Kaius's brows creased "Anabel?"
"Prince," Anabel walked up to him. Before he asked, she answered "I saw you come in here so I followed, I'm sorry the princess didn't-"
"Don't worry about it" Kaius cut in with a weak smile. He didn't want to seem pathetic in front of a maid.
Anabel held her tongue, she wanted to tell him who the princess really was on the inside. She lowered her eyes, afraid if she told him, he might resent her and accuse her of lying.
Kaius could read people, and the dull look in Anabel's eyes showed that she was bothered by something "Are you okay?" He asked
Anabel nodded. "Prince Kaius, do you have a coin with you?" She asked
"A coin?" Kaius searched himself for one. He showed it to her "What do you need it for?"
Anabel took the coin and walked over to the fountain. Back in America, in her past life, people often did this kind of thing in the mall. They would take a penny throw it in the fountain and make a wish
Intrigued, Kaius followed behind her. She held the coin and closed her eyes. Kaius watched her every movement in fascination.
Anabel sighed "I wish for Prince Kaius to find a woman who's worthy of his love, someone who would love him back. Good people should be happy, and he's a good person, so he deserves to be happy." She tossed the coin into the fountain afterward.
Kaius stood, his eyes wide open. He felt a flutter in his heart. People often make their wishes while staring into the stars or using magical objects, yet this delusional maid is throwing a coin into the fountain. What a weird woman, he thought.
To Anabel, what she did was important. Now, Kaius can find a woman who isn't only interested in his money.
They both left after Anabel had made her wish, oblivious of Damian's presence.
Moments later, when Kaius and Anabel both went separate ways, Ceaser came out of nowhere and grabbed Anabel's arm.
"Hey, bedheaded woman, where's your master?" Ceaser asked, glaring as his grip around her arm tightened.
Anabel fumed; what's with people grabbing her? "I don't know where the princess is, let me go!" She winced.
Ceaser left her and hissed in frustration before leaving. Anabel stuck out her tongue to his back while rubbing her sore arm. "He definitely deserves what's coming for him," said Anabel to no one.
Right now, she believed that the princess must be somewhere near the third prince. After all, it is at this ball he fell for her long luxurious hair and beautiful crimson eyes.
Left to wander around, Anabel took her time taking in the scenery of the castle. So far, everything here has seemed so natural and unique.
Later on, she collapsed on one of the guest chairs inside. She sighed, playing with the meal displayed on the table as she watched men and women of status slow dance.
The music they danced to brought memories of when she used to sing. She wondered; now that she's a different person, can she still sing? Maybe she could make a singing career here instead.
"Anabel" Kaius's voice broke through her thoughts. She blinked "Prince Kaius? What are you doing here?"
He smiled and offered his hand prompting Anabel's eyes to widen. "I can't have a dance with the woman of my dreams, but I can still share a dance with a friend," he said.
A friend? Thought Anabel. Her eyes darted behind and people were already starting to whisper. She had to tell him "I hold no position of importance, are you not afraid people would gossip?" She asked.
Kaius shrugged "I don't care"
Anabel accepted his hand and he led to the dance floor. After moments of failed swirls and missed turns, Kaius chuckled "You're a terrible dancer"
Anabel threw him a look and pouted "The dance steps I know aren't so slow and steady"
As they continued, Anabel slowly began to get it, but the whispers from around them made her feel insecure. She locked eyes with Kaius, he didn't seem bothered by any of it all.
He felt rather calm, the troubles of his failed attempt to get with the princess slowly leaving him. He couldn't look away from Anabel, she had a unique look in her eyes.
Like that of a curious child. If he could, he wanted to know more about Anabel.
Their dance comes to a stop when one of Kaius's escorts informs him of his father's call. His parents, the king and queen of the Ashar Empire, were present at the ball.
Anabel waved him off. She couldn't shake the feeling that she may have gotten him into trouble.
At the end of it all, the ball was successful. Successful in the sense that Princess Katy met Prince Damian, and Anabel sat and listened to all that the princess said about him.
About a week later, the meeting of the four kingdoms stopped temporarily because of an annual event that came up.
The Regal Hunting Competition.