Rebirth Of The Witch Queen

Chapter 10 - Center of Attention

Kaden stepped out of the carriage, running a hand through his hair as he looked up at the towering Talwen mansion. He had been so busy with the Agency’s work and organizing the engagement party that he didn’t have a chance to visit after their last conversation. They had exchanged a few messages, mainly related to arrangements around the party, since Adeline vigorously ignored the parts in his letter where he talked about his supposed feelings. He wasn’t sure if Lester was reading those letters, but he had to make sure things were going smoothly until the arrangement was made official.

And once she moved into his mansion for the bridal lessons, they could breathe easier. And he could see her every day and touch her whenever he wanted. He never realized how intoxicating it was to touch another person - maybe it was the fact that he had abstained from it for so long, but a simple brush against the cheek, holding her hand or kissing it - all of those things made his whole body tingle. And that kiss he had stolen in the garden - he hadn’t planned on doing it, but his curiosity got the better of him and he regretted nothing. Even though it was just a small brush against the lips, it felt nothing like he ever felt before. He had kissed Jenna a few times, and she wasn’t shy with her tongue, but just a few seconds into it she would start trembling and squirming and as much as she tried to hide her pain, he’d see it in her eyes.

Walking towards the front door of the mansion, he wondered if he should try to kiss her again. It was the night of their engagement, after all, a kiss or two should be expected, right?

The front door opened even before he reached it and the family butler greeted him politely, showing him in. He didn’t offer to escort him to a drawing room to wait, which meant she was probably ready and waiting for him.

Just as the thought crossed his mind, he noticed a movement at the top of the staircase and looked up. His mouth turned dry as he watched her slowly descend the stairs, her eyes locked on the railing as if afraid she might fall. Or maybe she was avoiding looking at him like she usually did when she was embarrassed.

He knew she was a pretty woman from the first moment he laid his eyes on her, but tonight she was simply breathtaking. Her dress was mostly white, with soft pink and cream weaved seamlessly into her skirts and the tight top of her dress. The gown was hugging her body tightly, accentuating her nice figure while the skirts were dragging behind her. Her shoulders were bare with a pair of thin, skin-colored straps holding a soft, semi-transparent fabric falling from the back of her shoulder blades to the ground like delicate butterfly wings. Her auburn hair was pulled away from her face, falling in big waves over her back.

He didn’t realize when she reached the landing below so he didn’t move in time and the butler was the one to offer her a helping hand. She gave him a thankful smile, allowing him to help her with her coat.

Adeline finally looked at him and smiled, her eyes flickering with amusement that told him she had noticed him staring like an i***t. Kaden shook off his stupor, smiling back at her and offering her his hand.

“Sir Lester?” He asked, raising an eyebrow as he looked around for her Guardian.

“He already left earlier to make sure everything was in order once we arrived.” She replied.

“Splendid. Then shall we, darling?”

Her eye twitched at the endearment, but she took his hand without hesitation. She didn’t seem reluctant at all, and she didn’t even blush as he kissed it. The butler walked them out, wishing them a good night, and they strode in silence towards the carriage that was waiting for them.

Kaden helped her in and once he followed, he knocked on the panel behind him to give the driver a sign to get going. He turned back to face her, his smile widening.

“My, my, am I lucky or what?” He chuckled. “You look beautiful.”

Her face flushed in an instant, plenty visible despite the darkness in the carriage and her makeup, and Kaden almost laughed. Her reactions were always so quick and genuine, it was thoroughly entertaining just to watch her. Not to mention she looked so adorable, he wanted to tease her even more.

“Thank you. You don’t look so bad yourself.” She said unexpectedly and Kaden raised an eyebrow in amusement. This was the closest thing to a compliment she had given him - and he had tried extra hard to look like a rich, young, well-behaved nobleman everyone expected him to be. As annoying as that was.

Adeline looked away from him and locked her eyes outside the window, her blush subsiding and her body relaxing. She didn’t say anything and kept her attention on the road while Kaden continued to watch her. He wanted to touch her. He wanted to slide his fingers over her cheeks - they had felt so smooth and soft the last time he touched them when he kissed her.

