4 Chapter Three

Such a beautiful full moon.

Aria thought, as she alighted from the carriage. The beautiful silver moon was high above the sky giving off a romantic aura to the people at the palace. The entrance hall was full with attendees, greeting each other. She walked into the ballroom and caught her breath. She had been in the palace too many times but the scene in front of her felt like it was her first time. But with a little nostalgic feelings. The chandeliers illuminated the golden walls of the palace and the floor was too polished as if an iced lake in the winter. And women in there were sparkled like jewelleries.

Aria was feeling anxious about meeting the prince for the first time in this life time. She was not the same lady who fell in love at first sight back in her first life. She had changed. She did not want to fall in love again only to feel sadness all over again. She would be the cupid for her sister and the prince. Lord Graham, their father signaled to Aria, telling her to greet the crown prince. Aria sighed in reluctance but she had to meet him. She had a plan. She would bring Riana to meet him. Just as she wanted to drag Riana with her, Riana was already gone.

Riana already knew that her father already had an arrangement for her sister and the crown prince. And she knew her sister was nervous to meet the crown prince, Prince Noah but she had no intention to accompany her sister. She preferred to be at the dining section, grabbed some food and met with her friends. Meeting some men in this royal party was never in Riana's interest. She did not want to be the attention of a man because she felt like love — a thing too early for her to feel.

The night was still young but Noah was already tired. He did not have any rest since he returned to the palace. He was scolded as soon as he returned for coming back late. The lecture went on for two hours. He then had to prepare himself for the royal party. As soon as he stepped into the ballroom, few young ladies went to his side.

"Greetings to Your Highness, my name is Dahlia of House Ashton."

"Your Highness, my name is Sheila of House Hamington."

"Blessing to the crown prince. My name is Adabelle of House Eastend."

He awkwardly smiled at them. He greeted them back but did not continue to further the conversation. He knew the ladies were all after him for one – they want to be the future queen and two — girls want a prince charming like any other fairy tale. He was tired of greeting the ladies so he went out of the way to the balcony. There, he saw her.

Aria MacGregory.

The silver moonlight spilled onto her. The lady was in her beautiful pink dress decorated with a lot of ribbons that were tied like little roses around her waist. Her long wavy golden hair was tied in half up half down braid, decorated with small flowery accessories. Her blue eyes were like jewels. Noah froze at the sight of such a beautiful lady in front of him as if the the time stopped for him.

Aria could not believe that Prince Noah himself would showed himself at the balcony instead of her going to his side for the greetings. She was at the balcony to calm herself down before going to greet the prince alone without her sister.

Aria could not find her younger sister at all. The ballroom was large and crowded with people dancing all over the floor. She felt nauseous standing in a crowded place. Their father was already gone to the the noble lords' group but he was still eyeing Aria. His glare totally said "Go find the crown prince!". Instead of  immediate action to find the prince, Aria decided to go for the balcony first. Her first meeting with the prince was not like this.

"Good evening, tonight's moon is beautiful, right?" Noah awkwardly tried to strike a conversation with the lady in front of him. The lady was a little confused and frightened of him  when he tried to take a step forward. He stopped and just pulled a smile indicating that he had no intentions of harming her.

Aria could not believe that the prince started a conversation with her. When he tried to get closer to her, she took a step back, a reflex she did not realise had made Noah felt a little sad. Why would he be here? He should be came across with Riana by this time. When she saw Noah's gentle smile, she finally realised that Noah thought that she was frightened by his sudden appearance.

"Your Highness, it is nice to meet you. The moon is truly beautiful just as what you said." Aria bowed her head.

"Are you the same like me?"

Aria frowned in confusion. She tilted her head to the side as a sign that she had no idea what the crown prince was trying to say to her.

"Are you here to escape the crowd?"

"Oh." She made a little surprised look as she finally understood the crown prince's words. "I am an awkward person. I am not suitable in a crowd place."

"May I know your name?"

Again, Aria was taken aback. The prince was interested in her. But then, he was asking her name as a form of greeting. She had yet to tell her name to him.

"Forgive me for my rudeness. I am Aria MacGregory of House MacGregory."

"House MacGregory?" The prince was surprised to hear it. The young lady he met earlier was not the same lady that stood in front of him now. "Does the Duke MacGregory has two daughters?"

"Yes, Your Highness. I am the eldest daughter."

Wait. If he knew there were two young ladies in the House of MacGregory, then he had already met Riana! Why did he left her alone and came here? — was what running in Aria's head. She thought that the prince had met Riana here in this royal party.

The prince was smiling from ear to ear. He was happy to know that the young lady in front of him would be his future queen. Only the eldest daughter of dukes, marquesses and earls could be the candidates of his future queen. But looking at how Aria was not greeting him before could mean that she was not interested to be his wife. He had to pursue her.

Noah laughed at the thought of pursuing a woman. He was so clearly few hours ago that he was not interested in marriage but now he wanted the love of the eldest daughter of House MacGregory. He was not a believer of love at first sight but he did fall for one. His friend's words about him finding true love in this royal party came true.

Aria was again confused with Noah laughing so suddenly. She had seen him laughed only for Riana in her first life. But never for her.

Noah realised the music in the ballroom changed. He then reached out his hand to Aria because he wanted to dance with her.

"Will you dance with me here under the moonlight, my lady?"

Aria remembered that she was the one that wanted to dance with him so bad back in her first life. She did had a dance with him but it was only once — during the royal party. she never got another dance even after she became his fiancée. She was hesitated to take his hand. She felt like she would fall hard again for him just like the last time. She did not want to be the Aria who was hungry for love like back then.

But Aria was a foolish lady. She had a second thought. One dance would not affect her at all. One dance could not change her mind to be her sister's cupid. One dance would not make her fall in love with the prince again. right?

Aria reached out to his hand and they slowly move to the music. Their movements flowed with music. She let her body took control of everything. She let her mind at ease even when she was in the arms of the prince that she wanted to avoid. But Aria was not a great dancer. She accidentally stepped on Noah's foot.

Noah let out a little "ouch" but he actually was not feeling hurt at all. He was trained as a knight so of course something like that did not hurt him at all. He just wanted her to look up to him. And yes, she did. When she looked up to him, all she saw was his hopeful smile playing on his lips. Now that she was close to him, she started to notice each of his features were too perfect. He then tilted his head, as his eyes were looking at Aria's lips. His head then slowly closing the distance and their lips met. The dance stopped the moment he kissed her.

It was a gentle and warm kiss. The prince had never kissed anyone. Aria was the first one. But the way he kissed her was like it was already natural to him. But when he broke off the kiss, he was did not expect Aria to cry. Tears rolled down on her cheeks. She looked a bit angry despite she actually responded to the kiss.

"Why did you do that?"

She regretted taking his offer to dance. She needed to get away as soon as possible. She did not want her love for the prince to come back to her. She did not need the love. She was going to die anyway.

"Why are you doing this to me?"

End of Chapter Three