The Banquet
Kayden, now wearing his royal regalia, stood there admiring the gorgeous lady standing in front of him.
The white dress and new hairdo combined with the expensive jewelry decorating her hands and neck made her look very different from the simple Joanna he knows.
She looked like an angel who descended above from her throne.
Joanna covered her chest when she saw how passionately Kayden was staring at her. "I know I look exceptionally beautiful but stop staring or am gonna change my mind about following you to the party…,"
"You can't blame me for staring. It's not my fault that my mate's beauty is so enticing that I can't take my eyes off her for a minute," Kayden said shamelessly. He closed the gap between them.
"You look dashing in that red and white regalia but I am not ogling at you…,"
"It's your fault for not staring and not mine," Kayden said playfully. He offered his right hand for her to lean on for support.
"Why have you suddenly become so shameless and cocky…,"
"I have been acting stern and gentle at the same time for years but that hasn't gotten your attention," Kayden stares into her rare purple eyes as he speaks.
"I realised that for me to seduce you into loving me, I need to drop every side of me that has to do with a King. I need to act like a real lover for you to see me as one".
Kayden tapped her nose teasingly.
He led her to the couch and made her gently sit on it.
Since he had sent all the maids and guards away, he could do whatever he wanted.
He brought out his left hand he had been hiding behind his back. Joanna was surprised to see a rectangular black box in his hand.
"Happy birthday. This is my gift for you," Kayden handed the black box to her.
Joanna collected the box from him with a smile.
"And here I thought you forgot about my birthday," Joanna smiled as she tried to open the box and see the content of it.
"Don't open it now. Do it later after I have revealed my biggest birthday surprise for you," Kayden bent and held her hand, not letting her satisfy her curiosity by getting a glimpse of what his gift was.
"Your biggest birthday surprise?" Joanna asked in confusion. She gave the guy now sitting beside her questioning gazes.
"What is that? What exactly are you planning by acting so sneakily? I hope instead of surprising me you are not gonna make me suffer from a heart attack…,"
"That's never gonna happen. I have prepared for this day for over five years. No one can change my mind about this. All you need to do is to look forward to it".
Kayden raised his hand and patted her well styled black hair. Her natural silver was long gone because of the dye.
"Also, how could I ever forget your birthday when you are so dear to my heart…,"
"Do you know that you have been acting quite strangely ever since we met today?" Joanna asked.
She has known Kayden well enough to know that whatever he was planning might be something huge; one that might shake the entire kingdom.
"Learn to get used to it because you are gonna see this side of me for a long time," He smiled at her despite that he hasn't answered her question.
Kayden and Joanna didn't leave for the party immediately. They left for the party about an hour after it had started.
Joanna didn't enter the hall with Kayden and this was all because of Kayden's arrangements.
She was escorted upstairs by two maids and four bodyguards.
He was welcomed into the party with the respect befitted for a king.
The moment Kayden sat on the table set aside for only the royal family, Tiffany put her plan in motion.
"So how do I look?" The nervous Tiffany asked her friends who were rooting for her success.
"Perfect! You are so beautiful that none present in the party will compete with you for the title of the most beautiful lady," Sophie showered Tiffany with praise.
"Perfect!" A familiar voice let out a chuckle.
"Do you even know the definition of perfect that you dare to use it on her?" Audrey, who was sitting on the table next to the girls, scoffed.
The girl's on turning around to see that it was Audrey fumed in anger.
"And who said she is the most beautiful girl here? Don't tell me that you girls have suddenly gone blind too and here I thought Tiffany was the only blind and delusional one…,"
"How dare you!" Tiffany asked in anger.
"Hey be careful of that frown on your face I am sure you wouldn't want your delusional prince charming to see it," Audrey said mockingly.
She stood up and left the chair knowing very well that the girls won't act up since Kayden was present there.
Sitting close to the girls table wasn't a coincidence, she did it deliberately and for a very good reason.
"I swear I will…,"
"Don't let her ruin your chances. Don't forget what is at stake right now. It's the title of the Queen of Twipera Kingdom we are talking about here," Doris tried to warn Tiffany.
Tiffany instantly calmed down. She bent and carried the gifts she had kept beside where Doris sat.
She approached the Royal table with the gifts in her hands.
Unluckily for her, people began trooping to welcome the King and also use this opportunity to curry favour with the most powerful figure in the kingdom.
"Happy birthday, Your Highness," Tiffany bowed to the Queen Mother to show her respect.
"You are blessed," Queen Mother Theresa collected the gifts from Tiffany with a smile to show her bias towards her.
She handed the gifts over to Tracy waiting upon her.
"Where have you been darling? I have been waiting for you to come greet me in the palace but you didn't," Queen Mother Theresa stretched and held Tiffany's hands.
She caressed Tiffany's hands affectionately and the reporters quickly captured this.
Kayden was busy talking to his guests to care about whatever his mother was scheming.
No matter what she was scheming he was certain he would be the ultimate winner with the plans he had put in place.
"I am sorry if I made Her Highness worried," Tiffany instantly puts on her fake mask.
She continued talking with the Queen Mother until an opportunity for her to approach King Kayden surfaced.
The Queen Mother was even the one who signalled her that it was time to take the initiative.
"Your Majesty…," Kayden stood up from his chair the instant the lights on the staircase went off. He didn't act like he saw Tiffany.
Kayden went and stood in front of the staircase. The moment he took his position in front of the long staircase, the lights in the hall went dim and then the spotlights settled on the stairs.
These took everyone by surprise. Everyone at the hall began murmuring while focusing their gaze on the staircase. They couldn't wait to behold what surprise lay in wait for them.
Another spotlight surfaced on the stage to reveal a group of violinists waiting for the perfect timing.
"What on Earth is that cunning son of mine up to?" Queen Mother muttered.
It was as if the violinists were waiting for her to speak because immediately she talked, the melodic sound of the violins filled the room.
A few seconds after the angelic sound of the violins filled the room, the next thing they saw was that a white heel stepped on the first staircase.
Then a second heel became visible. The owner of the long legs began descending the stairs.
The clanging white heels accompanied by the anticipation that had built up in the mind of everyone was killing.
Everyone anxiously waited for the revelation of the owner of the heavenly figure.