As everyone waited for the princess's arrival in the banquet hall. Daniel stood waiting at the bottom of the staircase as he should. His parents in their thrones across the room on a platform, with his and Aileen's waiting next to them.
The music began to play, which similarly, just like at the wedding signified that Aileen would soon be entering.
And then she did. Once she saw all the people she felt a bit shy, but she had to remind herself that this was always going to be the case, she lived her life in the spotlight.
As she reached the bottom of the staircase Daniel waited for her with his arm out, which she took.
On their way she walked right by Sebastian and his fiance and to her parents to greet them. Daniel shook her father's hand and gave a quick hug to her mother. Aileen hugged and kissed her mother and father. Then they crossed to the platform and greeted his parents before settling into their thrones.
The party resumed and people danced and food was served.
Aileen contemplated asking Daniel to dance. And just then a woman approached.
She had auburn colored hair and blue eyes, her skin was pale like Daniels and she wore a silver colored dress. Aileen looked over at Daniel and saw the look of shock on his face.
Then he spoke.
"Diane..."
She smiled and then curtisied.
"Hello your highness, I was wondering if I could have a dance."
Aileen had stiffened when she heard her name... This was the Diane the maids had been talking about. This was who Daniel's heart belonged to.
Aileen felt a bit embarrassed, but not long after Sebastian came and approached her, asking to dance. In spite of herself Aileen said yes.
He held her hand down the steps of the platform, and they made their way to the middle of the dance floor. Near Daniel and Diane.
Sebastian placed one hand on her back and the other held hers. One hand on his shoulder, and the other hand in his.
Aileen was still angry, but she felt so conflicted. She didn't understand. Was she angry because she still had feelings for him, or because he's supposed to be her best friend and didn't tell her about something as major, as well as not visiting her when she had just been on the brink of death.
But here she was forced to stare into those green eyes. She hoped her face remained normal, she didn't want anyone to start rumors of them.
Meanwhile when she glanced over at Daniel, Diane had her arms wrapped around his neck, though he placed his hands in the middle of her back. Aileen felt a pang of irritation. Wasn't that way too intimate, especially when she knows he's a married man.
Aileen twirled around with Sebastian unwilling to speak, and then he finally spoke in a hushed tone.
"Aileen."
She forced her eyes back to him, as if telling him to speak.
"I'm sorry if I may have hurt you... I didn't... that's never what I wanted to do... I thought about writing you and sending it by one of the palace Phoenix's, but I just.... I didn't know how to tell you.."
Aileen looked at him but she still didn't speak.
Sebastian continued
" Anastasia... She's great, but she's not you... And I know that we already established that you and I can't be together... But so badly Aileen, so badly I wish it was me in his place, and you would be happy, and you never would have gotten hurt... And you'd be home."
He said with a sad look in his eyes.
" I know I should have visited you, and I should have told you about my engagement, but I didn't trust that I could see you, and not betray everything I knew by staying by your side... I don't want to be engaged, but the age we are at now, I had been pressured by my father, and I didn't tell you that because I wanted to let you know of my feelings, because I thought just maybe if I told you.. by some miracle you'd abandon the treaty and you wouldn't encourage me to marry someone else."
Aileen felt the lump in her throat rise and she blinked away tears.
She tried to force out a smile at him.
"Perhaps I should have... Then things wouldn't be so conflicting..."
They both remained silent as they looked at each other. And then the song ended.
Aileen let go of Sebastian's hand, and it took everything for her to not sob, because this time it felt like goodbye.
She gave what appeared a friendly hug, and whispered to him.
"Live your life Seb, I love you I do, but don't dwell on me, make yourself happy, and find love if that's what you want to do, don't feel guilty over me okay... This time might be our last time... So I wanted you to know that... Maybe ten years down the road we can meet again and laugh about this."
Aileen backed away from him and they gave eachother one last smile before turning away and walking opposite ways.
Aileen returned to her throne, and Sebastian had disappeared into the crowd.
After Aileen seemed to calm herself down, she realized that Daniel was not back, she searched for him, but she didn't see him, she also didn't see Diane. She got a bad feeling.
....
Diane had dragged Daniel out of the banquet hall.
She held onto his hand, until they reached a window with seats below and he pulled his hand out of her grip.
"Diane, what are you doing?"
She turned and looked at him with a grin.
"Come on, it'll be just like old times." Alluding to when she used to come over when they were teenagers, they used to hide behind the huge plants and sit in the window and whisper to each other, kiss each other.
Daniel sighed.
"Diane, nothing like that can happen, I am married now, for goodness sake we are at her birthday party."
Diane stepped closer.
"But you and I both know this marriage was out of convenience." She got even closer. "You don't really love her do you... Because I still love you."
Diane and Daniel had a lot of history, and that would make it hard to let go, but Daniel knew that keeping her around him would only create a bad situation.
Diane hugged him. "But it's not like we wanted to break up, you were forced Daniel, it's not fair."
Daniel sighed again and pulled her off of himself.
"I know... But now it is what it is, you need to accept that because I have. And you need to start moving on, I can't be there for you Diane. I'm sorry, but I can't."
He turned away leaving her there and entered back into the banquet hall.
He made his way through the crowd earning curtisies and bows as he walked. He went back up the platform to sit in between his father and Aileen.
It was getting late now, and of course as the night neared the end, everyone would be expecting the princess and the prince to have the last dance.
Recognizing this Daniel turned to look at Aileen who seemed to be lost in thought.
He cleared his throat.
"Aileen?"
She turned her head, being snapped out of whatever it was she was thinking about.
"Your highness?"
"Would you like to give me the last dance?"
He stuck his hand out. She was quiet for a second, and then she took his hand.
They reached the middle of the dance floor, and the song began. They twirled around and Daniel muttered.
"Not bad."
Aileen gave a short laugh.
"I could say the same for you."
Daniel pretended to be offended. "Don't you know I took lessons from the young age of seven all the way until I was seventeen. You were just a baby back then."
Aileen smirked. "Well you aren't the only one who had to endure dance lessons from a young, age.. I'm probably better than you think." She said as he spun her away from him.
When she turned back he spoke again.
"Hmmm... Maybe you'll have to prove that."
Aileen smiled. It occured to her that they for once were getting along without any awkwardness.
The song ended and then it occured to them both that everyone was watching them. Aileen noticed Diane piercing her with her eyes from across the room. She looked away.
Then the event was over, and everyone began to leave the palace, and head back into the city.
Aileen had spent a long while speaking with her parents and eventually saying goodnight.
It was nearly midnight when she returned to the bedroom.
Daniel was asleep on the couch of course like always. Aileen saw the blanket that hung off of him, and she fixed it. Watching him for a second and then she walked into the bathroom and started the water.
Daniel opened his eyes, in them lay a storm of emotions.