The next day a new event was occupying their mind and they seemed to forget about the King for a second. Although they had been complaining nonstop about the events of the previous night like if it could help to bring back time.
A new dress the two ladies wore, new diamonds were just bought and new expectations were setted to give them a beam of hope in their infinite search for a possible suitor. Shirlyn looked at them with admiration, wondering what they could be able to achieve if they put the same dedication and effort into something more worthwhile rather than searching for a gentleman.
"Are you feeling well?" Kathy asked, noticing her suspicious quietness.
Shirlyn nodded and smiled to her precious friend then followed their sisters who already stepped on the carriage.
They had to go to a ball organized by the Courtney family, who was heard to be close to the Royal Family. Strange as it may sound, nobody in her family was talking about that. Maybe they really shifted their focus elsewhere and successfully accepted the fact that they probably didn't have any chance with the King.
The mansion of the Courtney Family was big and filled with well dressed ladies and gentlemen. After a few minutes, Abigail and Sharon spread in two opposite directions as two suitors already asked them to dance, and like usual they accepted the request with no resentment, leaving Shirlyn alone in the middle of the room.
Few of gentlemen had been eyeing her for some minutes since then but she wasn't returning their gaze purposely so as not to tempt them to approach her.
Kathy stayed at home so she didn't have anybody to keep her company, being alone in a ballroom made her an easy prey. Therefore, to avoid any undesirable acquaintance, she walked toward the corridor.
Suddenly, Shirlyn felt someone grabbing her arm, she turned around to see David Darington standing there with a huge smirk on his face. Shirlyn widened her eyes and glanced at him trying to shake her arm to get free from his painful tightness.
Lord David pushed her to the nearest room, "I think about you all the time." He whispered, Shirlyn's heart started to race even faster, the room she was pushed into was dark which was making her even more concerned about his intention.
She stretched her free arm to touch the wall she leaned against, in search of the light switch. It was a relief when she finally turned on the light and pushed him strongly away from her, trying to escape. But she wasn't fast enough, before she could take a second step, he caught her in a snap.
"Leave me alone! Are you out of your mind??" she yelled but the music that came from the ballroom was covering up her voice making impossible for anybody to hear her desperate call for help.
"I love being rejected." He said, his eyes burned with hatred.
Shirlyn gagged at the smell of alcohol he was emanating, he probably was very drunk.
His hands went to grab her wrists pushing her against the wall once again. "You have to marry me. You have no choice."
"Help! Help! Somebody help!" she screamed when she gazed around as her eyes filled with tears, imagining the worst.
Lord David chuckled at her desperate attempt, leading her to gather all the courage she had in her body and finally react. She glowered at him and stretched her knee up in a kick hitting his nose strongly enough to make him slam his eyes shut and firmly pinch his nose with his fingers.
Shirlyn took advantage of his distraction to run toward the door, she kept her gaze set behind on him, causing her to bump into someone else. Her bad balance made her stumble when the body she bumped seemed to be made of steel. The chest she bumped into was hardly shaken by Shirlyn's push. While she, instead, bounced and fell.
From the ground, she gazed up to see who she bumped into. She was shocked when she saw it was of King Liam extending his hand out to help her to get up and offering a gentle smile. She took his hand and embarrassedly standed up.
King Liam gazed at David who was paying all his attention in trying to stop his nosebleed and didn't even notice Shirlyn's fall. "What happened?" The King asked but instantly guessed the situation without the need of explanations, his forehead puckered.
David finally lifted his gaze and with surprise recognized the King, he tried to bow down but King Liam already proceeded in punching him with extreme strength that threw him in the opposite wall of the room, when Lord David's body hit the wall he let out a painful cry and then fell onto the floor.
Shirlyn gapped mouth stare, at the view of the man beginning to bleed from the head and the knees. David laid down on the floor, unable to move but was mumbling in a low voice to express the pain he was left in.
Like if nothing happened, the King gazed at Shirlyn raising an eyebrow, "are you okay?" He asked.
She slack-mouthed, her skin was pale and worried she covered her mouth, "we've got ourselves in big trouble!!"
Liam looked at the condition the man he pouched was in, then shrugged carelessly. "Maybe my dad was right, I've got some anger issues." He pulled his hair back.
"Yes, maybe!" Shirlyn dabbed her forehead, still shocked at the scene.
King Liam chuckled, at her response, "what was your name again?" He asked, with a gesture of his hand sounding strangely interested.
"Shirlyn Walton." She introduced herself, for the second time, and took a bow.
"Your real name." He rolled his eyes, his voice sounded raspy.
Shirlyn frowned, confused at such a question, however he didn't let her answer as he leaned closer to her.
His eyes widened, turning into a dark black shade, the lady broke eye contact by looking down the floor when she felt a weird sensation that provoked a thrill to run down her spine.
By looking down she experienced the sight of something she hadn't noticed before, which left her utterly confused and in disbelief.