Traditional Ball

ALYSSA

—Interacting with Prince Aren of Lundy... do you want me to go to the moon too? —I ask sarcastically—. I have already interacted with his brother. —I laugh—. I did not know he had a younger brother, you overlooked that information. I also didn't know that Prince Einar had a younger sister.

—I apologize, we didn't pay much attention to their family trees, we just focused on their careers and what their kingdoms could offer. —She rests her right hand on her chest and lowers her head slightly, apologetically.

—Okay, it's over... do you have younger siblings? Or do you have siblings?

—I was an only child, Your Highness.

—so do I. Seeing Prince Aren's brother, it made me want to have a younger brother, or sister. —I slightly smile.

—... I'm sure you would have loved him very much. I saw you interacting with the little prince, you looked very comfortable and cheerful.

—I was... It seemed that he wanted to pretend to me. If it doesn't work with his brother, at least I already have a backup —I whisper and we laugh—. He was someone very kind and gentlemanly.

—maybe he will be the one to give the point in favor to Prince Aren.

—He's a good ace up his sleeve, but I don't think it's enough. Speaking of him, I haven't seen him all day.

—Maybe he's locked in the library of the place like last time, remember? —I confirm, embarrassed—. Your first love, what a coincidence that he is now a candidate to be your fiancé.

—I think it will be easier to climb to the tip of Everest than to enter his ice floe that carries like a heart. —She laughs at my truth dressed as a joke—. It is very likely that I will not see him all night.

—You know the saying: "Hope is the last thing you lose". —She shrugs her shoulders with a slight smile.

—I lost it since you showed him as one of the candidates —I confess, and the head of ceremony takes everyone's attention.

—Good evening, important characters of royalty. —Greets with a curtsy—. It has been an honor to be giving you my work as head of ceremony during the events that have taken place since the morning. I am pleased to announce that the traditional ball will take place in a few moments, so I request, to those who confirmed their participation, to meet their partner on the dance floor, please.

The movement of people increases as several are vacating the dance floor and setting up themselves to the surroundings while others are meeting with their partner and heading to it.

—Your Majesty, it's time for you to go.

—but the prince...

—princess Alyssa. —I look back and he gives me another of his smiles.—. Would you grant me the honor of starting this traditional dance piece with you? —He offers me a formal invitation and I smile at his kind gesture.

—The honor would be mine, Prince Einar —I curtsy slightly and hold his hand after handing my bottle of water to Greta—. I'll be back right away. —She nods and I head to the dance floor with Einar, there are several people who will take part, among them, my friend Leah who is accompanied by someone I do not know. We exchange glances and she smiles at me, and I laugh at the emotion she exudes.

—Is something wrong? —Einar asks.

—Oh no, I just saw my friend.

—oh, ¿Lady Leah?

—Do you know her?

—Not really. My assistant told me about her before she got lost. It was when I was charging batteries so I could address you, you were with her at that time.

—Oh, I see.

—I'm sorry, I must sound like a bully.

—I just want you to know that it will take less time to take your life than you trying to run away for taking mine —I warn, saying the same Leah told me.

—Okay, I understood that reference. —Smiles and the MC speaks again.

—We thank all of you for being part of this, it is beautiful that traditional ball never goes out of fashion and the new generations keep it alive by learning it.

It's because they force us to learn it.

—We learn it out of obligation —Someone speaks in a thick voice behind me. I half see back, and the man is on his back, and I only see his partner's hand hitting his shoulder without much force.

—Please form two circles, one inner and one outer.

—Do you prefer the inner circle or the outer one?

—The inner is ok —I answer and we position ourselves in the smallest circle along with other couples. Leah is located a meter and a half away from me and we give each other a smile that only girls could understand—. Lady Leah, I hope you can enjoy the traditional ball.

—I thank you, Princess Alyssa, I wish the same to you. It is an honor to start this dance by your side, Your Majesty. —We smile and I see Einar again who looks at me with a smile.

—What?

—I've met you recently and I can tell who your best friend is.

—is it very obvious? —interferes Leah—. We've known each other since we were little. I am Lady Leah of Corfu, a pleasure.

—Prince Einar of Kastoria, and the pleasure is mine, Lady —They smile at each other, and my friend sees me again with that look that screams everything at me.

He's a nice guy but I don't want to marry him; save me, please.

The first notes begin to sound, and I position my hands just like Prince Einar. We wait for the following instrument to be played to start moving.

