12 Chapter Twelve

The celebration continued, the curious eyes of the men and women followed Elara. Most of the young women attending the celebration had chosen to wear soft colours to make them look innocent and mild in nature.

But the deep blue gown with shiny details reflected the lights from the chandelier that Elara wore stood out from the rest, while the veil that covered the lower half of her face raised questions of who she was and where she had come from.

Having never been stared at this much, Elara wanted to leave. But she had come here to experience what the celebration felt like. She finally had a chance to see how things went in the royal family.

She took a glass from the servant's tray as she felt her throat go dry because of how nervous she got.

She walked over to the table to dropped the glass which slipped from her hand and was about to fall but was caught by someone.

"Lady, you should be careful with glasses, because it could hurt" Prince Aiden said with a smile.

Elara stepped back and curtsied in front of him which earned her a bow. She almost exclaimed for a moment as she realized that royal blood bowed in front of her and she didn't want her head to be chopped off if they've ever found out that she was a maid and wasn't a maid. She looked at the other side of the hall and saw Lady Celestia and Lady Amara together with smiles on their faces as they interacted with the guests.

Elara knew she had to avoid them as she knew they would be the first persons to recognize her here.

Elara excused herself from Prince Aiden company as more guests came closer to where he is since he was the heir to the throne and she decided to leave the hall. The other princes had the company of guests and Lucius wasn't an exception.

Lucius despised celebrations such as these, as his family thought they could send young women his way so that he could pick one of them for his wife. As if dealing with the concubines and Queen Sophia wasn't enough, Lucius thought in his mind.

Claire had made her way through the little crowd as she smiled and said, "Prince Lucius will be busy strategizing for the upcoming war and doesn't have time for it now. Isn't that right, my Prince?"

Lucius wasn't the least bit interested in the woman's words. When he looked away for the briefest moment, his eyes fell on the woman he had met on the garden balcony, who now leaving the side of his brother, Aiden.

At the same time, King Arthur and Mr. MontClair appeared. King William remarked,

" Claire seems to be very thoughtful about my son."

He then turned to look at Lucius and said, "You should ask her for a dance, Lucius ."

"Prince Lucius , if not me, you should at least ask someone for a dance, no? I would be hurt if someone said you are only good at the battlefield and not adept at leading a lady for a dance." Claire said

Lucius finished the drink in his hand, and handed the glass to the servant, before he said, "I should."

The King had already said what was needed, and Claire was confident with her beauty and status that she would be the one. Claire got ready to be asked but her face , when he walked away from there.

Elara was making her way out of the hall when Lucius stopped in front of her.

" Running away too soon, going somewhere" Lucius said slowly when he fixed his gaze on her

Captive under Lucius gaze, Elara felt her heart skip a beat. She softly gulped, not knowing what Lucius wanted, until he brought his hand forward and requested with a slight bow,

"Dance with me, Lara."

Elara eyes widened in shock. She didn't expect to be asked to dance.

Lucius wrapped her hand around hers and led her across the hall. Lucius put his hand around Elara's waist pulling her closer to him and blood rushed to her cheeks giving it a light shade of pink.

She had not been close to a man before and didn't want her first experience to be infront of people.

Lucius took a step forward with their heads beside each other, and he spoke next to her ear,

"You said you were trying to evade the suitors with whom your family is trying to set you up. I will help you with it, and I want you return the favour." His hand let go of hers, and he settled his hands on both sides of her waist.

"While you are here, which I believe is for the remainder of the two days of the celebration, behave as if you are interested in me, and I will do the same so my family will stop sending women to me"

The rest of the celebrations. Tomorrow was Queen Sophia's birthday and she wondered how she would do it. It would be impossible to skip work and spend time with him.

" I won't be available after today. I have made plans already" Elara said slowly.

" Cancel whatever plans you have"Lucius said immediately. It was a demand.

Members of the royal family already had their eyes on them wondering who the mystery girl is.

" I am curious to know more about you. But I guess there would be enough time for that" Lucius whispered in Elara ears which made her to stiffen and her heart race.

If he wanted to see her family what would she do. It will be out there that she was a fake and pretended to be a lady from a wealthy family.