3 The Royal Presentation.
The Music finally ended, and they both pulled away with a bow. Actually, Aragon didn't bow but Princess Raziah bowed respectfully at him before she turned around and left. Her mind was still on the plate of food she had left, but she was more aware now because she knew Malcolm kept watching her every step.
Sighting Ms. Ophelia, the woman gestured at her to come over which she did without complaint. On getting to where she stood, the woman began questioning her again, "Your back is not straightened, and why do you walk like you are about to faint?"
"I've been hungry, and I'm tired." Raziah groaned in reply.
"You have to hold back for today. And why are you still putting on a mask? Take it off already!" Ophelia whirled Raziah around by the shoulders so she was facing her back, then began putting back her loose hair in place, "What did you do? I thought the maids fixed up your hair?"
"On my way here, I thought I felt something running through my hair, but it turned out to be the flowers. I'm not used to it yet"
Ms. Ophelia was having a hard time fixing the hair back to place. The only way to do that was to loosen up everything completely, and start from the very beginning, and it would be so awkward and shameful doing that in front of everyone here. She tried her best to get it back in shape, but Raziah's hair being short was just another problem itself.
"This is why I told you to stop cutting your hair," Ophelia complained bitterly, "And I hope you do not have any dagger with you tonight?"
Raziah shrugged in reply.
"You better not." Ophelia finally pinned the hair back in place, making it look as good as possible. She walked around Raziah and faced her, giving her a good once over, "Princess, have you chosen someone already? Or do you have to keep going?" Saying that, Ophelia turned around to stare at Princess Diane who was laughing and chuckling with a prince around the dance floor.
"I found someone who proposed already."
Ophelia snapped her head back to the princess, "Propose?"
"That was what it seemed like he was doing."
"Who?"
"Dark burning eyes, Long charcoal hair," Raziah scanned through the crowd again, but she couldn't find him anywhere, "He was the last person I danced with."
"The last person you danced with?"
"I don't see him anywhere though."
Ophelia smiled at her, waving off the topic. That Prince would show up again at some point, "Are you ready for the Royal Presentation?
"I am"
"You remember all the moves, right?"
The Royal Presentation was the first part of the ceremony. After which the two Princesses have decided on the Prince they want to marry, they are expected to show off their talent in accordance with the man they had chosen. For example, if the princess has a talent for drawing, then she's expected to draw the man she had chosen and show him off to the crowd.
Before Long, Princess Raziah was invited to dance again and she was pulled toward the dance floor. As much as the princes tried to make small talk with her, she always gave them a one-word reply, or worse, she would simply nod or shake her head.
She just couldn't wait for the night to end.
Soon enough, it was time to begin the royal Presentation.
Princess Diane was up first, and her maids had helped her set up a variety of different musical instruments. Everyone watched as she humbly took a seat, and began playing the instruments beautifully. Even the trumpet which most people found difficult looked so flawless, and the strings of the piano were being stringed rhythmically to soothe one's listening ear.
She had this small smile on her face, but she still hadn't played any of the instruments in accordance with the man she had picked. It was when she picked up the violin, that she stood up and mingled inside the crowd watching her before she finally found her prince and struck the strings so magically with her eyes fixated on him.
Meanwhile, Raziah couldn't take the hunger anymore and made her way toward the desk since her people were too busy taking in the moment. Immediately, the starved Princess began stuffing her face with the meals in front of her, occasionally turning around to peek if anyone had seen her.
She was munching down on a chicken breast when she sighted the man she was planning to choose. He was standing in front of a curtain, leaning on the wall majestically with that devious smile still on his features. Even from afar, she could tell there was something so different about him from the others she had met.
Just because he was staring at her didn't mean she would drop the food, instead, she picked up a lump of meat and waved it at him, inviting him to join her.
The smile on his face got a little wider, but their little silly moment was interrupted when a round of applause came from the crowd behind the Raziah indicating Princess Diane has completed her royal Presentation.
Instantly, Raziah dropped the meat and licked her lips as fast as she could. One of her maids appeared behind her and bowed slightly, "My Princess, it's your turn."
She nodded, then turned back to the mysterious prince who had already disappeared behind the curtains again.
Malcolm was the next person that walked up to her, "You're still planning to dance? The one Ms. Ophelia taught you?"
She shrugged uncaringly, "Something a little different." She replied, and strode over to where she would start her dance.
Everyone gave her the space she needed, and Raziah, even though this was the first time she was doing something in front of a crowd, she didn't feel the slightest nervousness. She simply told her mind that the person who would be dancing was right here, and the person she was dancing for was behind that curtain with a cunning look on his face.
There was no music to complement her dance, so she sang her own song. Thankfully, she was putting on a very free dress, so that would not hold her back from dancing out her heart.
.
.
