Chapter 11
Blue
Mahtilda squealed, clapping her hands together. And finally, my maids dressed me.
When I descended the stairs into the grand ball, I felt all their eyes burn into me. I heard every taunt, every jeer, but I held my head high and took my place behind my father’s throne, keeping my eyes trained on the arriving guests.
He looked handsome. His mahogany hair was pulled back, held in place with a black silk bow. His dark purple irises looked like polished jewels. Dressed in silk trousers, a white shirt, cravat, and dark riding boots no one could deny Prince Damian was beautiful. But that beauty hid a cold heart.
“You’re late,” he said with a terse growl, lounging lazily on his throne, his insolence on complete display for all the world to see. He would only become solicitous once the emperor arrived, which wouldn’t be for several hours yet.
“My apologies, Father.”
“What’s the word then?” he asked tersely.
I knew without asking him for clarification that he inquired after the emperor. In the other time, it’d always been in question (up until the final moment) whether Emperor Claude would truly show.
I nodded. “He comes.”
His spine went rigid. “You certain?”
I hadn’t had to ask around, not like last time when I’d nearly chewed my nails to the quick in terror at the thought that he might not show. I held no such qualms this time. “Without a doubt.”
His brow raised, but something in my tone must have assuaged him because he didn’t ask further. He stared at his valet, silently alerting him that it was now okay for him to be approached.
Visiting dignitaries queued up as though they’d been anticipating just such a moment. Now let the disgraceful display of brown-nosing commence, I almost sighed but caught myself just in time.
“Prince Damian,” Marquess and Marchioness Stygia both said in unison, bowing deeply toward him. They both wore blood-red roses on their person, a symbol of their mighty house.
“May the grace of the Darkness rain upon you.” Lady Stygia gave Father a small smile behind her fan. No doubt they’d been lovers at some point. Father got around.
He nodded, accepting their adoration as though it were his right, but he did not seem interested in pursuing the lady’s subtle invitation, once father had a woman, he was done with her. If he planned to take the throne he’d eventually have to marry, but he was in no rush.
It was well known that House Stygia openly backed Father’s ascension. In the other world, they’d received glory abundant for their devotion to his cause. I would ensure their future would be very different this time around.
I was a person of no great consequence in this assembly, none greeted me, and so it went for what felt like an eternity. I was father’s near-constant shadow, and yet no one would have cared a whit if I suddenly dropped dead.
He simply used me as a display, a tool. Many in the kingdom knew of the prince’s great “generosity” in openly acknowledging his bastard. It gave him an air of benevolence amongst the other lords and ladies, yet another manufactured lie in his carefully built persona.
I had to use the lavatory.
But I didn’t twitch. I didn’t so much as move a muscle. This was a nightmare I’d have to endure until the bitter end.
~*~
Mikael
“From the Kingdom of the West, the Great Prince Mikael ‘The Wise” of House DeLazarus,” the herald cried and suddenly the overly crowded ballroom buzzed with barely leashed excitement.
It was well known my aversion to travel. And surely, many knew I hadn’t received a personal invite.
By rights, I shouldn’t be here tonight.
I smirked, walking slowly forward as I eyed Damian. He looked like a barely leashed dragon sitting atop his throne. His purple eyes burned with fire, but no other outward sign of his displeasure showed.
I might have a crippled foot, but I could read the hungry avarice in the eyes of the younger nobles and even the elders.
It was not just my looks that attracted them, but my power. The West was the strongest nation in the realm. Lords would prostitute their own daughters to get their hands on my diamond mines.
But I did not look at any of them. My eyes were fixed on her and I felt a tremor course throughout my entire body. I’d wondered after her leaving if the fire I’d felt back then had been imagined. In my mind she’d become nearly mythical, there was no way a woman could ever truly be so.
But I’d not imagined it.
My fanged canines dug into the corners of my mouth, the pain helped keep me centered so that I did not stumble. Walking such a great distance while trying to hide my gait was no easy feat.
I told myself not to look at her again, but it was impossible. The more I looked, the more I wanted to look.