The traditional dance makes us move without breaking the circles.

—I think I'll be like Prince Ivar tonight... I won't be able to stick my eye —Confess and returns to formal treatment—. It has really been an honor to live with you, Your Highness, thank you for granting me one of my best nights.

—The feeling is mutual, Your Majesty, I have felt very comfortable by your side, I thank you for giving me your time. —We smiled.

—I hope that tonight will not be our last meeting. I hope to see you soon at other events or, better yet, visiting my village. —I understand his hint and follow the thread.

—It would be an honor.

—Soon we will change partners. I trust you will keep my darkest secret, Alyssa.

—I'll take it to the grave —Smiles—. Although I could confess it on my tombstone —Laugh.

—Soon I will return to the hotel where we stayed, we will leave tonight. I hope you enjoy the rest of the dance.

—Thank you, take good care of yourself. —We take the last step together and change partners, now I'm with someone from the outside circle and recognizing who it is makes me tense.

—Princess Alyssa, what a pleasure. —Smiles cheerfully.

—Duke Han, I didn't expect to dance with you with so many people participating in the dance.

—Surely fate is on my side. —I laugh a little awkward. He tells me again about his kingdom and the wealth it owns. I pretend to pay attention and thank heaven when we are close to changing partners.—. My people and I would love it if you could visit us one day, so we would start...

—I'm sorry to interrupt you, sir, it's time to change. It's been a pleasure, enjoy the rest of the night, Duke Han —I say goodbye and go back to the inner circle and bump into a new dance partner.

—Princess Alyssa?

—Noble Harry? —I recognize Leah's younger brother—. What a relief to run into you.

—Who were you with?

—with someone who fantasized that his kingdom was the eighth wonder of the world. Or surely he wanted to tell me that he was the eighth wonder, I'm not sure. —I joke—. Who were you with?

—with someone who was his sister surely —We laughed and continued talking like two good friends before changing partners. I didn't know he had returned, but he will soon leave the country again—. wish me luck~.

—Ditto~ —I smile and we change partners for the last time, and I run into a firm hand on my back that gives me chills. I look up when I notice that I reach the shoulder and the simple eye contact wreaks havoc on the inside—. Hi —It's the only thing I can think of to say after coming out of the trance.

—Good evening. —He raises his chin again and I recognize his voice, he is the same one who said the same thing I thought before starting the dance.

—So, you were also forced to learn the traditional dance..

—I doubt that we are a minority, ma'am —He answers simply, but I find his comment amusing. We are moving in order to undo the circles since we are in the last stage of the dance that I have felt more eternal than infinity. I'm dying of thirst, and I wish to finish my piece of dessert that I left halfway for dancing—. Hey, why do you talk to me informally? —He asks out of nowhere.

—Why so do you? —I defend myself and he sees me serious again. I detail his face, I can't see him completely because of the black mask, but his features that are in sight look attractive. He wears a black outfit with gold decorations; He has blond hair and gray eyes and a well-defined jaw.

Serious look, cold aura, blond hair, gray eyes, lips_... damn it.

—Are you_ —I try to say, but he holds me by the waist firmly to lift me into the air and I feel like a feather in his arms. I fall and we get closer, which causes a strong electric current to cross my spine.

—Did you say something?

—... I apologize for speaking to you informally... I mistook you for someone I know, sir —Lie.

It turns me around on my axis and we return to the same position as we continue to move along the great hall.

—Your apology is accepted. —I hold his hand and shoulder more firmly, trying to take courage to ask him.—. I recognize your ability to dance, ma'am. —I smile with his sudden compliment and feel my cheeks burn.

—Thank you! I like dancing —I confess—. And it's not to return the compliment, but you also know how to dance... duke, prince, king?

—Prince Aren of Lundy —Drops what I wanted and didn't want to hear.

—Understand. Well, it's an-honor to dance the last part of the dance with you, Prince Aren. —I smile gently as we go through the last of the last of the last of the dance—. I recognize your good skills and appreciate your compliment.

—Thank you very much, Princess Alyssa. —My heart explodes as I pump so much blood out of nowhere—. I hope you have enjoyed your evening.

—I did it. I hope you as well, next to your family.

—Although your father had the attention of my parents and plus you that of my younger brother, I was able to do it. —His tone makes me doubt if he's joking or it's a claim, but I prefer to take it as the first one.

