I didn't want to ask any follow-up questions regarding what they saw him as, but I could piece together a few things, using what I had heard during his funeral in my pervious life. Truly dark time when there is no basis for loyalty even to the prince of the Kingdom.
"Stay close to you, understood." I nodded and walked him turn his back to me. Instinctively, I reached for his arm, not that it was out of this world to do.
His body stiffened when my hand came in contact with his forearm, but he relaxed as if he knew he can't question it. Or maybe I'd given him the impression that I've begun the game of trying to sell our relationship to others.
"Here enters the Light of the Morning Sun and the future of this Kingdom, Prince Lucian Blackwell, and Lady Rowena of House Dravenhart!" If I wasn't nervous before, I was certainly nervous now, the announcement had drawn the whole room's attention. Some was of intrigue, some of pleasantry, and others of distaste, for me? Or the Prince? Maybe both?
However, one face stood out in the crowd, which held a a special kind of discontent for what I could only assume was my arrival. It seems Alistair hadn't known that I would appear, none the less with the Heir to the throne.
As we reached the bottom of the stairs, I was swormed by women, young women.
"You're so beautiful!" One young girl squealed as she grabbed my hand.
"You're so tall, M'lady!" A shorter young woman gleamed up at me.
"I'm having a tea party, please grace us with your audience!" Another young woman who had adorable big blue eyes and blonde coily hair held out a letter, which looked like a tea party invitation, which I hadn't seen since I was 12.
"You're all too kind," I shyly smiled at the adorable bunch around me. "I would love to attend." I reached out and took the letter into my hand. The girls erupted into squeals as they ran off and I watched in appreciation for their efforts in making me feel accepted.
The feeling didn't last very long when I spotted two figures approaching us from my peripheral vision. My grip on Lucian's arm tightened as they got closer, as a result he turned his attention to me and away from the geriatric official he was speaking to.
"Prince Lucian, truly a pleasure." Alastair stopped 3 feet away from us, Evelin's on his arm like a meek little dove, or should I say pretending to look like one. They both bowed towards Lucian, but once their eyes landed on me, distaste sparked in their eyes. "Rowena…" His voice held a hint of contempt when he said my name, I've never disliked my name more in my life, to hear it from his mouth is like a slap to the face.
"I think it's the first time I've seen you at a ball, Rowie!" Evelina gasped with her voice dripping with sweet poison. "Looks like you were able to put an outfit together."
My eye twitched from the sickening pitch of her voice, as if everytime she spoke, a bird would loose its ability to fly. Well, if she wanted to play games, I can play. "Well, what can I say, Luci ma- I mean His Highness.." Hearing the word 'Luci' come out of my mouth seemed to have wondersturck all three of them. I pinched Lucian's arm to remind him not to ruin this, "Really made sure I was comfortable, he even picked such a beautiful dress for me." I slipped my hand further up his arm and pressed my chest into him, which caused him to freeze against me.
"Rowena, you ought to have some class." Alistair hissed as he narrowed his eyes at my boldness. "I doubt that His Highness is comfortable with you being so clingy." He sighed, looking at me as if he was looking at something truly pathetic. "I know I never liked it."
His last phrase really settles in the air longer than it should've. It was as if he said it on purpose to start something between the Prince and I. Luckily for me, the Prince doesn't care for me in such a way for that sentence to bother him. "Well you are not him, Ali-"
"-Whether I find my betrothed clingy or not is quite frankly none of your business, Duke Grant." Prince Lucian pulled his shoulders back as he placed a hand on mine that was on his arm.
Alistair's eyebrows twitched into a faint frown that he had to fight, considering that scowling at the Prince was probably a death wish. "You're right, please excuse my rudeness." He lowered his head to show his remorse. But I knew Alistair better than anyone, and he was seething from having been told off.
I can't say I was unfazed. I was truly shocked he spoke up for me, and to add to that, calling me 'betrothed'?? Unheard of. But, regardless of whether it was just his acting, I was still touched. I couldn't help but glance up at his face, and to no surprise the man was capable of holding the tightest poker face I'd seen.
The rest of the night painfully dragged on, considering I hadn't left Lucian's side to converse with the other women. Though, they were ones that he specifically warned me about, I just wanted a change to breathe away from this man. "I'm going to get some refreshments, would you care for some?" I whispered over his shoulder, a mini flinch still pulled his shoulder back when I reached over.
"I'm alright." He cleared his throat and nodded at me. I shrugged and walked over to the drink table with an enormous champagne tower.
"You must think you've won." A voice that was a shrill to my ears reached me before I reached the table, I turned my eyes before my head to show my disinterest. Evelin, in her gaudy glory was holding her fan to her face, trying to maintain her elegant composure, but you can only teach a wild pig so much.
"If it's the competition for who's the most uneducated, then I must say you've been the reigning champion for 10 straight years." I let out a fake gasp and covered my mouth before clapping to honour her. Her face twisted into one of rage which was fun and disturbing to watch.
"You will never have Alistair, and if you think marrying the Prince is going to change his mind then you're mistaken." Her elegant facade dropped and the spite rose from her chest.
