“Don’t say that too loudly,” Evangeline seethed, as if Aprhodite would fly down towards the normal world and attempt to murder Evangeline. “I don’t feel like being inflicted with a curse today.” 

The man, this time, let out a laugh, and Evangeline attempted to not let the blush spread further along her face. She was embarrassed beyond words, well, and perhaps a bit flattered. No man had ever complimented her; she had always been the knight in shining armor, not someone you would call beautiful as she was typically overcome by dirt, grime, and even blood. 

Not to mention, Evangeline was an elf. Most people attempted to avoid the elven race as there have been tales of elves that leaned towards the more negative stigma. 

“You’re quite dashing yourself,” Evangeline said with a little smile. She could not fib, the man was quite a catch. However, she was not intrigued or interested; she was simply stating the obvious. 

“Well I am flattered. Would you like to dance?” The young man held out his hand to dance, but Evangeline declined with a little shake of the head.

“In a room this crowded? I rather not step on a few shoes and be yelled at.”

“Well, when the time arrives, may I take your hand and dance?”

Evangeline let out a huff. She was not quite good at dancing; she was able to perform a few simple routines, but when it came down to it, the mistakes led to a futile performance at best. However, she was not in the position to refuse. With a young man who appeared to be close to wealthy, she preferred not to stir any unnecessary drama. It would not reflect well on the Collosicus kingdom.

“I suppose that could work. Now, if you excuse me I must —” 

Suddenly Evangeline noticed the orchestra stopped as trumpets sounded around the ballroom. Everyone seemed to be frozen in place as they turned to look at two trumpet players sitting on either side of the thrones. Evangeline was quick to notice that the king, queen, and Anastasia were thankfully all in their assigned seats. 

Evangeline let out a breath of relief as she saw Anastasia sitting in her seat, even if she appeared to be a bit on the drunker side of things. She knew there would be a lecture from the king about that within the next couple of days. 

As people started to scramble to different tables, the silent commands being spoken to people to sit down, the king slowly rose. Evangeline suddenly found herself panicking; she had no place to sit and most spots were already taken. 

However, her worry did not last long as she could feel her hand intertwined as well as herself being pulled in a certain direction. Evangeline took note that it was the young man she saw before, bringing her to a mostly occupied table with three open seats. In the other seats, around the circular table, saw a couple of adults: two older men, one older man, two young men her age, and one young woman.

She sat down and exchanged eye contact with the young man who brought her there. She mouthed a silent ‘thank you’, and he gave a brief smile before the two turned their heads to face the king as he cleared his throat.

“Ladies and lads,” the king shouted, his voice blaring about the room. It bounced off the walls, and Evangeline could feel a small shiver rush down her spine. 

“I want to thank everyone for attending one of the most magnificent events of this year’s rotation!” A few people cheered, but the room remained solemn and quiet, for the most part. 

Evangeline glanced about the elegantly decorated ballroom; she took notice of the large second open floor, with stairs leading up on the west side of the ball room, an enormous second floor standing above the peers down below. The second floor appeared to be more of an overlooking area, where there was a large guard-rail surrounding the second floor hole. It was as though the second floor was nothing more than a balcony, yet indoors, where people could spy and gossip about one other. 

Evangeline’s eyes searched the second floor as the king started to, once again, speak. However, the words drowned through Evangeline’s ears as she caught hints of the king’s endless rambling. She heard words such as “kingdom”, “ruler,” and “treaty”. Alas, she could see something on the second floor, more or less someone.

She thought, at first, no one would dare be on the second floor with the king, the one and only ruler of the Collosicus kingdom, speaking, barring his words amongst the peers. 

Evangeline narrowed her eyes, attempting to catch glimpses or details of who might be overseeing the ball room. Perhaps a guard? A spy? A murderer?

The possibilities were endless. Yet, fear struck her heart when the person turned to look at her, and she met their beaming, violet eyes. 

“Violet eyes?” Evangeline whispered to herself, only for a round of applause to startle her back to her senses. She, too, started to clap as the king bowed slightly before turning to Anastasia and motioning for her to come by his side.

“Citizens of Collosicus, I bring some important news.”

