Duke Alaric Johnson.

I let out a scream once I was farther away from the Palace. It echoed into the night. My blood flowed like an endless lava as the recent images of what transpired earlier replayed in my mind.

"Stupid Crown Prince! Was it so hard to ignore me and dance with her! Gosh I hate him so much!" I yelled.

"Be careful of what you say!" A voice resonated in the air around me "You are still in the Palace after all!" It warned.

Hearing the warning made my heart skip a beat, I looked around me in search of the owner. Soon, my search was over as an indistinct figure approached me. I squinted my eyes a bit as it drew nearer. Its shadow was towered by that of the trees but as it walked towards me, I noticed its distinct violet eyes, glowing in the dark.

I let out a gasp when I realized who he was. Duke Alaric Johnson!.

"I-I didn't realize that someone was here!" I stuttered.

"Me neither! Well that was until I heard someone scream!" He said.

His dark hair tied neatly to a ponytail, his demeanor was calm and warm. He looked cheerful which was kind of strange knowing that he was an apathetic character in the novel.

"It wasn't my intention to disturb you, I am sorry!" I apologized quickly.

"...and here I was thinking that I would have a nice and quiet evening!" He said almost in a whisper. There was a bit of amusement in his voice.

"If I may ask, what are you doing outside, instead of attending the ball like everyone else?" The question flew out of my mouth before I could take it back.

His eyes glinted with shock, for a moment I thought he would not reply but was surprised when he actually did.

"The King requested for my presence and I had to come. Normally, I would not have attended the ball but since I was already here I decided to stay for a while but then I got bored and left for some peace and quiet!" He explained.

"Oh!"

"What about you?" He asked, taking me by surprise "It seems that you must have had quite an eventful night!".

I sighed, pondering how I would begin my story.

"Well it was eventful alright!" I replied "...because I may have caused a tiny bit of a commotion inside." He squinted his eyes at me, lost at my words "Well it began with the Crown Prince. . ." I started my story ". . .requesting for a dance from me but then I turned him down and then my brothers came to my rescue or so I thought but it didn't seem like their presence actually helped, so I decided to leave them in case things got worse and I was just about to leave the ballroom but I ended up dancing with Sir Alexander Norwyn which was kind of strange seeing that a dance caused everything!" I said finally, laying everything to the ground.

He stared at me, looking somewhat amused by my eventful night.

"Now, that's not what I expected!" He said thoughtfully, "Can you start from the beginning but explain everything in details?".

Before I knew it, I began blabbering everything about the events of the night to him, beginning from the moment My Father and I heard about the news of the war, I told him about my protest of not going, Cedric and Edward's promise to me, I also told him about how they ditched me the moment we walked into the ballroom, Duke Alaric stiffled a laugh at that part but I ignored it being too angry to question him about it. I told him about what the mean girls said about me and how Adeline comforted me.

I explained in details how the Crown Prince asked me to dance with him even when there were tons of girls in the ballroom to dance with but the idiot chose me out of all of them, my brothers coming to my rescue and their presence didn't even help my situation at all. Finally, I ended the story with threatening Sir Alexander to let go of me and then storming off to where we stood.

He kept quiet for some time, probably letting the story sink in.

"I am guessing that you are not going back there again!" He said.

I scoffed "If I ever go back there, I will look like a soldier returning to the war he was fleeing from. So, no I am not!" I replied.

"Well, I…" He paused listening keenly as indistinct voices resonated the air. For a moment I thought he could hear spirits until I heard them too.

"Rosalind! Rosalind!" The voices called out, drawing closer to us

"It seems like our little rendezvous will be called short. Lady Rosalind!" He said.

"It seems so!" I said, a bit sad about it.

He took my hand in his and planted a soft kiss on the back of my hand whilst smiling at me. His action stunned me.

"Till next time!" He said letting go of me.

"Rosalind! Rosalind!" The voices drew nearer.

I turned around and noticed Leo and Edward approach me. Our eyes met, relief washed their faces when they spotted me. They increased their pace and ran to me.

"We have been looking everywhere for you!" Edward said, trying to catch his breath. He looked like he ran a mile.

"We were so worried about you!" Leo added.

I rolled my eyes at them, not believing their words for a bit.

"Oh please! The two of you abadoned me the moment we arrived!" I pointed out.

Their faces went pale with guilt. I looked around and realized that he was gone. He must have left when he saw them. I felt down a bit, I really enjoyed his company.

"We are really sorry for leaving you!" Edward said, the tone in his voice sounded sincere.

