Caspian walked up to me and gave me his hand and asked, "A dance my lady?"

"Where the hell is Silas?" I asked as I took his hand.

"Ah, no questions until we are dancing" he replied with a sly smile.

"I have a bad feeling about this," I said to Caspian as I took his hand.

"Too late now", he replied getting into a dancing position with one hand around my waist and the other intertwined with my hand.

Shivers flew down my spine as I put my hand on his shoulder and brushed my thumb on his neck, teasing him.

"You know, it's too bad we didn't get to finish that kiss on the balcony earlier. If I recall correctly, you leaned into me." Caspian said with a smirk, his eyes darkening.

The music started to play, and I was pulled out of my daze.

I let out an audible gasp as I hear the music. It sounded magical as Caspian started to dance with me around the ballroom's circle.

"Having fun Princess?" Caspian asked as he looked down at me with dare I say a smile.

"So, where's Silas?" I asked him to ignore his previous question.

"I explained to him the real conflict between the North and the South. At first, he refused to believe it and said I was mad. Then I showed him the facts. The lies that his father was telling him don't add up. The money that was needed for the armory was enormously bigger than it should've been. And then there was the deal with your mother and father. I didn't tell him about your... situation but, I think you need to tell him." Caspian said with a worried face. "But now he is sitting in your bedroom chambers soaking it all in. He needs some time, Aloia"

"I know," I said, putting my hand to his cheek. "But don't worry about that right now. Let's just focus on the moment and not worry about something for the first time in this damn castle."

He nuzzled his face into my hand and closed his eyes. I smiled to myself thinking about how cute this grown man is craving for the simplest affections of love.

I jerked my hand away realizing I was giving in to my feelings for him.

"Right um, shall we give the people a show?" I asked Caspian with a smile trying to change the subject. "After all we did practice for such a long time."

"Of course, but this time every time you step on my foot now, you owe me a kiss," Caspian said with a wink.

I stumbled on my footing from the shock of his words and stepped a bit on his front toes. I quickly stepped back praying he didn't feel it.

"Now that's one kiss you owe me and since you hurt me oh so hard," he said with a large smile "I expect tongue".

I leaned in on his cheek as if I was about to kiss him, but instead whispered into his ear, "Keep dreaming" and pulled back with a laugh.

"You play dirty", he said with a growling as he picked me up and spun me around.

I let out a giggle, finally, I felt carefree. Dancing with Caspian made me feel this way and only Caspian. He spun me around the ballroom, and I matched his pace. I laughed and smiled looking at his face and he did the same. The people around us faded into darkness. All that was left was Caspian and the music. All I could see was him, his smile, his eyes, his lips.

Caspian lifted me into the air as the music ended and slowly put me back on the ground. Our foreheads and noses were touching, and I could smell his scent of mint and mahogany.

"I believe you still owe me a kiss", Caspian whispered.

"I do", I replied with a smile "I recall something about 'I expect tongue' in it as well?"

"Constantly teasing me Aloia, I'll teach you a lesson to keep your promises" Caspian purred and leaned in.

All of a sudden, an arrow whizzed past me, and a scream erupted in the ballroom. The people that I had just forgotten about came rushing back and Michael was dead with an arrow through his heart. People rushed out from the ballroom, women clutching their hearts nearly fainting at the sight of blood.

Caspian and I turned to look for Lorenzo and I spotted him in a black bandana at the entrance on the ball.

We locked eyes and he gave us a slight nod, letting us know that Weylin was safe and out of the North.

"Now, where were we?" Caspian said turning around and smiling at me.

I slapped his arm and scolded "Read the damn room".

He let out a laugh but out the corner of my eye, I saw a man start to approach us.

"Caspian you are supposed to be with the prince right now, people will get suspicious", I said trying to push Caspian out of the way. If I was to get in trouble Caspian wasn't going to be involved with it.

"So eager to get rid of me Princess. You wound me" he said, putting his hand to his heart dramatically.

I gave him an 'I am not joking' look, and he replied with "Alright, alright" as he walked away.

As soon as he walked away, I was met with the King of Alynthi, Silas' father, Ares.

"Your highness", I said with a bow gritting my teeth. This man is the reason I couldn't be raised by my real father. This man is the reason my father's life is in danger. This man is the reason hundreds of thousands of lives were ruined.

"You are my son's mate, are you not?" Ares asked, eyeing me up and down as if I am something to eat.

"I am", I replied, casting the clock behind him. I was not dumb enough to look the king in the face, but I was not cowardly enough to look at the floor. I will not shy away from him.

"You know I heard something peculiar," Ares said circling me, looking at every corner of me. I felt naked although I was fully clothed. "You were the last person to be seen with Michael, the dead boy, and you were private with him on the balcony. A mask was found underneath the balcony as well. You wouldn't know anything about that would you?"

"With all due respect sir, many people were on the balcony this evening, Michael and I were only ones of a few. We did not even take our masks off, for we just had a pleasant talk." I answered Ares with a strong solid voice, I will not be caught in this situation. My time here in the castle was not finished yet. "Why, sir, do you believe I had something to do with the death of Michael?" I asked, putting a hand to my heart acting offended.

"Of course not, Miss. A... delicate lady such as yourself would never be able to do such a thing" Ares replied. He had tried to offend me with the word delicate because of my revealing dress but I couldn't care less. He could shove his opinion up his ass.

"If I am not mistaken, he was killed with an arrow with Alynthi's royal crest," I remarked. "But I am sure an assassin just tries to set our kingdom up."

"Behave yourself, miss and be careful with your actions in the future," Ares said. He leaned into my ear and whispered, "You never know who is watching".

I froze making sure my face showed no emotion as the king walked away from me and bid me a good night.

As soon as the king left the ball, I let go of a breath I did not know I was holding. I needed to speak with Silas and Caspian, now.

I ran to my room taking off my high heels as I got closer to my room. I threw open the door and saw Silas sitting on my bed looking up at me with wide eyes.

"Oh, sorry Silas I didn't know you were still here", I said as I slowly walked into the room and gently closed that door. I sat down on the bed next to Silas and leaned my head on his shoulder. "How are you taking the news?" I asked him.

"I'm coming to terms with it. I mean it's the cold hard facts that my father is a tyrant, but you know, it's hard to see the man who raised you and taught you everything you know to be so cruel." Silas replied with a sigh and leaning his head on top of mine.

"Silas, Caspian didn't tell you the whole truth," I said lifting my head from his shoulder and turning to look at him. "My true father isn't the one you saw at the ball when I 'official' met you. My father is Weylin, king of the South."

Silas's mouth gaped open as he tried to come up with a response. "How...what...h-him?"

I let out a laugh, "My mother being a rebellious teen sunk off the South from the North, fell in love with him, got pregnant with me, but the conflict with the North and South was starting to happen. My mom moved back to the North and raised me here with my 'father'. I didn't find out about it until Caspian knocked me out cold in the garden that night when you thought I was sick. They tied me up to a chair and showed me my mom's letter about the conflict and that's how I got involved with the rebellion."

"Got it." He replied trying to soak it all in. "Wait I think I just got the most brilliant idea!" Silas exclaimed jumping up from the bed. "You are the princess of the South".

"Yes..." I replied confused.

"I am the prince of the North. Let's just get married and solve this thing for both our countries!" He exclaimed, smiling like a fool.