"He's all yours Evelin, I've clearly moved on to bigger and better things, did I mention bigger?" I coyly smiled, referencing the obvious physique difference between Lucian and Alistair.
Evelin gasped "You harlot!!" She covered her mouth, fanning herself aggressively. "How dare you spew such indecency about the Prince!" My mouth fell open upon hearing her outburst.
"What in God's name are you thinking, you absolute foul-minded simpleton!" I laughed out in exasperation.
"I'll show you simpleton." She spat and grabbed my hand before throwing herself back into the champagne tower, dragging me down with her. The shards of glass smashed against the marble flooring but more than a few went into my arms while 1 struck me in the face. Sally sings-a-lot here got maybe one in her hand.
Alistair came running over first and helped Evelin up to get feet before inspecting her injuries, leaving me in the pool of champagne and shards of glass. A crowd of people surrounded us, and the atmosphere dropped, as if everyone saw what they needed to see.
"R-Rowie just didn't like something I said, a-and.. I guess she just snapped but I accidentally grabbed her before I went down." Evelin let out dramatic sobs into Alistair's chest. Hell, even I wanted to cry, and I couldn't tell if it was from the pain, humiliation, or the fact that I screwed up my first ball since holding the title of Fiancé to Prince Lucian.
A figure shoved their way through the tight crowd around me, as no one offered a hand, and loomed over me. I blinked away the dampness in my eyes and looked up at the figure.
Lucian stood over me, and the look on his face was unreadable.
I couldn't help but think about how much I screwed up and made a fool of the royal family.
And if I'm doomed to suffer he same fate again.
He lowered himself to my level on the ground and took my injured arms, holding it up in his hands. His dark gaze lifted to meet my reddened ones before shooting his glare to Alistair and Evelin.
His hands wrapped around the sides of my waist, drawing a gasp from my lips. He pulled me up before guiding his arm around me for support. "Lady Evelin, what is your proof that she pushed you?" Lucian's booming voice echoed through the silent hall.
Evelin's pupils shook as she clutched Alistair's sleeve harder. "Sh-She did, but no one saw it so I can't prove it." Her frail act was cracking at the edges.
"It looks to me, objectively of course based on the magnitude of you injuries versus hers, that you pushed her." His hand tightened against my waist.
"Your Highness, with all due respect Rowena is know to pull stunts like this." Alistair narrowed his glare as me as she held Evelin.
Lucian looked down at my face, a bit of the rage leaving his eyes. "Did you push her?" He asked, loud enough for everyone to hear but not enough to frighten me. I hesitated, not know whether it would do me any good, but I shook my head, squeezing my eyes shut. I could only hope and pray to whoever was above that the second chance wouldn't be in vain. "She says she did not, and I believe her."
Whispers broke out amongst the crowd but it was starting to be directed to Evelin and her state versus mine. "I believe the night is over, its truly a shame that it had to end on such a note but today has been taken into account." Lucian's deadly stare loomed over the two whilst the others dispersed. "My betrothed and I will be taking out leave." While I was distracted by the looks on their faces, I was swooped off my feet and into Lucian's arms.
"Your Highness!" I whispered through my teeth. "Put me down!" I didn't kick or scream as to not make a scene but I also felt ashamed.
His eyes suddenly met mine as he stopped at the top of the first set of stairs. "It would do you good to stay quiet unit we reach the carriage lest you wish to take me down the stairs with you in hand." He made a good point, to which I pursed my lips.
He placed me in the seat of the carriage before climbing in after me. "I should've known this would happen." He rubbed his temples as he sat back, his head falling against the wall of the carriage.
I knew it.
He said it to save face.
He really doesn't believe me.
My heart fell into my stomach as I thought of new found fate, that ended up in the same avenue. I turned my face to the window to hide my still red eyes that held tears which I was fighting to hold back.
A harlot.
A nuisance.
A disgrace.
I've been called many things in my past life, but I'd really hoped to escape it this time. My heart ached, watching those disapproving faces that looked down on me from above as if I was something nasty on the bottom of their shoe, I'd met those gazes once, on my last day in this world.
"-wena."
"Rowena." I whipped my head around to see Lucian standing outside the door with his hand held out to me. I stepped outside the carriage and pulled my hand out of his to get a head start inside. I really just need to be alone after tonight.
However, upon taking the first step, I'd noticed the courtyard was that of the royal palace, not the Dravehart Manor. I turned around, questioning with my eyes.
"Your mother and father wished for you to stay at the Palace after the ball considering you'd be exhausted." Lucian put his hands behind his back and his eyes failed to meet mine. I gripped my dress in my fists and sighed before continuing forwards. "Rowena wait, you're injured." His hand looped around the front of my waist and pulled me back.
"It's only a few pieces in my arms that I can tend to myself, I can walk entirely fine." I let out an exasperated sigh and tried to wiggle out of his arm.
"I'm afraid I cannot let you do that." He let out a heavy breath before slinging me over his shoulder. A yelp erupted from my chest.
"Put! Me! Down!" I screamed as I punched his back, ignoring my own pain.
After what felt like forever of kicking and screaming, he finally put me down. Once my feet touched the ground I put a good amount of distance between us, huffing from the energy spent.
"You're just all about causing trouble aren't you."