"Isn't that the Princess?" I murmured unconsciously eyes darting to the brown haired stunning woman across us dancing with a tall, brown skinned man perhaps a decade senior than me.

Then Nikolai swung me causing me to peel my eyes off the princess and now Nikolai was facing them. I frowned at him. His demeanor just suddenly turned rigid, seemingly forgetting my existence already. Though it was fun watching him honestly, his posture turning stiff, stiffer than the wall.

And that pique my interest.

"You met her?" I inquired, but looking at him like an angry bull ready to charge at his prey any second established my assumption.

Nikolai seemed not hearing me. The hard lines of his face becoming prominent, and I stepped on his foot intentionally when he twirled me around, causing him to snapped his eyes at me, frowning.

I smiled at him too sweetly and he looked a little abashed.

"What were you saying?" he asked.

I rolled my eyes.

"She's gorgeous," I remarked and he stared at me again , frowning. If he's playing innocent, then he was doing a good job, but I know my brother's too well. And they are good at feigning innocence.

I raised one eyebrow and he shook his head.

"She doesn't want anything with me," he finally conceded, then his hard stare once again directed to the couple.

I just shook my head. "If you want something, work hard for it. It will be all worth it in the end," I quipped and he just nodded, without saying anything.

My eyes darted to the path my dad and Alex disappeared and saw my dad's tall frame at the refreshment area. I can see Alex's shoulder but the couple dancing, pirouetting blocked most part of him.

The music stopped and Nikolay escorted me back heading to the direction of Mom.

"No, let's go find Alex and Dad," I said and I detoured, hand tucked in Nikolai's inner elbow. His eyes longingly drifted over his shoulder towards the Princess' direction. I smiled when I caught her stared back at my brother but she hastily looked away when she was caught gazing at him.

"I think I can manage it from here," I said as I pulled my hand away and dropped it to my side. "Go and dance with her," I cajoled, and Nikolai shook his head.

I widened my eyes at him. "Just go and ask her a dance, then please try not to be an uptight douche. Women likes warm men, not a cold, arrogant and uptight even if it's face and stature is an overqualified GQ contender." I laughed and Nikolai scowled at me.

"That's what I'm talking about. If you look like that all the time, like a grim reaper, she's gonna avoid you as much as she can," I pointed out, one finger pointing at his lips that is now on a thin line.

He didn't comment, but only a twitch of his dark bushy brows.

I sighed.

"Why can't they all be like my Alex?" I mumbled to myself.

Nikolay cocked up one brow.

I rolled my eyes. I so love all my brothers, and sometimes, I wonder how love and hate can go along together but that's exactly how I felt most times. And at this moment, his stubbornness made me wanna shake him until he get some sense into his narrow mind.

"If you meant me to go and woo her or chase after her, my dear sis forget about it," he scowled.

He looked tormented, if that's not love, I don't know then.

Sometimes, men are so dense. Simple things to consider, such as feeling like your life had grown dull, darkness seemed blanketed around you all the time, everything about the things you used to enjoy had lost it's color, its excitement.

"Isn't that's what men should be doing when they found their love?" I asked, raising one brow. "Your favorite food won't just drop in front of you, you had to do something to get it," I quipped unimpressed at his lacking of determination to do something about his feelings.

His gaze darting to the beautiful princess with longing every so often is hard to ignore.

"I have people doing things for me," he replied shaking his head as he again looked at the princess, unconsciously scowling at them.

I feel bad for him.

"Nikolai, you worked hard to earn that money to pay for them, still you are doing something," I retorted, unimpressed.

He was quiet as he stood like a wall, tall and imposing, hands both deep into his pockets.

Standing side by side with him, I stared at the direction of the couples dancing, not too far away. The princess was laughing at whatever her partner was saying and they looked genuinely having fun dancing together.

"You know, love is an incurable disease. You think it will go away, but it's not. The more you tried to ignore it, the more it persist," I sighed, smiling mindlessly, eyes obliviously sweeping the people around us.

