Beginning

Chapter 16 - Anuntul

Besides gossiping, dancing was one of the highlights of balls for everyone. Expect for Titania. As a Princess and because she is a Romenheart, she must have a dance with every eligible prince from every royal family during events hosted by the Romenheart family, such as this one. She was on her fourth dance of the night already, with her fourth prince. She already tried her best to get through quick dances with the Istok and Ozear princes, who one she finds hopelessly tries to impress her, and the other a hopeless bore. After those two, she had to dance with the Lavrentiy Prince, which was horribly awkward seeing as he was only 100 years old. Titania could tell that her mother was amused by it seeing as she was laughing with her escorts the whole time.

Right now she was dancing and making light conversation with either the Varias Prince or the Niculaie Prince. She could never tell them apart. They used to be the same family until a family feud broke out within them and they split into two different families. That's why they share such close features, blond hair, and dark eyes. Niculaies insist, however, that they have dark gray eyes instead. Their family colors are also strikingly similar for families that are supposed to not be able to stand the other, both very close shades of purple and red, so even that is no help in differentiating them.

The song changes and Titania gives a curtsy and thanks either the Varias or Niculaie Prince for the dance, and she is not even given a few seconds to rest before another prince of very similar features came to offer her a dance, to which she warily accepted.

She had had enough and was starting to grow dizzy from the constant swaying and spinning of partner dance. She much preferred group dances, where everyone joined in unions, she found them to be no so awfully dull. No light chatting where she has to watch what she says, no worrying about stepping on someone's foot, just liveliness and the constant laughing of everyone around. She knew group dances could not commence until after she had danced with every prince, however. That was the only thing that kept her going through these numbing traditions. Well, that, and getting a chance to dance with Radu.

Her dance with Radu was only one dance away, and once she remembered that, her mood improved much more than it was. Her last dance before her beloved was with the Raducanu Prince. He was the only prince from the lower family ranks. Titania has always admired their family colors, black and white. It takes a brave lamia to wear white and Titania knows for sure she would make Margareta very crossed with her if she ruined her dress constantly by staining it.

The thought makes Titania quite parched, not to mention being somewhat exerted from all her dancing. She decides to end her dance a little early with the Raducanu Prince and excuses herself to find a drink. She walks back to the Romenheart area and a servant immediately comes to her.

"Princess would you care for some sange?" the servant asked, carrying a tray with possibly ten cups full of sange.

Titania scrunched up her nose, deciding she'll just have to learn to like the drink some other time. "No, I've had enough of that for one day. Would you bring me some wine before this song is over, raspberry." The servant nods her head in a bow and then walks away to get her drink.

Lucain, who was talking to the Istok Count, noticed his daughter back in the Romenheart area and excused himself as he went to her. "My dear, how are you enjoying yourself?" He gave her an embrace which she returned.

"Oh father, the ball is perfect, exactly what I had wanted."

"And then why are you here then and not dancing?"

Titania gave him an impish pout. "Father, you know I don't enjoy the family dances all too much. I merely do it out of tradition."

The servant had come back with a new cup in hand and presented it to Titania while excusing herself for interrupting them. Lucain had noticed that it was not sange in the cup and gave Titania a playfully stern look. "Tradition you were saying, my dear?"