Evangeline lifted an eyebrow and looked towards Anastasia who also seemed to be a bit conserntated. Her body language, with a nervous jitter in her step, appeared to be surprise, taken aback even. 

What was going on?

Anastasia then noticed that the table that she sat at, the people around her, including the young man she was talking to, started to shift, getting ready to move. Evangeline unsteadily shifted her stance, attempting to be conforming as possible and not draw any attention to herself. 

“We have long been in conflict with the Ambrose kingdom, however, after long talks and discussions, we have come to an agreement.”

“What?” Evangeline said quietly, albeit incredibly taken aback. She then took note that three of the people stood up at her table: the older man, one of the young men, and the young man she had been talking with. 

She was not the only one who took note of the three men walking towards the king. Everyone else in the ballroom was aghast at the situation, some gasps and mummers went about, but Evangeline was, nevertheless, baffled. 

“Through many conversations over the past rotation of the sun, we have come to the conclusion that my heir, Anastasia,” he motioned towards Anastasia who looked at her father beyond conflicted. 

“Will be marrying Prince Philip of the Ambrose kingdom, to bring unity and peace to the two kingdoms, so that they will become one, larger and more powerful kingdom.”

“What?” Anastasia shouted as she backed away from her father, her face twisted in disgust. Evangeline, too, let out a gasp, as did the whole ball room. 

Only then did Evangeline notice that the three men from her table were now near the king, could it be, she was talking with the prince? No, the young man she spoke with looked, perhaps, different? 

Only then did the young man with blond hair step aside and give a smile, a warm smile that greeted the room with positive energy. 

“As you know, I am Prince Philip of the Ambrose kingdom. I am thankful for this opportunity, and I know that this union between Ambrose and Collosicus will be one of the greatest events to happen in all of history. I am thrilled to take Princess Anastasia’s hand in marriage and that we can form a new, stronger kingdom to protect and serve all of our citizens.” 

Prince Philip then turned to Anastasia and gave a smile, yet, Evangeline appeared to give a small sneer. The speech seemed innocent enough, however, there seemed to be some sort of malevolence that threw Evangeline into a world of puzzlement. 

Were his glossy, blue eyes as pure as they appeared?

Meanwhile, Evangeline noticed Anastasia frozen in place, like a fatally struck deer frozen in rigor mortis. Evangeline pondered whether to go to Anastasia’s aid or remain seated, yet, in the end, she decided to move swiftly to aid the stunned Anastasia.

With the quickness of an elk in the forest, Evangeline rushed to Anastasia who blankly stared at the floor. 

“Princess Anastasia, are you okay? You look incredibly pale.” Evangeline said as Anastasia continued to stare at the floor, frozen in place. 

“Anastasia?” Evangeline hissed, trying to get Anastasia to snap out of her trance. 

However, things turned scary when Evangeline’s eyes focused and she noticed in slow motion how Anastasia’s knees gave out as her eyes rolled into the back of her head. One moment Anastasia was awake, the next she was out like a lanter’s candle.

Evangeline managed to catch Anastasia before she fell, yet the ballroom all let out a loud gasp as Anastasia had fainted. Evangeline looked towards the king who seemed to be just as distraught. 

“Let us take her to her room; this news might have just taken her by surprise.”

“Yes, King Ragar,” Evangeline said. Yet before she had a chance to scoop Evangeline into her arms, the king held his hand out, signaling for Evangeline to hold on for a second, still keeping Anastasia in her arms.

“Let Vance help you escort Princess Anastasia out. He is Prince Philip’s personal knight.”

“I see,” Anastasia said quietly as she allowed Vance to hustle over to her, taking Anastasia’s one of Anastasia’s limp arms over his shoulder. Evangeline draped the other arm over her shoulder, and the two carried Anastasia across the ball room, through the hallways, and, with Evangeline’s awkward directions, to Anastasia’s room. 

Despite talking to Vance earlier, Evangeline couldn’t help but feel an unease surrounding the situation. Perhaps it was the fact that King Ragar just announced the biggest news in the history of the kingdom’s of Colloscius and Ambrose, or that Anastasia has been forced into an arranged marriage with a sworn enemy.

Whatever the reason, Evangeline had a sour, despicable taste in her mouth.