—I'm sorry I stole him, but I must admit he made my night more enjoyable. —I smile when he sees me—. Thank you for the dance and for your brother's time, say hello from me —He gives me one last turn, extends me, and return to him with my back against his chest and our hands joined, and so we finish the dance—. They should call it the infinite dance —I say low.

—I have the same opinion —he comments, and I see him again; Our gazes cross between the masks, and we stay like that for a few seconds.

Fifteen years without seeing him, but he is still the same. Does he remember me? Surely he does; I didn't tell him who I was, and he called Princess Alyssa without doubt.

Why is my heart so racing? Am I the only one feeling a tension here?

—I will give your greeting to my brother. —He lets go of my hands and we face each other for a proper goodbye—. Enjoy the rest of the night.

—Same for you. —We give each other a little bow and he gets lost among the people while my heart gallops and I want to believe that it is only because of the infinite dance that I have just performed, but...

—Aly — Leah touches my shoulder and I see her—. What a coincidence in life to end the dance with the person I mentioned to you who was watching you. —She smiles excitedly, and her comment only makes everything worse.

—Was it him?

—The universe conspires in your favor. —She laughs as she grabs me by the shoulders to pull me off the dance floor—. On the other hand, I'm not doing well, I ended up dancing with my younger brother. —I mock and she fulminates me. We arrive at Greta who offers us water; the dessert is gone.

—Do I write him on the list of those approved?

—I wouldn't even have to ask that, Greta —speaks Leah—. Did you manage to see their chemistry? I think from the inside of the dance floor you felt the sparks better; The people next to him must have been electrocuted —She jokes, and I laugh without optimism.

—Princess Alyssa, did you make up your mind?

—... —I deny—. I'm not sure yet. Leave it pending, I want to be proud with this one. —My friend raises an eyebrow and crosses her arms.

—May I know the reason?

—... because I'd rather have his kingdom send the request first than mine and get it rejected.

—How could you be sure of that? I was watching you, he seemed to see you with an I don't know what that I don't know how.

—You're not telling me anything with that —she laughs— even so, I'll do it that way. I have a feeling that I will only make a fool of myself with him.

—Understand. I'll take care of that, Your Highness. —She receives a message through her headset—. Your father requests your presence at the royal table. Soon you will go to the hotel to rest.

—Okay, let's go. It's very early, but I'm tired.

—I agree, it has been an exhausting day. —I hold her arm and we head to the royal table of my country.

We returned to the hotel after saying goodbye to my grandparents and father's friends. I lock myself in my penthouse room and look for what I need to remove my makeup. I take a shower and wear a lilac silk robe.

It's nine o'clock in the evening. I try to sleep, but the memories of the dance wreak havoc in my head.

Aren was looking at me.

I tense myself just thinking about it. It was something strange, he had no intentions of talking to me, at the dance he had the opportunity, but he didn't. I admit that neither did I, but I did not know what I could talk to him, in addition, I felt comfortable with him without the need to talk, which is strange because I always look to take out a conversation to kill the awkward silence.

He was the only one I didn't talk to as much as I should, it would be very rare for Corfu to send him a request to visit my village. Even worse that Lundy does it. It's not that I know Aren a lot, but with the little I've lived with him, I can assure that he won't send anything, it's like he doesn't like me, I can feel it. I should dislike him too, but when I recognized him I felt...

—I'm bad, I need to walk. —I leave my room; the hallways are empty. I get to the lobby and head to the pool, maybe the sound of the water relaxes me, even if I don't swim.

I sit on one of the sun loungers and when I'm about to lie down, I freeze when I see a figure sitting at the edge of the pool. He is at the other end of the pool, with his back to me, with his feet in the water and his back uncovered.

Lord...

He doesn't wear a shirt; he's only wearing his underpants and the drops on his back and wet hair indicate that he swam a little. You could easily say he exercises, his back screams it out.

Stop looking at him, Aly.

It's hard to take my eyes off. More by knowing who he is; I'm surprised that I can even recognize him from behind and shirtless as if I've seen him that way before. I guess his height and hair give him away. I feel my face like a bonfire and out of nowhere I want to put it in a freezer, it urges me.

He has not noticed my presence; he would have turned around if it had been like that. He is very distracted watching the water, what will he be thinking?

Get out of here before you commit a foolish thing.

This time I decide to obey my conscience and return to my room. I go straight to the bathroom to wash my face; it is flushed when I see it in the mirror.

—Why can't he be someone horrendous to look at? Maybe that's how I stop being so interested because with his personality he already has many points less.