"She doesn't want anything to do with me," Nikolai said bitterly causing me to tilt my head up and meet his gaze.

He was his usual self.

Scowling.

I laughed and the more he scowled at me.

"It's not what I see," I replied softly.

"Since when did you became such a master about love?" Nikolai asked, a little twitched on the corner of his eyes, amused but it was gone as quickly as it came.

I rolled my eyes.

"Women are expert on that field, and that's what men was dumb at... from my personal experience," I shrugged.

"It's not that we don't know, or dumb..." Nikolai raised a brow. "Men are known for being practical. We'd rather ignore it if we know that it will be just a waste of time, and use our precious time on things that is hundred percent reachable," he remarked cooly, causing me to frown.

"Is that how men thinks?" I frowned.

He shrugged his shoulders noncommittally.

"I don't think all, as Alex had pursued me even after I rejected him and shown my indifference on his pursuits towards me," I remarked, shaking my head.

My eyes darted to my brother Raffy and Natalia dancing happily as they stared at each other like they are the only people exists and like they wanted to devour each other.

"Don't you want to have what Raffy and Natalia has?" I asked, not looking away as I watched my brother dipped his head and kissed his glowing wife. And then an applause erupted from those who caught the act, including me, smiling happily for them.

"Natalia is all over him, and he knew his time spending it with her is obviously with a return," he replied, undeterred and I sighed.

A defeated one.

The newlywed smiled at the crowd who cheered for them, catching Natalia's eyes and she smiled broadly at me, briefly waving her hand at us.

I waved back before turning my attention back to my brother who was now glowering at no one in particular.

Turning my eyes to the princess, his good-looking partner is now walking her back to her family.

Their back was on us, and now I know why my brother is like about to kill someone.

The guy's hand was on the small back of the princess.

Another music started and I looked up at my brother.

"Go and ask this dance," I coaxed and he just looked at me, thoughtfully.

He looked troubled.

He contemplated and I let out another sigh.

I shook my head in disbelief. Since when he lost his confidence.

One thing I know fully and positively about my brothers are, their confidence is overwhelming.

"Just go," I said, rolling my eyes once again and decided to leave him be.

I turned my back and headed towards the direction of the refreshment table.

I need a drink and I need Alex.

Talking to Nikolai is proving less invigorating.

I made a beeline towards the direction of my beloved. Skirting a few milling groups chattering about.

The ballroom starting to make me feel stuffy and talking with my brother, made my heart ached for him, for his predicament.

I hope he's gonna do something to win the princess' affection before it's too late.

I know the way the princess sneaking glances at him

I grabbed a champagne from a passing waiter that was wearing a uniform of red, black and white, a design that looks like in the 18th century serving in the royal court.

Alex spotted me right away and his smile broadened, eyes softening as he placed down the glass he was holding and hastily closed our distance.

He leaned his head, lips landed to my cheeks like a feather with one arm curling around my waist a little too possessively, causing me to smile. His familiar and overwhelmingly manly scent assaulted my poor nose, causing me to feel a little heady, but a very welcoming one.

He whispered against my cheeks. "I'm glad you joined me, I'm starting to get bored," and he straightened and guided me closer to dad.

I looked up at him and chuckled. "I don't think dad would like to hear that," I remarked amusedly and he suddenly looked at my dad and playfully scowled at me.

"I think you are right," he chuckled.

I let out a soft chuckle.

Tilting my head upwards, I said, "you owe me a dance."

"That I do," he grinned, his eyes turning wicked and now, it feels even hotter here.

I brought the tall, slim glass to my lips and made a sip.

I smiled at my father, bringing down the glass, and he was watching us with adoration. I can see he was very happy.

"Dad," I smiled at him and he smiled back at me.

"Is your mom with Nikolai?" he asked, his eyes swept the stifling ballroom. I followed his gaze, but since I'm not over six feet tall, then I hardly see their heads. All I could see was hats, feathers, silks and variety of bodies. Lean, petite, buff, rotund or willowy.

