"Thank you for visiting everyone." The little girl with cherry blonde hair beamed with a smile.

The other girls bowed with their hands on their skirt. "It is an honor, Lady Mia."

Lady Mia then glanced towards us with a wide smile. "Thank you for visiting Lady Athalia! And to bring the crown prince, it is an honor."

That's also one thing I am confused about. Since when did Eldest become Lady Athalia?

Eldest smiled. "No, it is our honor to attend such generous invitation."

"I hope we'd see each others again." Surprisingly, Lady Mia looked at me and smiled. "At first sight, I fell hard with the crown prince. I'm looking forward to meet you again!"

I awkwardly smiled at her. "Thank you, Lady Mia."

She then excused herself and started a conversation with the boy. His gold eyes really is similar to Eldest.

"Let's go." Hearing this, she snapped her fingers and we returned to my room.

Finally, into the bed!

I jumped into my fluffy bed and covered myself in the sheets as I closed my eyes. "So good to take a sleep right now."

Eldest didn't respond like she usually do. I opened my eyes again and I didn't see her anywhere my room. "Eldest?" Roaming my eyes around, I didn't even see her shadow.

Oh, I guess she left too early.

I just closed my eyes and let the darkness surround me. Until I found myself standing inside an unfamiliar palace.

Am I dreaming?

ɪɴ ᴛʜᴇ sɪᴅᴇ ᴏғ ᴛʜᴇ ᴘᴀʟᴀᴄᴇ ʜᴀʟʟ ᴛʜᴇʀᴇ sᴛᴏᴏᴅ, ᴛʜᴇ ᴄʀᴏᴡɴ ᴘʀɪɴᴄᴇ ᴄʟʏᴅᴇᴜʀ ᴀᴜʀᴜᴍ xɪ ᴠᴇʀᴍɪʟʟɪᴏɴ. ᴀs ᴀ 16 ʏᴇᴀʀ ᴏʟᴅ, ʜᴇ ɴᴇᴠᴇʀ ʜᴀᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ᴄʜᴀɴᴄᴇ ᴛᴏ ʜᴀᴠᴇ ʜɪs ғɪʀsᴛ ᴅᴀɴᴄᴇ. ɪɴsᴛᴇᴀᴅ, ᴛʜᴇ sᴘᴏᴛʟɪɢʜᴛ ᴡᴀs ɢɪᴠᴇɴ ᴛᴏ ʜɪs ᴛᴡɪɴ ʙʀᴏᴛʜᴇʀ, ᴋʟʏᴅᴇᴜʀ ᴀᴜʀᴀʀɪᴜs xɪ ᴠᴇʀᴍɪʟʟɪᴏɴ.

ᴀs ʜɪs ғɪʀsᴛ ᴅᴀɴᴄᴇ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴘʀɪɴᴄᴇss ᴀsʜʟᴇʏ ғʟᴏʀɪᴅᴀ ɪs ғɪɴɪsʜᴇᴅ, ᴛʜᴇ ᴏᴛʜᴇʀ ᴄᴏᴜᴘʟᴇs ᴊᴏɪɴᴇᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ᴅᴀɴᴄᴇ ᴀs ᴡᴇʟʟ.

ᴏɴᴇ ᴏғ ᴛʜᴇᴍ ɪs ᴛʜᴇ ʟᴀᴅʏ ᴡʜᴏᴍ ᴍᴀᴅᴇ ᴄʟʏᴅᴇᴜʀ's ʜᴇᴀʀᴛ ʙᴇᴀᴛ ғᴀsᴛᴇʀ.

ʟᴀᴅʏ ᴍɪᴀ, ᴡɪᴛʜ ʜᴇʀ ʟᴏɴɢ ᴄʜᴇʀʀʏ ʙʟᴏɴᴅᴇ ʜᴀɪʀ ᴄᴜʀʟᴇᴅ ᴅᴏᴡɴ, ᴡᴇᴀʀɪɴɢ ᴀɴ ᴇʟᴇɢᴀɴᴛ ʀᴇᴅ ᴅʀᴇss ᴛʜᴀᴛ sᴜɪᴛs ʜᴇʀ ᴡʜɪᴛᴇ sᴋɪɴ, ᴡɪᴛʜ ʜᴇʀ ʙʀɪɢʜᴛᴇsᴛ sᴍɪʟᴇ sʜɪɴɪɴɢ ᴀᴍᴏɴɢ ᴛʜᴇ ᴄʀᴏᴡᴅ.

