Keziah
Prince Cyrus sweeps me into a waltz, displaying that he is as skilled a dancer as Amias. He gazes down at me while I keep my gaze over his shoulder as we dance.
"Am I such a poor substitute for my brother that you don't even wish to look at me?"
His words make my eyes snap to his.
"What do you mean by your words, Your Highness? We have never really spoken to each other before, so I was searching my brain for something to say. Forgive me if I have offended you."
I don't know why, but Prince Cyrus seems to have the ability to keep me off balance.
"So that is what was going on." He twirls me, his eyes alight with amusement. "Also, you are wrong. I asked you to dance once before. It was the night of your debut into society. I asked you to dance, but you saw Halcyon and then walked around me, completely disregarding me, to approach him. You have had eyes for no one and nothing else since then. So I haven't had the chance to speak to you until now, when it appears you have woken up to a new dream."
He dips me and continues dancing, never doubting that he is in rhythm with all the other dancers.
Wow, he might be even better than Amias. He hasn't once looked around to check if we are still synchronized with the others on the floor.
Also, I am such an idiot because now I remember—he was asking me to dance that night, but I rudely walked away from him, entranced by Halcyon.
"I hope you will forgive me for my slight against you. I admit I had a terrible case of insta-love, but as you said, I woke up from that dream. I can't make someone love me if they don't want to. After three years, and he still wishes to have nothing to do with me, then I will pursue my passions and love my family till the end of my days."
I notice, in the back of my mind, that we are now dancing to a second song. But I find myself enjoying how comfortable I feel with Prince Cyrus and figure a second dance wouldn't hurt anything.
"Does this mean you don't intend to ever marry if you can't marry my brother?" he asks with a concerned expression. I can't help but find his sad puppy look amusing.
"I'm going to pursue my goal of becoming a Premier Artist of Painting and Sculpture. I'm going to be the best sister, daughter, and noble of the realm that I can be. I'm going to live a life with few regrets. If love comes my way, and that person is willing to support me in my art passions, then I would consider marriage," I say with a smile that has a tinge of sadness.
"I gave my all for three years. I became someone I didn't want to be in pursuit of a man. I will respect his wishes and focus on myself. I will become someone he will wish he had considered. I may have been a bit extreme at times, but he could have spoken with me about why he wouldn't even consider me, you know? Why I, a noble daughter of a Duke household, could not even be considered as someone to walk through life with him."
I spoke so softly I wasn't sure Prince Cyrus even heard me. His somber expression told me he did.
"You have thought this out. It appears you have definitely changed much during the months of your seclusion. Forgive me if this is crossing the line, but I must say you shine very brightly tonight. You look like you have found yourself again and have returned to the young lady I glimpsed at that debut ball night. I look forward to seeing the new artworks you will create. I would love to assist you in any way I can. I really liked your art competition entries."
Prince Cyrus's words and compliments make me blush and grin. I don't remember the last time I felt so seen.
I feel like I've truly found a good friend. As the thought crossed my mind, I realized at this point in time, I had already pushed away all the good friends I grown up with since they didn't support my aggressive pursuit of Halcyon. I should attempt to reunite with them soon. They were good friends and didn't deserve my treatment.
"You are kind, Your Highness. I appreciate your words. No forgiveness is needed. If it pleases you, and as an apology for my past rudeness, how about you send a date when you will be available and come see my studio? I have other works I have not shown to anyone outside our household and my instructors that you might find pleasing to the eye."
I feel the eyes watching me intensify, and I can't imagine why, as I'm actually behaving right now. I glance at my parents as we dance past them, a question in my eyes. Mother subtly signals me with her fan that I need to pay attention.
My mind quickly realizes I've just danced with Prince Cyrus for three dances now.
A lady does not dance with a man who is not family or fiancé for more than two dances unless they are considering courting. When did the third song start? How did neither of us realize it? I guess we were both so caught up in talking that we just kept going with the flow.
I look up at the prince with a shocked expression, and he looks down at me with a similar one. As the song ends, we bow to each other, and he guides me around the room to where my family is.
"I guess we will be the center of gossip for a while. I apologize for adding to the gossip about you. I'll try to set the record straight—that we got into a passionate discussion about art and forgot we were dancing for longer than two songs."
Prince Cyrus's guilty expression made my heart feel at ease that this wasn't some twisted plot to embarrass me. He is either acting very genuinely or is a better actor than I have ever seen in both lives. My gut says to trust him, so I will.
"I believe you. You had good intentions when you asked me to dance. As far as the gossip, I have nothing to hide, and people aren't going to believe I've changed from wanting to be a royal wife any time soon."
" I would like to offer my hand in friendship if you are amiable. I feel we have a good connection. You are a year older than me, so we haven't really had many opportunities to interact outside of social gatherings. But I feel with time we will become close friends. What do you think?" I asked quietly as we nodded but didn't stop to engage with anyone who made eye contact with us.
"I would be honored to be your friend, and I will have my assistant send over the days I'm available to come over and take a peek into your studio. You know, while I have decent talent in various art forms, I do enjoy appreciating others' works more. I love the stories they tell and the process the artist goes through to give the art life.
"I meant what I said about assisting you. You would have been in the top three if this hadn't been your art debut. The judges thought it would be humbling and give you character to not get into the top three on your first foray, even though your art deserved it. Let me help facilitate your entry into the art world. I promise I won't disappoint you."
We were almost to my family, who was watching our approach with interest. I thought about what he said and admitted I felt a bit upset knowing this was the reasoning behind me not placing in the top three, but I accepted it as the price for the reputation I unintentionally built over the years.
"I appreciate your offer. I will consider it. We can discuss it when you come to visit," I replied just as we reached my family.
I gave them all a reassuring smile. They gave me a smile in return, but they turned their eyes to Prince Cyrus with wariness.
"I ask for forgiveness for getting so caught up in our art discussion that we lost track of the songs. Lady Keziah is talented, and I believe she will achieve Premier Artist status in due time," Prince Cyrus said loud enough that anyone eavesdropping would be able to hear him.
"We are honored that you praise our daughter. Keziah has certainly become quite passionate about art and will talk anybody's ear off if given the chance," Mother chuckled, which made everyone else chuckle in amusement at my expense.
Me? I just blushed and tried to hide my face behind my fan.
"Thanks, Mother, for making me sound like an art fanatic, and to His Highness no less. That just simply makes it all better," I said, with a bit of a pout in my tone.
"You know your truth, Kezi. Well, with the night not getting any younger, I will have one more dance with your father, and then how about we head home for a late dinner?" Mother suggested to us all.
We nodded our heads in agreement. I sighed internally in relief.
Thank God we are getting out of here soon. These heels are starting to make blisters on my feet, and this dress, while beautiful, is hot to wear long-term like this.
While I was saying my silent prayer of thanks, Prince Cyrus had somehow pulled my brothers into a deep conversation. With Quinn being the same age as Halcyon at 21, the prince a year older than me at 19, and Amias the youngest at 15, I was curious about what they could all be animatedly discussing.
But after all that dancing, I was thirsty, so I motioned to Quinn that I was going to get a drink.
He nodded his understanding, so I went over to the closest beverage table, picked up a glass then walked out onto the nearby balcony to get some fresh air.
I was still within sight, and I made eye contact with Amias so they would know where I was. However, I wasn't out on the balcony by myself for long.
"Since I didn't want you, have you now moved on to my brother?"
The balcony door closed before I realized I wasn't alone out here.