When a group of tall men parted, blocking towards the direction where I left Mom and Sid, and through swirls of skirts, I caught Mom talking to a man, not far from their age, wearing a suit that was suited only to a royal—.

"There she is, talking to the... King..." Dad paused, then he looked at us. That fond smile left his lips as he snapped back his head to the two who was talking animatedly.

"I should go and ask her a dance," Dad said, and left before he even gave me a kiss on the cheeks.

I laughed.

Jealousy is all over his face.

Even for the years had passed, dad still is very much in love with mom.

I wished for that love.

I looked up and met with Alex's smouldering gaze.

A smile tore from my lips.

I knew I found it.

"Shall I have the dance now?" he drawled huskily, his tone like a melted chocolate and I nodded my head.

Squeezing my legs tighter unconsciously. The way he look at me like he wanted to devour me whole and it only made my insides melting into puddles.

Alex led me to the dance floor, my heart skittering. I was holding onto his arms a little tighter, not trusting my legs wouldn't buckle up.

Alex stopped and looked down at me. I smiled at the couples standing close to us, they smiled back at me. I ignored the stares from the female guests who are openly staring at Alex and met Alex's worried gaze.

"Are you alright?" he asked.

I nodded my head. Shooting a brief glance around us, a few was still staring. "Don't look at me like that or I'm gonna melt here like a puddle," I whispered, for his ears only.

And he chuckled. "Can't help it," he leaned down, his lips touching my cheeks. "You look very ravishing, sweetheart. I want to devour you," he whispered against my cheeks followed by a chaste kiss. A rushed of warm sensations shot through me.

I chuckled nervously, smiling sweetly as I swept my gaze around us and seemed no one had heard it.

The incessant tittering, chattering with the soft music coming from the symphony my grandfather had hired to play for the wedding, skirts swishing, faint clinking of glasses and laughters were all distant to my hearing path.

They all faded away, and all of my senses is focused to the only man in front of me, holding me possessively as we danced to the rhythm of the waltz.

"You are a charmer, my love," I giggled softly and Alex smiled.

"I've never been complimented as such," he replied, his eyes glinting mischievously.

"And what compliment do you usually hear then, Mr. Demakis?" I teased.

Alex twirled me before he replied.

Leaning down again, his lips so close to my earlobe. "Ravishing," he whispered and I laughed.

"You don't believe that I am?" he queried, as he playfully frowned at me.

"Oh yes, yes. You are!" I chuckled and we laughed.

"It feels like we are thrown back in the eighteen hundred," Alex randomly commented as he swept his gaze around us then settled it back on me.

I nodded my head as I followed his gaze.

And then his eyes widened briefly, stopping by second as he stared at me like a deer caught on the headlight.

"What?" I asked.

He resumed dancing. "You're a princess," he muttered.

"And?" I frowned.

"So you'll have a ball wedding too?" he asked, reflectively.

I laughed.

"OH NO!" I said a little too hard and loud in protest.

I've caught some stares who was thrown at us and I smiled at them a little embarrassed.

"Isn't it anyone's dream?" he asked, now he was smiling.

"Do you?" I asked and thinking it's his dream elicited an amuse laughter from me.

He broke into soft laughters.

"No," he shook his head, his tone so deep and melodious and I melted into his arms.

My insides are melting.

I could listen to hear his deep, rumbling laughters everyday. It's a heart and knee melting kind of sounds.

My eyes roved over the dancing couples around us, and I inwardly protest of the idea having people I barely know or had no relations with attend my wedding.

I didn't want a wedding like this.

Too lavish.

I'd rather use the money to help people who are in need.

And I understand, I know this ball wedding is needed as my brother is a Duke.

Eyes once again raked the people around us and seventy five percent of the attendants are from wherever of the world who was in the aristocracy that still lives to this day and whom my grandfather is connected with.

