Haven And Chaos

65) Fiance-to-be

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MAYA'S POV
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I was angry. Why? I couldn't tell exactly. All I could feel when looking at Gale standing so close to another woman was fury. Had he asked her to invite me just t show me just how well he was connected with the most powerful family in the world?
Argh! My anger yearned to be vent out on the person who had aroused it. And watching him stand there staring at me with a flat expression agitated me further.

"Seeing you here, your brother must be close by, no?" Stan intervened stepping closer to me as the air turned awkward between the four of us.

Paula smiled and glanced up at Gale still embracing his arm. "Who cares about him? The party can start with just my presence."

"By the way, who is..." His words faded as he gazed at Gale curiously.

"Oh, he?" She smiled even wider looking at Gale's face dreamily. "My fiance-to-be, archduke Gale Grayson."

Something dropped in my stomach, adding insane pressure to my internal organs while my chest froze up. Had I heard it right? Or was I starting to hallucinate?
But I had only had a single glass of wine. That was only enough to excite me but not have me drunk.

My confused eyes searched for Gale's but I saw him staring wide-eyed at the princess.
He took a step to the side, his share of shock printed all over his face.

"Forgive me, but, please do not utter such heavy words so lightly."

Paula just giggled and then pulled him closer by his arm again. "Why would I joke about this? I've admired you for years. My parents agreed to have you engaged to me. So what is wrong with letting a close family friend know in advance?" She stated darting Stan a glance. "Besides, you are supposed to marry soon according to your contract with Dad."

I tried to swallow some saliva to keep my throat alive but even the slightest action as blinking seemed to have been erased from my brain. My ears must have been damaged from all the dust that village because I was hearing my own delusions.
Why, why did my heart hurt?

I should have been glad that a load of problems might be lifted from my already tired shoulders. So why was I feeling like this?
It had to be the wine.

Suddenly, I felt like going out for some air to keep my mind sane and my intoxication low. In a brief curtsy, I excused myself, "Pardon me."
According to the layout in the card, there were patio doors that led to the palace's garden where the guests would be allowed to roam freely.
It was the perfect place for me to chill and cool. And without thinking much of anything, I headed straight for them which were on the other side of the hall where most of the guests were mingling.

Eyes did look my way, but I ignored them all like I ignored the person rushing after me... Lisa.

I just wanted to be alone and settle these sudden and odd feelings that had popped out of nowhere at the revelation a while ago. I was hurting because I felt used and discarded now that a better player had entered the game.
Paula was pretty, elegant, sophisticated, graceful, and above all, she was royalty.
Who in their right mind would turn down such a shining opportunity?

'Fuck! What am I thinking? I should be happy he won't pester me anymore.' I reminded myself as I stepped into the warm evening sunlight.
A cool breeze blew by from the south, caressing a stray teardrop rolling from my left eye. I quickly wiped it off scolding myself for whatever was going on in my body.

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I pulled the coat closer to my chest as I stared at the still lake reflecting the crimson sky. It looked so beautiful, triggering the beautiful moments I had experienced with nature when working in the village.

"We should head back. We've been out here for almost two hours," Lisa suggested standing by my side.

I shut my eyes, feeling the wind blowing about which had calmed my anger and lowered my intoxication to almost zero. The official starting time of the ball was seven but attendees were always expected to arrive earlier to give them time to socialize.

What was the point of this party?
What part did I play?
Who had invited me?

Suddenly, Lisa leaned closer to my shoulder and whispered, "Someone's here."

My breaths vanished for a millisecond before I spun around, expecting someone else other than the one who was walking towards me.
His hair looked almost gold in the light, his skin pale and healthy, his height a little over six feet, and his eyes a deep blue color as he got closer to me.

This stranger looked, breathtaking. He momentarily had me forgetting about Gale to appreciate his good looks.
The black suit he wore brought out the charm in those eyes. And as I was taking in his fashion sense, I caught the royal gold clover pin on his jacket pocket. To the unknowledgeable, it might have looked like any other pin meant to look good. But for those of noble birth(despite how low) like myself, we were taught from a young age that only the emperor and the crown Prince were in possession of the golden clover pins.

Panic once more seized my stomach. Not from fear but the realization that fate had thrown him my way.
This was the chance I had been dreaming of for months ever since Gale told me I could run but would never be able to escape him.

As my brain exhausted itself trying to piece together so many things about my invitation here, the Prince got to us.
I pinched Lisa's finger before making a respectful and deep curtsy. I had to look flawless in front of the man who might offer me salvation.

"Your Highness," I greeted with my head bowed that all I could see were his shoes.

He chuckled. "I wonder what gave me away... You may rise, Maya."

My eyes half popped out hearing him say my name. As I straightened, I fixed my expression to that of a delicate girl with nothing but admiration for Abel.
Even though nobody spoke of it, he was the child of an unknown woman and yet the empress didn't despise him one bit. She had raised him as her own, and maybe that was why, amongst other reasons, she was loved.

"You, know me?!"

He smiled, the kind that could have any girl experience a rush of lust while looking into those eyes of his. But I had had my share of Gale's attractive looks to fall aimlessly for the prince.
"My cousin, um, Nikolai. He asked me to invite you. I was surprised for this is the first time someone had personally asked me to send out an invite."

I looked down ashamed for making Nikolai go to such lengths.
"I'm sorry if-"

"Don't apologize. Instead, enjoy the party and make some friends. He said you might need some of the people in there."

I laughed nervously. Why would he say something like that to him? Now I was feeling embarrassed that a second stranger knew of my lonely nature.
"If I may speak my mind..." He looked at me for approval and I nodded smiling. "You look simply beautiful. Hair red as the flames that threaten to burn down an empire if you're angered. Just like a phoenix."

That was actually such a unique compliment. It had me blushing as I averted my gaze away from his face for a second.

"Wait, that ring..."
He took my left hand before I could react, stepping a little too close to me.
Holding my fingers gently in his hand, he raised them. "How did you know I like diamond clovers?"

'Say what now?'
"This...um...I don't-"

"It looks perfect on you," he cut me, staring and caressing the ring and my finger altogether.

"Tha-thank you, your Highness."

His eyes lifted to mine. "Shall we go in? I was told you left the hall a while ago. Did something displease you?"

My stomach churned. This guilt starting to gnaw my sides was too much. I couldn't bear his attention. It felt illegal and so wrong.
Did he treat all the ladies like this? Or was I a person of interest just because I was related to his cousin?
Thinking of Nikolai, I wondered if he'd show up. At least I'd have one more person to talk to.