"Don't you dare to touch the princess's hand," Lucius, the prince, said angrily, stepping forward with his sword drawn. The Marquess paled, fear evident in his eyes, and quickly withdrew his hand from Irish's grasp. He left the hall with an angry expression on his face, leaving Irish feeling shaken and confused.
Lucius turned to Iris, his eyes blazing with anger. "You are only allowed to dance with me," he said firmly. "They need to fight me if they have to take you." Irish felt a pang of resentment towards Lucius for spoiling her dance, but deep down she knew he was possessive to protect her.
The ballroom was alive with the sound of music and chatter as guests in their finest attire mingled and danced. Suddenly, the music shifted to something slower and more romantic, and the crowd parted to reveal a handsome Prince, his face covered with a half-wolf mask.
He made his way towards the Princess, his eyes locked on hers as he extended his hand towards her. Irish looked at Lucius, then hesitated for a moment, unsure if she should take that man's hand, but then she felt a sudden rush of excitement and placed her hand in his.
As the music started to play, the Prince and Princess stepped onto the dance floor. The room around them faded away, and they were the only two people left in the world. The Prince's movements were effortless, as though he had been born to dance. He led the Princess with a gentle but firm touch, making her feel as though she was floating on air.
"Ah, we meet again, Iris. Did you fear me yesterday?" The Prince's voice was low and smooth, with a hint of mischief in it.
Irish laughed, her eyes dancing as she responded " Fear you? I know you won't be able to do anything in the crowded room. Only a bold man would dare to come and take my hands from Lucius."
The Prince's smile widened. "You are smart, my dear. Let's talk about yesterday's events after the dance, shall we?"
Iris nodded, feeling a thrill of fear run through her. She had a feeling that this was going to be a dreadful conversation.
Under the warm glow of the ballroom's lights, they twirled and dipped, lost in the magic of the moment. The Princess felt her heart skip a beat as she looked up at the Prince, his eyes shining with a fierce intensity that made her feel alive.
Her mind was a flurry of thoughts, each one more perplexing than the last. Why was he here, disguised as a prince? Was he trying to deceive her or did he truly want to see her? The very man who had sworn to kill her was now standing before her, dancing with her as though nothing was amiss.
She took a step closer, still unsure of his true intentions. As she moved, her mind raced with even more questions. Why had he taken her hands away from Lucius? What was his endgame? Despite her unease, she couldn't help but feel drawn to him, captivated by his charm and charisma. Yet, she remained cautious, unsure of what this encounter would bring.
For a moment, nothing else existed except for the two of them, lost in the perfect romantic scene. The Prince's mask added an air of mystery and intrigue to the moment, and the Princess couldn't help but feel drawn to him.
As the music came to an end, the Prince slowly drew the Princess closer, and she felt his breath on her neck as he whispered, "May I have the honor of seeing you again?" The Princess smiled, her heart filled with joy and anticipation, as she replied, "I would be delighted."