His eyes moved to her lips, only to realize she was biting her lower one, probably out of nervousness. He wanted to stop her and claim them for himself, but that was probably going to make her even more nervous.

“Adeline.” He called her name, and she looked at him at once. “Relax. I’ll be by your side the whole time. All you have to do is smile and follow my lead.”

“Last time you said that you kissed me without permission.” She pointed out with a frown.

“I’ll ask next time, alright?” He laughed. “What I meant is that you should smile. This is a happy occasion. And stop biting your lips, you’ll make them bleed and then people will say I did it.”

Her eyes widened and he laughed. She stopped chewing on her lip, though, taking a deep breath and letting it out. Kaden glanced outside, looking around to realize they had almost arrived. He pulled his gloves out of his pocket and put them on, sensing her eyes on him.

“Are you really a germaphobe?” She asked out of the blue and he glanced at her as he was putting on the second glove. “I’ve heard you don’t like to be touched by anyone because you’re a germaphobe.”

“I thought you weren’t one to gossip?” He teased her, and she rolled her eyes. “But it’s true that I don’t like touching others and being touched by them.”

“Yet you keep touching me.” She pointed out.

“But of course. You’re my beautiful fiance, I can’t keep my hands to myself when you’re around.” He replied with a smirk and she closed her eyes, shaking her head in defeat.

The carriage stopped, and the door opened a few seconds later. Kaden stepped out, looking around for a second before offering Adeline his hand. She frowned as she took in the sight of the royal palace towering above them with light spilling from the giant windows. There were several guards standing on duty along the stairs and even more were visible by the doors and inside.

The carriage drove away and Kaden turned to look at her, finding her biting her lips again.

“Hey, Adeline, what did I say about all that biting? If I am going to be at fault here, I’ll make sure it’s well deserved. So if you continue, I’m taking it as an invitation.” She stopped immediately and he squeezed her hand. “Let’s go, darling. Everybody is waiting for us.”

He heard her take a deep breath, picking up her skirts and stepping on the stairs alongside him. They left their coats to the attendants in the hall and he led her towards one of the smaller halls where the party was to be held. Since neither of them was royalty and it wasn’t a national celebration, this was the best they could get, but as long as it was still at the palace, it was good enough.

“Are you ready?” He whispered when they stopped in front of the door, waiting for the attendants to open it. Adeline gave him a nervous look that made him want to hug her and tell her there was nothing scary on the other side. It was just an engagement ceremony, she probably had attended several of those before. Or was she scared because it was hers? Or maybe… because the crown prince was going to be there?

Before he could decide on a course of action, the herald’s voice boomed through the open door.

“Duke Kaden Knox and his fiance, Duchess Adeline Talwen.”

Kaden stepped forward, pulling her along. Her fingers tightened around his arm, but when he looked at her, she was already wearing a broad happy smile that almost fooled even him.

As they stepped on the top of the staircase leading to the hall below, the crowd that had already gathered started clapping and cheering. They made their way down slowly, every set of eyes on them. Kaden allowed himself a quick look around, eyes stopping on a few familiar faces. He didn’t notice the crown prince, but knowing that sleek bastard, he’d probably arrive fashionably late as usual.

Lester met them at the base of the stairs with a broad smile and tears in his eyes, taking Adeline’s free hand and kissing it before stepping back. The rest of the nobles swarmed them immediately, showering them with compliments, congratulations, and well wishes. Kaden smiled stiffly and nodded as he thanked them, trying to keep his distance and watching everyone as they moved closer to shake his hand. He greeted the other women with a nod, which was probably rude in their eyes, but he had always done that - for their sake. If he were to kiss any of their hands, the entire hall would echo with their screams. But they didn’t know that and they made their own theories which was just another beautiful perk of being cursed.

He kept glancing at Adeline as the time passed, only to find out she gradually relaxed, her posture turning more natural and her smile more genuine. She was much better at this than him, greeting everyone by names he could never remember and asking them questions about their families or business like she was reading from a book. He knew most of the secrets they kept and the dark dealings they were trying to hide from the world, but things like who gave birth last month or who got married to whom were all useless information to him. Unless there was a dark secret or a web of conspiracy behind that.