ᴄʟʏᴅᴇᴜʀ ʜᴀᴅ ᴇᴠᴇʀ ᴅʀᴇᴀᴍᴇᴅ ᴏғ ʜᴀᴠɪɴɢ ʜᴇʀ ᴀs ʜɪs ғɪʀsᴛ ᴅᴀɴᴄᴇ.

ᴛᴏᴏ ʙᴀᴅ, ғᴀᴛᴇ ɪs ᴀᴛ ᴘʟᴀʏ.

ᴛʜᴇ ᴏɴᴇ ᴡʜᴏ ᴇsᴄᴏʀᴛᴇᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ʟᴀᴅʏ ᴏғ ʜɪs ᴅʀᴇᴀᴍs ɪs ᴛʜᴇ ᴄʀᴏᴡɴ ᴘʀɪɴᴄᴇ ғʀᴏᴍ ᴀ ɴᴇɪɢʜʙᴏʀɪɴɢ ᴄᴏᴜɴᴛʀʏ, ᴘʀɪɴᴄᴇ ᴀᴇᴛʜᴇʀ ᴅᴇ ᴀʟᴏɴᴀ ᴀɢᴜɪɴᴄɪɪ.

ᴊᴜsᴛ ʙʏ ᴍᴇʀᴇʟʏ ᴡᴀᴛᴄʜɪɴɢ, ʟᴀᴅʏ ᴍɪᴀ ᴀɴᴅ ᴘʀɪɴᴄᴇ ᴀᴇᴛʜᴇʀ ʟᴏᴏᴋᴇᴅ ʟɪᴋᴇ ᴀ ᴘᴇʀғᴇᴄᴛ ᴄᴏᴜᴘʟᴇ. ᴄʟʏᴅᴇᴜʀ ᴡᴀs ᴊᴜsᴛ sᴛᴀʀɪɴɢ ᴀᴛ ᴛʜᴇᴍ ʙʟᴀɴᴋʟʏ, ᴀʟʟ ᴀʟᴏɴᴇ ᴏɴ ᴛʜᴇ sɪᴅᴇ, ɪɢɴᴏʀᴇᴅ ʙʏ ᴏᴛʜᴇʀ ɴᴏʙʟᴇs ᴀɴᴅ ʙʏ ʜɪs ᴏᴡɴ ғᴀᴍɪʟʏ ᴀs ᴡᴇʟʟ.

ᴡʜᴀᴛ ᴄᴀɴ ʏᴏᴜ ᴇxᴘᴇᴄᴛ? ᴄʟʏᴅᴇᴜʀ ᴡᴀs ɴᴇᴠᴇʀ ᴇᴀɢᴇʀ ᴛᴏ ᴅᴏ ᴀɴʏᴛʜɪɴɢ ᴊᴜsᴛ ᴛᴏ ᴇᴀʀɴ ʟᴏᴠᴇ. ᴇɪᴛʜᴇʀ ғʀᴏᴍ ʜɪs ᴍᴏᴛʜᴇʀ ᴀɴᴅ ᴛᴏ ᴛʜᴇ ʟᴀᴅʏ ᴏғ ʜɪs ʜᴇᴀʀᴛ.

"ᴏʜ ᴍʏ, ʟᴏᴏᴋ ᴀᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ᴄʀᴏᴡɴ ᴘʀɪɴᴄᴇ ᴏᴠᴇʀ ᴛʜᴇʀᴇ."

"ʏᴏᴜ ᴍᴇᴀɴ ᴘʀɪɴᴄᴇ ᴄʟʏᴅᴇᴜʀ?"

"ʜᴇ ᴅɪᴅɴ'ᴛ ʜᴀᴠᴇ ᴛʜᴇ ᴄʜᴀɴᴄᴇ ᴛᴏ ғɪɴᴅ ᴀ ʟᴀᴅʏ ᴛᴏ ᴅᴀɴᴄᴇ ᴡɪᴛʜ ʜɪs ғɪʀsᴛ ᴅᴀɴᴄᴇ, ᴅɪᴅ ʜᴇ?"

