“I’m not so sure if this plan of yours is a good idea anymore.”
“Yes, it is. Just wait and see.”
“I haven’t seen you dance yet. Aren’t you planning to do it now that you can?”
“I’m waiting for my dance partner, although to be honest, I don’t know if she’ll come. Lately, she seems to
be avoiding me.”
“Did you do something to her?”
“I don’t remember. Well, maybe I did.”
Cassian saw Maya enter the ballroom. She was wearing a beautiful red dress that matched her eyes. He
stood there staring at her like a fool. Alessandro gave him a small push and said.
“Your partner’s here, go before someone else does.”
Cassian hurried to where Maya was, and standing in front of her, he said.
“You look beautiful tonight.”
“I know, I saw myself in the mirror before leaving.”
“I thought you wouldn’t come.”
“Why did you think that?”
“Lately, you and I haven’t spent much time together. Sometimes I feel like you’re avoiding me.”
“It’s just that I’ve been a bit busy.”
Cassian extended his hand and said,
< A Goddess Descends
“Would you like to dance the next one with me?”
“Of course.”
+25 Points
They both headed to the dance floor, arriving just in time to start the next song. While they danced, Maya
felt the intense gaze of all the young women there.
“I think I’ll need to watch my back after this dance.”
“Why?”
“All the young women here seem to want to use my head as a target for dancing with you.”
“Luckily, you’re skilled enough to defend yourself.”
“You’re right about that.”
Cassian kept staring at Maya and said,
“You really do look beautiful tonight. I’m glad I asked for the first dance. I’m the first to appreciate up close
how beautiful you look.”
“Wow, you’re full of compliments today. Maybe I should dress like this more often.”
“It doesn’t matter what you wear, you always look beautiful.”
Maya brought her mouth close to his ear and said,
“That’s true, but I bet you prefer seeing me without anything, don’t you?”
Cassian blushed but couldn’t deny that what Maya had just said was true. She smiled and said,
“Everything shows on your face. You should learn to control your expressions.”
“I think I’m okay with that. I’m not very good with words, so this way it’s not so hard to communicate with
you.”
“You’re right, it makes it easier to know what you’re thinking or feeling.”
As Abril approached the ballroom and the waltz music reached her, she felt as if a flutter of butterflies were fluttering in her stomach; it was her first dance, and her nerves were overwhelming her, or perhaps it was the tight corset that barely allowed her to breathe. She wasn’t sure of which.
When she reached the heavy wooden doors of the ballroom, she took a deep breath, and one of the
knights asked:
“Your Majesty, are you ready?”
“Yes, open the doors.”
As the doors opened slowly, Abril glimpsed the spirals of smoke from the candles decorating the enormous ballroom and all the nobles dressed in their finest attire. As she crossed the threshold, her
arrival was announced, and all eyes focused on her.
<A Goddess Descends
“Her Majesty the Queen is entering.”
+25 Points
Alessandro almost dropped the glass he was holding when he saw Abril at the top of the staircase. That
night, she looked like a goddess descending the stairs; everyone had turned to look at her, and the bustling ballroom fell silent for a moment. Everyone gazed breathlessly at the beautiful woman lifting her
skirts and taking one step, then another. The dress shone and seemed to be made of the very stars in the
sky. Even Alessandro needed a moment to react; he made his way through the crowd, she met his gaze,
and though they were surrounded by people, for a moment, it felt as if it were just the two of them in that
enormous ballroom.
Abril reached the foot of the stairs, Alessandro stepped forward and bowed to her, Abril stood firm and
with her head held high, with the dignity of a goddess. Seeing the king himself bow to her, everyone did
the same.
Alessandro raised his head, extended his arm to her, and said:
“You look beautiful.”
“And nervous.”
“You don’t have to be, I’m by your side.”
They both walked to the throne where there were two seats. Alessandro allowed Abril to sit first, and with
everyone’s attention, Alessandro spoke.
“I know this evening’s ball was in honor of my brother. However, today I want to formally present to everyone my beloved wife and queen, Abril of Veriatte.
Two priests approached the throne, one with a crown and the other with a scepter. Alessandro took the crown and placed it on Abril’s head, then took the scepter, put it in her hands, and declared to everyone.
“On this night, before all present and before God, I hereby crown Abril of Veriatte as my rightful queen, mother of the kingdom of Cosset.”
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