4
━━━━━▲━━━━━

Yazia had finally made it to the heart of Abingor.

Prince Aeneas exited the carriage first, and held out his arm for her to take. When Yazia reached for it, she stopped. The veil that hid her true identity had been lifted, and she watched the shadows that earlier danced around her body now scatter away into dust. Yazia released a deep breath, closing her eyes to bring the shadows back. Within minutes, she could almost become like them; like a mortal.

I wish the veil lasted longer...

She remembered when she had learnt to conceal parts of herself from whomever she wanted. It made especially useful now where nobody would be able to tell that she was from a royal-bloodline, yet alone a Sankorian.

When she opened her eyes again, Yazia gazed over the infamous Palace. She grasped onto Aeneas' with one gloved hand, the other holding onto her heavy, red dress-skirt.

"Are you ready for this?" Aeneas whispered softly into her ear. He didn't need to tell her much about how the court worked in Abingor. It wasn't much different from Sankorian courts. The main difference, however, was that this court had a lot more Humans. Aeneas had also told her about how the King has many names; his most prominent being King of Death.

She felt bad that her Kingdom was shrivelling into dust, while Abingor stood tall, and untouchable. Since her parents' death, Sankori has been weakened. She wanted everything for her people, and that day that this wish would come true was mere steps away.

It will all change, soon.

The Palace was a grand structure, made of a mosaic of humble rocks, each unique in size. The entire length of the building was built with most of the villages winding its way downwards, and the road they travelled on moved from broken parchment to smooth asphalt.

The King of Abingor was undoubtedly a grand conqueror. One she was sure to impress tonight. Yazia knew that her choices were slim, it would be that or meeting her demise.

"Yes, I'm ready." She nodded. The King would receive each Lady at the dais. The King never descends the steps to interact with the party. Instead, he sits. He watches.

One never goes into battle unprepared.

Yazia walked at a leisurely pace and entered through the grand archway of the Palace. At the arch, guards patrolled the grounds. It would be a busy night, and it was important that the Palace was impregnable, untouchable. It made her nervous. As she passed by the guard, with Prince Aeneas at her arm, they were stopped.

Bowing and barring the entry with his spear before asking, "Welcome to Abingor. By the order of the King, you are requested to give your names."

They'll know who I am...

Aeneas turned his eyes to the guard and gestured to himself. "Prince Aeneas of Silvern." Then he pointed toward Yazia. "And Lady--"

"Malya Leski," Yazia cut in, heaving. When the guard looked at her in bewilderment, she added, "Lady Malya Leski."

"Very well." The guard bowed again and stepped aside. "Enjoy the party."

Prince Aeneas didn't hesitate to pull her through the arch, and into the halls. "What was all that about?" he hissed, "you'd have better have a good reason for lying to the Royal Guard. Do you know what you've done?"

Tall pillars, almost as grand as the Palace, opened up the structure of the hall, leading to the large doors of the ballroom. Dazzled in traces of golds, and blues--the works of intricate designs riddled down to the floor, onto the marble tiles.

"Ah, see. The ball is about to begin. We can't be getting late, Prince Aeneas." Yazia smiled, and dragged Aeneas through the doors. They're greeted by at least a hundred ladies or so, chatting with their families in rows. Each awaiting their turn to introduce themselves to the King.

"Okay, fine. Let's wait in this line." Aeneas pulled her to the back of it.

"I'd rather not, that line is far too long. I'm sure that the King wouldn't mind waiting a short while," Yazia informed, "and besides, we're here for a ball, are we not? We should go enjoy ourselves."An orchestra of music wafted through the air.

Aeneas let out a surprised laugh and looked at Yazia in bewilderment. "You're really something, Lady Malya. What is it that you suggest we do?"

Yazia knew exactly what to do. Though finding the right partner would be a difficult thing, since she knew of no Duke or Lord that was attending this ball. Only of a Prince.

"Come dance with me, the two of us!" Yazia smiled, and reached to grab his hands, pulling Prince Aeneas further into the room.

She stopped in front of one of the guards. Yazia handed a narrow black box, and the man took it without questions, thankfully. "Oh, will you please take care of this for me? Thank you."

Yazia had never laid eyes on the King of Abingor before. But here in the centre of the room, it was the perfect spot and she was now free to observe the man all she liked. It was within a distance from other women hiding behind their shawls, and giggling.

"Oh, it is rather early to dance, but anything you please, My Lady." Aeneas' voice drowned her thoughts away. Yazia's prying eyes rested on the King briefly as she felt Aeneas' hand reach for her waist and led her into a slow-dance.

Don't look at him too much. This is your chance.

If she were to walk up to the King of Abingor, she'd have to lose contact entirely. The King only allowed his visitors as far as three feet away from him. But why would such a powerful King need an extra safety-measure?

He's hiding something.

"Dear Aeneas, how is it that you know so much about the King?" she asked as they spun through the dance-floor.

Yazia noticed the people of the court begin to turn and stare. She wasn't sure why, but perhaps it was because nobody else was dancing. Instead, they stood waiting for the King's approval of their gifts. This only made Yazia's heart soar, since back at home one of her favourite pastimes was to dance. She could dance even to the sound of swords--to the sound of victory.

