The Prince’s Bride

Smart mouth and raging voices.

Confidence.

One which Dalia’s mother has always thought her to have, as Dalia’s recalls her particular statement about confidence. ‘Confidence can make a thief be called an owner.’ A statement she finds to be most useful in a day like this.

With Dalia’s hand still in Lucien’s, they are led to a table of their own, whereas each step that they take, Dalia can feel the burning stares at her back by the Royals, and they make no effort to hide such, along with the whispers they begin to mutter.

The room filled with soft music playing, yet, the whispering of people can be heard, as it seems to sing at a higher note than the actual music. 

The ladies each having their eyes on the two pair, where as the men having the same gaze, as one would think because they are men, they heed not to the words of gossip, yet, everyone wants to know whom the high and mighty Lucien zeek has finally chosen to be his second half, and what gets more intriguing, is he having a woman of elegance and beauty whom no one has ever heard or seen of, by his side.

The two take their seats, not without the attentive gestures Lucien makes towards Dalia, such as making sure she is well seated before he takes his. All these going unaware to the watchful eyes of the Royals, as even the elderly ones who come as guests are intrigued in the partnership of Lucien zeek and the infamous, Dalia Delvinkin.

“I am still perplexed as of how this works. You tell me we are just to eat, exchange pleasantries and dance?” Dalia speaking to Lucien as her gaze doesn’t leave the intriguing sight in front of her, still with the soft music enclosing the atmosphere.

“It may sound lacking, but it is actually time taking and worth it, I presume?” Lucien speaks, taking Dalia’s gaze to stare at him, with a smirk on her lips.

“You presume?” Dalia can’t help but giggle lightly at Lucien’s choice of words.

“Well, it is going to be my first time being here, just like you are.” Lucien answers her question, but not without passing a chuckling smile at her with what she thinks of his words. 

Their reactions to one another, something a poet writes in his poetry, and something writers search to write in their novels. Their gesture to one another soft and serene that even those who watch them with envy, envy them in wishes they are in their positions.

“Dinner would be served here and once that is done, then it is courtesy to move in to greet the elders and introduce ourselves, before meeting with friends and allies. From there, we then move to the most important of it all, the dance.” Lucien furthers explains to Dalia, whilst knowing his mother would have done such, yet, when he decided to choose Dalia for this, he vowed to her to take her along the way in each step.

“Why is the dance so important?” Dalia inquires gently. “I asked the Queen, her response was, I would get to know when the time arise.” Dalia speaks.

“My mother can be a handful.” Lucien explains jovially.

“Oh now, do not get me wrong. I understand each of her actions, as no mother whom has a mighty son, would sit still and relax, knowing everyone wants to get into your affairs. I see it as a form of motherly love, in which there is nothing greater.” Hearing each of Dalia’s words, Lucien gaze holds fascination and pride in them, that he is certain no regret would come out of picking Dalia, as of this moment he sits with her, he is only seeing himself seeping deeper into knowing more about this woman named Dalia.

Lucien doesn’t say anything, but keep a neutral gaze back to his environment. “The dance is an ancient way of bringing the male and the female into a bond of trust, as it is said, that if the two dance together,” Lucien’s gaze move away from his environment with his half said statement, as he now stares at Dalia, and vice versa. “It prevails the affection between them. Therefore, giving them more strength to win, that is if, there is affection between them in the first place.” Lucien’s words having extreme effects on Dalia, as she finds his words making her heart race faster, especially when she locks gaze with his green ones.

What is Dalia feeling? That, she can not explain. 

—————

The room getting chattery by the second, as everyone seems to have completed their meal, and moving into the next phase. “Shall we?” Lucien extends a hand for Dalia, seeing as they have completed their meal. 

“Of course.” Dalia responds gracefully, taking Lucien’s gesture. Dalia can’t deny the fact that, all these feel nice and beautiful, as never in her life has she experienced something of such like this. Something of royalty. 

“Lucien Zeek. The man whom everyone talks about.” At the words of the person, Lucien’s humble smile comes on.

“Prince Cyrus. It is a pleasure to have you here.” Lucien’s hand which hold Dalia releases gently, as he goes into a handshake with the elder.

“I wouldn’t miss seeing you into the competition.” Prince Cyrus, the thousand year old speaks to Lucien, whereas his gaze moves to Dalia’s presence besides Lucien. “And whom is this beautiful woman by your side. I do not believe I have seen her before?” Prince Cyrus inquires with intrigue.

“My apologies. This is my second half Dalia Delvinkin.” Lucien begins the introduction. “Dalia, this is prince Cyrus of vampire clan, and also an elder. Lucien adds, whereas Dalia’s gaze meets the white man whose skin is as white as nothing she has ever laid eyes on. She understands that vampires do usually have a pale and whitening look, yet, prince Cyrus did look more to her expectations.

“It’s a pleasure meeting you, Your highness.” Dalia greets with courtesy, while prince Cyrus gestures a hand to her. Dalia being skeptical at first, nevertheless takes his hand in hers. 

“Such soft and beautiful hands, just like she is.” Prince Cyrus takes Dalia by surprise, taking her fingers closer to his lips, as he places a kiss on it, whereas she stares at the man whom she knows is older than Lucien and is becoming uncomfortable with, yet, she holds her words of any insult that may be directed to the perverted man, as she keeps her smart mouth to herself.

