Princess in Hiding

Chapter 12

The crowd applauded as we descend the stairs. I'm trying to get a grip of my guts for this night. I'm nervous about this ball, nervous about everything really. A huge variety of eyes stared at me. Their eyes pinned on me. Maybe they were thinking if I were a fraud or not? The Queen still holds my hand very tightly and I look at her. She smiled. Like her smile was saying, 'You can do this!' But of course, I know I would flop this.

        All eyes were on me and I feel their gaze running through my veins feeding my shaking. I looked at the Queen and she smiled reassuringly at me. I am not used with how the Queen looks at me. I gulped. This is unfamiliar. I have never seen this gaze from anyone but I felt warmth in it. The King and Queen held my hands and I was suddenly calm. I tried faking my smile and I'm grateful that my system is cooperating. I looked at the people, their stares full of wonder. Wondering who this girl in front of them is, wondering if she was a fraud or the real one? I am not sure but I am unsure of most things.

        I smiled wider and I can't hear what the King was telling the crowd. I'm lost. I saw from the crowd was the Cronus and Eros, both of them, surprised as they saw me. Their parents were surprised, too, but smiling widely. I see many royalties from all over the world, delegates, national leaders and many personalities that I didn't know that I will meet. I gulped and the King turned to me.

        "Now, the first dance will be conducted by the future head of the House Olympia, Prince Cronus and my lovely daughter, Aikaterina," he said.

        He took my hand and he lead me in the middle of the crowd. I am surprised that the crowd went to the sides, forming a circle around us. The King left me, walked back to the Queen and I awkwardly looked around like I am asking for help. I turned left and then there was Cronus, flashed with his radiant smile. He approached me and bowed his head at me. I curtsied. I'm very lucky that I knew how to dance even if I'm just a nobody. Zakant taught me how to dance since I was a child as he always dances after his store closes. I straightened and he offered his hand, I took it. He must've felt that my hands were cold and it all melted when his hand touched mine.

        He held my waist and pulled me near him. We stared swaying, dancing through the music produced by the quarter near us. In the middle of dancing, he looked at me. He led me through this dance carefully.

        "I didn't know you were the real Princess, Aikaterina," he muttered. I blushed, out of words. "Nonetheless, you pass as the Princess with how beautiful you are tonight."

        "I am not," I protest.

        "But you are, Princess." He twirled me and held me tightly.

        "They are looking at you."

        "Oh, darling, with how beautiful you are tonight, it is you who they are looking at."

        I shook my head. "I am not."

        "Why do you keep on protesting?"

        "Because I am not."

        "Don't crunch your nose. You look cute. I am helplessly falling. Please, don't make it worse."

        What?

        The music ended and our dance did, too. I was still confused on what he said. I felt a fastened heart beat when he left me hanging with the thing he said. I shook my head and I saw my next partner approach me.

        As I was dancing with the guests, they asked me questions about my past and how they found me. I'm glad that the Queen told me how to respond to these questions. I am glad that I am able to answer their queries about my identity. I'm still wary if they will know that I'm just posing as the Princess but I hear them telling me about my resemblance to the Royal couple.