Aragon Odysseus knew she was coming for him. He still didn't know the face behind the mask, but after their dance and the food scenario, he was more than intrigued, more than curious, and willing to see the strange woman who acted almost nothing princess-like.
As soon as she was ready, he watched as she took off her shoes, exposing her creamy and small feet. She stretched her toes a little, before grabbing the sides of her silhouette, raising her dress a bit.
Next, the most ethereal, feathery, and euphonious voice Aragon had ever listened to escaped her lips, and her legs moved in harmony with the rhythm of her song.
🎶Have something to say? Because I do. 🎶
🎶Could this moment last for eternity? 🎶
🎶Can someone pause time, can't it last longer than this?🎶
🎶For this is that one moment, that I never want to end, that moment that I never thought my heart would call out for...🎶
🎶I was naive, selfish, and blinded by the suffocating darkness in my heart, 🎶
🎶But you took my hand and took me to a whole new world🎶
🎶You revealed to me how much I've been missing, the overwhelming yet beautiful craving building up in the deepest part of me.🎶
🎶Reaching out for that small part of me that was still alive, you nurtured it till it bloomed wondrously. 🎶
Was it me? Was it you? Or was it that night that we danced the night away? 🎶🎶
Was it the enchanting night? Was it the warm and wet grass under our bare feet? 🎶🎶
Looking into your soft eyes, I saw something there and it turned me upside down. 🎶🎶
I was caught, hook and net, and my heart whispered one thing. 🎶🎶
Our love will live on, it'll Carry on like the lightest of winds blowing lightly against our cheeks.
Oh, it'll live on. 🎶🎶
Entranced, everyone watched as she spun on her feet beautifully, moving around like she was the wind itself. Her movements were perfect and the song from her lips had a beautiful flow.
And she was gaining closer and closer to the curtain where Aragon was sitting.
Getting to where he was with the curtain separating their eyes, Raziah spun again moving the barrier aside. Her lips and legs paused in their melodious singing and dance, then she bent down a little curtly and offered him her hand.
🎶Take my hand, and share this with me. 🎶
🎶Through the endless hours that seemed like forever, you held me through it all. 🎶
Aragon didn't realize he had placed his hand on hers, never taking his firm eyes off her hazel ones before she pulled his body off his seat and he together with her. She secured his strong rigid arms around her waist, while hers wrapped around his neck as the both of them moved around the space as if they were Spellbound by each other's movements and eyes.
🎶Oh I know some moments were a little bitter, but look how far we've made it through...🎶
🎶Those not-so-perfect moments make us stronger for each other, and unknowingly, it brings affection even🎶
Maybe it was the dance itself, or the way Ms. Ophelia had secured her hair back, but everything was loosening up as they continued the dance.
The mask fell away, revealing Raziah's face to everyone for the first time. Aragon's smile had long disappeared, and the second he saw the face hiding behind the butterfly mask, his lips parted in awe.
Nothing was astounding about her face, except her Long lashes, hazel eyes, and her plump red lips which had been smudged all over with lipstick because of the way she had been eating the other time.
🎶Just know that each step of the way, every hardship we will or might face - wouldn't go for naught. 🎶
🎶Having you by my side, touching and feeling you near me, your smile, your Joy, is the greatest blessing this life ever showered upon me.🎶
Eventually, she pulled away from him again. Raising her dress, she began dancing around him on the tip of her toes while she continued with her song. Her short Golden hair spun around with her, and she graciously danced all around him as if she was confessing her sincerest love to him.
Was it me? Was it you? Or was it that night that we danced the night away?🎶🎶
Was it the enchanting night? Was it the warm and wet grass under our bare feet? 🎶🎶
Looking into your soft eyes, I saw something there and it turned me upside down. 🎶🎶
I was caught, hook and net, and my heart whispered one thing. 🎶🎶
🎶🎶And sometimes I might be strong enough, and sometimes I might act like I don't care. But I know I will be tough enough, to hold on to you with my death grip.
🎶🎶In this life and beyond, I'll promise you one thing - no matter how cruel our fate might be, how much it tries to separate us, haunt us, it'll have to give up because I'll find you even in the deepest corners of hell.
🎶Was it your eyes? Your kindness? beautiful? I know my answer now...it was all of it🎶
🎶🎶Cuz I know, oh I know...and I believe🎶🎶
Our passion will live on, it'll Carry on like the lightest of winds blowing lightly against our cheeks. 🎶
🎶🎶Oh, it'll live on. 🎶🎶🎶
The tone of the last lyric indicated the song had come to an end, and that was when she stopped right in front of him and bowed again, this time she did it so slowly and efficiently without ever taking her eyes off his.
For the next ten seconds, the whole room was quiet.
Malcolm was most especially taken aback because he had heard that song and seen those dance steps before. Then, the whole room erupted in a loud and booming round of applause.
.
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Song title: Live on.
Written by your dear Author.
What do you guys think?
