“We have too many dances,” I grumbled. My mother caught me sneaking out to the stables with Maggie and Emily and I wasn’t allowed to go.
Three days had passed since I’d been poisoned and there was another dance tonight that we were hosting for our Festival of Green. Flowers from everywhere were imported and adorned the castle. Guards were stocked with extra weapons and security measures.
They rode giant lizards with a nasty bite that could poison a human and kill them in two minutes.
I felt uneasy and after Lindsey left to get my jewelry from the jeweler and I quickly strapped a dagger to my thigh and hid it under the folds of my skirt. I had a secret stash of weapons I swiped from the weaponry. I was good friends with the head of the department and I had a hidden stash up on the roof of any and all weapons I could muster and had little knifes hidden around my room in case of emergency.
I wore a long, straight pink gown and Lindsey used an iron to flatten my hair and I was to be adorned in amethyst jewelry. My dress was just pink satin that complimented my skinny and muscular figure. Though I was muscular, I was quite twiggy and stick-like.
“I detest having all these dances to go to. I have no time to go riding anymore,” I pouted.
“Suck it up buttercup,” Lindsey said, fixing my jewelry.
“I suppose I could put on a charming face for another few nights,” I sighed and looked in the mirror of my vanity. I felt my stomach churn. It was weird as I was not uneasy or anxious. I clenched my stomach as it began to hurt more severely.
“Are you alright?” Lindsey rushed to my aid.
“I think I need to go without a corset until this poison mishap is cleared up,” I coughed. Lindsey removed my corset and I noticed with satisfaction that I looked much better in my dress.
“Better?” She asked.
“I feel much better; thank you,” I said, the pain gone. I stretched out and slipped on my ballet flats which I was again allowed to wear after much argument from me.
“You need to make an appearance,” Maggie walked in and we walked down the staircase. I entered the ballroom and applause followed. We met up with Emily and the music began after initial toasts. I noticed neither my mother nor father took actual drinks from their cups, so I did not either.
“Let’s get dancing,” I winked and strolled up to a dashing man in blonde and brought him to the dance floor.
“I must be so special to receive a third dance,” I heard the familiar voice. I looked up to see Prince Evan.
“Don’t be so flattered. It’s hard to miss that baby face,” I winked.
“I must inquire what man has the pleasure of holding your heart,” Prince Evan asked bluntly.
“If you must know, I am as free as a bird and I love as I please or do not please,” I said, picking up my pace as the violins did.
“Let us dance,” He said. Expectantly, the floor seemed to clear up for us as we glided rhythmically across the floor. I felt my feet leave the floor as we twirled me around and I slipped under his arm and back into position.
I spun him around and I felt myself being swung from side to side and underneath his legs in a finale. He dipped me down and the music ended in a dramatic fanfare.
