Kaie waltzed towards the food tables and picked up a plate, piling a few pieces of food on it. However, she did not eat it, as she was still wary for poison.
Kerwin placed some food on his own plate, but ate it without hesitation. He noticed her glance and said, "It would be disrespectful to not eat food that the prince provided us with, Lady Lucille."
She frowned and ate the few pastries that she had on her plate. In her first bite, she didn't notice the taste of anything strange, so she quickly ate it all.
As she downed it down with a cup of a water, someone walked in front of her, holding up a drink. "This is my favorite drink. I'd love it if Lady Lucille would try it. My treat."
Kaie looked up to see Prince Altair holding out a sparkling yellow drink. She could already smell the wine coming from it. 'I didn't want to drink something alcoholic...Lucille is very easily drunk where I...I don't get drunk at all.'
She smiled and curtsied. "It's a pleasure to be in the presence of the prince. I am grateful for your invitation. However, due to my cold, I shall lay off alcoholic drinks for now."
He shrugged and downed the whole cup in one gulp. "Well, that's a pity Lady Lucille. It truly is a delicacy. Well then, would you honor me with a dance?" Prince Altair held out a hand for her to grab.
In reality, Kaie wanted to slap his hand and refuse, but she knew that doing so would completely ruin her careful acting. She gave him a cold smile and said, "I'd love to, however, I currently have a weak body and would like to request for you to slow down."
Prince Altair smiled and nodded. "Of course, Lady Lucille."
With that, he led her to the dance area, leading her in a small, gentle dance. Kaie knew that at this current moment, the prince liked her. A lot. She needed to find a way to get him to dislike her, so that he doesn't propose.
She followed her motion, shifting in and out of the footwork she did earlier. However, no matter what she did, Prince Altair would not be thrown off. Instead, he became even faster.
Kaie had a small smirk on her face. 'Well, if you want to play that game...' She feinted a stumble and fell onto the ground, gasping in pain.
Prince Altair paused and lended her a hand with an amused expression on his face. "My apologies, dear Lady Lucille. I shall go slower next time."
She took his hand and stood up. Kaie pretended to cough a few times. "Thank you, Your Highness. However, it seems that my cold is getting to me, so I shall take a break." She curtsied once more before walking out of the dance area.
Prince Altair watched her with a strange expression on his face. Kaie pretended not to notice it and walked back to Kerwin. 'It's so tiring to talk with a filter on...I wish I could go back to the times where I could talk about whatever I want. And this body is so weak! Two dancers and now it can barely keep up!'
She sighed and grabbed a cup of fruit juice. Kerwin watched her. "Lady Lucille, would you like to head back. You don't look so well."
Kaie pretended to be even more tired and nodded. "Please do, Knight Kerwin. I am feeling quite exhausted right now."
He lifted up a hand for her to take. She grabbed it and started walking back to her carriage when Prince Altair chased after her. He walked over to her and brought out a single red rose. "Hope you feel better soon, Lady Lucille."
She forced on a smile. "Thank you, Your Highness." She took the flower from his hand and curtsied.
Kerwin and Kaie both headed back for the carriage and entered.
Kerwin went to man pulling the carriage. "Head back to the Lady's mansion." The carriage started moving as they finally pulled away from the castle.
Kaie looked back at it. 'Alright! I've got to start training this body. I have to ask the duke first though...He'll possibly allow it...' She took a small nap as the carriage started moving back to her house.
A small shake woke her up. Kaie stretched to see herself looking into Kerwin's eyes. She stretched and sat up. "A-Are we here yet?"
He nodded. "Let me help you out, Lady Lucille." Kaie smiled. "Thank you, Ker- I mean, Knight Kerwin."
He looked a bit puzzled at that slip-up. She quickly tightened her mouth. 'Stupid, stupid Kaie! Even if you're sleepy, you have to maintain your composure!'
As Kaie exited, her father and Colette were standing there. She feigned an excited grin and said, "Dad!"
Elgis hugged her as she leapt towards him. He smiled and said, "My daughter. I must alert you of somethings. We can talk as we head to your room."
Kaie almost lost her smile at that. She realized which part of the novel she was on. The very beginning. Lucille had just come back from a banquet when her father had requested that she should marry Prince Altair. She had agreed, but Kaie would never, knowing how Prince Altair actually was.
She tightened her smile and said, "Dad, I'm happy to see you, but I'm very tired. I may have overexerted myself during the dances."
Elgis looked surprised. "Is that so? Come, I can bring you to your room." With a single swoosh of his hands, he lifted Kaie into his arms, princess-style.
He gave her a warm smile. "I shall carry you to your room then. We can still talk along the way."
Kaie didn't spot any way out of this so she said, "Thank you, Dad..." She watched him enter the mansion before finally starting to talk.