You do know that needles if put in right spot can make you sleep for hours. Don't ask me biological or technical or whatever reason because I was trained to use them. As soon as I reached the area for ball I had to use it on some princess and attack the carriage and all. The princess was left safely sleeping the carriage and I interchanged her clothes.

Anyway, she had a lot of layers, corset and all. I just put on the gown, let my hair down and thanked the gods because I took a bath else I would have looked like a girl rolled out of mud and blood. My whole body was sore with pain and it felt like I could breathe in that gown even though I am not a dresses kind of girl.

Under my dress was my boots which I refuse to leave. They were hidden unless I lift my gown and started hopping. I stood at the entrance till I saw Elias step down from a carriage followed by Norman and my mind clicked.

Norman will be my date. He will be close to his brother for the evening and I can be around as well. As Elias moved ahead I rubbed my palms against my lavender gown for some reason feeling nervous of playing a person without a mask.

"Prince Norman, it's finally good to meet you," I said as curtly as possible.

He frowned not sure who I was. I smiled pleasantly at him and saw him blink, his ears turning pink. I had to hold back a giggle on his love-struck reaction.

"I am Princess of Norgivia." Well, I did ask the girl before I put her to sleep.

"Oh, you are more beautiful than I have heard off." He said completely trying to flirt which looked funny.

"Can I be your date for the ball, I came here alone on my father's wishes." I tried to sound like the poor victim daughter.

His face lit up and he nodded offering me his arm.

I looped my arm into his arm succeeded in my mission. Now my eyes looked for Elias who was busy talking with some men. I relaxed since I knew that the mercenary was a girl. Like I expected, I was just an arm doll with Norman. Most people ignored me while some asked if I was to be married to Norman.

I kept my stance attack ready and my eyes on now dancing Elias.

"Let's dance," I asked in a really informal way.

Norman looked too happy to notice. He nodded and pulled me to the dance floor with some sleep- inducing was playing. I missed our time music. I danced in a way that we were close to Elias. He noticed Norman dancing with me and the first thing I noticed was his wink to his brother for getting lucky.

Boys!

And then he saw me and there was a look of surprise on his face. For a moment I thought he caught me somehow but he just looked away when his dance partner said something giving him the clichéd coy looks.

Norman talked about things like how was my kingdom and I had no damn idea so I just gave lame answers pretending to be the foolish spoilt princess.

"I have not asked your name." Norman realized and I was about to answer Arthur.

"I will tell you at the end of the night if I like you enough," I said with a hopefully seductive smile.

My pretended charms were unhealthy for cute Norman as he seemed at loss for words.

Suddenly I saw the girl with Elias pulling him away for some 'private' time I bet. My senses screamed trouble and I had to excuse myself from Norman.

"I need to have some water, I will meet you in a few moments." He nodded and let me go with a smile.

I followed the Prince discreetly. I kept my head down lest some high and mighty guy asked me who I was, I will be in grave trouble. I followed the girl's fake laughter as Elias muttered something. Just sway your hips and giggle and boy will follow you around like a fool.

Prince was a playboy. That was for sure. He just met the girl and he was already trying to get some action. Should I kick him as well when that girl is knocked off?

I followed them meticulously feeling weird since I have never worked this hard in my life for something. I peeped in the corridor they entered and they were busy kissing. I wanted to puke my guts but I held it in and kept my eyes on the something fishy.

Suddenly girl broke the kiss and pulled out her hair pin. Before I could think a solution I used my own dagger in my boat to shot at her hand. It hit her precisely making her yelp in pain. Elias looked shocked. The girl looked at me with hate and with an injured hand she charged with me. She was really fast and now with the drapes replaced with something more comfortable she flipped in the air like it was nothing.

It was difficult to even kick her once. I tried to use all the moves I have learned but she handled them well. She was well trained, flexible and good at her work. So I sent an eye signal to the prince to attack her with surprise as I kept her busy. So he just reacted quickly and picked up the nearest flower vase and while she busy dodging my attacks, he hit her head , hard.

For a moment she froze but her legs started to wobble with the hit she became dizzy. That was good enough for me as I used the needles to paralyze her. I blame my dress for my weird fighting today. With everything done, I pulled the Prince way who still seemed out of it.

We were soon in the crowd and it felt kind of safe now.

Norman was nowhere to be found so I just decided to leave the Prince and watch from some distance but as I was about to leave, he held on to my hand.

"Who are you?" He asked the feared question.

"Princess of..." I forgot the damn place.

"Norgivia." Norman added and smiled at his brother.

"Can I dance with her for a while? I have few questions." He asked Norman looking at me carefully.

Questions! Great.

His hand went around my waist and I bit back the wince because of the wound. Now as he looked at me intently and I felt really shy. We started swaying slowly to the music and every sense in my body was super alert.

"How did you know I was going to be attacked?" His first question came.

"I saw her talking to someone about killing a prince and since she was dancing with you I assumed it was you." I lied prepared for this question.

"You fought really well. What do you do?"

"I am a soldier in training."

"We don't have women soldier." Shit, I should have known before lying.

"My father is one and I see him practicing." I improvised.

He nodded in understanding and we kept swaying. All this while he looked at me, rather scrutinized me from head to toe.

"You seem nervous." He said it like a fact.

"I am fine. I have never been to such dances before."

"You are incredibly beautiful." He said it more like a thought to himself.

I decided to ignore his compliment since I was left speechless. My interaction with a handsome guy has been close to zero.

"There is something about your eyes that I couldn't put my finger on." He said still staring at me rather brazenly.

I blinked now really nervous.

"You are smooth talker then." I decided to sound offensive.

But he just chuckled making my heart beat faster.

"You are rude just like someone I know." He commented and I kept kicking myself mentally for another mistake.

He twirled me and this time he pulled me closer almost as if our noses will touch if I took one more step.

"Who is your partner for the dance, Norman?"

I nodded , my ability to talk gone now.

"I suddenly think I can marry now."

I scoffed at his fickleness, "You were kissing someone a moment ago. I think I will refuse the marriage proposal."

"You can't run away from me. I will find you if I want."

"I will take it as a challenge. You can't find me so easily." I stifled a laughter since I was Arthur for him.

"What is your name?"

"I don't think I will make the challenge easy for you." He smiled a sly smile and nodded.

His eyes found Norman and he nodded. Backing up a bit, he bent forward to plant a kiss on my check giving me a minor heart attack.

"I will find you then Princess because it is not daily a girl saves your life." He winked and walked away leaving me breathless.