War of the Ocean

A Waltz and a Broken Heart

His footsteps echoed off the stone walls. He was alone in this section of the castle, everyone else was in the ballroom, dancing to the music and laughing beneath the chandeliers. Balls were usually something he enjoyed, but tonight was different. His father had returned and this ball had been thrown in his honour.

But she would be there too and that would make everything okay. She made everything okay.

And tonight, she would look beautiful. Especially in that dress he had chosen for her earlier that day when he had asked her to attend this ball with him. She was going to go anyway but he had to ask her to go with him. He would risk leaving her to be forced along with his brother.

His cursed brother.

Ever since they were young, the two princes had rivalled one another. Deep down, they did love each other, they just never showed it. He believed it had started when his brother had begun to tell him how he was the favourite prince of all the people in Korin. At first, his brother had said it jokingly, until he grew a little older. Then Reidan had stopped joking, especially when he saw how everyone in their kingdom reacted when they saw Kaiser, their little prince. He believed that Reidan had grown jealous, creating a rift in their bond and turning it into a competition to be the best.

But Kaiser never wanted to be the best. Most days, he just wanted his brother back.

Maybe one day, he would. But not today. Today, he could forget all about his brother and focus on her. Turning the corner, he spotted her. She wore that strange, shimmering dress which reminded him of the sea and seemed to float above the ground as she walked. As she turned, he felt as though all the air in him was knocked out. He began to step closer, drawing air into his lungs. 

'My lady,' he said, trying to steady his heart rate. Currently, his heart was beating so fast and so loudly that he thought she would be able to hear it from where she stood, or at least see it moving beneath all his finery. 'You look spectacular tonight.' 

Somehow, his voice managed to stay calm despite the nerves coursing through him. She didn't look spectacular or beautiful that night, not with that little tiara on her golden coiffure. She looked regal. He tried to say some more but the words just wouldn't come out. He opted for holding out his hand for her instead. He barely noticed the maids scurry away as he lead Arelena away, he'd barely even noticed them there anyway.

How could he notice people as plain as maids when the most beautiful creature on earth stood before him?

He watched her every move, taking no note of the halls they passed on the way to the ballroom. If he didn't know this castle inside out, he never would have gotten them there with the way he focused entirely on her as they walked. It was over too soon, guards were opening the ballroom doors for them and they were walking through the great doorway, up to the top of the stairs. 

Kaiser saw her pause, watched her turn to him questioningly. Then he remembered what he'd discovered earlier in their one-sided conversation. 

She'd never been to a ball before.

He could see the look in her eyes, pleading him to guide her. But then the steward was speaking, announcing them to hundred of elegantly-dress people in the grand ballroom below. No matter how extravagantly they were dressed, no one could hold his attention the way the silent angel beside him did. Squeezing her hand gently, he lead her down the staircase and into the mass of people.

He heard their whispers as they passed by but paid no heed to them. He hoped that she would do the same because the poisonous whispers of the nobility would do her no good. Watching out the corner of his eye, Kaiser saw her expression change to something close to hurt and knew she was listening to them. Before he could tell her to ignore them, her face changed again and she lifted her chin a tad, staring straight ahead.