Crown Of Chaos

Chapter 29

DECLAN'S POV
I sat in my seat as I waited for...
What was her name again?
Oh right, Princess Molly to come in.
I glanced impatiently at the clock.
1:02.
Being late to a meeting with the king is a horrible way to set an impression.
Especially when the king has other matters to attend to.
I sighed frustratedly as I leant back in my seat. This was all so unnecessary.
Really.
My thoughts are disrupted when Princess Molly bursts in.
"Sorry I'm late, my lord." She says as she slowly makes her way towards me.
I take one look at her bright green dress and frizzy brown hair.
She looked like a nice young lady, but she immediately reminded me of my old school teachers. Mrs. Skinnylegs.
I forced a smile on my lips and gestured for her to have a seat in the chair in front of me.
"So Molly, what are your talents? What do you like to do?"
It was a great conversation starter, but what I didn't expect was for her to answer it in such a dramatic manner.
She pushed her thick glasses higher up her nose and began to talk.
"Well, I love reading; it's my favourite thing to do, actually. I'm actually writing a book at the moment, and it's called the Magical Lake. Do you know why it's called the magical lake? Well, it's called that because it's the story of a girl who encountered one. I also love singing; my great-great-great-great-grandmother was a famous singer. Her name is Lauren Debat. Have you ever heard of her? Apparently she sings like an angel; well, that's what my great, great, great, great grandfather says. I know it's crazy that my great, great, great, great grandfather is still alive; he's got dementia, but he still remembers what his wife sings like. Apparently, I sing like her. Shall I sing for you?"
I blink, "Uh, yeah—go ahead."
Molly clears her throat before a horrible melody comes out of her mouth.
She seems to not notice me cringe as a loud voice crack suddenly erupts from her throat.
After she finishes, she looks at me expectantly, a wide grin on her face.
"Shall I sing you another?"
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RUBY'S POV
Seeing Skye felt like a relief.
After asking a couple of maids and servants if they had seen a tall blonde man, they directed me to a small cabin behind the palace, near the vineyard.
As soon as I caught sight of him, I gave him a big fat hug.
Skye was my comfort person, my therapy.
Seeing him was relief itself after being with those brats in the palace.
Skye took my hand and led me to a large tree at the back of his cabin.
"El, you can't just hug me like that in public."
I frown. "Why not?"
Skye squinted his eyes at me as if I were dumb or something.
"You're a bride candidate, El. If people see you hugging other men, you will ruin your reputation."
I rolled my eyes at him as I sat down at the bottom of the tree.
"Whatever, besides no one's here." I said as I looked at our surroundings.
There was nothing but trees, grapes, and the cabin. The sound of faint chattering could be heard from a distance, but that was it.
Skye scoffed as he sat down besides me.
"Ok, what do you need to tell me?" He asked as he pulled his hair tie out of his messy hair and attempted to put it back into a ponytail.
I sighed and took the hair tie out of his hand. Putting your hair up into a ponytail is literally the easiest thing in the world; I don't know why this guy still struggles with it.
"Today we were told that we only have 2 hours to make the King fall in love with us."
Skye seemed lost for words.
"2 hours?!"
I finished his ponytail and stood to my feet.
"Yup, only 2 hours."
Skye shrugged, "Ok, it shouldn't be too hard; just leave a good impression."
I placed my hands on my hips. "Yeah, well, how can I leave a good impression on someone who has hated me his entire life?"
Skye processed my words, "Ohhh, right."
I began to pace back and forth in thought, my dark blue dress swaying slightly in the wind.
"What would I even do with him in those hours? Just talk?"
Skye pursed his lips.
"You could sing him a song?"
I turned to give him a look.
"Seriously?"
Skye shrugged, "What? You want ideas, so I'm giving them to you."
I sighed, "Can you give me more accurate ones?"
There was a small silence as we both drifted in thought. The wind rustling through the leaves in the trees and the sounds of birds squawking from afar filled our ears.
"You could dance?" Skye spoke.
I raised an eyebrow. "Dance?"
"Yeah, dancing is an excellent way to spark up tension and romantic energy."
I pressed my lips into a thin line. "I don't know how to dance."
Skye grinned. "Luckily I do."
He then rose to his feet, dusted his palms on his pants, and extended his hand towards me.
"My lady, can I please have this dance?"
I eyed him up and down before placing my hand in his.
He then bent low and brushed his lips gently across my knuckles, the small action sending butterflies into my stomach.
"Skye, what are you doing—" I began, but I was cut off as Skye shushed me and placed my hand on his shoulder. He then brought out my other arm and laced my fingers with his before snaking his arm around my waist.
"I'm teaching you to dance." He grinned.
His hazel eyes sparkled with amusement and mischief as he slowly moved us back and forth.
I swallowed nervously.
Skye was teaching me how to dance; there is nothing wrong with this; we are just friends after all.
I exhaled a small breath and looked down at our feet instead.
Bad idea. I accidentally misstepped and almost tripped into him.
"Eyes up here, El." Skye chuckled as he swung us to the left.
"You'll misplace your footing if you watch your feet."
I rolled my eyes as I felt Skye's grip on my waist tighten.
"Is this really necessary?" I mumbled.
Skye smiled. "It is."
We danced on in silence, our music an invisible melody carried by the gentle wind which ruffled our clothes and hair. No matter how many times I told myself this isn't wrong, I couldn't help but feel that it was. I felt as if Skye and I were two lovers who were dancing in secret, the leaves and the grapes as our witnesses.
Skye's eyes don't leave mine as we rock back and forth, his feet guiding mine as we dance in the breeze.
He then lets go of my waist, leaving me spinning to the side before he reels me back in. The air is knocked out of my lungs as he dips me dangerously close to the ground.
We silently stare at each other, my lips parted in shock and his face inches away from mine.
His gaze is intense, as if he were in a daze.
Time seemed to stop as his gaze lowers from my eyes to my lips.
My heart is beating so loud I'm sure he can hear it.
"Skye?" I breathe.
Skye blinks and instantly pulls me up.
He clears his throat as he pats his hands on his pants and looks at me sheepishly.
"I, uh, w-well, now you know how to dance." He splutters.
I plaster a smile on my face. "Yeah, um, thanks for teaching me, I guess."
Skye nods, "Yeah, no biggie."
I take in a deep breath before swinging my arms at my sides.
"Yeah, well. I think I gotta go, so..."
"Oh yeah, um, see you later?"
"Yeah." I reply before quickly walking out of there.
Ok, seriously, what the hell was that?