Love Across Kingdoms

Preparations for the Grand Ball

Early next morning during breakfast, Kristine sat with the royal family. There, the queen told her that there was to be a royal ball tomorrow, where she would have to dance with both the princes in the view of the nobles and the press. 

This left Kristine, who had no idea about royal etiquette and ballroom dancing, completely dumbfounded. She stammered as she said, "Your Highness, I can't come to the ball. I don't have the slightest idea about dancing or customs. What will I do there, except make a complete fool of myself?"

Kristine had never been trained in ballroom dancing. In America, her life had revolved around academics and medicine, not lavish galas and graceful waltzes. Yet here, in the palace, she was expected to glide across the ballroom floor as if it were second. At the ball, for the first time, she would dance in front of the entire Tulerian nobility and with the princes too. 

The king chuckled lightly and said, "Dear, don't worry. We know that you are not trained in this aspect. So, we have hired a dance instructor, Ms. Agatha, to assist you in the preparation. She is a qualified teacher and will teach you everything you must know." This calmed Kristine a little, knowing that there would be someone to guide her. Claude also piped up, saying that he would help Kristine in any way he could to ease her worry. 

As she retired to her room to change her dress, a sharp knock echoed through the room. Kristine opened the door to find Ms. Agatha, the stern dance instructor hired by the palace, standing in the doorway."Time to practice, Lady Kristine," Ms. Agatha announced sternly. "We can't have you making a fool of yourself tonight." 

(Miss Agatha)

Kristine followed her reluctantly to the ballroom, where the grand space was brightly lit and empty. Ms. Agatha was an orthodox woman, rigid in her methods and expectations. Her lips were thin and her eyes cold as she taught Kristine the basic waltz steps. But, even after multiple attempts, Kristine kept fumbling and doing the steps wrong. This irritated the instructor greatly. 

Kristine winced as Ms. Agatha grabbed her arm and repositioned her. Her movements felt awkward, each step more clumsy than the last. "I'm trying," she muttered under her breath. "Trying won't be enough," Ms. Agatha snapped. "You must be perfect. everyone will be watching!"

By the time the princes arrived for their part in the rehearsal in the late afternoon, Kristine's confidence was nearly shattered. She was convinced that she was not cut out for this kind of elegant dance and lost all hope. 

Claude entered first, dressed in a fitted navy suit that accentuated his princely charm. He offered her a warm, reassuring smile. Lee followed shortly behind, more subdued, his eyes avoiding hers as he took his place in the corner of the ballroom.

Claude extended his hand to her. "May I have this dance, Kristine?" he asked softly. "Don't worry about this. I'm here for you," he said after seeing her resistance. 

With a hesitant nod, Kristine placed her trembling hand in his. His touch was gentle, and for a moment, she felt her tension disappear. As the music began, Claude guided her across the floor with surprising grace, his movements fluid and practiced. "Relax," he whispered, noticing her discomfort. "Just follow my lead." 

She tried to follow his rhythm, but every few steps, her feet would fumble. Her frustration was evident, but Claude's patience never wavered. As they moved, he leaned in and quietly said, "You're doing fine, Kristine. It's just a dance. You're doing way better than most nobles themselves!"

His words soothed her, and she found herself smiling, even as she stumbled again. Despite her mistakes, there was something about dancing with Claude that felt right. His charm was undeniable, and his cologne, which smelled of pepper, cedar, and oakwood, comforted her greatly. 

Next came the dance with Prince Lee. Kristine glanced nervously at Lee, who had been watching from the sidelines. His face was unreadable as he approached, but when he reached her, his hand was steady and his gaze softened.

"Shall we?" he asked, his voice quiet. She nodded as he took her hand gently and placed her hand on his broad shoulders. Lee wore a charcoal gray suit, and his cologne, which smelled of leather, incense, and amber, engulfed her body. 

Dancing with Lee was different. While Claude had led with confidence, Lee was more tentative, as if uncertain of his steps. Yet, there was an unspoken understanding between them, a shared awkwardness that made the moment feel intimate. As she stepped on Lee's foot, her face turned red with embarrassment, and she apologized profusely. 

"I'm so sorry," she said quickly, pulling away.

Lee let out a soft chuckle, surprising her. "It's alright," he reassured her, his smile genuine. "I'm not much of a dancer either. We can get through this together." Kristine smiled back, grateful for his understanding. His commanding aura now disappeared and was replaced with one of kindness and genuineness. Kristine felt a strong connection with him, as though some invisible thread connected them both. 

There was still one task left before the ball—finding a dress that was elegant and powerful. She returned to her room and stared at the gowns before her. Each one was beautiful in its own way, but none of them felt right. She needed something that would make a statement amongst the nobles. She had to win their appreciation if she wanted to be part of the elite circle. 

As she debated which dress to wear, there was a knock on her door. It was Lee.

"I thought you might need help with this," he said, holding a small box in his hands.

Kristine raised an eyebrow. "What's that?"

"A gift," Lee said, his voice hesitant. "For the queen. I figured you might not have had the chance to pick one out."

"Right, I completely forgot about that part!" she said. Kristine opened the box to find an elegant, handcrafted necklace with a delicate sapphire pendant. "This is perfect," she breathed, looking up at Lee with gratitude. "Thank you so much. This means so much!"

Lee shrugged, though a faint smile played on his lips. "It's nothing. Just something I thought she'd appreciate. I'm happy to help you out, you know."

As they stood there, Kristine found herself appreciating Lee's thoughtfulness. It was in stark contrast to his brother's charisma, but equally compelling in its way. Her idea of who he was slowly developed as she got to know this side of him better. 

With Lee's help, Kristine finally decided on a gown—a deep crimson dress with intricate gold embroidery. It was bold and striking, and the craftsmanship was enthralling!  She felt that the dress gave her newfound power to face the nobility and princes confidently. 

Let's find out what happens at the ball in the next chapter!