"Good evening. Brother," Bodil greets the prince as she pushes to her feet.
"Is this the princess?" the woman clinging to him asks. Obviously, she just wants to say something.
'I mean she just called him brother for God's sake.'
"Princess Hella." They nod to each other, then the princess eyes shift to Gene.
"And who are you?" Hella asks with a condescending look.
Gene swallows the bitter words she wants to throw at her. It is extremely rude to ask such a question, usually a third party does the introduction. Yes, she is a princess, but Siv is the daughter of a duke. So the princess is basically looking down on her.
"Siv Holmen, at your service, Your Highness." She curtsies and gives her the widest fake smile she can manage.
"Oh," is all Hella utters, but her arrogant eyes tell Gene more.
She can tell that the princess thinks she has replaced her, she thinks that she has won the prince over.
'This bitch is picking a fight with me.'
"And may I ask what both of you are doing here… without any shoes?" the prince asks.
Gene can't bring herself to look at his face.
"We were just getting some air. It was quite stuffy in the ballroom." Bodil shrugs.
"Well, you should go back before father notices that you are gone."
Bodil pouts for a moment before looking at Gene apologetically. They pick up their shoes and start heading back.
"Wear your shoes before going back. You cannot let any of the guests see you barefoot."
"But she can't, she—"
"Of course, Your Highness," Gene interrupts Bodil. The princess doesn't say anything else after that.
'I refuse to show any weakness in front of the Princess of Vanta.'
Gene puts her right foot in the shoe and she feels it squeeze her blisters, then the left foot. It hurts so bad that tears start forming in the edges of her eyes but she bites hard on her lip so no sound makes it out.
The princess takes her hand and they start walking slowly. She tries her best not to limp.
'Damn it, what happened? The pain has tripled since earlier this evening.'
"Are you alright?" Bodil asks when they are far enough from the prince and his companion.
"I'm afraid I am not." She stops and leans on the nearest wall.
"Oh dear, you shouldn't have worn those shoes again." Bodil pauses for a second as if putting a plan together. "I will call someone to help."
"No need." Brandt walks to Gene and lifts her up.
She yelps.
"What are you doing?"
"I am taking you to your room," he answers in a matter-of-fact tone.
"My room? No," Gene protests.
"No?" He raises a brow. "You can't even walk."
"Then, then…"
Her thoughts are too scattered to have him around. Why is he helping her? And how did he know? And where is the princess? In addition, she doesn't want to be alone with him. She has to think of something.
"Your sister has to come with us, it is inappropriate for you to take me to my room at this hour." She looks back at Bodil with pleading eyes.
"You are right, Lady Siv, I will come along."
"Fine," Brandt utters with strain.
Gene feels strange being held against the prince's chest. It is firm and warm, his smell is enchanting. She feels safe with his strong arms wrapped around me. She wants to lean against him and fall asleep.
'What the hell? What are you thinking? This man ignored you for days, he didn't even care about what you have been going through for the sake of getting his father's approval. And to top it off, he shows up with that snake.'
Her body stiffens. The prince feels it too because he looks at her with a slight frown.
"Let me open the door for you." Bodil hurries before them when they reach Gene's room.
Brandt walks to her bed and puts her down gently.
"Thank you, Your—" Gene's words die in her throat when he kneels in front of her. "What are you—"
He takes her foot in his hands and slowly slips the shoe off. As a reflex, her hand flies to his arm and she squeezes it as she hisses in pain.
Bodil gasps.
When Gene looks down, she finds that a few blisters have burst and a few were combined into bigger ones. Her foot looks like something out of a medical book, displaying some kind of a disease.
'Gross.'
"Ow!" she yelps when the prince takes off the second shoe. Her right foot looks even worse than the left one.
"What happened to your feet?"
'Why do you care?'
"Mrs. Gustavson has been giving her dancing classes," Bodil offers when she figures that Gene is not going to answer him.
"Bodil, can you please send someone to call the royal healer?"
"Of course." The princess immediately hurries out of the room.
The room is silent as Bodil's footsteps slowly die in the distance. Gene feels Brandt's eyes on her, but she can't bring herself to look up.
"Look at me." The prince's voice is low.
She complies. The dim lighting of her room makes his face look so intense. He clenches his jaw a few times before speaking.
"I am sorry."
'Sorry? Sorry?' Her heartbeat quickens.
"What are you apologizing for, Your Highness." Gene's calm voice surprises her. It is like the calm before the storm.
Her pessimistic side is telling her that he is apologizing because he is breaking off the engagement. It is the side that is usually right because all her optimistic side does is make everything look magical and happy, which is far from the truth.
"I am sorry for the way I have treated you these past few days."
'This is definitely not what my pessimistic side said.'
"I just need you to be patient with me," he adds, putting his forehead on hers.
"Patient while you enjoy your time with the princess?" The words stumble out of her mouth before her brain reacts.
'God, I sound like a jealous wife.'
"Not enjoy," is all he says.
He pulls away to stare into her eyes, his hazel holding her blue. The prince's face moves closer to Gene's. Her breath hitches and her eyes refuse to blink. A slight smile pulls at his lips before his warm hand caresses her cheek and his lips brush against hers. The sensation is so intense it feels unreal.
Gene has never felt anything like this before; a sweet moment, but so much fear and mistrust that she can't even enjoy it fully.
*********
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