"ᴡʜᴀᴛ ᴀ ᴘɪᴛʏ."

ᴛʜᴇ sɪɢʜᴛ ɪs ɪɴᴅᴇᴇᴅ ᴀ ᴘɪᴛʏ. ᴄʟʏᴅᴇᴜʀ ᴄᴀɴ ʜᴇᴀʀ ᴛʜᴇᴍ ᴀʟʟ. ʙᴇ ɪᴛ ᴛʜᴇᴍ ᴡʜɪsᴘᴇʀɪɴɢ ɪɴ ᴀ ᴠᴇʀʏ ʟᴏᴡ ᴠᴏɪᴄᴇ, ʏᴇᴛ ɪᴛ ʀᴇᴀᴄʜᴇᴅ ʜɪs ᴇᴀʀs. sᴛɪʟʟ, ʜᴇ ᴋᴇᴘᴛ ᴀ sᴛʀᴀɪɢʜᴛ ᴀɴᴅ ʙʟᴀɴᴋ ᴇxᴘʀᴇssɪᴏɴ.

ʟᴇᴀɴɪɴɢ ᴏɴ ᴛʜᴇ ᴡᴀʟʟ, ʜᴇ ᴡᴀᴛᴄʜᴇᴅ ʟᴀᴅʏ ᴍɪᴀ ғᴏʀ ᴛʜᴇ ʟᴀsᴛ ᴛɪᴍᴇ. ʜᴇʀ sᴍɪʟᴇ, ʜᴇʀ ɢᴇɴᴛʟᴇ ᴠᴏɪᴄᴇ, ʜᴇʀ ɢʀᴀᴄᴇs, ʜᴇʀ ʙᴇᴀᴜᴛʏ, ʜᴇʀ ᴇᴠᴇʀʏᴛʜɪɴɢ. ᴄʟᴏsɪɴɢ ʜɪs ᴇʏᴇs, ʜᴇ ᴛᴇᴀʀᴇᴅ ʜɪs ɢᴀᴢᴇ ᴀᴡᴀʏ ғʀᴏᴍ ʜᴇʀ-

"ʏᴏᴜ'ʀᴇ ᴀ ᴘɪᴛʏ, ʏᴀ ᴋɴᴏᴡ?"

ᴄʟʏᴅᴇᴜʀ, ᴡʜᴏsᴇ ᴀ ʙɪᴛ sᴛᴀʀᴛʟᴇᴅ ᴀᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ᴠᴏɪᴄᴇ ʙᴇsɪᴅᴇ ʜɪᴍ, ɢʟᴀɴᴄᴇᴅ ᴀᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ɢɪʀʟ ᴀʀᴏᴜɴᴅ ʜɪs ᴀɢᴇ. ʜᴇʀ ᴘᴜʀᴘʟᴇ ʜᴀɪʀ.. ɪᴛ ᴡᴀs ғᴀᴍɪʟɪᴀʀ. ᴛʜᴏsᴇ ɢᴏʟᴅᴇɴ ᴇʏᴇs ᴡʜɪᴄʜ sᴏᴍᴇᴛɪᴍᴇs sʜᴏᴡᴇᴅ ʙᴏʀᴇᴅᴏᴍ, ᴀɴɴᴏʏᴀɴᴄᴇ ᴀɴᴅ ʟɪᴛᴛʟᴇ ᴇᴍᴏᴛɪᴏɴs ᴏɴ ɪᴛ sʜᴏɴᴇ ʙʀɪɢʜᴛᴇʀ ᴛʜᴀɴ ᴛʜᴇ ᴄʜᴀɴᴅᴇʟɪᴇʀ.

"ʟᴇᴀᴠᴇ ᴍᴇ ᴀʟᴏɴᴇ." ʜᴇ ᴍɪɴᴅʟᴇssʟʏ ʙʟᴜʀᴛᴇᴅ ᴏᴜᴛ ʙᴇғᴏʀᴇ ʟᴏᴏᴋɪɴɢ ᴀᴡᴀʏ. ʜᴇ ɪsɴ'ᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ᴛʏᴘᴇ ᴏғ ᴘᴇʀsᴏɴ ᴡʜᴏsᴇ ɢᴏᴏᴅ ɪɴ ᴇɴᴛᴇʀᴛᴀɪɴɪɴɢ ᴏᴛʜᴇʀs ɪɴ ᴀ ᴄᴏɴᴠᴇʀsᴀᴛɪᴏɴ. ᴀ ᴄᴏᴍᴘʟᴇᴛᴇ ᴏᴘᴘᴏsɪᴛᴇ ғʀᴏᴍ ʜɪs ᴛᴡɪɴ ʙʀᴏᴛʜᴇʀ.

