The Evil Queen

Chapter 9: The Ball

     When I walked into the ballroom the dancing had already begun. The King found me and we started dancing. A little while later someone put a hand on his shoulder. My heart sank when I saw it was  Edward. The king left and the Prince began to dance with me.

     "Queen Valerie I must say I am surprised to see you here, I was under the impression that you weren't going to be here", he commented quietly so no one would hear him talking during a dance.

     "Why would I not come?" I asked just as faintly.

     "Well you seemed a bit troubled when I left you so I assumed you would not want to see me."

     "I am the Queen of this Kingdom therefore I am required to come to these events. I did not however expect to be dancing with you therefore I was not uneasy about coming", I told him plainly.

     "Are you saying you do not wish to continue this dance?" He asked. "Well you are welcome to leave." He stopped dancing and we stood there for a few seconds until I started dancing again making him do the same.

     "Alas, if I were to leave now I would be questioned and I'm sure the King would disapprove of me leaving his guest."

     He chuckled. "You, Queen Valerie don't strike me as one who strives for the approval of others", he accused.

     "Perhaps you are correct in thinking but perhaps you are wrong. I don't suppose you could have obtained this information by knowing me for so little time", I replied.

     "I have a way of knowing things about people that sometimes they themselves don't notice." I rolled my eyes. He's such an idiot.

     "Really? I did not think such an ability existed."

     "Oh, but it does." He informed me. "Tell me Valerie, do you believe in the romantic relationship between a man and a woman?"

     "Only if the woman is not promised to another", I replied.

     "Ah, but what if the woman does not love this other man and secretly has feelings for the new one?" He asked smartly.

     "Then the woman shall push aside her feelings for the new man and stay faithful to the old", I would not let him win this one.

     "And break the new one's heart?" He asked feigning sadness.

     "If that's what it takes." I thought our conversation was over but I was wrong.

     "Ah, you are a cruel one young queen."

     "Is it cruel to stay faithful to a man you are promised to?" I asked.

     "Only if doing so hurts another", he answered. I sighed.

      "Why are you so determined?"

      "I don't want to end up like my parents", he replied.

     "What happened with your parents?" I asked as the song ended.

      "Come with me", he said leading me out of the ballroom I followed him as he walked out of the castle and into the garden. We stopped in the middle of it where we wouldn't be seen. "My parents were forced to marry each other though they were not in love. In fact they both loved another person before they were married. What they have is not love, it's a mutual agreement. They only talk to one another when needed and they don't show affection. I don't want that. I don't want some Queen I have nothing in common with. I want you."

     "Prince Edward... I..I..." He then pulled me to him and kissed me passionately. I hesitated, then kissed him back with just as much hunger. It felt so wrong and yet it felt so right...