~ The Banquet ~

Winter hated people, but the King had insisted on holding a banquet to celebrate the return of the lost Prince and Princess. In the few days she had to prepare, she was forced to take basic etiquette and dance classes with Aiden. The teachers praised her ability to learn so quickly, but Winter didn't feel a single ounce of pride. She was mentally an adult, after all. The day of the banquet came quicker than anticipated, and the the Palace that buzzed with busy staff became even more lively after welcoming guests from far and wide.

Winter sat on an oversized, bejeweled chair that overlooked the ballroom below. Snowflake nuzzled into her hand on her lap, his ruby red eyes watching the scene below them. Apparently it was improper to bring an ominous looking wolf with you to a ballroom, but Winter refused to go anywhere without Snowflake.

An array of bright blues, shimmering golds and vivid pinks swirled amongst the ballroom floor. The walls of the enormous room were a glittering silver and green that complimented the dangling crystal chandeliers floating gracefully above the ballroom's occupants. Every woman seemed to glow like sparkling jewels against the hues of swirling colours sporting nothing but elegance and poise in the way they moved and laughed. The air was tinged with the sickly sweet scent of alcohol and the scents of expensive jasmine and rose. Amongst the distant chatters swallowed by the echoing of elegant music, Winter could hear faint whispers as many women and men cast quick glances in her direction. Snowflake bared his teeth at them and they turned away hastily.

She sat alongside the King and her brothers, overlooking the scene below them. The King wanted them to make a grand entrance, but Winter refused. Since Aiden seemed to share the same brain as her, he followed her wishes blindly and took them on as his own. If it was what Winter willed, then Aiden willed it as well. Instead of a grand entrance, they entered from the door closest to the thrones. Despite this, they attracted attention instantly and everyone bowed towards them respectfully. Winter felt like throwing up at the scene.

Winter played with the sleeves of her golden gown. The bath and massages to prepare for the ball were tolerable, but Winter despised the smells of jasmine and gold. The exaggerated ball gowns of vivid colours bright enough to blind, the way women drowned themselves in jewels to compensate for their lack of inner beauty, and the way they played with their fans annoyed her. The layers of fabric and uncomfortable makeup. She hated it with every inch of her own being.

Snowflake, as if he understood the thoughts that ran through her mind, looked at her with eyes of compassion. She stared into his ruby red irises that glistened under the bright ballroom lights. His eyes were truly ominous. Despite his gruesome looking teeth and terrifying aura, he was truly a handsome wolf. Winter giggled and adjusted the ruff that she had tied around his neck earlier. It was a bright gold and matched the golden accents of her dress.

Aiden, who fiddled in his throne beside her, let out a heavy sigh of boredom.

"Now your turn." Winter giggled as she reached out to adjust his crooked golden ruff next. She smiled at the sight of both of her adorable children in matching golden accessories.

"You look terrifying. Don't smile like that." The King said with a frown. His throne towered over the others from its centre placement. Unlike their red cushioned ones, his was purely gold with encrusted jewels of all kinds.

"Why can't I smile?" Winter huffed while scratching Snowflake's head.

The King frowned at the sight of his daughter smirking while stroking the head of an ominous wolf. It was truly frightening. No matter how you looked at it, the feral beast on his daughter's lap wasn't normal. It had ruby red eyes and a coat of silver fur, giving it a terrifying appearance. He could also sense supernatural power emanating from its heart. Luckily it wasn't directed at his daughter, otherwise he would've skinned it alive. The King secretly ordered an Archmage to look into its source of power.

Winter named the scary looking creature Snowflake and carried it around like a lapdog. For the past three days she brought it with her wherever she went, scaring the Palace staff and her tutors. Her and Aiden would brush its silver fur and tie ribbons and ruffs around its neck like it was a small child. The creature even had its own place at the dinner table and ate with them during their meals.

What was even stranger than its humanlike behaviour was its obvious hostility towards anyone who wasn't the twins. Lysander had tried to pet it, but almost lost a finger in the process. It also almost ate a maid who tried to move it from the twins' bed to its bed on the floor. The ominous wolf was like a reflection of Winter's heart. Like Winter, the only one it accepted was Aiden.

Lysander approached Winter. "Care for a dance, my cute little sister?"

Snowflake let out a low growl. Winter hated it here. Everything from the flowing skirts to the widespread conducts of the rich pissed her off. She gently handed Snowflake, who was now baring his teeth at Lysander aggressively, to Aiden before taking Lysander's gloved hand.

She sighed at the idea of having to dance with him, but she knew he wouldn't stop bothering her for the rest of the night unless she dance with him at least once. Her heart fluttered inside her chest as her fingers squeezed her older brother's hand tightly. The entire ballroom was now focused on them. Lysander led her to the centre of the dance floor.

"Don't let me fall." She said nervously.

"Never." He chimed happily. "I'm so happy you didn't refuse me like usual."

Together, they melted away into the river of twirling skirts and graceful bodies. Lysander was significantly taller than her, but he held her firmly and lead her carefully. With her fleet-footed steps and familiarity with the movements from lessons, she glided easily amongst the fused bodies on the dance floor. Although she moved with grace and poise, it was no match or equivalent for the airy way Lysander drifted across the waxy floors of the ballroom. She had to take enormous steps just to keep up with his strides.

Everyone watched the duo with awe struck expressions as they danced. When the song was over, he escorted her back to their seats. Snowflake, who was unreasonably agitated, settled back down into Winter's lap and let out a human like sigh.

"That was good!" Aiden smiled.

"Do you want to dance?" Winter asked her twin brother who twisted uncomfortably in his seat.

Aiden hesitated. "No, I don't know all the steps."

"Practice harder and you can dance with Winter at your birthday banquet." The King said coldly.

Winter shot him a confused look. "Birthday.."

"Banquet?" Aiden finished her sentence.

The King sighed. "You two are almost nine now. Your birthday banquet will be in a couple of months."

Winter froze. "NINE!?"

~***~

"Hmm..." The cloaked boy hummed from the shadows of the banquet. His eyes were glued to the silver-haired Princess and her supernatural wolf.

"Your Highness," Another man said from behind him. "Will we be returning home to the Aurosilio Empire?"

"No." He replied. "I'd like the meet the lost Princess first."

The neighbouring Empire's envoys shivered at his words. Nobody wanted to approach the terrifying King, or the Princess with the scary wolf.