ᴛʜᴇ ɢɪʀʟ ᴄʜᴜᴄᴋʟᴇᴅ ᴀs sʜᴇ ɢᴀᴠᴇ ʜɪᴍ ᴀ sɪʟʟʏ ɢʀɪɴ. "ʏᴏᴜ sᴛɪʟʟ ʜᴀᴠᴇɴ'ᴛ ᴅᴀɴᴄᴇᴅ ғᴏʀ ʏᴏᴜʀ ғɪʀsᴛ ᴅᴀɴᴄᴇ ʀɪɢʜᴛ?"

ᴄʟʏᴅᴇᴜʀ ᴅɪᴅɴ'ᴛ ʀᴇsᴘᴏɴᴅ. ᴛʜᴇ ɢɪʀʟ ʀᴏʟʟᴇᴅ ʜᴇʀ ᴇʏᴇs ᴀs sʜᴇ ᴘᴜʟʟᴇᴅ ʜɪᴍ ɪɴ ᴛʜᴇ ᴡʀɪsᴛ, ᴡʜɪᴄʜ ᴍᴀᴅᴇ ʜɪᴍ ғʟɪɴᴄʜ ᴀɴᴅ sʟᴀᴘ ʜᴇʀ ʜᴀɴᴅ ᴀᴡᴀʏ.

"ʏᴏᴜ.." ᴄʟʏᴅᴇᴜʀ ᴡᴀs ᴀʙᴏᴜᴛ ᴛᴏ sᴀʏ sᴏᴍᴇᴛʜɪɴɢ ᴇʟsᴇ, ʙᴜᴛ ᴄʜᴏsᴇ ᴛᴏ sʜᴜᴛ ʜɪs ᴍᴏᴜᴛʜ.

"ᴀʜ, ᴡʜᴀᴛ ɪs ᴡʀᴏɴɢ ᴡɪᴛʜ ʏᴏᴜ?" ᴛʜᴇ ɢɪʀʟ sᴏᴜɴᴅᴇᴅ ɪʀʀɪᴛᴀᴛᴇᴅ, ʜᴇʀ ɢᴏʟᴅᴇɴ ᴇʏᴇs sʜᴏᴡᴇᴅ ᴀɴɴᴏʏᴀɴᴄᴇ ᴏɴ ɪᴛ ᴀs sʜᴇ sᴄʀᴀᴛᴄʜᴇᴅ ʜᴇʀ ɴᴀᴘᴇ. "ʏᴏᴜ'ʀᴇ ᴀʟᴡᴀʏs sϙᴜᴀʀᴇᴅ ᴜᴘ ɪɴ ᴏɴᴇ ᴘʟᴀᴄᴇ. ᴇɪᴛʜᴇʀ ʜᴇʀᴇ ɪɴ ᴛʜᴇ sɪᴅᴇ ᴏʀ ɪɴ ʏᴏᴜʀ ʀᴏᴏᴍ, ᴀʟʟ ʟᴏᴄᴋᴇᴅ ᴜᴘ ᴀɴᴅ ᴀᴡᴀʏ ᴛᴏ ᴛʜᴇ ᴡᴏʀʟᴅ."

ᴀs ᴀʟᴡᴀʏs, ʜᴇ ᴅɪᴅɴ'ᴛ ʀᴇsᴘᴏɴᴅ. ʜᴇ ᴊᴜsᴛ ʟᴏᴏᴋᴇᴅ ᴀᴡᴀʏ ᴀɴᴅ ʜɪs ɢᴀᴢᴇ ᴜɴᴄᴏɴsᴄɪᴏᴜsʟʏ ʟᴀɴᴅᴇᴅ ᴏɴ ʟᴀᴅʏ ᴍɪᴀ ᴀɴᴅ ᴘʀɪɴᴄᴇ ᴀᴇᴛʜᴇʀ. ʜᴇ sᴜᴅᴅᴇɴʟʏ ғᴇʟᴛ ʜɪs ʜᴇᴀʀᴛ ᴛʜʀᴏʙ.

