From the corner of my eyes, I notice lady Beaufort with Eliza and Kai. They are waiting in the long line of people who want to speak to Troy. The other prince is definitely much more popular. He throws angry gazes at me from time to time and I am just so happy that all those minions will keep him busy tonight!
Everyone else is doing their best not to look at us yet somehow I feel that we are constantly in the centre of attention!
The music starts and Desmond bows before me, “Lady Freya, would you be so kind as to gift me your first dance.”
The sly smile on his face signals that he didn’t forget that I promised him all my dances.
“W-well,” I say with a trembling voice, “Before you do, I should confess one thing.”
“Oh?” He looks surprised, “What is it?”
“I can’t dance for life!” I admit awkwardly, “Moreover, I don’t know a single dance… I grew up in a faraway village, you see, and…”
“Luckily for you, lady Freya”, he still offers me his hand, “I am an excellent teacher. Just follow my lead and you’ll be fine.”
Easier said than done. I hope he didn’t choose me just to annoy his father and brother. Because if he did, he would definitely succeed. But I would be the laughing stock of this kingdom of Dairon!
However, as soon as the music starts, I try to repeat what everyone else is doing and find nothing extremely hard. Rows of ladies walk toward rows of men, then they meet and change places and do the same stuff several times, then they touch hands and walk in circles, and then it starts all over again. Huh! I think I can do this! No ballroom dancing experience is needed for something like that!
I am very concentrated on the dance and don’t pay attention to anything around me but when I lift up my head, I see a pair of hazel eyes with splashes of red near the pupil watch my every move. I’ve never seen this kind of eye colour before and it’s mesmerizing…
I am so lost in it that I miss a step and almost fall down when he catches me in his arms. However, looking at him, I notice that not only is he not angry at me for my clumsiness or at least embarrassed, but actually seems delighted with our sudden closeness. But this “closeness” doesn’t last long as the next couple bumps right into us at full speed.
I don’t even realize when everything changes. My partner’s eyes flash red and in the next moment he lifts up the man who accidentally hit us by his neck up in the air. The girl who is with this unlucky guy screams and runs away. From that moment everything is like it’s a slow-motion video. I look around and everyone looks terrified. Yet no one steps in. The poor man in the air turns red and desperately tries to gasp for air.
“Stop it!” I cry and put my hand on the prince’s arm, “Y-your Highness, please! Desmond!”
He looks at me with those red eyes of his. For a second there I forget how to breathe! I’ve never seen eyes that glow like this. This red light is not just light. I see it now. It’s fire! Fire that comes from within him.
But all of a sudden his expression changes and this red glow disappears. The absolutely normal Desmond is now looking at me and I bite my lip, repeating, “Could you let him go, please?”
He unclenches his fingers and the man falls to the floor, breathing hard. I shrug slightly at the sight as he stands on his knees, “Please, forgive me! It was an accident! I didn’t mean to anger the great Dark Blood Dragon!”
Did he just say dragon? DRAGON?!!! The Dark Blood Dragon?! As in the dragon psycho guy?! I am literally on a date with the dragon psycho guy?!
Way to go, Freya!
“Ask the lady for her forgiveness,” Desmond says without looking at me.
“Please, my lady,” the guy on the floor almost cries, I see snot flowing from his nose and feel awkward, “It was just an…”
“Accident,” I smile, trying to save the situation, “Everything is fine. If anything, it was my fault for stalling. I apologise as well for this misunderstanding.”
“Thank you, my lady,” the man bows almost hitting the floor with his forehead as he is still kneeling before us.
“Please, stand up and enjoy the rest of the evening,” I say, “Let’s just forget about everything!”
“Your Highness,” I slide my hand under Desmond’s arm and he looks at me in surprise, “I am a bit thirsty. Maybe we could…”
“Of course,” he says emotionlessly and leads me to the tables with drinks, which clear from crowds of people that were there as soon as we approach. Huh! There are some perks in dating psycho dragons!
“Oh, my god!” I whisper, “I had no idea! I am so sorry for calling you…”
“The dragon psycho guy?” he smiles somehow sadly.
“Yeah,” I say slowly, “Please, forgive me…”
“It’s fine,” he interrupts me, “I’ve been called worse. And I know you didn’t know. Otherwise, you’d never have given me this.”
He shows me my ribbon that’s still on his arm.
“Yes, I would have,” I lie. No chance in hell I would have given him this if I knew.
“You are a very bad liar, lady Freya,” he chuckles and I bite my lip.
“Ok, I wouldn’t have,” I admit, blushing, “But I am glad I did.”
He looks surprised.
“Are you now?” he raises his brow.
“You are not as bad as you think,” I snort, “Especially for a prince.”
“Did you meet many princes in your life?” He smirks.
“I’ve met your brother and he was enough to come to certain conclusions,” I smile.
“Really? Everyone who meets my brother is usually charmed with him,” Desmond hands me a new goblet with wine, “You are the only one who is underwhelmed.”
“Haha,” I roll my eyes, “I feel so special now that you say that.”
“That you are,” he takes a sip from his glass.
From the corner of my eye, I notice Troy coming our way. Did he just hear us talking about him?
“Brother, that was quite some show right now,” he smirks, “I am surprised we don’t have to clear blood from the dance floor.”
I cringe at his words. What a jerk!
“You have lady Freya to thank for that,” Desmond replies, not a thread of emotion on his perfect face. Which now I know is just a mask he puts on.
“And I actually came to do exactly that,” the Crown prince bows and offers me his hand, “Lady Freya, would be so kind as to gift me your next dance?"
Aksara