Diana watched as the prince approached a group of ladies near the dance floor, and as expected, Nora was among them, giggling and twirling a lock of her long hair around her finger. The prince smiled at her, and a murmur of anticipation rippled through the crowd.As if on cue, the prince held out his hand to Nora, and she smiled coyly as she took it. They moved to the center of the dance floor, and the prince swept her into an intricate dance, his movements confident and graceful.
The rest of the crowd watched enviously as the prince and Nora twirled around the room, their eyes locked on each other. Diana couldn't deny that they made a beautiful pair, but she felt a pang of jealousy in her chest. It was hard not to resent Nora's effortless perfection sometimes.
As the prince and Nora continued to dance, Diana felt a sense of hopelessness wash over her. She knew that she could never compete with her step-sister's effortless beauty and charm, especially when the prince seemed so entranced by her.
As the song came to an end, the prince bowed deeply to Nora, who curtsied gracefully. The crowd around them applauded loudly, and Diana's stomach twisted uncomfortably. She knew that Nora was probably soaking up the attention, loving every minute of it.
As the prince and Nora stepped off the dance floor, they were immediately surrounded by a group of admirers, all of them eager to have a few minutes of the prince's attention. Diana watched from a distance as Nora preened and posed for the crowd, basking in her newfound popularity.
The sight made Diana's blood boil. She knew that Nora was playing the crowd like a maestro, using her pretty face and charming demeanor to her advantage. It was all an act, of course, but you wouldn't know it from the way the men were falling all over themselves to get near her.
Meanwhile, the prince seemed to be enjoying all the attention, laughing and chatting with the crowd that surrounded him. It was like he was in his element, the center of everyone's attention. Diana couldn't help but feel a pang of jealousy as she watched him bask in the adoration of the crowd.
For a brief moment, the prince glanced up and caught Diana's eye. She felt a jolt of surprise and quickly looked away, praying that he hadn't noticed her staring. But when she glanced up again, he was still looking in her direction, a hint of curiosity on his face.
Diana felt her heart skip a beat. Was it just her imagination, or had the prince actually looked her way for more than a second? She quickly averted her eyes again, praying that he wouldn't come over and talk to her. That would be mortifying.
After a few tense moments, Diana dared to look back up, and her heart sank as she saw that his attention was now firmly fixed on Nora again. The two of them were deep in conversation with a group of young men, leaving Diana back on the sidelines, feeling more invisible than ever.
She watched as the prince laughed at something Nora said, his eyes crinkling at the corners, and she felt a pang of jealousy and despair. It was clear that the prince was smitten with her step sister, and there was nothing she could do about it.
As the night wore on, the prince continued to shower Nora with attention, dancing with her and chatting with her, while Diana stood on the sidelines, feeling more and more like a wallflower. It seemed like the prince was completely entranced by her step sister, and Diana didn't blame him. Nora was beautiful and charming, and she knew exactly how to play the game.
But as much as she tried to push the thought away, there was a small part of her that couldn't help but hope that the prince might notice her, even a little. Maybe he would see past Nora's charming exterior and realize that there was more to her than just her looks. It was a foolish hope, she knew, but sometimes it was easier to dream than to face reality.
The hours passed slowly, and Diana found herself watching the prince more and more, her heart aching with each smile he sent in Nora's direction. She tried to distract herself by chatting with other guests, but her mind always seemed to wander back to the prince and his infatuation with her step sister.
By the time the clock struck midnight, Diana was feeling utterly drained. She had spent the entire evening watching the prince shower Nora with attention, and it had taken its toll on her. She longed to escape the stuffy ballroom and the sea of glittering nobles, but she knew she couldn't leave yet.
Just as she was contemplating slipping away for some air, she saw the prince excuse himself from Nora's company and make his way towards the refreshment table. Diana's heart leapt in her chest as she saw him coming her way. Was he actually coming to talk to her?
As the prince approached the table, he smiled at Diana, who felt her cheeks flush with embarrassment. She had never been this close to him before, and she was suddenly at a loss for words.