Yours truly, Anto

Chapter 7- My balcony

After concluding our dreadful dance, Hamish grabbed my elbow forcefully and walked with me to where my mother and father were standing.

"What are you doing?" I whispered. My voice came out a mere squeak.

"Keep your mouth shut." He slurred.

"Splendid news." He said looking at my mother and father.

"I asked Victoria *hiccup* to be my bride and she accepted."

My mother's face lit up in joy. "Oh, your grace! How wonderful! How perfect!"

As if this was not planned already and no, he did not ask me.

"We shall make wedding preparations immediately." Said my mother.

"Finally my Lord a wedding!" Said my mother holding onto my father's hand.

My father's face sulked, yet he was trying to conceal it.

Later that evening, after the ball concluded, I asked to retire and went up to my room. Mina tried to follow me, but I needed to be alone. Inside the darkroom, I lit a single candle and changed into my white, see-through nightgown. Through the flicker of the candle, I stared at my reflection, wondering how much I would dread my life with Hamish. I started to unpin my hair and sighed in relief once those dreadful pins were out of my head.

That is when my balcony door opened. I turned to look. Maybe it was the wind.

I saw a large figure then.

I grabbed the dagger hidden under my table and swiftly turned to face the figure.

"You can put the dagger down for Lord's sake." Said a voice.

Antonio appeared from behind the large curtain.

Hands on his hips. "You truly are into pulling daggers on people. It is not polite"

I walked towards him swiftly.

"What in God's name are you doing in here?" I said, my voice shrieking.

"I told you I would see you tonight." He said.

"Through my balcony? Really?"

"How else princess?" He said mockingly.

"How did you get up here?" I asked.

Before he could answer there was a knock at the door.

I whispered gesturing for him to get behind the door quickly.

"Who is it?" I said.

"Wilson ma'am."

I opened the door with a crack.

"Wilson, may I help you on this late evening?"

"Yes ma'am, the King wanted to formally give you this ring. However, he is too drunk to do so."

He handed me the box with the ring inside.

"That should be all." He said walking away into the dimly lit hall.

I closed the door and threw the box into a nearby chair.

"Good arm." Said Antonio.

I rolled my eyes.

I then realized what I was wearing. He looked at me up and down trying not to make it obvious before I realized his lips parted. He could see my whole figure underneath the gown.

Awkwardly, I walked towards my chair by the desk and grabbed my long robe throwing it on quickly.

"I apologize." He said.