ᴛʜᴇ ɢɪʀʟ ɴᴏᴛɪᴄᴇᴅ ᴛʜɪs ᴀɴᴅ ᴄʀᴏssᴇᴅ ʜᴇʀ ᴀʀᴍs. "ɪ'ʟʟ ᴠᴏʟᴜɴᴛᴇᴇʀ."

ᴄʟʏᴅᴇᴜʀ ʟᴏᴏᴋᴇᴅ ᴀᴛ ʜᴇʀ, ᴄᴏɴғᴜsɪᴏɴ ᴇᴠɪᴅᴇɴᴛ ᴏɴ ʜɪs ғᴀᴄᴇ. "ᴡʜᴀᴛ?"

"ᴛᴏ ʙᴇ ʏᴏᴜʀ ᴘᴀʀᴛɴᴇʀ ɪɴ ʏᴏᴜʀ ғɪʀsᴛ ᴅᴀɴᴄᴇ, ᴡʜᴀᴛ ᴇʟsᴇ?" sʜᴇ ʟᴏᴏᴋᴇᴅ ᴜᴘ ᴀᴛ ʜɪᴍ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴀ ɢʀɪɴ. "ᴅᴏɴ'ᴛ ʏᴏᴜ ᴅᴀʀᴇ sᴀʏ ɴᴏ, ʏᴏᴜʀ ʜɪɢʜɴᴇss." ᴘᴜʟʟɪɴɢ ʜɪᴍ ᴡɪᴛʜ ʜᴇʀ, ᴛʜᴇʏ ᴀʀᴇ ʟᴇғᴛ sᴛᴀɴᴅɪɴɢ ɪɴ ᴛʜᴇ ᴍɪᴅᴅʟᴇ. ᴏᴛʜᴇʀ ᴄᴏᴜᴘʟᴇs ɢʟᴀɴᴄᴇᴅ ᴀᴛ ᴛʜᴇᴍ, ʙᴜᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ɢɪʀʟ ᴘᴀɪᴅ ɴᴏ ᴍɪɴᴅ.

ᴀs sᴏᴏɴ ᴀs ᴛʜᴇʏ ʙᴏᴡᴇᴅ ᴀᴛ ᴇᴀᴄʜ ᴏᴛʜᴇʀs, ᴛʜᴇʏ sᴛᴀʀᴛᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ᴅᴀɴᴄᴇ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴛʜᴇ ʀʏᴛʜʏᴍ ᴏғ ᴛʜᴇ ᴍᴜsɪᴄ. ᴡɪᴛʜ ʜᴇʀ ʜᴀɴᴅ ᴏɴ ʜɪs sʜᴏᴜʟᴅᴇʀ ᴀɴᴅ ʜɪs ʜᴀɴᴅ ᴏɴ ʜᴇʀ ᴡᴀɪsᴛ, ᴛʜᴇɪʀ ᴏᴛʜᴇʀ ʜᴀɴᴅ ᴀʀᴇ ʜᴏʟᴅɪɴɢ ᴇᴀᴄʜ ᴏᴛʜᴇʀs. "ɪᴛ sᴇᴇᴍs ᴛʜᴇ ᴘʀɪɴᴄᴇ ɪs ᴀɴ ɪɴᴛʀᴏᴠᴇʀᴛ."

ᴄʟʏᴅᴇᴜʀ, ᴀs ʜᴇ ʀᴇᴀʟʟʏ ɪs, ᴅɪᴅɴ'ᴛ ʀᴇsᴘᴏɴᴅ ᴀɢᴀɪɴ. ʙᴜᴛ sᴜʀᴘʀɪsɪɴɢʟʏ, ʜɪs ʟɪᴘs ᴘᴀʀᴛᴇᴅ ᴏᴘᴇɴ ᴀɴᴅ ᴀsᴋᴇᴅ. "ᴅᴏɴ'ᴛ ʏᴏᴜ ᴛʜɪɴᴋ ɪᴛ's ᴜɴғᴀɪʀ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ʏᴏᴜ ᴋɴᴏᴡ ᴍʏ ɴᴀᴍᴇ ʏᴇᴛ ɪ ᴅᴏɴ'ᴛ ᴋɴᴏᴡ ʏᴏᴜʀs?"

