THE ENCHANTED DEFORA By Livelihood Partridge

6 - VIVIENNE

Walking through the corridors towards the ball room was filling me with anxiety neither did I want to face so many people not did I want any other lady to impress Leo . Only if it could be just him and me in the whole ball room with coziness stuffed in the atmosphere . While thinking all of this , I did t know when did I reach the entrance of the ball room and just as I entered my eyes took in the grand decoration of the whole ball room . It was decorated like Christmas , with snowflakes , mistole balls , and many ginger breads . Everything was perfect except I saw Alice making her way towards Leo and then I saw something even more shocking , beside Leo was standing Winston talking with some other Lords who were invited .

I walked towards a corner and immediately a maid offered me blueberry juice , blue berry was my favourite fruit since was a little kid , it had something deeply connected in me . I looked around and saw Winston already looking my way . I was about to turn around when I spilled my juice on Alice Maverick . I looked in Leo's direction and now he was talking to Winston and Alice was right behind me now . I immediately apologized , " I'm so sorry , your highness , I didn't mean to- " " Oh so you have already admitted em as your highness , nice . " She said with a smile which i couldn't figure out was one of a mocking or genuinely nice . " I didn't refer you as Hig highness's wide , I referred to you as his sister . " I said with a sharp look . She smiled and said " I was joking my dear , Vivienne . " " You know my name . " I asked confused . " You don't pay much attention towards your surroundings , dear . Remember, The Archery Grounds ? " She asked but I felt a bit embarrassed at her remark of me not being attentive. " Oh yeah I do remember. I thought you were talking with Prince Leo . " I said to initiate a conversation and know her better and more about Leo . " Oh yeah , I was but then Lord Winston took his attention . " She said and looked over my shoulder , towards Leo . " Oh does Wins- I mean Lord Winston know His highness ? " I asked wanting to get to know more about Winston this time . " Oh you don't know , they are childhood bestfriends . " , Ok that stunned me .

" Oh wait , I completely forgot about the stain i caused on your dress , let me help you . " " Oh no . Leave it , ill go and change in a while . " " Oh please let me help you , you could consider it was an apology . " And with that she around and i followed her just when I was about to step out of the ball room , I heard Winston's voice just behind me " Don't " " Don't go , you are not safe . " I looked behind and saw Winston already looking at me from far across the room . I stepped out of the room and followed her . She said " Well , here the restroom . " She said and we went inside . She looked some wet tissues and i did too and i started helping her in cleaning her dress . She said " Well , thank you Vivienne for this and for embarrassing me in The Archery Grounds . * She said with a mocking smile . I pressed the tissue on her dress and asked " What ? " She said , " Thank you for everything till now , the stain , the help , the archery grounds and now thank you for coming here , trusting me that I won't kill you but you know never trust a stranger in Defora , Never . " She said and took a knife from her side pocket . I took a step back and she leaped forward , I pushed myself aside and she landed on the opposite wall she was standing before . I said " Hey , keep that down . " I warned . I didn't have anything with me for protection . I looked around and saw a flower vase . I took it in my hands and I heard her laugh . I looked behind me to see that she was standing just few inches away from me and she was about to pierce the knife through me when my instincts kicked in and I hit the flower vase directly on her head . She held her head and i quickly took the knife from her hand and made my run towards the door when she stepped on my dress , right now i just had one thought to keep myself safe . I heard her say , " I will become the queen " and she again leaped forward and this time I pierced the knife through her neck and blood sprung from her neck on my eyes and cheek and then she fell on the ground with a thud like a lifeless body and i realised that I had just killed the sister of the prince in order to marry the prince and save myself . Just then I heard a chuckle behind me and turned around and pointed the knife at the person when I saw Mr Clock looking at me . " Impressive , cariño . " I threw the knife at the ground and hugged him tightly , tears rolled down my cheeks . I had just killed someone . " Hey , there's nothing to cry about . That was self defense and you know I have also wanted to kill her for awhile . " I looked up at him to see if he was smiling from the joke he just cracked but by seeing the seriousness on his face , i realised he was not joking . I pushed myself from his warm body and looked up confused . " I'll hide the body . " He said and just then I blinked my eyes and he and the lifeless body were gone with the blood which was spilled on the floor . The bathroom looked just like before like nothing ever happened .