𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝𝐬 𝐀𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐬 𝐂𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐞

3. The dance of shadows

Arielle stepped onto the balcony, seeking solace from the chaos of the ballroom behind her. The moon hung high in the sky, casting a silver glow over the sprawling gardens of the palace. It was a beautiful sight, but Arielle’s heart felt heavy with the weight of her recent confrontation with Sarah. She leaned against the cool stone railing, taking deep breaths as she tried to calm her racing mind.

“What have I gotten myself into?” she murmured, glancing back at the brightly lit ballroom. The laughter and chatter of the guests seemed distant, almost like an echo of another world. Just hours ago, she had been Su Mi, a girl with a crush, and now she was Lady Arielle, engaged to a prince from a story she had read before.

As she contemplated her new reality, the sound of footsteps approached. Turning, she found herself face to face with Prince Aldith, Aiore’s stepbrother. He wore a charming smile, his warm brown eyes sparkling with sincerity.

“You look beautiful tonight, Lady Arielle,” he said, his voice smooth and inviting. “It’s a pity my cold-hearted brother is the one to engage you instead of me.”

Arielle’s heart fluttered at the compliment, but she quickly pushed aside any notions of flirtation. She didn’t want to think about how differently things could have turned out. Instead, she smiled politely, trying to maintain a friendly demeanor.

“Thank you, Your Highness,” she replied, glancing away to hide the flush creeping up her cheeks. “I’m sure Prince Aiore has his reasons.”

“Don’t sell yourself short,” Aldith said, stepping closer. “You deserve someone who appreciates you.”

Before she could respond, he extended his hand, his eyes bright with excitement. “Come, may I have this dance?”

Arielle hesitated, her stomach knotting at the thought of another dance. She was determined to avoid stepping on anyone's feet again, but the way he looked at her was hard to resist. She took a deep breath and placed her hand in his, allowing him to lead her back to the dance floor.

As they started to move, Arielle focused on following Aldith’s lead, but her nerves were a tempest in her mind. She was determined not to step on his feet this time, but her first misstep came all too soon.

“Oh! I’m so sorry!” she gasped as her heel landed on his toes.

Aldith chuckled, a good-natured laugh that eased some of her tension. “It’s fine! I’ll survive!” He gently guided her back into rhythm. “Just try to relax and follow my lead.”

But as they continued dancing, Arielle felt the weight of Aiore’s gaze upon them. Every glance made her more anxious, and she stumbled again, stepping hard on Aldith’s foot once more.

“Are you sure you’ve never danced before?” Aldith asked, his tone teasing but friendly.

Arielle laughed nervously, feeling a mix of embarrassment and frustration. “I promise I’m trying! I just… I don’t have much experience with this kind of thing.”

Aldith raised an eyebrow, surprised. “Really? You seem so graceful. I just assumed you were a natural!”

“Well, it seems you assumed wrong,” she replied with a half-smile. “But I appreciate the vote of confidence!”

As they danced together, she couldn’t help but notice how effortlessly Aldith moved, guiding her with ease. Despite her clumsiness, she felt a strange sense of freedom, allowing herself to laugh and enjoy the moment.

But her enjoyment was short-lived. From across the room, she caught sight of Aiore watching them with a scowl on his face. His expression was a mask of indifference, but the tension radiating from him was palpable. It sent a shiver down her spine.

“Arielle,” Aldith said suddenly, his voice breaking through her thoughts. “You’re doing great! Just keep your eyes on me.”

Arielle tried to focus, but her mind was a whirlwind of thoughts. “Maybe I should just tell him I can’t dance…” she thought, but she hated the idea of giving up. After all, she had come here to forge a connection with Aiore, not distance herself further.

The music swelled, and she felt her heart race. She had to try harder, and with that resolve, she attempted to follow Aldith's lead again. But the pressure was overwhelming, and her feet felt like lead.

“I need to breathe,” she said, breaking away from him. “I think I need a break.”

Aldith looked surprised but nodded. “Of course. Just remember, I’m here if you need me.”

Arielle flashed him a grateful smile before turning away, her heart heavy as she walked toward the edge of the dance floor. She was still grappling with her feelings about Aiore and the growing conflict between her desire to connect with him and the pressure of her engagement.

As she caught her breath on the balcony, Arielle couldn’t shake the sense of unease that lingered in the air. She glanced back toward the ballroom, where she spotted Aiore again, his expression unreadable.

---

Prince Aiore Blackblood watched the scene unfold before him, a storm of emotions swirling in his chest. He stood at the edge of the ballroom, arms crossed tightly over his chest as he observed his brother and Arielle dancing. Aldith’s easy charm and her bright laughter grated against the barriers he had built around himself.

“How ridiculous,” he thought bitterly, watching the way Aldith moved with her, guiding her through the steps with a tenderness that Aiore knew he could never emulate. “She’s just another cheap woman, flirting with both of us without a care in the world.”

The sight of Arielle laughing with Aldith filled him with disgust. How could she not see how ridiculous her actions were? The ballroom was a stage, and she was playing both sides, drawing attention to herself while ignoring the ramifications of her choices.

He clenched his jaw as a wave of irritation washed over him.  “She’s engaged to me,” he reminded himself, feeling the frustration rise. “She should be acting with more decorum.”

As Aldith spun her around, Aiore’s grip on his arm tightened. The sight of them together only served to deepen his contempt. “Does she think she can win me over by flaunting her charm?” he thought, his gaze hardened as he continued to watch them.

The music swelled, and Arielle stumbled again, stepping on Aldith’s foot. But instead of feeling sympathy for her, Aiore felt only annoyance. “What a clumsy woman! She doesn’t belong here,” he thought, turning away from the dance floor. He couldn’t afford to care about her antics or her easy smiles.

But as he walked away, he felt a strange emptiness settle within him. It was a feeling he couldn’t shake, no matter how hard he tried. Perhaps it was the realization that he was stuck in this political game, engaged to a woman who treated their situation as a game, like a character in a story.

“What does it matter?” he whispered under his breath, retreating into the shadows once more. He couldn’t allow anyone to get close—especially not someone as radiant as Arielle.

Yet even as he distanced himself from the situation, he felt the weight of her laughter echoing in his mind, a reminder that perhaps she was more than he initially perceived.

Arielle stood on the balcony, grappling with her own thoughts, when she decided to confront Aiore and figure out where their relationship truly stood. She couldn’t continue like this, feeling as though she was constantly navigating a maze of confusion and uncertainty. Determined, she took a deep breath and made her way back inside, ready to meet the prince and have a conversation with him.