Relapsing Fate (2)

Before he could continue, I interjected, "Good evening, Prince Vladimir. If you want, I shall leave to give you your space." He laughed, surprising me, and said, "You really are evasive, Katanya. I do not mind you being here; in fact, I quite enjoy your company. It surprises me that you're here outside when your brothers are inside the ballroom." 

Looking at him, I replied, "Well, I need some air since it's stuffy inside. I shall take your leave now, good sir, before my brothers become concerned. Until we meet again, Vladimir." He grabbed my hand, saying, "Surely we shall meet again, dear Katanya." 

"He then released me as I walked inside. By my side was Nikolai, who asked, 'What did Vladimir want, Katanya?' I glanced at Vladimir, then back to Nikolai and replied, 'He just wanted to admire the garden, Nikolai. Is it wrong for someone to come outside when I am?' 

Nikolai took my arm and led us to the ballroom, making me dance with him. Each time I tried to move away; he tightened his grip on my arm until I stopped resisting. Vanya walked over and asked, 'Is everything alright?' Nikolai, as I stayed silent, responded, 'It's just a little misunderstanding between siblings, but it's nothing, really.' Vanya looked at me and asked for the next dance, and I nodded, replying, 'It would be my pleasure, sir Vanya.' 

My dance with Nikolai ended. Vladimir approached me and asked Nikolai, 'Could I borrow Lady Katanya for a while, Nikolai? I shall bring her back in one piece with every single strand of her hair in place.' Nikolai nodded to Vladimir. I looked at Vanya and said, 'Save me a dance, all right? I will be back.' Vanya smiled and walked towards Alura. 

Vladimir took me to meet his family, and the Tsar stood with them. When we arrived, I curtsied deeply as he introduced me to everyone, explaining that the Tsar was his uncle but adopted by him since the Tsar's wife was unable to conceive. I smiled and replied to their questions like a proper princess. When my parents joined the group, I asked if I could be excused and walked over to Vanya, tapping his shoulder. 'Is that dance still available, or have you found someone else?' He laughed and said, 'Are you waiting for an invitation to take my hand, or are you going to dance with me?' 

We began dancing, and he looked me in the eyes, asking in a concerned tone, 'What happened, Katanya? You look withdrawn right now.' I replied, looking at his chest, 'It's just Nikolai being Nikolai, but I'm all right. I'm really okay, so can we please not speak about it, Vanushka?' Vanya took my hand, tilted my chin upward, and said, 'The last time you called me Vanushka was when I was still thirteen and we played together. Did you know that I had fallen madly in love with you that day itself? Well, it was earlier, and when I tried to tell you all those times, I could not muster the courage. Remember the day we rode out to the lake, and you were sitting on the grass watching the birds in the sky? You looked so beautiful, and when you went into the meadow, I followed you and called out your name, but when you turned around, I could not say those three words. So, yes, that's why Nikolai said what he said to me.' 

I looked at him, then at Nikolai, who was dancing with Tatiana from my manners and etiquette class at school. I wanted to laugh as loudly as possible, but my actions would be judged by all that attended the ball. I looked into Vanya's deep blue eyes and said, 'I love you too, Vanya, and Nikolai is angry at me because I had not told him, but he read it in my journal and walked in on him reading it. So, yes.' I looked deeper into his eyes, trying to see if he felt the same. Out of nowhere, I said, 'I'm feeling hot, really hot in here, so I'm going to step outside.' He followed me outside; this was the first time Vanya and I ever kissed, and I could feel his love for me radiating, and he could feel mine. 

We arrived home after the ball, and I saw my grandmothers sitting in the parlor having tea. It was a long time since I last saw them. When they saw me, they rushed over, showering me with love. My parents entered the house and welcomed them. We then all went to the sitting room. Nikolai asked, 'Grandmother, when did you arrive? I thought you would come to my ceremony, but it's all right since you're here now. How long will you be staying with us? I hope that you will be staying for my coming-out ceremony.' Grandmother Arina replied, 'We are all staying for the summer, and we shall be staying with you, so do not worry and stop fretting around, dear. Is it not time for your sister to go to bed? We need to speak to your parents.' 

We sighed together, Nikolai and me. He took me to my room and made sure I was in bed. As he was about to kiss me goodnight, the look on his face changed. 'Nikolai, what happened? You look like you've seen a ghost, or is there something wrong with me?' He shook his head and said, 'Oh, it's nothing, little one. I was just recalling something that happened today. Anyway, how was the ball? I saw that Vladimir liked our little princess. I yawned deeply and said, 'It was amazing, and I did not notice Vladimir, but everything was perfect.' Will you stay with me until I fall asleep, Ninushka?' He looked at me and smiled, then said, 'Like you must ask me to stay with you when I always do. Now, go to sleep, Nanushka.' 

I woke up in the middle of the night and went to Grandma Tatiana's room. I knocked on the door, and she invited me inside. Her room was warm and cozy, with her sitting near the fireplace. She looked up from her book into my eyes and said, 'Katanya, my dear doll, why are you up so late? Can't you sleep?' I shook my head and said, 'I was asleep, but I woke up and was feeling thirsty, so I went to get a glass of milk. Then I saw your light on and decided to come and sit with you.' Soon after, the warmth of the room lulled me back to sleep. When I woke up, it was already morning, and I was in my bed. I remembered falling asleep in Granny Tatiana's room, but probably Father took me to my room. When both my grandmothers entered my room with a ton of dresses, I got up and walked to my mirror to tie my hair. That's when I saw that my hair had turned as white as the moon, and I fell unconscious from the shock. 

When I woke up, I found that Grandmother Arina and Tatiana had been sitting next to me, waiting for me to wake up. I took a strand of my hair and checked it; it was still white. My mother entered the room to tell us that breakfast was already served. When she saw my hair, she exclaimed, 'Kat, what have you done to your beautiful urban hair?' Her voice was filled with shock, but Grandmother replied, , 'It was bound to happen sooner or later, Irina. I told you more than once that destiny can never be changed or averted. We told the both of you that your child will be the last pureblood in this mortal world, and now the change has begun, and nothing will stop it as she is destined to… We can speak about this later.'

With ease, Grandma Ariana took me to the bathroom, and we came back out after 30 minutes with my hair being urban again. She told me, 'You have to dye your hair every two months so that nobody finds out, okay, Babushka?' I nodded my head, and we all went downstairs for breakfast.

Days went by, and we continued meeting in secret, my grandparents and parents orchestrating my marriage with Vladimir without my consent. The day of Vanya and Nikola's coming-out ceremony arrived, and Vanya, accompanied by his family, came to our estate to prepare for the evening. I busied myself helping them get ready before preparing for the gala myself.

As I descended the staircase, I felt an uneasy sensation of being watched. Upon looking up, I found all eyes fixed on me. I yearned for Vanya's gaze, and fortunately, he was looking straight at me. Nikola's cough snapped me out of my trance as I continued down the stairs to face my elder brother. My parents, Irina and Dimitri, along with Vanya's parents, Dominic and Vanlisa, expressed awe at my appearance.