I didn't know how Nikolas was fooling these people that he's August. I'd been staring at him since the moment we arrived at the reception here in our family's ballroom. A hysterical laugh was threatening to escape my mouth.
We were seated at a platform overlooking the entirety of the hall, a long table laid with wedding gifts before us. Every so often, people came and went bringing extravagant presents. Well wishes and greeting had been pouring nonstop and it was getting suffocating. But Niko seemed completely unbothered, flashing his stupid pretty smile at the guests.
He side-eyed me, "What?"
I curled my upper lip, "How?"
While we talked, the orchestra switched the symphony into something both upbeat and melodic at the same time. At the middle of the dancefloor, I could see the queen dancing with my mother. The people around them clapped and hopped along to the music. Though it seemed as if the queen had stolen all the light in the ballroom and made it focus on her only. She radiated beauty and power in one.
Niko's smile gradually vanished as he faced me fully. "What do you mean 'how'?"
"How do these people not recognize you?" I whispered, taking caution in case someone might hear.
Niko's brow raised. "I could ask you the same thing."
I scoffed. "She's my sister. We look similar enough. While you and August are clearly not related."
He loosed a pained breath. "All right, they dabbed some kind of magical concoction on my face to imitate his appearance. I guess it isn't too effective if it doesn't work on you. But anyway, I was the only one they can find to pretend as August."
Then it hit me. Niko's father was working directly under Duke Varemont's command as the captain of his knights. They saw Niko as the sole solution, just as how my family saw me.
I blinked in disbelief. "So August ran, too?"
He winced. "I wouldn't say that. I… I don't know. They say he just straight up vanished in thin air. They couldn't find him so they had to think of another plan. I assume your sister did the same thing?"
Holy mothers of… was this why he had to leave school like I did? No, that's definitely the reason. There's not a doubt about that. But why in the hell did it have to be him of all people?
I let out an exhale, brought my elbow to the table and held my head. "Yes. My goddesses, this is crazy. Hey, what if—?"
A snort, followed by a soft laugh.
I whipped to him, forehead scrunched. Did he truly have the nerve to laugh in such a situation?
"What is wrong with you?" I hissed.
He straightened, fixing his suit—which I admit, fitted him so well. "I can't believe the day would come that we'd hold a civil conversation like this."
Irritation roiled in my guts. "Don't get your hopes up, Kore. Never in a million years will I act civil around the likes of you."
The edge of his lips went up as he lifted his hands. "All right, then. Suit yourself, Russels. Let's deal with the problem later when we're alone. We can't risk it with so many eyes and ears directed toward us."
I drank my wine and so did he. "I don't need you to tell me that."
A few drinks in and the music ceased playing. The murmurs of attendees died down, drowned by the sound of metal clinking against glass.
"And now, ladies and gentlemen, the highlight of the evening." The herald announced. "We shall witness the dance of our newlywed couple. Please help me welcome them to the dancefloor, Lady Erilyn and Lord August Varemont!"
Before standing up, I felt queasy. The ground seemed to ripple and turn as I took in the crowd of nobles waiting expectantly for us. I gulped, thinking that this pretense could only last so long.
My panic was interrupted when Niko held out his hand to me with a graceful bow. His crystal-blue eyes were on me as he said, "May I have the honors, my sweet?"
My expression almost distorted in revolt. But I forced out a sly smile. "Anything for you, my dear."
Hearing that, the crowd cheered and gave us an ear-splitting applause as we descended the dais and walked toward the dancefloor. Among them, I could imagine my mother nodding approvingly.
The music kicked to a start, at first soft and lazy and that of seduction—romantic. I flourished a curtsy and Niko bowed. His hand wrapped around my waist, the other holding my own. And my palm landed on his shoulder, itching to crush his bones and wiping that grin off his mouth.
As we began to dance, Niko leaned into my ear. "Let's give them a show, shall we?"
I gave him a foxlike smile. "Worry about yourself, Kore. I'm nothing short of surprises. Although I must warn you to behave. Aren't you enjoying this too much?"
"Should I not?" he said. "It's not every day I get to see the great Lilibeth Rusells do something she was clearly forced to do, left with hardly a choice."
With that, I applied all the force I could muster into his shoulder. Niko bit back a yelp and fought back by twirling me rather aggressively I nearly lost my footing.
I had to give it to him. His movements when dancing are similar when he's fighting. Like water, he's fluid, light, nimble, agile and quick. His footsteps don't make the slightest sounds.
I gave the final turn and Niko caught me in his arms, both of us short of breath. Both of us not wanting to admit that we got tired just by dancing. In my defense, the nervousness was having an effect on me.
Niko gave me a look of appraisal. "Your hair is long."
"And your hair is short," I bit back.
He helped me up, the people clapping once more and showering us with compliments.
"Yeah, they told me to cut it." He said, seemingly remorseful.
"Oh," I said, not quite believing. "It's not magic?"
"Nope," he chuckled awkwardly as he scratched his nape. It was the first time I saw Niko acting shy. "It's weird, isn't it?"
For a moment, a feeling of guilt filled my chest. Then, I composed myself. "Don't be ridiculous. I thought you didn't worry about anything except your pretty face?"
He laughed sincerely now. "That's right."
I glanced to the side, and back to him again. With his silver hair chopped short and cut to inches on his temples, he appeared masculine. When his hair was long I had compared him to a princess. Little did I know, I'd come to realize that his loose ponytail suited him better than this. It seemed to me as more like him.
I blew a breath, immediately regretting what I'd have to say. "Don't fret, Kore. You look good with anything."
His eyes widened. "Lily…"
For the rest of the night, he made sure I didn't forget that I complimented him.