Another Path

Chapter 2:The Masked Man

The new year festival is coming up and I've been waiting since that girl came here. I'm supposed to dance with Edward while his father, the King dance with the Queen. However, the day before, I saw that girl in Edward's room.

"Your Highness, are you really going to dance with her?" she said while holding His chest and pouting.

"Yes darling, it's a tradition...And please, call me by my name."

Still pouting, she continued "But, you've been doing that for years..."

"Well, of course! She is my fiancée..."

"Hmph...She doesn't even respect you like I do!"

"I'll tell you what, I'll dance with you next."

"No!"

"Fine, I'll talk to my father and see if I can make an exception."

"Yay!" She screamed as she jumped into his arms, making him fall to the bed. He then puts his right hand on her neck, followed by his left, and kissed her in the lips. I didn't want to see anything else, so I left without looking back.

The next day, incredibly, the King actually let them have the first dance, however, on the next dance, Edward came to me. Unexpectedly, Anastasia fell in the middle of the ballroom while dancing with a Duke and Edward ran straight to her.

"Are you alright, Anne?"

"I think I twisted my ankle..."

"It's okay, I'll bring you somewhere else."

Without saying another word, he left the ballroom with her. The music continued playing and the people continued dancing, but I am left alone. Somehow, in a crowded place like this, I felt alone. Until a man approached me.

Since this is a masked party, I didn't see his face clearly, but he does look handsome. His blonde wavy hair flows gracefully covering his left face and his brave look shows that he isn't a low noble, at least a duke. An unfamiliar badge on his tie shows that he is from a foreign kingdom, and his matching dark blue blazer and dark blue mask with golden trims tells me that this guy is worth being around.

"May I have this dance, my lady?" He said in a soft tone but quite deep voice as he extends his arm.

"Well, of course." I said, accepting his request.

While dancing, we did have a nice talk.

"You seem well mannered, who are you?"

"I'm just a representative from nearby Empire, my lady."

"Hmm... Let me guess, Saphyrex?"

"Correct, I'm Alphonso La Royce, my lady."

"From which family?"

"Well, it's a secret, my lady, isn't life more fun with mysteries?"

"Sure...whatever you say..." I said as I chuckled, this man's got some taste.

I got to say, it's a great night, at least for me. As for Edward and Anastasia, it was probably a wonderful night, well, until someone caught them making out in a room 5 meters away from the ballroom. But the King never punished them, probably because if he did, he'll look like a hypocrite cause he has a lot of concubines and some mistresses.