𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝𝐬 𝐀𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐬 𝐂𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐞

13. Dance with me

That night, Arielle found herself tossing and turning, unable to sleep. Thoughts of Aiore invaded her mind, leaving her restless and frustrated. Why had he become so angry so suddenly? She felt a surge of annoyance mixed with confusion. "Why are you conquering my thoughts? Go away and let me sleep in peace!" she muttered into her pillow, but her mind refused to quiet down.

Eventually, just as the first light of dawn began to peek through her window, sleep finally overtook her, though it was a short and fitful slumber. By the time she woke, she was more exhausted than ever.

The day unfolded just like any other. Reeta, her ever-demanding instructor, was relentless in her lessons, correcting every misstep and careless error Arielle made. It felt like torture, as usual, and as the day dragged on, Arielle found herself daydreaming about the time she had spent outside the palace with Aiore. The village, the simple life, the freedom-it all felt like another world compared to the strict discipline of court life.

Arielle's attention snapped back to reality when Madam Reeta barked her name. "Stand up straight, Lady Arielle! A future queen must not slouch like a commoner." Arielle winced but complied, internally fuming at how unforgiving Reeta could be.

As evening approached, Reeta continued to drill her on etiquette, from how to pour tea properly to how to smile politely without showing too much emotion. Arielle was on the verge of breaking down when, thankfully, Aldith made his timely entrance.

"Arielle!" he called out, his cheerful voice cutting through the oppressive atmosphere. "I think that's enough for today. Why don't I steal her for a bit?"

Reeta shot him a disapproving look but didn't argue, clearly annoyed but unwilling to defy Aldith's influence. "Very well, but she still needs to perfect her dancing," she said pointedly before leaving them alone.

Aldith smiled, offering his hand to Arielle. "Come on, let's practice somewhere less... suffocating."

Arielle sighed in relief, grateful for the escape. She followed him out into the open garden, where the air was cool and fresh, a stark contrast to the stifling study hall. Aldith, ever the gentleman, took her hand and positioned her for a dance.

"You're getting better, you know," he said encouragingly as they moved together under the fading light. "You just need more confidence."

Arielle snorted. "Tell that to my feet. They seem to have a mind of their own."

Aldith chuckled, twirling her lightly. "Just relax. It's not about the steps; it's about the rhythm. Feel the music, not the pressure." He pointed at the violin man stood beside them.

Arielle tried to do as he said, focusing on the flow of the dance rather than worrying about missteps. It was easier with Aldith, who was kind, patient, and always quick to laugh when she stumbled. He made everything feel lighthearted, and for a moment, she allowed herself to enjoy the moment.

Aiore, who happened to pass the garden to go somewhere, saw his brother dancing with his fiancée. His gaze lingered on them for a moment, his eyes narrowing slightly as Aldith twirled her once more. He snorted and turned as if to leave without a word, but then paused when Arielle's voice reached his ears. "Now I hope I won't step on him again," she joked to Aldith, unaware of Aiore's presence. "Last time, if it wasn't for Lady Sarah, I would have passed out from fear because damn.. He's so scary."

Aldith laughed in response. "Well, my brother can be scary sometimes," he admitted.

"Most of the time," Arielle corrected, raising an eyebrow at him.

Aldith was about to respond when Aiore approached, stepping out of the shadows. He looked directly at Arielle and extended his hand. The gesture was unmistakable.

"Dance with me," he said, his voice calm but firm.

Arielle's heart raced. Panic surged through her, and she glanced helplessly at Aldith, unsure of what to do. Aldith, sensing her fear, nodded sympathetically and mouthed, "Good luck!" before stepping back to leave them alone.

Aaah, I'm doomed!

Now there was no escape. Arielle hesitantly took Aiore's hand, her palm sweating as he pulled her closer. Unlike with Aldith, the air between them felt tense, charged with something unspoken. His grip was strong, commanding, but his face remained as stoic as ever.

The music played softly in the background as they began to dance. At first, Arielle was too nervous to focus, her feet stumbling slightly as she struggled to keep up with Aiore's precise movements. She feared she would step on him again, just as she had the first time they danced.

But as the song progressed, she found herself slowly relaxing. Aiore's hand on her waist was steady, guiding her with surprising gentleness. He didn't speak, but the way he led her through the dance made her feel as though he was communicating with her through their movements. He was still guarded, still distant, but for the first time, Arielle sensed a subtle shift in him.

As the song came to an end, they stopped, standing close but not touching. Aiore looked down at her, his expression still unreadable. Arielle, feeling the weight of his gaze, finally broke the silence.

"Well... I didn't step on you this time," she said, trying to lighten the mood.

Aiore's lips twitched, almost imperceptibly, as if he was holding back a smile. But he said nothing, simply stepping back and nodding before turning to leave.

"Goodnight," he said quietly, his voice softer than she expected.

Arielle watched him walk away, her heart still pounding. She let out a breath she didn't realize she had been holding. Dancing with Aiore had been nothing like she'd imagined, but somehow, it had felt more real than any dream.

She stood alone in the garden for a long moment, the night air cool against her skin. She had no idea what Aiore was thinking, or what had passed between them during that dance. But one thing was certain-there was something about him that drew her in, no matter how hard she tried to resist.

And that terrified her more than anything else.