"My father used to work alongside the King's father a while back. My sister and I used to visit every other spring and practise our swordsmanship." Aeneas informed. They drifted through the music in elegant twirls on the marble floor. "Why do you ask, My Lady?"

"So you're a friend of the King himself?" Yazia pried on, and drew them closer to the centre of the room. A perfect view of the dais, her dress-skirt twisted around her legs elegantly. Like sword-fighting, dancing was the one other thing she was confident to lead in.

The one other thing she could rely on.

"Not particularly." A lopsided smile grew on Aeneas' face. His hand then loosened from Yazia's waist and to his side. " Perhaps we should get something to drink?"

"But--" Yazia went to insist on another dance, but the song once playing fell silent. Instead, Aeneas took her arm and pulled her closer to the table laden with beverages. Yazia wasn't particularly thirsty as soon as they'd arrived. She remembered that she should never drink or eat the food from another court. It wouldn't surprise her that like Sankorian courts, Abingor would have snakes of their own.

"I'd like to keep dancing." She finished, and pivoted away on her heel. She'd search for a new target.

Yazia's eyes darted back to the dais. The line of women had cleared over just enough for her to survey the King's appearance. He was decked head to toe in black attire—even down to the black leather gloves covering his hands. His dark attire matched the cropped short hair, and brows that shaded his eyes.

Before she could gawk or admire the King of Abingor further, a young golden-haired male broke her gaze. "My Lady, I saw you dancing out there with such beauty and grace. I wondered...If I may have a dance?"

Yazia stifled a smile at the man, and grasped her skirt with both hands and curtsied. For a few moments, she searched the room for Aeneas, but he was nowhere to be found.

Well I guess I have no choice but to dance with someone else now.

"A pleasure." Yazia watched as the man bowed, grasping onto her hand to gently rest a kiss at the back of it. When her eyes met his, sparkling blue—he led her back to the dance-floor.

The song that now played was a much faster tempo than the last. More people had found their way onto the marble floors to join in on the dancing. As the faces blurred in front of Yazia, she twirled with more concentration than ever before, able to forget all about her surroundings. No matter how much she fixated on the flow of her feet gliding across the floor, Yazia was not able to forget the reason she was truly here.

Though, all that was left was the beating of her heart—a heart of a lion inside of a snake-pit.

Yazia wasn't sure how long she had danced, but the music came to an abrupt halt, and the ball-room fell silent.

Yazia grasped onto the Nobleman's arm just briefly to catch her breath when the dance halted too. She waited for the dizziness to subside, then it came to her attention that the crowd had scattered like ants away from her. When Yazia looked back up, she instantly realised why that was.

The King. The King of Abingor was approaching her. Her of all people in this room. Yazia had almost forgotten how to breathe. The Sovereign himself stopped within three feet of her. She could feel his eyes take in every single piece of her.

Yazia couldn't stop the wave of anxiety that flooded inside of her stomach. She wondered how long it had been that he was watching her.

Long enough to leave his position upon the dais. Maybe my plan did work after all...But what now?

Warmth rushed to her cheeks and Yazia had suddenly forgotten how to react. Without thinking, Yazia curtsied quickly and blurted out, "Your Majesty..."

"Hmm..." His voice was a deep baritone; Yazia had goosebumps just hearing it. "Is there something wrong with waiting in line with the rest of the ladies? Or is there perhaps something more interesting to you?" The King asked.

Yazia wanted to laugh. But instead she fought to compose herself inside. "Forgive me, Sire. But this ball-room was just too quiet. It'd be a waste not to enjoy this fine evening before it's up."

"I see you like to dance," The Sovereign acknowledged. His cold blue eyes never left Yazia's flushed face."Dance with me," he said.

Yazia swallowed. Slightly bewildered, a sudden spark of heat spread across the back of her neck.

Did I truly catch his attention? Oh stars, this is it!

Seeing nothing but his eyes, feeling nothing but the floor at her feet. Yazia had forgotten that anybody else was in the room. It was just the two of them.

Her and the King.

"Forgive me again, Sire...But is this an order or a request? I am told you do not offer a dance to just anybody," she said boldly.

Yazia wanted to step closer. To break the three feet rule between them and split his neck open. Abingor would reign in blood. But she could never get too close, not with the eyes of the snakes in this court, staring right at her. She would never get too close, not unless there was a knife at the Sovereign's throat.

After-all, that's what she had come for. Now more than ever, her thirst for vengeance formed into something deeper; a lust for blood.

"Accept my invitation. You won't regret it, I am quite the dance-partner. Perhaps, even your match," The King challenged, a soothing chuckle escaping his lips.

How could she deny such a request to end this evening with? All the women in this room glared at her, with a glint of envy or disgust for what she had caught in the net tonight. But Yazia didn't care. There were devils everywhere among this court-room. But she had won by far. She was to dance with the worst demon of them all tonight. The very one to have ordered commands on her parents' death.

I must finish what I came for. This is just the beginning of his suffering.

Yazia had made it here in one piece. Undoubtedly, she'd hope to keep it that way and stay intact. She'd stay on track. She was here for one thing, and one thing only; revenge.

No thing or person would be coming in the way of that. Especially not tonight.

"I accept your invitation, Your Majesty," Yazia said.

━━━━━▲━━━━━