“Don’t get too comfortable prince Lucien, she is already taken.” As if on cue, Lucien seems to notice her discomfort even without saying words, as Dalia seems to feel a sense of possession in his words to her.

“I never knew you to be a jealous man, prince Lucien.” Prince Cyrus speaks with a sly smile cascading his lips, while his hand drops Dalia’s gently.

“Only when it comes to my woman.” Dalia can’t help it no more, as her gaze moves to Lucien’s regarding his statement, whereas his gaze on Dalia comes with a smirk for the first time ever.

“Tell me Dalia, where are you from, as I do know you’re not Royalty?” Prince Cyrus words come, as should send a painful statement to Dalia, rather it doesn’t, as it is a question she assures she will be answering before the night ends.

“You’re correct your highness. I am indeed not royalty, as I come from the south of Aveynia.” Dalia answers, while prince Cyrus only stares in perplexity, yet, he chooses to remain silent.

“Well, I have always known the prince to be one who followed the rules, yet, it seems we may be in for something different.” Prince Cyrus adds.

“Well prince Cyrus, I do also believe it is not against the rules for one’s second having must be royalty.” Lucien answers evidently. “It is good seeing you prince Cyrus, but I must greet the other elders.”  Lucien decides to end the conversation promptly, knowing the kind of man prince Cyrus is, he likes to know everything.

“Of course.” Prince Cyrus nods, while the two bid their farewell from him.

As they continue to greet the elders, Lucien introduces Dalia more into the Royal world, as the whispers of Lucien having a commoner as his second, is no longer a whisper but a certainty.

Dalia decides to take back her seat, seeing Lucien being pulled away from her by some of the other prince whom he introduced her to as, prince kilan and prince Oden. Prince oden, being of the vampire clan and one whom would represent the vampires in the competition.

“The infamous Dalia Delvinkin.” At the sound of Dalia’s name, her gaze turns back to see whom it may be, and hearing it to be a feminine voice, she doubts having meeting the person, considering all the females she met, this particular voice doesn’t match any.

One thing Dalia has gotten to be a good attribute of hers is picking out in voices, as once she hears one, she never forgets whom it comes from.

On turning to see whom it is to have called her name in such manner, Dalia is met with a tall fair slender woman, wearing a burgundy sleeveless gown, almost matching that of Lucien’s color.

Her eyebrows thick, that one can spot how fake it looks, along with her face baked with probably all the minerals of makeup to conceive her this look. Yes, indeed she is good looking, especially with the beautiful body she has under the body hugging dress, yet, Dalia doesn’t fancy the baked makeup she has on.

“Pardon me, I believe I haven’t met you before.” Dalia speaks nicely, having a smile on her lips.

“Of course, and how could you? Someone of your class don’t get to see me, unless when lucky enough.” Dalia is taken back by the words of this female, as she questions herself if she might have met her before and wronged her.

But Dalia is no fool, as she can vividly recall not ever meeting someone like her, and with her words it does seem she may be one of the ladies whom are chewing gums to Lucien.

“Excuse me?” Dalia decided to get her information first, before she lets that smart mouth of hers run wild. All these while she is having to keep her smart mouth in control, as the deal she and Lucien have made, he may not appreciate her running her mouth to the next person that calls her a commoner, when infact she is one.

“I heard you’re a witch, so I know w****s like you, as the last Queen was not any different. Driven by power and men who hold authority. I wonder what the prince sees in you, as you are not even royalty but a mere pauper coming from the gutters. You do not belong here, and as much as you think your little spell will last, I promise you it won’t, as I would be right next to the prince to save him from your witchcraft.” Dalia stares in amusement at the words of this so called Royalty, whom she knows no name of, spilling lies about her.

“Oh let me guess, you’re one of the chewing gum girls whom is heartbroken that Lucien actually picked me huh?” Dalia speaks with audacity lacing her voice, not caring if she is royalty or not.

“How dare you speak about his highness with no courtesy...”

“Tell me how does it feel?” Dalia cuts off the raging woman in front of her.  “How does it feel knowing a common commoner or no, a pauper like me, gets to have a whole prince like his highness to myself? Painful right, well let me tell you that I am not scared of you or whatever title you hold, as if you try to hurt me or his highness himself, I will count you a sickness, not even the rats would hold your presence, and I do not bluff on my promises.” Dalia’s word hard, as one thing she hates is to be threatened or looked down upon, even if she is indeed bluffing at her words, knowing she does not even know how to control her powers.

“You insolent witch!” The raging voice of the woman in front of Dalia sends her taken aback, especially seeing her hands raise up to land a hit on her, but gets halted by the masculine raging and blaring voice of none other than his highness, prince Lucien, which attracts the attention of each and everyone in the room.

“Princess Jelevene!” And at the mention of her name, princess Jelevene’s gaze turns to Lucien, as her gaze hold a proper amount of fear and horror, seeing the prince lunge at her in total disapproval, as even the air that everyone now breaths gets thicker by the raging force of an angry werewolf, prince Lucien, as even Dalia fears for her own self.