The Last Midnight

Chapter Twenty-One: "The Prince & I"

From the moment the ball started, Nathan was bored. The introductions went a bit faster this time, but the names were still all a blur to him. Sitting upon his royal throne beside his father, Nathan barely looked over the maidens that were introduced to him. He found their escorts to be more interesting. Parents and brothers that looked on with hope that he'd pick their daughter or sister for a dance and eventually to be his wife. Sipping his wine, he tried to ignore them all. Listening to the loud drone of noble chatter and clicking glasses from all around the room. Eventually though, his father leaned closer and whispered to him discreetly. "You should be mingling. Go dance." Glancing at his father, he groaned out under his breath. "I'm waiting." His father narrowed his eyes on him, prompting Nathan to exhale with reluctance. His dad was not going to let this go. Getting to his feet, he handed his glass to Charles and descended the steps of the throne. The chatter softened as he walked the room. The young maidens eagerly approaching in the hopes that he'd pick them. He started to slow as he approached a young maiden who couldn't be more than twelve or thirteen.

He reached out a hand for her and she smiled shyly. Out of all the women here, he felt like she was safe. Too young for his taste and she was most likely too young to know the drama surrounding him. She hesitated to reach for his hand and in that moment, a woman quickly swept in between them to take his hand. She was dressed in a billowing white gown that resembled soft elegant feathers with a tight corset that showed off a lot of her breasts. From the corset was a thin white fabric that spanned her slender arms to white bracelets like wings. Charles tensed beside Nathan, but Nate raised a hand to calm him. There was no sense making a scene. Taking her hand, he led her out onto the dance floor, he watched her give everyone a smug grin. Her black lipstick seeming to show her hidden darker personality. Positioning her to dance, he tried to keep his expression neutral. Though he found her white feathery eye mask with dark eyes unsettling to look at. Her strawberry blonde hair was done up in a high bun that hung in ringlets making her look very tall and slender. As he started to dance, she leaned closer to him and whispered out in a purr. "Thank you for your gift last night. I accept your apology."

Nathan blinked, glancing at Charles, before telling her simply. "Thank you. It was my pleasure." Squeezing his hand, she told him with a less than innocent smile. "Speaking of gifts... I hear that woman you danced with last night plans to give you something. Although... I hear that she's given it to every other noble that will have her too." Nathan's eyes drifted to meet hers, upon numbly uttering out. "Oh? Where did you hear that, Anastasia?" He twirled her and she stepped back up to him to say with a little shrug. "All the ladies at court have heard the story. She is quite the scandal. I should hate to see you trapped by her." Nathan blinked, coolly asking under his breath. "That's interesting. Last I heard... No one at court even knew her name. Sounds like jealous gossip." Anastasia paled under her mask, before quickly coming back by saying. "Word has gotten out about her since then, Highness. I assure you. She is anything but innocent in the ways of men." A smile pulled at his lips at that. He could imagine that a man wasn't innocent in the ways of men. Anastasia picked up the dance pace a bit with the music, telling him seriously. "I hate to say it, Highness. But with your reputation... You don't need any more scandals. You need stability and a strong woman at your side."

Nathan narrowed his eyes on her, his voice taking on a slightly defensive tone when he asked her. "I don't know what you're talking about." Anastasia wrapped a hand around his neck, pulling him closer to whisper into his ear a bit wickedly. "Let's not play games, Highness. I've heard about what the White Rose family says about you. About the way you look at your Captain of the guard." Nathan stopped dead, causing Anastasia to stagger a bit. Straightening herself up, she quickly whispered inches from his mask. "Don't deny it. My father has good informants." Nathan lowered his hands and took a step back from her, but she grabbed the front of his shirt and stepped in to add discreetly. "Pick me and I'll keep your secret. Make me your queen and I won't care who you share your bed with." He didn't know what to say. His blood felt as cold as ice. Fear was creeping up his arms as he glanced around for eavesdroppers close by. She smoothed out his shirt, then purred to him confidently. "I love you that much. Think about it. No woman will give you an offer like that. It's MY gift to you." Nathan swallowed down his hidden fear and reached out to lift her chin with an expressionless look.