Darling Soul

Chapter Three

But the damage was done the moment our eyes met.

Astra sat on the edge of the balcony and looked at the stars, she thought of their beauty and their light. She wished she could be a star, someone who would bring only light to the world.

"In two days, the guests will arrive for the ball.", she said and thought she saw a star flicker, but ignored it.

"It's four in the morning and I can't sleep. It will be okay if I take a walk, no...?", she asked no one in particular and got up from the edge.

Astra walked with difficulty. Due to her ill-mannerism towards the King, the princess got heavy injuries, 13 whiplashes to be accurate. It's been two days and she still had an enormous amount of pain when she moved her body but that didn't stop her from living. It wasn't something new to her, she knew very well her father's anger issues.

The girl walked to the greenhouse, smiling to the still awake maids and helpers, wishing them good night and good rest. This time, however, she didn't walk inside the greenhouse but sat on the stone bench outside the little flower heaven. There was something about the moonlight that made her calm and comfortable. She read a poetry book one day and there she found her favourite poem:

"During the day I applaud the sun,

But it is the night that holds my desires,

It is the moon that lulls me

To a world full of dreams."

Astra was a dreamer, that much she was aware, but she also knew that having dreams could be dangerous, it might make her doubt what she is destined to do, it made her selfish as her Mother said countless times.

She looked at the stars and sighed, she wished for a better and painless life. But the stars don't talk and they don't have the habit of making wishes come to life.

"Isn't it too late for a Lady to be out?", an unknown and manly voice made her turn to the left side of the garden. A tall and handsome man was standing there looking at her.

"I'm afraid, my Lord, sleep is in love with me but insomnia loves me more.", she smiled at the stranger and took that chance to really take him in. In the moonlight, his hair seemed as black and wild as a thunderstorm, because she noticed a few grey strands and it was the perfect contrast between the sky and a lightning bolt, while his eyes were sharp but unknown, she couldn't quite see if they were black or just a dark shade of brown. But he looked majestic and, in a way, dangerous.

"Would your partner mind if I kept you company?", he asked with a grin, referring to her insomnia, and her heart fluttered because of the look he gave her.. She sat closer to the right side of the bench and he sat next to her.

"What brings you here, my Lord? I am sure I haven't seen you before.", she turned to watch him and he stared at her eyes, like he was seeing through her. She felt uneasy, so she smiled.

"You already know the answer to that, my Lady.", and she nodded. She did know the answer, she just wanted confirmation, she wanted for reality to come out and make her stop dreaming and wishing.

"I see..."

"You aren't fond of the idea?", he asked while studying her, and she didn't feel the need to hide what she thought for once, but she didn't want to say everything that was on her mind, so she settled for a short but truthful answer.

"I love dancing."

"What do you like about dancing so much?", he turned to face her completely and their knees brushed. Internally, Astra cursed her choice of clothing, she only now noticed how thin the fabric of her white dress was. It was a sort of princess gown, her skirt wasn't as big as princess gowns but it had the waist effect of one, it flowed down from her waist to her high heels. The stranger, when he saw her, thought of an angel looking at the sky.

"It's... intimate. You can see the one you dance with more closely than the rest, you notice the small details and you can see their eyes better. But it's also fun, you dance around in the company of someone else, you don't feel alone.", Astra ended up speaking more than she wanted to but the stranger smiled with the reply.

"Do you want to dance, my Lady?", he asked and she thought of what to reply. Astra didn't know this man, only that he came for the ball, but she didn't want this moment to be ruined with names and roles, with duties and responsibilities, for once she only wanted to be... less lonely.

"Right now?"

"Right now."

"With no music?"

"But the wind is singing to us, my Lady." , she stopped and listened, the wind was blowing softly making similar sounds to bells ringing. She thought of her injuries, of what could happen if he touched her there, but then that would mean her father would win, and she would have stopped living her life because of something he did.

"Dance with me, my Lord." He got up and stood in front of her, she looked up to him and he extended his hand bowing his head. She grabbed it and he gave her a light squeeze, she got up and one of his arms snaked her waist while the hand she was holding brought hers to the air. They swinged with the wind blowing and the moonlight shining down on them, Astra smiled brightly and the stranger looked down on her eyes and memorised every detail of her face, he studied and noted everything there was to see about her. He noticed the small mole under her right green eye, what seemed like a light blue left eye. Heterochromia, he thought, looked angelic in her. He noticed the way her strawberry blonde hair fell in waves and how her nose was painted in really light and tiny freckles. In return, she finally noticed the dark blue eyes that stared at her and only her, his only attention was on her.

"Have you seen me better than the rest yet?", he asked in a low tone, his voice deepening, and she nodded.

"I have."

"Do you feel less lonely now?"

"I do.", and he smiled and she noticed a dimple in his right cheek and her heart fluttered and all she could do is wish for this moment to never end. So many wishes... They stopped dancing after a while and they said their goodbyes. She thanked him for the dance and he bowed to her.

"I hope I'll see you again.", she said and he looked up, with his body still bent in a respectful bow.

"I promise you, my Lady, this won't be the last time you will dance with me.", and he left.