The room was dazzling with lights. The jewels and extravagant dresses worn by the ladies were reflecting those dazzling lights.
The buzzing sounds of the gossips behind their fancy fans seemed to be unending. The foods on display was too appetizing to look at that it was a shame to put it in the mouth.
It was truly a magnificent ball.
And in the middle of it all is a strange couple dancing.
The cold crown prince and the discarded woman. You really can't tell if they suit each other or if they really are just strange couple.
"It was the empress order that lead me to be your partner." Crown prince Helios said in the middle of the dance
"Uh-huh." Emerald simply said
"Stop taking it out on my feet. I have my own frustrations too." He said veins are popping in his head
"I told you it was a mistake. I am not a very good dancer." She said
"Liar." He commented. "And you're ex fiance is so shameless that he actually went to your party with his new bug clinging around him."
"A man who enjoys gossip is not attractive your highness." She said
"What? I thought we're close enough to talk about these things casually."
"We're not."
"Then what are we?"
"An heir to the throne and the daughter of the duke. Just a master - servant relationship."
"That's quite sad. I though we are more than that." He said
Emerald sighed.
"We can never be more than that your highness." She said frankly
Helios went silence. Emerald look at him and saw a slight pained expression.
What's up with him?
The music ended. Helios was about to escort her to her seat when someone offers his hand for a dance .
"Would you give me the honor of dancing with you, my lady?"
"Cliff." Emerald mutters
Helios clenched his jaw. How dare this filthy man try to touch Emerald?
"A lot of people are watching ?" Cliff said
Emerald simply look around and saw that right now, they are indeed the center of attention.
She sighed once again and accepted Cliff hands but Helios stopped her by grabbing her arm.
"Don't go." He pleaded
Emerald looked at him intently. The cold crown prince is actually acting like a puppy wanting not to be abandoned.
"Crown prince, please release her." Cliff said looking at Helios with sharp eyes
Now, they are like love triangle in the middle of the ball. Way to go being a huge spectacle.
Emerald saw Vivian at the corner. Her face painted with pain of betrayal.
Ah, so you too know how I felt back then.
"Cliff." She said that mad Cliff's face brighter and Helios' grip falter.
"Vivian's complexion doesn't look good. I think it's better to take care of your partner rather than trying to woo another woman." She said
Cliff smile fades.
"But Emerald I want to-"
"Let me make this clear. We're already over, young duke. I don't have any reason to dance with you. It is no longer me that you need to take care of or pay attention to. Get lost." She said as she grab Helios and leave Cliff there.
It's funny how people tend to chase you after you're done chasing them. What's the point? They had their chances but they ruined it. A broken glass can hardly be reconstructed.
They ended up being in the garden of the mansion.
"Are you okay?" Helios asked when they finally stopped walking
"I am." She answered swiftly as she let go of his hand. "There's no longer any reason to mope around for the same person."
Helios just stood there and say nothing. And that's just what she needed. Silence and peace.
--
"Are you now regretting that you choose me over her?" Vivian asked crying while running after Cliff in the hallway.
When the crown prince and Emerald left, Cliff stormed out of the ballroom and Vivian followed him.
"Vivian, please. I want to have some peace.". He said
Ever since he broke off his engagement to Emerald, Vivian was by his side the whole time trying to cheer him up.
And he thought it will make him happy or at least better but it just made his heart sank deeper into a dark void.
It's like something wanted to get out of him but he don't know what. It's like a sharp object was embedded in his insides and he don't know how to pull it out.
And right now, being with Vivian, it's making it worse.
"No! No! I know you no longer want me! I know you're regretting it! So just say it to my face!" She demanded
The lovely Vivian was now acting like a spoiled brat. Since when did he thought of her as a spoiled brat?
She was always like that but he always find her antics cute. Just little tantrums. But now... Everything seemed dark and exhausting.
"I love you, Vivian." Even those sweet words that he somehow longed to say were now empty and painful.
Like it's not supposed to be the name I should utter.
"Liar! I know you no longer love me!" She said
"Vivian, I'm tired. I wanna get this over with. What do you want?"
"Prove that you love me!" Vivian said
"And how do I do that?" Cliff asked nonchalantly
"Sleep with me." She said
"What? Vivian-"
"So you really don't love me?" She cuts him off
"No. I love you. But not this way."
"What way?"
"Vivian. What you're asking is too much. We cant-"
"And why not? You promised to be engage to me."
"But-"
"Sleep with me! That's the only way to prove your love, Cliff." She said
Cliff sighed. Everything is really a mess. He just wanted to drift into a long long long slumber.
Vivian went close to him and kiss him softly. Cliff didn't resisted.
And one thing led to another and they just woke up the next morning beside each other.
Vivian woke up so happy while Cliff felt like it's the end of the world for him. Like his last remaining thread of hope snap into thin air.
--
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After All
Storie d'amoreBeatrice was the second wife of Gab in their first life. Isabella died causing him great grievances and Beatrice was the one who healed his broken heart. But... Destiny played a trick on them. The three of them got reincarnated in a whole differen...
