“A dance with the unknown”

"No, we have not," I admitted and opened the door so she could enter.

The dark-haired woman walked in with ease, her regal wear trailing after her. "My brother is almost spellbound to you, he talks about you every time, and after you saved my life…"

"It was a pleasure." I cut her off before she could continue.

Adeline smiled. "Why did you murder that man?"

I froze at her words and my eyes widened. How? Had she noticed?

"W-what?" I almost choked out.

"Or rather, perhaps, I am asking the wrong question. How did you end his life with no weapon at your disposal?"

"Whatever do you mean, Princess Adeline?"

She took a step forward and I held my breath.

She was her brother's sister. Sharp and commanding.

"You don't have to worry, Anastasia. Your secret is safe with me. I won't tell anyone what I saw, you can see it as me repaying the favor you did by saving my life," she reached forward, almost like she was about to trace my cheek only to grab it.

I gasped, staring into her ocean-blue orbs. "But if you even think of using your little skills against my brother, that will be the last day you use them."

I nodded and parted my lips to speak only for a familiar voice to pierce through the room.

"Anas— Oh, I see the two of you are bonding quite well," George's voice rang through the room, I snapped my neck to see him standing by the door.

"Of course, brother," Princess Adeline released me and offered him a tight smile. "She saved my life, it was only fair for me to return the favor with a visit, I was just leaving."

The young woman offered her brother a soft pat before exiting the room like she had never been there.

"You seem worn out, my Queen, what is on your mind?" he asked, and I walked past him, locking the door.

"Is she always like that?" I asked, turning to face him.

"Adeline?" The king asked, a soft smile on his face. "No, only when she is around people she fancies, if you were anyone else, she would have killed you. She barely visits the chambers and when she does it's to commit one mischief or the other."

"Do you know who or what that man was searching for? Why he tried to kidnap the princess?"

The king paused before closing the distance between us. "For now, no one knows. My guards are gathering all the information, but let's forget about that, tonight is all about you." he offered a soft smile and I raised an eyebrow.

George pulled out a gown I had not noticed and threw it on the bed. "Get dressed, I have a beautiful surprise for you"

"For me?" I asked. A surprise? What was he up to? "Whatever might it be?"

I could not hide the nerves from my encounter with Adeline. Although she was willing to stay quiet, I was stoked, wondering how much she knew about me.

Did she only know I killed him? Or did she know about my powers too?

Either way, things have escalated. If I wanted to find my sister, I had to act fast.

"Make sure she looks even more radiant than she already does, I want her beauty to be so bright, that it blinds away evil eyes," George spoke and I blinked out of my thoughts to see that several maids were around me.

George left the room without another word and the maids got to work, helping me dress into the surprisingly light dress.

All the dresses I had encountered since I arrived were heavy. How was this one so light and comfortable? "Where is this dress from? I have never seen or worn anything as soft as this ever since I arrived here." I asked the maids.

Silence loomed before one of them spoke. "Thie dress is not in the market Your Highness, the rumor is that it was made by the king's hands."

My eyes widened. George… The great King of Keyes made a dress for me.

Something about that brought a smile to my face. He had taken my complaints about the scratchy, heavy dresses and he went ahead to make one specifically for me.

"We are done, we will lead you to the chambers," one of the maids informed me and I got up, allowing them to lead me down the halls.

The closer we got to the chambers, the more silence vanished and was replaced with light music playing.

The doors opened and at the same time, a loud voice loomed in the grande chamber. "The Queen, Anastasia Keyes Of Keyes has arrived."

I was greeted by a grand celebration with several traditional dancers, and in the midst of it sat the royal family.

The Queen, George's mother. Princess Adeline, His aunt, a man whom I was yet to be introduced to and finally George dressed like a gentleman in a sleek black with an open seat for me, I presumed.

George got up as we locked eyes, he walked over to me, radiating royalty as he strolled. Once he reached me, he took my hands into his, "Forget what I said, even tonight, the moon and stars are scared to come out, because you outshine them all,"

I found myself smiling at his words, but the thought that he had my sister captive tore my smile off.

George led me toward the chair and I sat down, watching the celebrations unravel. I leaned against him. "What is this about? Another one of your trickeries?"

"Why? Are you scared?" He retorted and I narrowed my eyes. "I put this little celebration together for you, the scare we had was devastating, perhaps, this is my way of…"

"Give me my sister and all our debts will be cleared." I spat, locking eyes with him, the music drowning our voices.

"If I give you Goldilocks, you will run away from this kingdom, and —"

"Isn't that the most logical thing to do? What? Do you expect me to remain a captive, your highness?"

"You are not a captive," I frowned at his words, "You are–"

"Now, for the moment we have all been waiting for, all the way from the chambers of the best dancer in Keyes — Arana!" The announcer cut through the tension.

I broke eye contact with the King and whispered to him while I watched the new dancers. "You brought me here forcefully, into your world. You have kept me as a captive and forced me to stay by kidnapping my sister. How can you expect me to love you when the foundation of this relationship is deceitful."

"Just because the soil is bad, doesn't mean the fruits of it will be bad as well."

"Bad soil, won't breed any fruits, my king." I resolutely ended the conversation and continued watching the dancers.

One of them in particular, danced forward and we locked eyes, she had her hair hidden and was wearing a gown that covered most of her body, unlike the other dancers.

She reached forward and I took her hand, keeping my gaze locked with hers. With a soft smile, she took off her mask and my breath hitched, air leaving my lungs as I choked.

"Sister…"

"Surprise surprise…"