Page 92 of The King's Queen

Torin stands at the base of the stairs, his usually unkempt blonde hair slicked back into a distinguished look. His characteristic grin is plastered on his face, though his form is rigid, and we can both tell he is itching to lean against the railing as we descend. I allow Tanja to step down first. Her steps are graceful and cautious, but her chin is held high. As the light catches on her gold mask, the swirls of whispering reaches my ears. Speculations on whether she’s a foreign princess, or perhaps a priestess of Deun. The former is more prayed for than the latter, given her beauty and the priestesses’ vow of celibacy.

Ruby descends next, and I quietly follow behind her, allowing the guests to turn their focus towards her while I slip in unnoticed and unannounced. Somewhere within the hordes of people is Rowan, who still has not put two and two together about my identity. It will stay that way until after tonight. Once I am free of this wretched place, I will tell him the truth. Once we are both free and he can’t be charged with treason for assisting in my escape.

The scent of champagne anddolceronwafts through the air, a gentle caress against the olfactory senses of the patrons. My heels clink softly against the ballroom floor. A light tittering to my left, a sweet whisper to my right.

The weight of hundreds of gazes falls heavy atop my shoulders, pressing on my worries. I had hoped the splendor of Tanja’s entrance would take longer to wear off, but the potent stares of the party goers warn me that their attention has now shifted to me.

“If you were hoping to go unnoticed, you should have at least tried to look a bit less stunning.” Torin winks as he extends his other arm my way. Tanja rolls her eyes with a knowing look.

“Vera couldn’t look bad if she tried.”

“That is a lie. You should see me in the mornings,” I protest, but Tanja just leans over to pinch my arm.

“Idosee you in the mornings. Every day, in fact. Stop being modest for once, and accept the compliment.”

My gaze flits around the room, taking in every exit and guard by habit now. The ballroom has been decorated beautifully, in a way that I actually would have done myself. Small blooms of white flowers trail up every column, and small lights intermix with the foliage. These flowers also drop from the ceiling, brushing against our chandeliers every so often with that gentle spring breeze.

The tables on the outskirts of the hall have been covered with thin lace and piled high withdolceronand other pastries. Rich meats lay at the center of longer tables that rest by the entrance to our courtyard. Masked servants in all white flit from patron to patron, carrying tall flutes of champagne and hors d’oeuvres. Their identical masks are supposed to be a symbol of unity, though their soulless eyes are more unnerving than anything.

A dais rests raised above the dance floor at the far end of the hall, raising my father above everyone else. He ignores my presence, per my request. He believes it is to raise suspense for my unveiling, hence the masks all attendees wear. Little does he know I intend to be long gone by then.

Aiko excuses herself to find her husband while the four of us rest near one of the large columns near the courtyard. Within a moment, the orchestra ends their song and begins another one. Ruby whisks Tanja to the dance floor while I take small sips of champagne.

“Are the masked servants creepy to you too, or am I just discovering something about myself?” Torin whispers in my ear, having to bend slightly at the waist to do so. He grins as I choke on my first sip of champagne.

“Creepy, yes, but it could be a bit of both.” I grin over the lip of my glass as I wash down my cough with another sip. The bubbles warm my stomach, and my muscles begin to release. I can’t afford to get even the slightest bit drunk tonight, but I can still enjoy myself.

Torin gazes over my shoulder and stiffens, his grin dropping immediately.

“Good evening, Verosa.” The one voice I’ve been dreading hearing speaks smoothly from behind me. “Torin.”

The second reason for the masks: to give me a chance to remain undetected by my fiancé.

“Lucius,” I purr, turning on my heel to face him. He stands tall in a smooth silver suit, the fabric shifting in color as it catches the light. I have been unaware that a color such as this could exist in any fabric, but Lucius does always seem to know more than I do. Everything except for one. His mask takes the form of a serpent, the scales glimmering in the light, seemingly in tune with his fine clothes.

“May I have this dance?” The dreaded question. I grit my teeth and nod, allowing him to take my hand. Torin’s scowl is visible even below the mask, and he shoots a look my way that saysscream if you need me.

I smirk back.Lucius will be screaming before I do.

Lucius lets my hand fall from his as we find our way to the center of the quartz floor. He bows deeply. I follow the movement with a low curtsy before raising my arm. One of his hands takes ahold of mine while the other finds the small of my back. He steps forward, his chest brushing against mine.

We take the first steps in sync, never breaking the other’s gaze. I am sure mine is filled with loathing; his is filled with challenge. To anyone else, it must seem to be passion. The music evolves into a crescendo, and the tempo shifts upwards. Quickly, I slam my heel on his foot.

“Oops. I’m not much of a dancer.” Much to Lucius’s credit, he doesn’t flinch.

“I understand you’re upset with me.” I scoff. That just might be the understatement of the year. “I know my words were abrasive, and I apologize for that. You must know they do not reflect my true thoughts.”

“You don’t need to waste your words on me.”

“I do.” He pauses to spin me outwards the pull my body back close to his. “I care for you, Verosa, I want you to be happy.”

“If you care so much about my happiness, then you should have let him kill you,” I seethe with the fury of a broken heart torn anew. I should be enjoying my twentieth birthday with my Blaine by my side, laughing and talking with Torin and Tanja. Not Lucius, who doesn’t give a damn about any of them, not even me. What’s worse? The fact that I still care, and I still wish that the lies Lucius fed me were true. I wish he was still the same person I met.

I can see his heart breaking behind his regal facade, the same way mine is now crumbling. In another life this could have been a nice dance. Perhaps he could have been my friend. I suppose now we will never know.

“I miss the way you used to look at me,” he breathes, his voice barely above a whisper. A single tear drips underneath my mask and onto my cheek, and with painstaking slowness, he leans forward to kiss it away. “Happy birthday, Verosa. Enjoy the party.”

He disappears into the swirling dancers, leaving me to stand alone in the midst of the ballroom. Embarrassment and anger heat my face as I notice the gawking whispers and stares of the other dancers. Shaking the guilt from my head, I take a step back to exit the dance floor when a hand lands on the small of my back.

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