Ch 24 Attraction

"Are you really asking me that?" He responded in a sad voice.

I didn't respond. I was feeling bad for asking him this question again and again. I looked into his eyes. He was sincere. But, I felt like I needed to know again and again. Why wasn't I sure? 

" Maldeliene...I LOVE YOU... only you..." he said emphasizing his words.

He turned around and jumped down. He walked away feeling hurt. But, he didn't understand I needed to hear to make myself convinced. I felt really wrong doing that. My heart was cracking slowly and slowly.

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" Princess, you look tired. Didn't you sleep well last night?" She asked. 

I yawned. I just slept four hours ago. I was sleepy and tired. 

" It's okay. I know you must be excited about your first winter ball." She said. She was excited. 

I looked at her in confusion. She looked at me and she widened her eyes. She gasped and said,

" Don't tell me you forgot? Today is winter ball." 

She came towards me and shaked me hard. I smiled awkwardly. 

 " I forgot....." I said in a low voice. 

She took a step and scanned me from up to down. 

" Princess, you are still worried about that matter...." I didn't reply " I knew it. Princess, this ball is an opportunity for you to strengthen your relationship. " she said with determination.

It picked my interest and I looked at her curiously.

"How..." I asked. 

She smiled broadly and got up. She said ," I will make you look the most beautiful lady today. When prince will see you. He will go crazy. Your beauty will attract you like flower attracts a butterfly..." 

I thought she was going to tell me something else. But, it was hopeless. I lied on bed and covered myself with blanket. 

" Princess..." She saw me sleeping again and shouted in a mocking gesture. 

" Your plan is hopeless. Let me sleep." I yawned and told her. 

She shouted," Princess, wake up. I am definitely going to make you the beauty of ball. Everyone will stare at you only. "

She grabbed my hand and pulled me with her. I groaned and said," It's only seven in the morning." 

I was trapped with Amy. I was sleepy, just sleepy.

She made me bathe in ten different types of water and massaged me. She was really enthusiastic. She did her best to make me look preety. I was yawning all the day. 

" My my , you look really preety." She said while fanning her face and pretending to faint after seeing me. 

I smiled at her antiques. She was herself again. She saw me and suddenly her smiled dimmed. 

" What happened?"I asked

" It's...just..g..good to see you smile." She was getting emotional.

I hugged her and said," Thankyou Amy..." 

She was doing all this to make me smile and I was just thinking she was being dummy. I laughed at my silliness. I should care about people near me. She stepped back and said," Look into mirror. You are really looking preety." 

I turned around to see myself. She really did a good job. I was really looking preety. I wore a cream coloured lacy gown. She painted my lips red like rose and my hair were combed straight down to my waist. I wore diamond earrings in my ears and Ruby bracelet on my hand. She put some white flowers on my hair. 

" Princess, you are looking like a fairy." She said. 

" Yeah, you really made me preety." I said. 

Someone knocked on door. Amy went to see. She opened the door. Jenifer was there. She looked at me and said," Princess, you are looking beautiful today ."

" Thankyou." 

" The carriage is here.If you are ready...." 

" I am coming." 

She nodded and walked away. I looked at Amy and said," I am going. Don't wait for me. Sleep early." 

She nodded and said," Enjoy princess." 

I walked out. I reached the central palace. It was cold outside. Palace was so beautifully decorated with red and white flowers. 

When I walked in everyone was looking at me. I blushed under their gazes. I wasn't used to do much attention. It was warm inside, otherwise I would have freezed.I spotted Caroline and walked to her. 

" You are looking so beautiful today. Everyone is only looking at you." She said. 

I just smiled and asked," Where is Katty?" 

" She caught a cold." 

"Is she okay?" 

" Yeah, she is fine just a mild fever." 

"That's good."

" Rose won't come. You know her, she doesn't like balls....."

I nodded. Charlotte joined us a few minutes later. The king and queen also came not long after. Crown prince Balder and Princess Akshita came seperately. Everyone was gossiping about them. I knew something was wrong. I tried to ask her but she ignored my questions and changed the topic everytime. 

Suddenly, the chatter in the hall increased. Everyone was whispering to each other and looking at the entrance.

Alaric and Camilla was coming together. They were even wearing matching outfits that was green in colour. 

" Look, they are here together....." Caroline whispered. 

" Something is definitely going on between them..." Charlotte responded. 

My heart fell to my stomach. I felt a sudden pain in my chest. They were together even here. She was with him in the light. What was I then? Where did I stand with him? I was nowhere, not in the shadows anymore. I couldn't see them together so I walked out into the corridor.

I stood in the corridor. I didn't want to go inside. I felt betrayed. Someone grabbed my shoulder. I turned around to see Camilla. Why was she here? I stepped away from her. What did she want? 

" I just want to tell you that it was a coincidence that we came together."

" Did I ask?" 

" No, I thought before you misunderstand I should tell you...."

" Go away...." 

" I just want to ask you a question." 

I looked at her with hate. What was she?

She continued," Do you really love him?" 

My heart almost stopped. 

" What do you mean?" 

" Look at you, you are hurting yourself." 

" What does it have to do with you?" 

" You are afraid of answering, right....."

" Stop..." 

" You are fooling yourself Maldeliene. You don't even ....." She said. 

" I said stop...." I yelled and pushed the vase that was beside me. It broke.

" Camilla..." A third voice. It was Alaric. 

He came towards her and said," Go inside." 

She nodded and went inside. He stepped towards me and grabbed my hand. I let him. I looked at him and he asked," Why are you so jealous of her?"

I ignored his question and said,"You were going to announce our relationship." 

He leaved my hand and said," Answer my one question first?" 

I looked at him. My heart was beating so fast. 

" Wh..What question?" I stuttered.

" Do you really love me?" He asked. 

I averted my eyes. I was shaking not from cold but from the answer. 

" Look at me...." He said and grabbed my shoulder.He continued,

" You can't even look me into eyes. Are even sure? What will I announce that we are in love but you are not sure. Madeleine you don't love me the way I love you. I want you to love me like I do."

I jerked away from him and asked," Why do you think my love is different? "

" Your's is not even love..."

" Then, what it is....."

" Attraction...."

I was stunned to hear that. I waked inside and he didn't stop me this time. 

"May I have your attention please?" Crown prince said bringing my attention to him. Everyone was looking at him in curosity. He looked at Akshita and she walked towards him in the middle. She stood beside him and was looking sad. Why was she tensed?

" I have something to announce." 

Everyone was silent and holding their breathes.

" We are breaking off our engagement."