The Protected (Book 2)

Chapter 4: Challenge

I loved dancing with my father. I use to do it a lot when I was younger. My father use to dance with my mother all the time, but he always gave Grace and I a dance. Dancing with him now, I felt happy. It took me back to when I was a child and being different was okay because everyone assumed you would grow out of it. I didn't grow out of it, people's attitude towards me changed, but dancing with my father never changed. It was always a safe place.

"Do you know Grace has a new love interest?" I asked my father. I felt his hand tighten in mine and noticed his body stiffen.

"Who?" His serious face scared me.

"Prince Rafael, he is the youngest prince of Jauvon," I said.

My father's eyes widened in surprise. "A prince? They usually think they can get any girl and don't care about the consequences. I don't like it."

"She really likes him. I guess you can ask around, you know that creepy guy that knows everything, what was his name Quintin?"

"Quincey," my father corrected me. "Yes, he could tell me what I want to know. I think I will have a talk with this Prince Rafael, do a bit of recon myself."

I opened my mouth to speak but stopped upon realizing a guard that had come up to my father. He bowed respectively before speaking, "Captain, we seem to have a problem."

A look of alertness crossed my father's face. The guard continued. "Prince Mathew seemed to have disappeared."

"Did you check his chambers?" I scoffed. Leave it to Mathew to leave a party early with a woman.

Both the guard and my father turned red at the words that had come out my mouth. Oops?

"Y-yes," the guard said flustered. "He was not there. We do not want to create a panic but--"

"That is correct, do not create a panic. Let everyone assume everything is fine. I will search the perimeter with a few men," my father ordered.

Yes, some action! A little fun!

The guard and my father left immediately and I did my own recon. Walking up to a group of young women who had been watching Mathew the whole ball with googly eyes. They eyed my attire in curiosity and some in disgust. "Hello ladies."

"Hi?" one of them said in a form of a question.

"Do you happen to know where Ma- Prince Mathew is?" I asked. They already worshiped him, I wouldn't want to offend the possible witnesses by disrespecting his title.

"Why do you want to know?" asked another accusingly. Do not worry honey, I do not want to steal 'your' man.

I pointed at my guard's uniform. "It is my job. An official wants a meeting with him, I think he might be avoiding him."

"Why can't they just leave him alone, it's his birthday! He is allowed a break!" said one in a yellow dress. Okay president of the fan club, calm down.

"I know, it sucks but I know Mathew would rather this than deal with the wrath of his father. Mathew respects him too much and I don't want him to regret this," I said nonchalantly watching them all share worried looks with each other. "Well, since it is his birthday I guess I'll just let him get into trouble. As long as he has his break now and all."

I turned to leave with a smile threatening to cross my lips. In five... four... three... two...

"Wait!"