"ʜᴍ," ᴛʜᴇ ɢɪʀʟ ᴀᴄᴛᴇᴅ ʟɪᴋᴇ sʜᴇ's ɪɴ ᴅᴇᴇᴘ ᴛʜᴏᴜɢʜᴛs, ʙᴇғᴏʀᴇ ɢɪᴠɪɴɢ ʜɪᴍ ᴀ ᴘʟᴀʏғᴜʟ ɢʀɪɴ. "ᴡʜʏ ɴᴏᴛ ɢᴜᴇss ᴍʏ ɴᴀᴍᴇ ᴛʜᴇɴ?"

ʜᴇ ʀᴀɪsᴇᴅ ᴀɴ ᴇʏᴇʙʀᴏᴡ ᴀᴛ ʜᴇʀ. "ᴡʜʏ sᴘᴇᴀᴋ ᴛᴏ ᴍᴇ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴡᴀʏ?"

ɪɴsᴛᴇᴀᴅ ᴏғ ɢᴇᴛᴛɪɴɢ ɪɴᴛɪᴍɪᴅᴀᴛᴇᴅ ʟɪᴋᴇ ᴀɴʏ ᴏᴛʜᴇʀ, ᴛʜᴇ ɢɪʀʟ ᴊᴜsᴛ ᴄʜᴜᴄᴋʟᴇᴅ ᴀᴛ ʜɪᴍ. ᴛʜɪs ʀᴇᴍɪɴᴅᴇᴅ ʜɪᴍ ᴏғ ʟᴀᴅʏ ᴍɪᴀ, ᴡʜᴏ ᴀʟsᴏ ɪsɴ'ᴛ sᴄᴀʀᴇᴅ ᴏғ ʜɪᴍ. "ᴡʜʏ ɴᴏᴛ ɢɪᴠᴇ ᴍᴇ ᴀ ɴᴀᴍᴇ ʏᴏᴜ ᴡᴀɴᴛ ᴛᴏ ᴄᴀʟʟ ᴍᴇ?"

"ᴀ ɴᴀᴍᴇ ɪ ᴡᴀɴᴛ.. ᴛᴏ ᴄᴀʟʟ ʏᴏᴜ?"

ᴛʜᴇ ɢɪʀʟ ɴᴏᴅᴅᴇᴅ. "ʏᴇs, ʏᴇs. ᴀs ʟᴏɴɢ ᴀs ɪᴛ ɪs ʙᴇᴀʀᴀʙʟᴇ, ᴛʜᴇɴ ɪ'ʟʟ ɢʟᴀᴅʟʏ ᴀᴄᴄᴇᴘᴛ ɪᴛ."

ᴄʟʏᴅᴇᴜʀ, ᴡʜᴏsᴇ ᴀᴛᴛᴇɴᴛɪᴏɴ ᴡᴀs sᴏᴍᴇᴡʜᴇʀᴇ ᴇʟsᴇ, ғɪɴᴀʟʟʏ ʟᴏᴏᴋᴇᴅ ᴀᴛ ʜᴇʀ ᴀɢᴀɪɴ. sʜᴇ ᴡᴀs ᴡᴀɪᴛɪɴɢ ғᴏʀ ʜɪs ᴀɴsᴡᴇʀ. ʜᴇ ʙʟɪɴᴋᴇᴅ ʜɪs ᴇʏᴇs ᴀs ʜᴇ ᴛᴡɪʀʟᴇᴅ ʜᴇʀ. "ᴡᴇʟʟ ᴛʜᴇɴ, ʟᴀᴅʏ ᴀᴛʜᴀʟɪᴀ."

ᴛʜᴇ ɢɪʀʟ sᴍɪʟᴇᴅ. "ʟᴀᴅʏ ᴀᴛʜᴀʟɪᴀ ɪᴛ ɪs." ᴛʜᴇʏ ᴄᴏɴᴛɪɴᴜᴇᴅ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴛʜᴇ ᴅᴀɴᴄᴇ ᴀs ᴛʜᴇ ᴏᴛʜᴇʀ ᴄᴏᴜᴘʟᴇs sᴛᴏᴘᴘᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ᴡᴀᴛᴄʜ ᴛʜᴇᴍ ʙᴏᴛʜ.

