others how a real dance is done.” Ignoring me, she tipped her chin dismissively at Lukas before whisking her husband off towards the dance floor.
Once they’d disappeared, Lukas drew closer until I felt his lips brushing against my ear. “I appreciate that the Hallshire royalty can be difficult, so thank you for handling that in an appropriate manner.”
I wanted to come back with some witty retort, but the wine was really starting to swirl my thoughts. When I opened my mouth to speak, only an incomprehensible mess came out.
‘No more drinks tonight,’I voiced internally.
With a sigh, Lukas squeezed his hand around my waist. “I’m going to have the servants fetch you some water. Don’t go running off. Stay here until I get back.”
I nodded obediently, then watched him vanish into the crowd.
A few moments passed as I remained still until, with the wine sloshing rather intensely in my mind, my gaze slowly drifted over to the couples waltzing on the dance floor. They glided around with such elegance that I couldn’t help but close my eyes as my body swayed absentmindedly along with them.
It was only when another pair of hands clasped around my waist that my eyes snapped open, and I whirled around. To my surprise, though, instead of the steel-eyed prince I’d expected to see, I found myself face-to-face with a tall, dark-haired stranger.
“What is a beautiful young lady doing dancing alone in a place like this?” the stranger mused. He was certainly handsome, if perhaps in more of a rugged way, but there was something uncomfortable about the way his gaze lingered on my skin – and in his nearly black irises, there was something almost familiar.
“I’m, umm…”What was I doing?“I’m waiting… I think…I have to stay here.” The words came out in a slurred mess, and the room spinning around me certainly wasn’t helping the situation.
At my response, the stranger chuckled gleefully before tugging me closer to his chest. “Oh my darling, you sound like you need more wine. That can be remedied, but first, let me have this dance?”
Without waiting for me to respond, he took my hand and whisked me towards the dancefloor. All I could focus on was not stumbling as he led me towards the other waltzing couples. When we reached the floor, he spun me forcefully and gripped me so tight I could feel his fingers marking my skin. Beneath my skirts, my knees wobbled as he twirled me in his arms, leaving me struggling to keep my balance. Everything was happening so fast, I barely even noticed when his hand ventured down to my backside.
“Your gown is beautiful, but you know, it would look much more beautiful on the floor of my chambers,” he murmured, unease creeping up my throat. Panic welled up inside me as I tried to break free from his grasp. Dropping my arms from his shoulders, I attempted to pull away, but he only chuckled in response as he tightened his hold on me.“It’s been so long since I’ve sampled the goods outside of Hallshire. Give me what I want and I’ll make sure you’re rewarded handsomely.”
