Edelweiss

CHAPTER THREE

"My lady, this way, please", the maid pointed toward the door, allowing the guests in. By now, the guests were enjoying the party, everyone was under the shiny moon dancing or watching others dance. Oh good lord, I hope he looks at them, I glanced around, my eyes searching for him, for a certain purple-haired person as I wandered through the people, continuing to push a smile, serving the wine to the people in front of me. I hope he looks at them and gets bewitched by their beauty.

He is probably bewitched by the belly dancers, their beauty enchanting everyone now. They moved their bodies so gracefully, shaking their hips, moving their arms around, making slow turns, their legs moving carefully. They were breathtaking.

So please look at them, young master. Fall in love, please

I was hoping that the moment I lay my eyes on him, his eyes would be wide and curious as he stared hard at the women he didn't know, his face flashing and his heart racing, willing to earn one of them as his future wife.

I hope...

Say, young master, say, did you fall in love with any of the women here?

You see, young master...am no use or rich

Or pretty

Or smart

Am always making mistakes and making those around me annoyed.

I won't make you happy

I pushed a smile to the guests as I served them more wine.

So, please...

Quit looking at me like this, I glanced toward his direction, taking a sip at how he was looking at me from across the crowd with an intense look and a very sly smirk across his lips. His eyes held no mercy, no matter which way I moved, his eyes chasing me. Oh dear lord, this man will bring me nothing but misery. I looked away again.

Oh, dear lord, please let him look away. The weight of his stare is too heavy. I could feel the party around me turning suffocating, everyone looked happy, I wanted to enjoy this atmosphere too. I want to enjoy myself too, but I can't. I don't feel safe at all.

I feel like I will be devoured. Why are his eyes glued on me?

I want to run away...

I placed the empty tray on the table "— where are you going?" the head maid asked, giving me a worried look. "I...I don't feel good. I want to go out and get some fresh ai-"

"No, you can leave. Please go and rest'", she insisted.

"Thank you", I bowed. Now, I need to run.

Leaving, I went straight to my room through the empty hallways, my heart beating loudly in my chest. My footsteps slowly echoed through the wooden floor, my steps rapidly going faster until I ended up running, being chased by my own shadow. It was getting harder to breathe...I barely pulled enough air into my lungs.

Was he chasing me? I really couldn't tell, I could only hear my blood flow through my ears.

He will catch me

I speed up, bumping the table.

Run faster, faster

I almost tripped, but I quickly balanced myself.

Faster! Faster!

I tripped again as the shadow chasing overwhelmed me. I covered my face with my arms but soon realised that nothing happened. It was so quiet, so quite I could hear my breath. I fast looked behind as I tried to catch my breath. There was nothing there.