He wants to know my connection to the beast. I did get his attention after all.
Craning my neck to look at him, I cleared my throat, which suddenly felt dry, "My connection to the beast? Pray tell what you are talking about."
Without looking at me, his hand tightened around my waist in an almost painful grip. I had to dig my hand into his back to stop myself from whimpering, "I hate playing around."
I managed to look into his eyes and for the first time noticed how dark they were even though they weren't looking at me. Looking into them feels like looking into a bottomless pit.
Gathering myself, I said, "Neither do I."
Without warning, I found myself being pushed out and twirled several times to the point that I felt the ground under my feet shake. As soon as he brought me back to the unwelcome warmth of his body, I grabbed his shoulders to balance myself and allow the dizziness to go away. I didn't fail to notice how we were the centre of attention. What if I had fallen and embarrassed myself?
I tightened my grip on his shoulder, hoping to send a signal, "Your Highness, Just in case of next time, I would appreciate a heads-up before you try something like that. Thank you."
He didn't say anything as we continued to dance offbeat, which didn't surprise me.
We switched positions as we danced, or should I say, as we moved around in this open space.
"You know," He finally broke the silence, "For someone as desperate as you are, you seem to have a lot of pride, Princess Gwendolyn or is it, Princess Fiona? Which one are you?"
I craned my neck to look at him, hoping to look into those dark eyes again, but he was intently staring at something or nothing.
He knows.
The bastard knows about my double identity!
Of course, this is the Prince of Almor Kingdom. I would have been disappointed if he didn't know. Clearing my throat, I said, "I am impressed."
"And I am not. That was a messy job."
I clicked my tongue against the roof of my tongue, "Hey, it would have gone well if I didn't come out to get food. You wouldn't have seen me or had any suspicion."
"I am quite disappointed. You are dumber than you look."
I glare up at him in annoyance. First, he calls me a dweed, now, dumb. "And you are arrogant."
He tightened his arm around my waist again, "I would advise you to choose your words carefully. All it will take is just a snap of a finger to have your tongue on a silver platter in the next minute." I would have taken his threat as a bluff if his dark eyes weren't locked on mine, promising to drown me in its endless pit.
Taking a deep breath, I looked away from him only to have my eyes lock with Ava's. I noticed how she shifted uncomfortably from one foot to another. Even from the dance floor, I can feel how stiff her shoulder is. Poor thing must be worried out of her mind for me. I followed her eyes that darted towards someone, Uncle Zaius. To say the man is angry is an understatement. He looked like he was about to explode any minute. If looks could kill, then Uncle Zaius wouldn't have a problem sending me 6ft below the soil with immediate effect. As if he realised something, he flashed me a smile that sent chills down my spine. What is he up to? I didn't even dare to look at my aunt and my other siblings. From the corner of my eyes, I could see a familiar figure lurking behind the curious crowd.
I cleared my throat to get my so-called fiance's attention. After a few seconds of no response from him, I said, "You know, I feel like we are going to be a perfect match,"
"You feel it too?" He replied, his voice dripping sarcasm that I had to clench my hands to stop them from wrapping around his neck.
Ignoring his attitude, I focused my eyes on his shoulder, "Between the two of us, you know you are the desperate one." I waited for him to take the bait, but he said nothing, and I took his quietness as a go-ahead, "From my findings, I know you have given your hunters seven days to find the beast, am I wrong?" Without waiting for his reply, I continued, "I will take it that you don't know much about this beast."
Something flashed in his eyes as he glanced down at me, "Why don't you tell me?"
"Of course, I will tell you. I wouldn't dare withhold such information from my soon-to-be-husband. From what I know, that beast can wipe away an entire village in a space of one hour. Your Majesty, imagine what it can do in the seven days you gave the hunters to find it. Imagine how many villages it can wipe away in seven days. Imagine how many lives and properties it can wipe away in seven days. Worse, what will happen if your trusted hunters are not able to hunt it down?"
All I got in response was silence. The only thing that showed he had been paying attention was the tiny twitch in his jaw.
When I thought he wasn't going to say something, he asked, "And how did you know all this?"
"Why? Am I not allowed to?" I summoned the courage to look up, only to find him glaring down at me.
I enjoyed watching his jaw clench and unclench. I bet he wasn't happy to get this information from a woman, "Go straight to the point."
The music was about to end when I whispered, "I know a lot of things. Let us help each other."
I held his gaze for a few seconds before offering a gracious curtsy, "I look forward to working with you, my dear soon-husband-to-be."
Looking as bored as ever, he said, "It seems you have a lot of explanation to do. Now, if you may excuse me, I have something important to do. Good night." Without waiting for my reply, the man turned on his heels and left, leaving me in the middle of the crowd.
Allowing myself to digest his words, I finally understood what he meant. Turning around, I sighted my Uncle Zaius and his wife in front of the crowd, waiting for an explanation.
Plastering a smile, I strolled towards them while accepting the congratulatory messages that were thrown my way by a few people who tried to get my attention.
Reaching my uncle and aunty, I curtsied, "Your Highness. My Queen." I greeted them both.
Noticing the pairs of eyes watching us, my uncle and aunty were forced to smile at me like proud parents.
"Oh my! Congratulations. I am so proud of you, darling. You have made me a proud aunty today," Without my consent, she forced me into an embrace, "You will pay for this, little girl." She whispered in my ear. Ah! What a lovely aunty I have.
I moved out of her embrace, "I know. I am proud of myself too." I beamed at her and enjoyed watching the fire in her eyes burn.
I turned to my uncle, expecting him to say something or threaten me as his wife has done already, but instead, he flashed me a smile, "You have done well, my dear." I would have believed him if I didn't recognise that look in his eyes that promised nothing but danger.
Wow, I never knew my uncle had such great acting skills. I almost clapped for him, "Thank you, Your Highness. It means a lot to me to have my family here to witness one of the happiest days of my life." I chimed,
"Of course, it means a lot to you. Family is everything." Commented my aunty.
Family is everything? Didn't she know that when she and her husband stole an opportunity from my sister? Or are we not part of the family?
I didn't fail to notice how the queen's eyes searched the hall for someone, "Where is our future son-in-law?"
"Oh, he is a busy man."
My uncle's mouth set into a thin line, "Too busy to say hello to his future father-in-law?"
Before I could reply, our family moment was interrupted by the man that brought the tiara to the stage earlier.
With his shoulder held high, the man bowed to us before turning to Uncle Zaius, "A pleasant evening to you, your Majesty. His Highness, King Armstong would like to have a word with the parents of Princess Gwendolyn in his chamber."
Upon hearing this, the queen immediately straightened her posture while something flashed in her husband's eyes as he nodded in acknowledgement, "Lead the way," He commanded before they strode out of the hall with the man.