36: Evening Soiree with the Blackthorns

Evening Soiree with the Blackthorns

Hearing Prince Dante's words, which weren't free from the trouble she had gotten herself into, Anastasia didn't know if she was supposed to be happy that he was sparing her life at this moment or worry about the dread that was going to keep hanging above her head, waiting for someone to find out. 

"I told you, didn't I?" Dante had already begun walking away from where she continued to stand with her back pressed against the books. He said, "There are more cruel punishments than death."

Unable to hold back her question, Anastasia asked him, "What happens after someone finds out?"

Dante paused his footsteps. "Isn't it obvious?" he asked, turning his head to the side. Before leaving, he asked, "How did a maid learn to dance on the dance floor like a lady?" He turned his head further to meet her eyes. 

"I had my sources…" Anastasia hesitated as she answered, not wanting to put—

"Your sister," Dante remarked, and Anastasia clenched her hands. "Considering you are a maid, your sister cannot be a lady. But she can't be a maid either. Especially when you said you came to see your sister at the celebration. She must be a courtesan."

Anastasia quickly bowed deeply before pleading, "Please don't punish her! She had nothing to do with me attending the celebration!" This man was smart to link the possibilities so quickly, making it hard for her to hide anything in front of him. "I beg you!" 

After receiving no response from the prince, Anastasia looked up to find Dante missing from the spot. Her eyes moved around the space ahead of her, but he was nowhere in sight, and soon she heard the library doors open and close. 

Suddenly Anastasia felt her knees weaken, which had been shaking, and she fell to the ground while taking deep breaths. 

Once she gathered her thoughts, Anastasia picked up Princess Emily's coat and quickly made her way to the princess's room. Upon reaching the room, she knocked on the door before turning the doorknob and entering the room. 

"It's good that you are here, Anna!" Princess Emily turned to look at her while she stood in front of the mirror holding two gowns. "Which one do you think looks better? I love them both, but I am unable to decide." 

Anastasia pointed to the left gown, and Princess Emily smiled and said, "That is an excellent pick." She tossed the other dress away, which she wasn't going to wear. 

Once the princess was dressed and ready for the evening soiree, her eyes shifted from her reflection to look at the maid, and she said, 

"Norrix will soon arrange clothes for you to wear as you are now my maid. If you were assigned to me sooner, we could have you in better clothes today."

Anastasia shook her head. 

"No?" Princess Emily tilted her head. 

Anastasia moved her hands over her dress and crossed her arms before placing them on her chest to let the princess know she was happy to wear these clothes. Wearing better clothes only meant that she would be identified sooner, and she didn't know how long she would last with them. 

Princess Emily softly laughed, saying, "You don't have to feel shy about it. I will make sure to remind Norrix about it so that we can have you out of the current attire as soon as possible."

Anastasia could only smile and bow. Princess Emily was too kind, and her kindness was going to drag her right into the quicksand, Anastasia thought to herself in fear. 

The princess fixed her earrings with a slightly worried look before she announced, "Let us head to the soiree," making her way towards the door while Anastasia followed right behind her. 

But right when they stepped out of the room and started to walk, there came the trouble that Anastasia had been counting on with every beat of her heart. 

"Sister!" Prince Aiden called from behind, and Princess Emily turned before she smiled. 

"You are quicker than usual, Aiden. Is it because of Lady Helma?" Princess Emily walked up to him and greeted him by giving him airy kisses on both sides of his face, and he did the same. 

"Lady Helma would be given to me on a platter, but you know that's not what I am interested in. Not to mention Lady Helma is not my type," said Aiden, a wide grin spreading on his lips. "I hear the concubines are dancing tonight."

"Of course, how could I forget?" Princess Emily remarked, and she said, "But beware, my dear brother. If you keep spending so much time with the concubines and the courtesans, you will become a father in no time. Not that I cannot wait to be an aunt."

"I have got that covered, Lily," Aiden winked at his sister, "to keep the seeds away from sowing in the fields." 

Princess Emily scrunched her face and said, "Do you have to be so crude?" 

"Do you have to be a prude? Crude would be me telling you that I remove my…" Aiden coughed, letting his words hang when his sister glared at him. "If you married the Prince of Edrax, you would know that it's all natural and there's nothing to be ashamed about. But then, your maids swayed you into not marrying him."

"They didn't sway me; it was my own decision." Princess Emily's voice hardened, and she said, "Perhaps I should let mother know how you sneak out of your room in the middle of the night. Do you know that only rats and cockroaches come out in the middle of the night?" 

"You are just jealous that I can and you can't," Aiden scoffed, who had yet to notice Anastasia standing not far from them. 

Anastasia noticed how Princess Emily and Prince Aiden had involved themselves in the little banter. Prince Aiden seemed like someone who had a hard time containing his words… just like one of his family members. Dante was already aware of it and was waiting for someone to report her. She didn't want Prince Aiden to shout her name upon seeing her. 

"It isn't that I can't, but that I don't want to." Princess Emily raised her nose and then said, "I don't understand your thrill in going beyond the palace walls, and do not try to persuade me because I am not interested in it." She gave Aiden a pointed look when she saw her younger brother open his mouth. 

When Princess Emily turned to look ahead where her maid was standing, the spot was empty, and she frowned. She murmured, "Huh? Where did she go?" 

"Who?" Aiden asked, looking around at the empty corridor with just them and two servants. 

"My maid. The one Mother assigned me today," Princess Emily looked confused, but soon Prince Aiden put his hand around her shoulder and said, 

"She will find you later. Come, Lily, we will be late, and I don't want to miss the dance!" Prince Aiden dragged his sister out of there. 