"I am not ready to forgive you guys just yet!" I said. He sighed, dropping the subject. Leo had a thoughtful expression like he was pondering about something.

"How did you and the Crown Prince know each other?" Leo asked suddenly.

The question took me aback. They looked at me awaiting my reply.

"I don't know!" I said abruptly, "Maybe I remind him of someone. I do have a familiar face you know?" I said, chuckling nervously.

"Your face isn't all that fam…"

"Why don't we just leave!" I said quickly, interrupting Edward before he could finish the statement.

I walked away from them, avoiding anymore questions.

I could feel their questioning stares as I walked towards the Palace.

* * * *

"My Lady, how was the ball last night? Lenora asked the next day "I noticed you arrived back late last night!".

I groaned, I didn't want to remember that awful night. "I don't want to talk about it!" I said simply.

"Oh! It must have been very terrible for you!" She said, dressing the bed.

"The worst!" I added "I mean, what was so hard in asking someone else to dance!" I yelled.

"Did someone ask you to dance?" Lenora asked, she left the bed and began dusting the furnitures.

"Yes and I happily turned him down!" I said proudly.

"Really? May I ask who he was My lady?"

"The Crown Prince!" I said in an irritated tone, I heard Lenora drop something but I ignored it.

"T-The C-Crown Prince!" She stuttered "Oh dear!".

"I know right!" I said, relaxing on the couch, "I mean what was so hard in asking someone else to dance, Why me? He should have asked Lady Adeline which would have made total sense, because they would have made a perfect power couple but no, he asked me which is more than strange…." I went on and on, being a tattletale about the events of last night.

I heard Lenora scurry up and about in the room, she walked back and forth from the boudoir to the room, carrying some of my dresses with her which caught my attention.

"Lenora what are you doing?" I asked, shooting her a questionable gaze.

She looked nervous, hesitating to reply "I_uh_I am packing dresses for your vacation to the countryside!".

"What!" I got up from the couch and approached her.

She sighed and placed the dresses on the bed. "You need to leave quickly!"

"Why?" I asked, feeling more perplexed.

"You turned down the Crown Prince, who knows when he will come for your head?" She asked, trembling with fear.

I scoffed at her "Oh please! You are overthinking things!".

"No! My Lady, I am not!" She grabbed my hand which startled me, her voice shook with fright "The Crown Prince is said to be a very dangerous man. He kills people without giving a second thought especially those that disagrees with him and you turned him down last night and embarrassed him infront of other nobles! Who knows when and where he is planning to murder you?".

I rolled my eyes at her, her words didn't affect me one bit. I released my hand from her grip and placed my hands on her shoulders, staring at her directly.

"Nothing is going to happen to me Lenora!" I assured her "He is probably calm and may have forgotten about last night!" I added. Trying to convince both her and myself that he would.

A knock on the door made her jump, I sighed, she needed to relax.

"Come in!" I yelled.

The door was pushed open and the butler walked in carrying a golden tray with him, his face was as indifferent as ever.

"I have an invitation from the Royal Palace for you, My Lady!" He reported.

Lenora's face grew white with terror on hearing him.

"Oh no! The Crown Prince has already planned everything, he is going to murder you when you go to the Royal Palace, My Lady!" She fret.

I let out a breath, she really needed to calm down. "Lenora I think you are…" I paused, her words rang in my ear. 'What if he really did want to kill me for turning him down? I haven't even stayed in this world for a year and I am already going to die!' I thought. My breathing quickened and became uneven, Lenora's fears were getting to me.

"You are right! Lenora. What if he actually wants to kill me?" I asked, she stared at me, too scared to speak.

I swallowed. I need to survive. I need to stay alive and I will not take any chances.

I shot her a firm look "I will talk to my Father and convince him to send me to the countryside while you pack the necessary things I need and I mean more dresses!" I ordered.

"Yes, My Lady!" She replied with a stern look.

I turned around, making my way towards the door to talk to Father when the butler stopped me.

"If I may, My Lady!" The butler said, standing in my way "The invitation came from the Queen herself!".

"The Queen?" Lenora and I asked simultaneously.

"She is hosting a tea party in the Royal Palace and insists that Lady Rosalind Everhart attends the tea party!" He said, stressing the word 'insists'.

"It could still be a trap!" Lenora pointed out.

"I don't think so, My Lady!" The butler said, dryly.

"So I cannot refuse the invite even if I wanted to?" I asked slowly.

"No!" He replied simply.

"Oh!" I said, nodding my head.