An Assassins Crown

Chapter 20- Verian

The ball swarms with life, the chandeliers large, the walls adorned with bounds of decorations. I can't say dressing up is bad. I do feel rather good but it's tiresome to have to mingle with so many guests.

I swish my drink in boredom as the Prime Minister talks to me about his daughter and how beautiful. The tale is as old as time. He will tell me how single she is and then how beautiful and how well mannered and good wife material she is.

And as always it ends with me saying "Sorry I have to go." With the most simple of sentences it dismisses someone almost instantly. Especially when you're a prince.

I waltz over to a more secluded part of the party. Chugging down my wine I am desperate to get a little tipsy. I just want to forget about it all.

Katara's sudden coldness, the war, my father- just everything.

I need a break from all of it.

My father said he will be stepping down from his throne after the war, I will become King. But I am not ready to be a ruler. But I guess no one is.

I push off the wall I was resting on to go walk to a window which look over the magical beings that are trapped like animals inside a cage. I spot Katara with Roy, she stares at the party in awe. Her eyes are big and woundless as she stares into the windows with content.

My birthday is in 2 days, I wonder when her's is. Is it faraway from now or close. Is it in summer as well.

Would going out to see her be so very wrong of me? I would be putting her in danger if I went out there. My father would punish her because he knows that would hurt me more than if he hit me himself. Just the thought of seeing her wounded sends my stomach into a frenzy.

Especially if it was my fault. They way he said those deadly, despised words. "I advise you to stop it before I get involved" he had said. And his tone didn't leave any room for disagreement even though I had tried to reason with him. Even since then I had tried to speak but he would shut me down or threaten Katar's safety every time.

But knowing my father like I do I would know that when he has made up his mine there is no changing it. Ever.

A young woman who no doubt was sent by my mother stops in front of me. "Another suitor" I seem to say when I look at my mother from across the ballroom. Her smile warms me although she has never really been much of a mother to me. Kind? Yes. Motherly? Never.

The young woman's blond hair bounces as she chirply asks me to dance expectedly. Knowing my mother would be displeased with my refusal I agree and in less then a second she is hurrying me to the dance floor.

We waltz in circles with all the other men and woman surrounding the polished floors. Her body is tense, her moves well practised. Nothing like what I imagine Katara's dancing to be like. I imagine it to be more soulful, she would move with the music. Her heart pounding against mine as we would push forward with the beat.

This dance seems- rigid. No feelings except for the young womans hope of marriage to me. Which I certainly won't be doing. It is necessary to marry before becoming a ruler. A tradition as old as time in Zalora. And tradition is important, not following a small tradition could lead to rebellions.

But all these suitors my mother has thrown at me don't interest me like Katara does. Katara brings me joy. Something no other woman has ever brought me.

I extend my arm to twirl the blond woman in front of me. Unfortunately I'm stuck with every woman I am not interested in.