Anastasia had hidden behind a pillar that was currently covered in a long purple curtain, and she stepped out from behind it only when the siblings had disappeared from the corridor. She sighed and questioned herself, 

"How much longer will I be able to survive this?" She wasn't living by days but by minutes right now, not knowing which step would expose her. "Staying here is not an option," she muttered, because Queen Sophia could question Princess Emily about her whereabouts, leading to more trouble. 

After five minutes had passed, Anastasia stood in one of the five corridors that led to the main hall. The corridors' floors were made of thick glass, behind which one could see water and plants. Her legs shook, terrified of what could happen to her. Would she come out of there alive this evening? Or would her head roll like how Charlotte's head had rolled on the ground? 

Not far from where she stood, her eyes fell on the people making their way to the centre hall from the other corridors. And out of them, her eyes caught sight of Dante Blackthorn making his way through the corridor. The same corridor she stood in.

His hair was combed back, which gave a clear view of his strong facial features. His face was void of emotions, and his eyes didn't give way to anything, which turned people slightly wary even though he didn't have a Crux. 

Something else came to Anastasia's attention, and she stared at him. He wore a golden-beige coat, but the lapels and the inner shirt were dark green. It was as if he had worn the inverse of what she had worn for the celebration, and she wondered if it was on purpose or not. 

Dante never once looked at Anastasia as he got closer to her with his long strides, and she held her breath. When he walked past her, she felt the breeze touch her that was caused by him.

A couple walking by remarked with a chuckle, "Prince Dante is so good-looking that even the maid cannot stop staring at him."

"She's a maid; of course she will stare," the man responded to his wife's words, walking past Anastasia before entering the main hall. 

Anastasia took comfort in the fact that the guests didn't recognize her and hoped it would be the same for everyone. Turning around,she faced the main hall, and she made her way over and finally entered inside, this time as a princess's maid. 

Upon entering the main hall, the first thing Anastasia did was peek around and find out where the third prince was. When her eyes fell on him near the concubines, talking to two of them, she was ready to look for Princess Emily but came face to face with Princess Niyasa. 

"What are you doing standing behind the pillar?" Princess Niyasa questioned her with suspicion before turning to look in the direction where Anastasia had been looking. The princess burst into laughter and said, "I forgot that you can't speak. Why aren't you with Emily?"

Anastasia raised the coat in her hand, but Princess Niyasa was already bored; turning on her heel, she walked to where a few members of her family stood. Having to walk there herself, Anastasia lowered her head while making sure not to collide with anyone.

Upon seeing her, Princess Emily questioned, "Where did you go earlier?" Her eyes fell on the coat, and she smiled, "You didn't have to worry about me being cold. The gown I have worn will keep me warm."

"Explaining to your maid about fabric is pointless, Lily. Not like it is going to be of any use to her. Act any closer with your maid and father will have another head roll," Princess Niyasa warned her older sister to maintain distance from the servants, subtly reminding her of the consequences. 

"I don't think there's anything wrong with explaining it to her so she can remember it for next time and doesn't carry my coat," Princess Emily smiled at her sister before turning away and looking at the guests. She asked, "Where is brother Maxwell?" 

"He should be here anytime soon. He will be excused even if he's late, considering his future," Princess Niyasa smiled to herself. With her brother meeting his soulmate first, he grew stronger, and with no one else married, doors had opened for him to sit on the throne. 

While the two young princesses talked with each other, their maids stood behind them with their heads bowed and keen ears, so that they wouldn't miss any orders made by the princesses. 

"Grandmother and mother are here," Princess Emily stated, and they walked towards them. Offering their bows and greetings, they stood beside them, making small talk. 

Anastasia hid behind Princess Emily, praying religiously to God to save her. All she wanted was to pass this night without any trouble. She heard the Mother Queen remark, 

"Just like I thought, this year is wonderful, Sophia. A wedding and great grandchildren to look forward to." 

Queen Sophia smiled tightly and replied, "You will indeed have more, my Queen. As Aiden has come of age, I can guarantee one from him." 

"Seems like a good competition, hm?" The Mother Queen turned to give her daughter-in-law a knowing look. It wasn't just the competition for great-grandchildren, but the threat to Queen Sophia's son's right to the throne. "I cannot wait to see who it will be. I should perhaps offer a prize, it should motivate everyone well enough," she added, giving a thoughtful nod. 

As Anastasia's eyes moved across the hall, her eyes fell on Marianne, who was accompanying a wealthy man with her hand around his arm. And though her sister was smiling outwardly, only she knew how much it could be hurting her… to watch the man she loved with another woman. The longer Anastasia stared at her sister, the worse she felt.

"Good evening, Mother Queen!" Aiden greeted his grandmother, and next to him was Dante.  2

"A good evening it is," the Mother Queen remarked, and when Dante kissed the back of her hand, her eyes fell on his clothes. A slight furrow appeared between her eyebrows, and she asked, "Why does it feel like I have seen this somewhere before?" 

Dante politely replied, "It is the same colour as the woman I danced with a few evenings ago."

Anastasia's eyes widened, and she couldn't help but raise her head to stare at Prince Dante. It was on purpose!

The Mother Queen frowned and sighed. She then placed her hand on her eldest grandson's arm and consoled him, saying, "It must be hard with how things turned out. I know these matters take time, and I will speak to your father," she said firmly. "I will make sure to find her!" Her eyes flared, while Anastasia cowered.

How was she supposed to survive when Dante reminded everyone about her alter-ego? The man was using her to avoid any alliance, even after her disappearance! When his eyes fleetingly moved in her direction, Anastasia couldn't help but swallow. 

And while Anastasia had crouched by going back, at the same time, Princess Emily had moved to the side, giving Prince Aiden a full view of Anastasia. 

Prince Aiden's eyes widened on seeing the woman, and he exclaimed, "Tasia!" 

pqdm.com