ғᴏʀ ᴀ ᴍᴏᴍᴇɴᴛ, ʟᴀᴅʏ ᴍɪᴀ ᴀʟsᴏ ᴡᴀᴛᴄʜᴇᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ᴛᴡᴏ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴘʀɪɴᴄᴇ ᴀᴇᴛʜᴇʀ sᴍɪʟɪɴɢ ᴀᴛ ᴛʜᴇᴍ.

ᴋʟʏᴅᴇᴜʀ ᴀʟsᴏ sᴛᴀʀᴇᴅ ᴀᴛ ʜɪs ʙʀᴏᴛʜᴇʀ, ᴡʜᴏ ᴍɪʀᴀᴄᴜʟᴏᴜsʟʏ, sᴍɪʟᴇᴅ ɢᴇɴᴜɪɴᴇʟʏ.

"ᴏʜ ᴡᴏᴡ," ᴛʜᴇ ɢɪʀʟ, ʟᴀᴅʏ ᴀᴛʜᴀʟɪᴀ, ʙʟᴜʀᴛᴇᴅ ᴏᴜᴛ ɪɴ sᴜʀᴘʀɪsᴇ. "ᴅɪᴅ ʏᴏᴜ ᴊᴜsᴛ sᴍɪʟᴇ?"

ᴄʟʏᴅᴇᴜʀ ʟᴏᴏᴋᴇᴅ ᴀᴡᴀʏ ᴀɴᴅ ᴅɪᴅɴ'ᴛ ʀᴇsᴘᴏɴᴅ, ᴇᴀʀɴɪɴɢ ᴀ ɢʀɪɴ ғʀᴏᴍ ʜᴇʀ. "ɪ'ʟʟ ᴊᴜsᴛ ʙᴇʟɪᴇᴠᴇ ɪ ᴅɪᴅ sᴇᴇ ʏᴏᴜ sᴍɪʟᴇ."

ɪɴ ᴛʜᴇ sɪɢʜᴛ ᴏғ ᴏᴛʜᴇʀs, ᴛʜᴇʏ ʟᴏᴏᴋᴇᴅ ᴍᴀʀᴠᴇʟᴏᴜs. ᴡɪᴛʜ ʜᴇʀ ʟᴏɴɢ sᴛʀᴀɪɢʜᴛ ʟɪɢʜᴛ ᴘᴜʀᴘʟᴇ ʜᴀɪʀ ᴅᴀᴢᴢʟɪɴɢ, ʜᴇʀ ɢᴏʟᴅᴇɴ ᴇʏᴇs sʜɪɴɪɴɢ ʙʀɪɢʜᴛᴇʀ ᴛʜᴀɴ ᴛʜᴇɪʀ ғᴜᴛᴜʀᴇ, ʜᴇʀ ɢᴏʟᴅᴇɴ ᴅʀᴇss ᴛʜᴀᴛ sᴡᴀʏᴇᴅ ᴇᴠᴇʀʏᴛɪᴍᴇ sʜᴇ's ᴛᴡɪʀʟᴇᴅ, ᴀɴᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ᴀᴄᴄᴇssᴏʀɪᴇs ᴛʜᴀᴛ sᴜɪᴛᴇᴅ ʜᴇʀ ᴘᴇʀғᴇᴄᴛʟʏ ᴡᴇʟʟ.

