Music recommendation : Dance monkey (piano version) by David Howarth.
Heidi's eyes were fixated on her gown, as she waited for the perfect opportunity to sneak out of the hall. As she sat there, she silently prayed that no one would ask her to dance. She was lost in thought and didn't notice the footsteps that came towards her.
"Dance with me, milady." A voice came drawing Heidi out of her thoughts. She knew that whoever owned that voice was referring to her as she was the only lady sitted there. Heidi panicked as dancing would bring attention to herself. She bit her lips unconsciously making up her mind to politely reject whosever the voice belonged to.
However, as Heidi lifted up her eyes, her face drained of every color. It was basically impossible, Heidi thought in her mind. Out of every man in the hall, it had to be the first prince, prince Viktor.
Her gaze slowly fell to his outstretched hands. Dancing alone would bring attention, but dancing with the first prince was the worst scenario. Heidi could feel everyone's eyes on her and it brought beads of sweat to her face. Rejecting the first prince was not an option Heidi was going to take. Heidi swallowed hard as she placed her trembling hands on his own hands.
As Viktor's smile transformed into an amused one, he observed the fleeting emotions in Heidi's big brown eyes - panic, fear, and a hint of something else he couldn't quite decipher. Nevertheless, he guided her hand, now trembling in his, onto the dance floor, where a thousand eyes converged on them. The orchestra's melody enveloped them, a waltz that seemed to echo the turmoil in Heidi's heart.
Heidi followed Viktor, her movements robotic, like a lamb being led to slaughter. She wished she could disappear from the spotlight. Viktor's grip on her hands was gentle but firm, her little hands completely hidden in his.
Heidi could feel the warmth from his hands spreading to her rather cold hands. She felt his other hand move slowly at her back, coming to rest on her waist. Heidi's breath hitched a little, she had never been this close to a man. There were male slaves too but they were very few compared to the females.
Viktor drew Heidi closer to himself causing her free hand to fall on his chest. Heidi's eyes widened at the sudden movement but even more at her hand that rested on his chest.
As they danced, Heidi focused on avoiding Viktor's feet, but his sudden words shattered her concentration. "Are you trying to bore a hole in the ground, milady?" he asked, his voice low and teasing.
Heidi's heart skipped a beat as she met his gaze, her voice barely audible over the music. "What?"
Viktor's eyes locked onto hers, his expression enigmatic. "Your eyes, look at me, lady..." he muttered, his voice low.
Heidi's mind raced as she raised her eyes to his face, her thoughts scrambling for a response. "Adelheid," she said, the name slipping out unbidden. She hadn't thought of a noble name but somehow, that name was the first thing that came to her mind.
"Lady Adelheid" Viktor said, the words leaving his lips like velvet. "You have been avoiding my eyes like some culprit, up to no good"
Heidi couldn't think of a response as her mind was momentarily distracted by his face. He had looked extremely handsome from afar but looking at him closely now was a whole new world.
He looked like a statue, that had been carved delicately with extreme care. His jet black was parted to a side as some of the locks rested on his heavenly face. His eyes, Heidi thought, was the most beautiful. The copper green shade was alluring and his lashes...
They were quite long and thick for a man, it was definitely more beautiful than hers. His chiseled jaw line added to his perfection . The coldness in his eyes reminded Heidi to be wary of the man in front of her.
"Cat caught your tongue?" Viktor asked, his voice filled with amusement.
Heidi bit her lips again. "I was just feeling a little overwhelmed" she said, hoping he would drop the matter. She couldn't wait for the dance to come to an end.
"You came alone" Viktor said again and Heidi wondered if it was because he had seen her sitted alone earlier.
"Yes" Heidi muttered. "My father doesn't like the cold weather in Bloodstone, he dropped me off and left." Heidi quickly added what was supposed to be an explanation. She hoped Viktor wouldn't ask who her father was because she had no other lie to tell.
Viktor arched his brows at her words. A normal person would believe that but not him who had stayed in the heat for a long time. He had gotten used to hearing lies that he could quickly detect one. Her words right now sounded like lies to his ears.
Viktor offered her a smile, a slightly dangerous one. "It might interest you to know of my uncanny ability to detect lies lady Adelheid" Viktor said spiking up Heidi's heartbeat.
The look in his eyes told Heidi that he didn't believe her one bit. "I'm sure everyone has their motives anyway..." He drawled, his eyes glinting with mischief.
Heidi gulped as she sputtered unevenly. "What...do you mean?"
Viktor's smile widened at her words. "You see lady Adelheid, my grandmother has some silly plans to get me indulged with a lady using this celebration as a cover"
Heidi found herself biting at her lips, wondering where he was heading to. His eyes on her did nothing to pacify her racing heart.
"It also seems like you are hiding something of which I'm not interested in finding out but..." Viktor paused to let his words sink into her ears, "I have an offer for you"
"An...offer?" Heidi muttered, her mind running with different possibilities.
"Be my lady while the occasion lasts and I'll pretend to be into you at least until my grandmother believes us" Viktor said finally his copper green eyes locking onto her brown eyes. "And I'll keep your secret safe"
Heidi felt beads of sweat break through her forehead as she surveyed her options. She didn't really have an option as the first prince had wittingly trapped her. Being his lady would bring a lot of attention to herself but she couldn't risk getting on his bad side. This wasn't how she planned for the day to go.
"I accept" Heidi muttered softly despite her brain cells screaming at her in protest.
Viktor's lips curved into a wicked smile. "Good, I believe we have a deal then, lady Adelheid"
They danced for sometime before the song came to an end much to Heidi's relief. They bowed at each other as viktor guided her back to her seat.
Heidi could barely gather her thoughts as she wondered what she had gotten herself into.
Unbeknownst to Heidi, she had greater things to worry about as her dance with Viktor had attracted a lot of eyes.
"Vizier" Queen mother Emilia called referring to her trusted man who stood beside her now.
"Milady" the vizier bowed.
"Find out everything about the lady Viktor just danced with. He seems to have taken a liking towards her. Who knows? she might just be my future grand daughter in-law" the queen mother instructed, a smile playing on her lips.