She was dressed in black. Her soft hair was plaited like a jewel upon her head. But with those dragon scale horns at her shoulders, she was a contradiction of both delicacy and power. Someone had lightened the honeyed color of her skin. I did not like that. To paint her pale, so that she looked no different than any of the other vain peacocks surrounding us, made me angry.
She did not look at me. She could not openly do so, but I wondered if she wished right in that moment that she could.
“Prince Mikael, you honor us with your presence,” Damian said with a hint of a growl.
But to everyone else, he would seem unaffected by my presence. I knew the truth though. ’d upended all his carefully laid plans, and he was silently seething as a result. I inclined my head.
I tried to decide if any part of Damian could be found in Blue. But where she was a delicate bird, he was hard, an imposing figure that seemed chiseled from stone. Powerfully built, with passable good looks.
Damian did not have the mind I did, not even close, but what he did have was charisma. In spades.
He was a snake in the grass and I would never forget it.
Reaching into my pocket, I withdrew a small blue velvet box and handed it to him. “A gift. From my realm to yours. May your reign be long and prosperous.”
Damian’s dark brows drew tightly together. He might not want to open it, but with all eyes trained on us, it would be considered the height of insult not to. He’d have no choice.
He opened it and then glared at it, then me. “A biscuit?” He asked, confusion and irritation in his tone.
“From my royal chef. I’ve been told he makes the best in the kingdom.”
Then I touched a fist to my breast, turning to go. But I couldn’t help myself from peeking at her just once and that tiny smile I saw was everything.
Feeling as though I floated on air, I made my way gracefully into the throng. She would find me later. Of that, I had no doubt.
~*~
Blue
Once Father had greeted every dignitary, he stood. The ball was in full swing now.
Turning swiftly toward me, he eyed me with a murderous look. “The rest of you, away! I wish to speak with my daughter. Alone.”
Father’s entourage swiftly disbanded, only his guard remained behind. But they were all mutes, they would never share his secrets.
“That bastard, Mikael, how the devil did he know of this? And to bring me a bloody biscuit. I should have you kill him now for such insolence. He tried to make a mockery of this vaunted and most noble house,” he said, marching off toward his private chambers.
Father had already instructed several of the visiting ladies to await him there. I would not see him again until the emperor’s arrival, which based on before, wouldn’t be for another two hours at least.
“We cannot kill him yet, Father,” I said patiently, “And especially not here on your estate. It would bring too much suspicion upon you.”
He sighed irritably, before rolling his eyes. “I suppose you are right, damn you. But he irks me, Blue. I want him dead.” He sighed heavily. “Though, for now, I will content myself with the tongue of the traitor who dared alert him.”
I dipped my head. “I will kill Prince Mikael for you, Father. With my own hands. But he is better to us living than dead. At least for the moment. As to the tongue of the traitor, you shall have it.” I touched my breast with a fist, maybe I’d cut out the tongue of one of the haughty ladies who’d sneered at me earlier. “But leave those matters to me. You must say no more. We wouldn’t want you implicated in any way. Your house must be above reproach.”
He nodded, shoving his fingers through his dark brown hair, mussing his perfectly manicured ponytail. “Argh. Of course, you are right, Blue. Of course, you are. Well, and you know what I need you to do this night, no? Learn all you can. Who is with me? Who isn’t? And if they aren’t—”
“I can be very persuasive when I wish to be,” I said dutifully. There would be no bloodshed during the festivities. Father was like a petulant child, he wanted instant gratification. Without me, he’d have been sniffed out by the emperor’s knights and burned at the stake as a traitor many years ago.
We arrived at Father’s private salon. His guards positioned themselves before his door. None would be allowed entry, none but father himself.
I stayed back, clasping my hands loosely in front of me.
His eyes raked my body, a sneer curled his nose. “You look ridiculous, by the way. Where’s the armor I sent you?”
“It is a ball, father. I thought I would look less conspicuous this way.”
Snorting, he turned without another word and entered his salon full of already half-nude women desperate to become his future consort.
Walking away, I did not look at his guards as I made my way back toward the ballroom.
I looked down at myself, plucking at my neckline. Perhaps I did look ridiculous. I sighed.
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