Love and War

Unbidden Attraction

As Elise stepped into the grand ballroom, she immediately felt a wave of anxiety wash over her. Her eyes scanned the room, taking in the dazzling array of nobles in their finest attire, their laughter and chatter filling the air.

And there, standing by the far wall, was Atticus. He was tall and broad-shouldered, his presence commanding and striking even in a room filled with the most well-dressed men in the kingdom. Elise couldn't tear her eyes away from him. Atticus stood with casual confidence, leaning against the wall with his arms crossed over his chest. His intense gaze seemed to roam the room, taking in everything and everyone in his sight.

Even from a distance, she could see the sharp angles of his face and the strength in his features. His dark hair was slicked back, framing his strong jaw perfectly. And though his attire was simple and understated compared to the other gentlemen in the room, he still managed to look every bit the prince he was.

Elise couldn't deny that Atticus was undeniably beautiful. As she watched him from across the room, she felt an unexpected flutter in her chest. She mentally chastised herself for finding him attractive; he was the son of her kingdom's sworn enemy, after all.

But despite her best efforts to remain indifferent, she found herself drawn to him. It was as if there was some kind of invisible force pulling her closer to him, even though she knew she should keep her distance.

The queen, noticing her daughter's distracted gaze, approached Elise and placed a hand on her shoulder. "Elise," she said gently, "who are you looking at? Is everything alright?"

Caught off guard, Elise quickly averted her gaze from Atticus and cleared her throat. "I'm fine, Mother," she answered, trying to sound nonchalant. "I was just admiring the decorations, that's all."

The queen studied her daughter's expression carefully, seeing right through her lie.

The queen raised an eyebrow, clearly not convinced by her daughter's response. "Really? The decorations, you say?"

Elise sighed inwardly, knowing that her mother was too astute to be fooled. "Yes, the decorations," she replied, trying to sound more convincing.

The queen smiled wryly, seeing straight through her daughter's attempts at deception. "Elise, my sweet, you forget that I know you too well. You're not looking at the decorations, you're looking at a certain someone across the room."

The queen's knowing smile told Elise that she had been caught in her lie. She shifted uncomfortably under her mother's perceptive gaze, knowing that there was no use in trying to hide anything from her.

Her mother had always been the one person who could read her like an open book, seeing right through her lies and facade. And now, it seemed that she had noticed Elise stealing glances at Atticus across the room.

With a sigh, Elise reluctantly pulled away from her mother and made her way across the room towards her father, the king. He was engaged in conversation with a group of noblemen, but his eyes flicked towards his daughter as she approached.

The king excused himself from the group and turned to Elise, his concern clearly etched on his face. "My dear," he said, "is everything alright? You seem preoccupied tonight."

"Father, why is he here?" Elise says referencing to Atticus.

The king followed her gaze across the room to where Atticus stood, and his expression darkened slightly. He let out a deep sigh before responding.

"His father, the Duke of Ravenwood, requested an invitation to the ball. It would have been impolite to refuse, especially given the circumstances between our kingdoms."

The king's words hung heavy in the air, the mention of Atticus' father and the strained history between their kingdoms bringing a sense of unease to the atmosphere.

Elise's mind was spinning as she tried to process her feelings. Seeing Atticus here, in the heart of her kingdom, dredged up all sorts of conflicting emotions within her. On one hand, there was the old anger and bitterness towards him and his family, but on the other hand... there was something else. Something she couldn't quite name, but it made her heart flutter in her chest.

As the king watched his daughter quietly mulling over her thoughts, he placed a gentle hand on her shoulder. "Elise, my dear, I can see the conflict in your expression. But I need you to promise me something."

Elise looked up at her father, her dark brown eyes meeting his gaze. "What is it, Father?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

The king's expression softened as he spoke. "Promise me that you will be careful around Atticus. Despite the circumstances, remember that he is still the son of our enemy. While it's important to be gracious hosts, you should not let your guard down around him."

"Yes father, I promise." She says in a hushed voice and lowered expression on her face.

The king studied her expression for a moment, sensing that there was something else on her mind. But he didn't press the matter, merely nodding in approval at her promise.

"Good," he said, patting her on the shoulder. "Now, go and enjoy the ball. Just remember what I've said, my dear."

As her father walked away to rejoin his companions, Elise was left standing alone, her thoughts still consumed by the presence of Atticus. She knew that she had promised her father to be careful around him, but the magnetic pull she felt towards him was only growing stronger.

The ball continued around her, the sound of music and laughter swirling in the air. But for her, the only thing that seemed to exist in that moment was Atticus, standing across the room with the same intensity burning in his gaze as he watched her.