Expectations

The party ended on a high note.

After speaking with Ariadne for a while, we parted ways deciding that we would meet again, despite Ariadne's initial reluctance.

After this I headed inside.

In the ballroom, Prince Ilya had graced everyone with his presence and with that, the whole room had erupted in glee.

I myself did not meet the prince but I saw him from afar. To me, compared to Prince Rudo, Prince Ilya had no real presence. He was truly just like any other noble.

In the game he had been shown as a handsome yet kind prince who had a heart of gold but when looking at him now, and how comfortable he was in a crowd of people yet simultaneously ignoring them, I felt myself frown.

I guess his image from the game was all because of Ellie's rose coloured glasses. Because to me, he was acting all high and mighty due to their status.

I quickly lost interest.

Looking around, for the last time, I searched for Ellie.

I found her in a corner looking straight at Prince Ilya with bright eyes.

I sighed.

They had already met and she was In love already... how foolish. I thought.

However that thought drifted out of my mind as soon as it came in. The circumstances from the game had started and so from now on there was a timer set upon my life.

There was so much to do and so little time. I counted the things in my head, making sure not to miss a single step.

I walked around the ballroom almost aimlessly trying to find someone who could break my bind to my father.

It didn't take long for me to realize that there wasn't but really, what had I expected?

Why would someone like that be in nobility?

I sighed.

***

The ball had come and gone like a lightning strike and I was dissatisfied with the information I had found and the things I had accomplished.

Baby steps. That's how I would get to my goal. But I was impatient. Time was of the essence.

I was in my room, walking around with a book in my hand. There were books sprawled everything. Everything to do with magic and spells but also ones which would teach me about the state of affairs of a country. I needed more and more. Sometimes I wouldn't even sleep.

While walking by the window I felt a sliver of heat on my skin which ripped me out of my concentration.

I brushed my hand against the window looking over the flower garden.

I looked at it for a moment and then, I rushed out the door, throwing the book I was reading on my bed.

Outside, Loki was waiting.

"Let's go outside." I said simply, without even greeting Loki. But he didn't mind. He just nodded and took my hand in his.

"They were all different than what I expected..." I said to Loki, recalling the events of the ball.

"You had expectations?" Loki said simply. It wasn't questioning at all but I could sense it. He was curious.

"I got the information I was looking for, is what I mean." I laughed a bit.

Loki paused awkwardly for a moment and then he said, "My lady, I've been wanting to ask, but, why are you working so hard? Are you planning to find a way to take over as the Duke?"

On accident or maybe by habit Loki's eyes turned red

I smiled a bit bitterly. "No... nothing of the sort."

I hadn't been in this world long and keeping this secret was hard. Mostly when it came to keeping it from Loki.

"There are things that I can't explain..." I said in a murmur.

With that said, I was half expecting Loki to be angry with me. But instead, it was dealt by quiet as he led me through the garden.

Suddenly, I felt as if the sun had disappeared from the sky leaving my body cold.

Loki probably hated me now. I assumed. I had never really kept big secrets from him unless they weren't my secrets to tell but that was what I was doing right now.

I could imagine defeatist words spreading through Loki's mind. My heart begged me to tell him but my mind kept stopping me.

This battle continued to wage inside me until I heard Loki's calm voice,

"Okay."

I turned to look at Loki with confusion.

Catching my expression Loki smiled softly. "You don't need to tell me anything but remember, I'll always be by your side."

Hearing those words, I felt tears in my eyes. This made me stop dead in my tracks and Loki stoped with me.

His care and warmth were always there by my side and it would always be. My whole body felt light for a second as if all my problems had vanished into thin air.

"Thank you, Loki." I said as I looked forewords.

A smile filled with emotions on my lips