“What? Why are you staring like that?” Adeline’s voice took him out of his thoughts and he realized he was staring at her - or rather, through her.

“Can’t I admire my beautiful fiance?” He asked with a smile.

“Your expression wasn’t one of admiration. You were clearly thinking about something else.” She said, turning her head forward and plastering a smile on her face. They had finally been allowed a moment of respite after everyone had come to greet them - everyone but the crown prince, who seemed to be still missing. If they had a bit more luck, he wouldn’t come even though on such occasions the king would usually send him as a representative of the royal family.

“So you’re starting to differentiate my expressions now?” He chuckled. “I am pleased to hear you are watching me so carefully.”

“I was not.” She mumbled, leaving her empty cup on the tray of one of the passing servants. The music changed to a slower one and Kaden pulled his arm from her waist where it had rested for the last hour, catching her hand. She looked at him with a question in her eyes.

“We should dance at this point, don’t you think?” He said, nodding towards the dancefloor full of twirling couples. She looked thoughtful for a second before nodding and following him there. She stopped and faced him, raising her free hand on his shoulder and waiting for him to take his position. Kaden wrapped his hand around her waist, pulling her so close their chests touched, his other hand holding her small one up as they stepped in rhythm with the song. She was a much better dancer than him - he had never been interested in dancing since he never actually could dance with anyone. He was actually happy he brushed on the steps under the supervision of his butler so he could at least not step on Adeline’s feet as they moved.

The smile Adeline was fighting told him she realized that as well. Kaden wondered how many things she had noticed about him so far but kept to herself. It seemed he wasn’t the only one watching, and this made him feel strangely pleased.

They spent the next hour on and off the dance floor, stepping away when music came that he didn’t know how to dance to and joining when it was one that he had at least heard of.

“Let’s go get some fresh air,” Kaden suggested when he was sick and tired of dancing and getting watched from all sides. He had almost forgotten how annoying such gatherings were - he rarely attended them unless he had business to do or they were mandatory. And tonight was just another reminder why.

“Oh, god, yes,” Adeline said to his surprise, catching his arm even before he reached out for her. He slid his hand over hers and she didn’t even glance at him this time, just followed him towards one of the terraces where heavy wine-red curtains fell and hid the outside from view while still allowing fresh air to get in.

Once they stepped under the generous moonlight, they let out a sigh of relief at the same time. Kaden laughed quietly, leading her towards the empty stone bench by the railing. As she sat down, her controlled expression quickly relaxed.

“God, I don’t remember ever being so tired. And we’ve barely danced.” She murmured, reaching down and rubbing her ankle.

“You call this barely?” Kaden asked with a grimace. “We’ve danced like eight times.”

“You clearly don’t attend a lot of parties.” She scoffed. “Ugh, we should have brought something to drink. Maybe we should…”

“I’ll go get drinks, don’t move from there.” He said, and she nodded with a smile that took him by surprise. He stared at her until she raised an eyebrow in question, then turned around and headed back towards the party. As he stepped through the crowd, he noticed something was different.

People were still chatting and dancing, but there was a new kind of excitement in the air. He didn’t want to talk to anyone in order to ask what was going on, so he searched for one of the servants so he could grab a drink. He spotted a man dressed in black and white attire on the opposite side of the room and quickly headed his way. Once he relieved him of two of the glasses on the tray, Kaden turned, looking around again.

Something red and gold - the colors of the royal family - caught his attention, and he focused his eyes on the figure wearing them just as the man headed towards the balcony where Kaden had left Adeline.

“You sneaky bastard,” Kaden murmured, making his way towards the balcony as fast as he could. He should have figured it out. What else could make the nobles more excited than the arrival of the crown prince?

He surely isn’t wasting time, Kaden thought as he dodged people who tried to stop him and ignored those calling his name. Once he reached the curtains separating him from the balcony, he hesitated. He could step out and interrupt him before anything happened, but if he waited for just a little, he might find out what exactly was going on between them to make Adeline seek a contractual marriage just so she could escape the most promising bachelor in the kingdom.

Come on, Kaden thought, leaning closer to the heavy curtain. Come on you two, tell me your secrets.