It's the duchy duty.

And it stifling.

"I want a simple wedding with just the people I know and I loved," I said.

And Alex smiled. "I don't care what kind of wedding, sweetheart. As long as you're present and the presider, that's is all I cared about," he muttered amusedly, and I chuckled.

"As I do," I replied.

Gazing at each other, my heart swelled with overwhelming happiness. The people around us disappeared from our line of vision and all that is exist is us.

My future husband, and father to our future children.

We danced and danced through that night until my feet ache.

Courtroom, three days later...

All of my families are present inside the courtroom except for Alexandria who also left the next day after the wedding, and Raffy and his wife Natalia to their honeymoon.

Then we left yesterday after my father received a call from his attorney, uncle Christopher.

I was surprised when dad said that those who are in cahoots to drag my name through the mud are now going to face a sentencing hearing.

No plea deal as they knew they would lose it, and incase, the sentence will be ten times than pleading guilty.

I wasn't surprised my father worked behind my back. I know he won't rest until he thinks justice is serve. And truly, I'm scared and happy at the same time to face those who betrayed me.

Especially Claire.

I wanted to look at their faces when the judge sentence them.

The public seating or spectator's benches was divided into two. The left side was filled with my loved ones.

Alex was sitting next to grandpa who was looking rather ominous as we all waited for the judge to appear.

Mom and my brothers was sitting beside each others, my mom in between them. I was seated next to my father. Uncle Christopher in front of us, sitting on one of the plaintiff's chairs.

The tension in the room was growing thickly as I threw a cutting look at the opposite benches where Claire, Mrs. Ratskin, Tabitha and two others was sitting like queens.

I was surprised Noemi and Marigold had been a part of the scheme. Apparently, uncle Christopher had procured a lot of their online conversations, slandering my name in a group chat.

How he got it, it doesn't matter.

The lost of my job, the fall from the horse and fleeing to Greece had been a great part to prove that the action of these conniving bitches had caused me so much sadness and distress.

Upon laying all the evidences, there was no escape for them, other than to plead guilty.

Their head held high, except for Noemi and Marigold who was slumped on their seat like the world was on their shoulders. Their families sitting close to them, looking dejectedly.

Claire finally met my gaze, unflinching. She was rather looking haughty and I levelled her a chilled gaze. She tipped her chip up, raising one plucked eyebrow, she met my icy glare with her own. Her mother and father was seated behind them, and was looking rather lost.

It's beyond me at how she could face me like that.

Arrogant scheming bitch!

My jaws clamped tightly, eyes narrowing at her.

I'll grind you to dust, bitch!

Just then she must have had felt the anger, searing hatred radiating off my gaze, she finally looked away.

I'm so dumbfounded at how they look so impervious even after they had pleaded guilty and soon be thrown into hell.

And Tammy.

Tammy's death after Alex had confided it to me that she died of overdose the day we left to Greece left me filled with guilt and at the same time, anger.

Bottled up frustrations, fury and guilt. Unwelcome mixed emotions that had kept me awake at night, had made me restless.

And now that anger that's consuming me inside is directed to the people seated on the other side of the room.

Pain called from my heart at the thought of Tammy.

She said she'll go to a place where she can live in peace.

Never had I thought she meant to heaven, if that's where she's gonna end up and I hope it is.

When an adjoining door (where the judges room) opened up, on the right corner of the room across the judge bench, a short rotund man with spectacles appeared in a simple black robe. I was expecting an old man presiding the hearing but a younger one, perhaps on his late thirties.

Dark haired, deep-set eyes and fair skin.

I rose to my feet as the others in respect of his presence, and watched him walked over to the judge's bench and sat.

The court clerk clad with gray pencil skirt and matching blazer over a white crisp shirt moved over to the judges and handed him a brown envelop.

We all sat and waited in bated breath for the judge to proceed, I for one was holding my breath, my chest thudding painfully in great anticipation.