ᴀɴᴅ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴛʜᴇ ᴘʀɪɴᴄᴇ ᴅᴀɴᴄɪɴɢ ᴀs ᴡᴇʟʟ, ʜɪs ᴀᴘᴘᴇᴀʀᴀɴᴄᴇ sᴛᴀɴᴅs ᴛʜᴇ ᴍᴏsᴛ ᴀs ᴡᴇʟʟ. ʟᴏᴏᴋɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴇsᴀᴍᴇ ᴀs ᴋʟʏᴅᴇᴜʀ, ʏᴇᴛ ʜɪs ʙʟᴀᴄᴋ ʜᴀɪʀ ᴡᴀs ᴍᴏʀᴇ ɢᴏᴏᴅ ʟᴏᴏᴋɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴀɴ ɪᴛ sᴇᴇᴍs ʙᴇғᴏʀᴇ. ʜɪs sɪʟᴠᴇʀ ᴇʏᴇs ɢʟᴏᴡᴇᴅ ᴛᴏɢᴇᴛʜᴇʀ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴛʜᴇ ᴅᴀᴢᴢʟɪɴɢ ɢᴏʟᴅᴇɴ ʟɪɢʜᴛ ғʀᴏᴍ ᴇɪᴛʜᴇʀ ʟᴀᴅʏ ᴀᴛʜᴀʟɪᴀ's ᴇʏᴇs ᴏʀ ᴛʜᴇ ᴄʜᴀɴᴅᴇʟɪᴇʀ.

"ᴛʜᴇʏ ʟᴏᴏᴋ ᴘᴇʀғᴇᴄᴛ."

"ᴏʜ ᴍʏ, ᴛʜᴇ ᴄʀᴏᴡɴ ᴘʀɪɴᴄᴇ ғɪɴᴀʟʟʏ ʜᴀᴅ ʜɪs ғɪʀsᴛ ᴅᴀɴᴄᴇ!"

"ᴡʜᴏ ɪs sʜᴇ? sʜᴇ's ᴘʀᴇᴛᴛʏ."

ᴀs ᴛʜᴇ ᴏᴛʜᴇʀ ɴᴏʙʟᴇs ᴡʜɪsᴘᴇʀᴇᴅ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴇᴀᴄʜ ᴏᴛʜᴇʀs, ᴋʟʏᴅᴇᴜʀ ᴄᴀɴ ᴏɴʟʏ ɢʟᴀɴᴄᴇ ᴀᴛ ᴛʜᴇᴍ ɪɴ ᴡʜɪᴄʜ ᴍᴀᴅᴇ ᴛʜᴇᴍ sᴛᴏᴘ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴛʜᴇɪʀ ᴄʜᴀᴛ. ᴛʜᴇ ᴘʀɪɴᴄᴇ sɪɢʜᴇᴅ ᴀs ʜᴇ ɢʟᴀɴᴄᴇᴅ ᴛᴏᴡᴀʀᴅs ᴛʜᴇ ᴅɪʀᴇᴄᴛɪᴏɴ ᴏғ ᴛʜᴇ ᴇᴍᴘʀᴇss ᴡʜᴏsᴇ sɪᴛᴛɪɴɢ ᴏɴ ᴛʜᴇ ʜɪɢʜ ᴛʜʀᴏɴᴇ.

ʜᴇʀ ʟᴏɴɢ ʜᴀɪʀ ᴡʜɪᴄʜ ɪs ᴀᴄᴄᴏᴍᴘᴀɴɪᴇᴅ ʙʏ ᴀᴄᴄᴇssᴏʀɪᴇs ɪɴ ᴡʜɪᴄʜ sʜᴇ ᴅᴏᴇsɴ'ᴛ ʙᴏᴛʜᴇʀ ᴛᴏ ᴄᴏᴍᴘʟᴀɪɴ ᴀʙᴏᴜᴛ, ʜᴇʀ ᴇʟᴇɢᴀɴᴛ ɢᴏᴡɴ, ᴀɴᴅ ʜᴇʀ sɪʟᴠᴇʀ ᴇʏᴇs ɢʟᴏᴡᴇᴅ ᴀs sʜᴇ ᴡᴀᴛᴄʜᴇᴅ ʜᴇʀ ᴇʟᴅᴇsᴛ sᴏɴ.

ɪᴛ ᴡᴀs ᴀʟsᴏ ʜᴇʀ ғɪʀsᴛ ᴛɪᴍᴇ ᴛᴏ sᴇᴇ ʜɪᴍ sᴍɪʟᴇ. ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴛʜɪs, ᴇᴍᴘʀᴇss ᴀᴜʀᴇᴜs ʟɪʟɪᴛʜ xɪ ᴠᴇʀᴍɪʟɪᴏɴ's ʟɪᴘs ᴜɴᴄᴏɴsᴄɪᴏᴜsʟʏ ᴛᴜɢɢᴇᴅ ᴜᴘᴡᴀʀᴅ.