18 Kingdom Fall

After they made the announcements, the people were back to their usual dances and greetings. The royal family, as tonight's host, talked to almost everyone in the hall to be introduced and say their salutations.

Luckily, a few minutes after walking around and force a smile on everyone they encountered, Allyria got away without her mother noticing so she went to Kaius whom she realized sat by alone, indulging his dish and desserts.

'Kaius would rather be a better company than anyone in this room,' she thought.

"Well, look at this grumpy old prince," she teased and slammed her palms slightly on the table, startling him.

Allyria sat on the opposite side of the table, observing his face that almost looked dead seeing an utterly unenjoyable party to please the nobles, "You could get some fresh air, you know," she said.

Kaius chuckled, "Is it really obvious?"

Allyria raised her brow in question.

"That my face screams Vervalian culture is boring?" he showed a playful grin, "No offense."

She just scoffed in a mocking tone and rolled her eyes, "I thought you always liked other people's company talking about social and political issues."

He shook his head and looked away, staring at the throng of people dancing and partying, as if he had so many deep thoughts he didn't want to disclose to Allyria.

'What was he thinking about, anyway?'

Instead of asking, she shrugged it off and took a mince pie from his plate with her bare hands. Not even bothered by the people who surrounded them.

She paused when he suddenly turned to stare at her, "What?" she took a tiny bite and arched her brows, "It would be a waste if you will just let it there. It's delicious, by the way," she took another bite.

She just made herself busy by eating desserts. Not too much, though. Her mother always warned her that even though she could have all the heavenly food in the world, they still had to maintain their ideal physique.

While she was too occupied with what she's doing, she didn't realize Kaius was already staring, engulfing her in those eyes as brown as deep sienna.

She rubbed the side of her lips, "Is there something on my face?"

He shook his head.

Without warning, Kaius stood and walked towards her, his hand laid in front, "It's getting boring. Mind if we dance?"

Her eyes didn't blink for forty seconds. At least. She couldn't guess what was in his mind. Has he been drinking or something?

Kaius straightened, waiting. Allyria didn't seem to have any plans of accepting his hand, so he looked at her with pleading eyes, "Please don't embarrass me."

Allyria laughed, despite her efforts to hold it in. "Fine," she took his hand, "I wouldn't want to see a crying prince on my sister's birthday."

He cocked one eyebrow, accompanying it with a sneer. People started staring once they were on the dance floor, but they refused to get bothered about it. Besides, this was what the Queen wanted, a good publicity. She will finally get it.

Allyria slid her hands in his and carried her other hand on top of his shoulders. Kaius' fingers made his way to the side of her waist, holding her firmly. She tried to avoid eye contact with him as much as she could. Too close. He was too close.

"You okay?" Kaius asked, concerned why Allyria was quiet the whole time.

She nodded.

The accompaniment started slowly, a sweet mellow song.

Kaius guided her every step, moving like two threads being weaved into a seamless piece. The rhythm of their bodies was passionate. He twirled her around, dipping her as he'd lean forward. A quiet contentment spread through her. It was the calm after the storm, the stillness that made her want to rest in that moment.

But a few steps later, the music started getting faster as more and more nobles joined with them in the center. Allyria barely caught the steps. She wasn't a dancer for her type, even after all the countless dance lessons her mother requested. Kaius seemed to be good at it.

In a fluid motion, she slipped her right foot forward, chasing his moving foot, like a fox on the hunt while looking at her feet to prevent herself from making a mistake. His fingers tightened on her waist as his left foot came forward again, surprising her foot and chasing it back.

Several minutes later, she finally got her right footing, catching up the steps like it was as easy as counting to three, and removed her eyes on the floor.

'It isn't so bad after all.'

Allyria beamed, enjoying the thrum of the instruments in her ears and danced to her heart's content. Slide. Sway. Slide. Sway. She was about to brag the minor achievement to Kaius when she accidentally stepped on his foot, causing her to tumble down.

'AAAAAHHHHHH!'

She wailed, the embarrassment enveloping her, but before she could slip on the floor, his sturdy arms wrapped her waist tight and helped her straighten her posture before anyone else could realize it.

"Sorry," she said, her face turning red.

Kaius chuckled. "Don't worry. I won't let you fall," he said and winked.

Allyria crinkled her nose in response.

The second they started moving, she became more cautious that caused her mistaking frequently for a wrong move, stepping on a few of his toes. But he looked fine with it as if nothing happened, making sure it didn't come as obvious to anyone. Her breaths, short and trembling, brushed his coat, and she saw the laughter glitter in his eyes.

"Tell me I didn't do you a favor tonight," grinning, he whispered in her ear.

She rolled her eyes and flashed a rueful smile, "You wait until I step on all your toes."

The corner of his mouth turned up. "You really are ungrateful. You do know that, don't you?"

She gave him a dirty look, not uttering any word and just continued dancing for what seemed like an eternity until they finally decided to leave the dance floor.

Allyria swore she almost felt her ankle getting sore by walking with her high heels on.

When they arrived at the table, Allyria thought staying in the veranda for a while would be better and just come back later on. Everything was already becoming too overwhelming — the dancing, the inquisitions about their wedding, entertaining guests, everything.

She needed time to breathe. Also, even though they were almost healed, she couldn't deny her wounds still hurt often, so a short rest away from the chaos would do.

She was walking towards the exit when a waiter bumped into her, almost spilling the glass on her dress. She was about to speak when he dashed towards the inside, not even acknowledging her presence.

"Well, that was mean," she mumbled to herself and just shrugged it off. He's lucky she's too exhausted to be mad right now.

"Finally," she said to the open air and looked at the courtyard taking view. It was undeniably the best place you could be at the party. Nothing but peace and silence.

She stared at the sky. Something about it just makes her feel calm. She doesn't know why either. It's just as is.

Sitting there for a few minutes, she decided it was time to go back before her mother would notice she escaped again. Everyone greeted her as they passed by, waiters, guests and such. It was odd knowing they've scurried out the hall at the same time.

As if she already knew what was coming, a loud bang takes in the surroundings, deafening her ears and blinding her sight with a smoke not so far from her.

Everyone screamed, running towards safety like bulls in a stampede. Instead of going with them, she went back inside, searching for her mother and father, or any sign of her siblings.

But the sight in front of her took her aback. A puddle of blood laid waste in the marble floors of the Great Hall. One side of the wall collapsed, near the dais where she remembered the King and Queen were sitting earlier, debris scattered and guests trapped.

Allyria tried to recognize them but none had the face of her family. She slid her way deep into the catastrophe as other people ran to the opposite direction.

"Help," a voice called her.

"Please, help us..."

"Your Grace…"

"Please!"

Pulse beat in her ears, blocking out all other sound. The fear. It happened again. When she thought the castle was safe from the terrorists' prying eyes, she was wrong. They have already infiltrated the castle.

She was about to stride towards the victims when someone grabbed her arm, "Allyria?"

That voice. She turned to see him, "Kaius? Where's everybody? Where's mother? Father?"

"The guards brought them in the underground keep after the explosion. We need to go now," he grabbed her and led the way, walking as fast as they could.

Allyria could barely see where they were going, but his strong arms holding her was enough to know she will be fine.

She will be fine. She was sure of that. The relief of knowing her parents and siblings were safe. But the only thing she couldn't erase in her head was the cries and screams of help of those people. Not just today but also last week.

The horror, all because of an agenda, she still wasn't sure what.

Why did they let this happen? Who planned all this?

And how far will this violence go for the sake of taking the kingdom down?