Spellbound

Chapter 13

    Exhausted, Senya plopped down on a chair a good distance from the dance floor. Her feet ached, and she was sure she had twisted her ankle during that last dance. No more, she decided. She was done for the night.

    At least, that was the plan. Senya had only wanted to rest for a few minutes before informing Liane and the others that she was turning in early, but it seemed that not everyone was so keen to let her go.

    Two girls approached her almost as soon as she relaxed into a comfortable position. Senya recognized them as the girls she’d met the night before. Annise and Toya, if she remembered correctly. What could they possibly want with her?

    “Mind if we join you?” Annise asked, though she pulled a chair next to Senya without waiting for an answer. Toya followed suit.

    Senya lightened her expression, hoping that perhaps she could befriend the two girls. “Not at all. How do you find the ball tonight?”

    Annise shrugged. “Well enough, I suppose. I mean, it is a royal ball, after all.”

    “Yes, of course.” Senya felt a twinge of discomfort crawl up her skin, inching bit by bit until it clung to her very pores. What did they want? She was suddenly too weary to talk.

    “But, enough small talk,” Annise said, folding her hand gently over her lap. “We’ve come here to get to know you better, Senya.”

    “Me?” Senya resisted the urge to yawn. “Why? I thought you didn’t like to associate with the lower class.”

    Annise’s smile faltered for a second, but she held it with practiced diplomacy. “Why would you say such a thing? I apologize if I gave you such a notion. I am friends with Liane, you know.”

    “Right.” Senya silently cursed herself. She’d need to tread more carefully around these noble folk. They weren’t like the wealth back in Giligha. Senya couldn’t help but feel that Annise approached her without the purest of intentions. These were unfamiliar waters, and she couldn’t afford to let her guard down.

    “You say your father is a commander?” Annise continued with a nonchalance that would have tricked Senya had they been better acquainted the previous night.

    Senya shrugged. “It’s not that impressive. He’s in charge of the Urthan district.”

    “Not that impressive?” Annise let out a snorty laugh, and Toya heartily mimicked her. “Not many commanders have the privilege to be invited to the Peace Day Ball, Senya. Your father must have done something quite impressive to gain favor of the royal council.”

    Ah, there was the intention behind the approach. Senya almost gave a snarky reply, but she managed to hold back. It wouldn’t do any good to let them know she had caught on. They must have thought she was too dull to notice considering that they weren’t being too subtle.

    “Not at all,” Senya instead said. “It’s only because he took over Commander Vortham’s position that the royal council noticed him. You do know who that is, right?”

    Annise’s lips tugged into a pensive scowl. “Oh.” The sheer disappointment in that one sound proved Senya’s suspicions. How fortunate it was that she assumed that Senya’s family was deemed important only because of her father’s accomplishments. Otherwise, Senya would have had to reveal that she was a witch, and though it was no secret, it wasn’t something she particularly liked to flaunt about. Not when there was still so much disdain towards witches.

    “But that doesn’t make any sense,” Toya interjected. “If your father only gained favor through a connection, why are you important enough to greet the royal council?”

    “Huh?” Senya blinked, exhaustion sweeping over her once more. She turned over the question then let out a sigh as she realized why they had approached her in the first place.

    Annise shot Toya a look but dropped her pretense now that her intentions were as transparent as the water in the fountain. “Alright, look. We saw you with the royal council yesterday. No one dares to approach them unless they are summoned. So, either you were ignorant of our customs or a king or queen wanted to meet you. Even the witch was there to see you. I’ll be blunt here. What makes you so special that you can waltz in and meet the royal council on your very first ball?”

    “It’s not my first ball.” Senya shrugged, her smile strained from exhaustion. “I’ve been to plenty of balls in my lifetime. You should come to Giligha one day. Reina throws a ball every Daisees, and I’m sure you’ll enjoy it. Though, it can’t hold a candle to this one, I’ll admit.” Senya swept her eyes over the grand ballroom. There was something so golden about the place. So luxurious and enchanting in the way only wealth could be. “So don’t get your expectations too high.”

    “That’s not the point!” Annise threw her arms up. “Are people in Giligha this dense? I don’t care if this isn’t your first ball. I want to know why you were invited.”

    Senya couldn’t help it. She burst out laughing and continued to laugh even as Annise’s face burned red with anger.

    “What are you laughing at?” the noble girl snapped. “Stop that! Stop that this instance!”

    “Annise,” Senya said, shaking her head as she held back her laugh. “Annise. Please, relax. I’m not that special. I’m only the daughter of a commander. There’s no need to feel threatened.”

    Annise’s eyes began to burn with an intense anger. “Threatened?” Her voice was shrill. “I’m not threatened by you! You’re a lowly commoner who has no place in the palace. I was trying to be polite because you’re Liane and Ellaine’s friend, but you don’t make it so easy, do you? I suppose it simply can’t be helped. It’s in your nature, after all, to be so crass and unsophisticated. Just like a purger.”

    Senya snorted, her good humor dissipating like smoke. “You have no idea the discipline the commander of several purgehouses must maintain. Don’t talk about things you don’t understand. I wouldn’t expect it from you anyway. A noble lady like yourself would never be able to know what it’s like to handle life-threatening criminals every single day.”

    “Maybe if your father was fortunate enough to be born into a wealthier family, he wouldn’t have to risk his life every day. It’s too bad he can only afford you a commoner’s life.”

    Senya stood from her chair so abruptly that it’s two front legs lifted from the ground. “I’m feeling quite tired, Annise. I’ll turn in early for the night. Will you be here tomorrow?”

    Annise, getting over her initial shock, also rose from her seat. “It’s not a good idea to make enemies in the palace, Senya. I’ll be here. If you apologize for your behavior by tomorrow, I might be inclined to accept.”

    “Good.” Senya somehow managed to force out a convincing smile. “I’ll avoid you the best that I can. Have a good rest of the night, Annise. It was an…interesting chat.”

    And with that, Senya had had enough of socializing with nobles for the night. She supposed that her friends were smart enough to know she had gone to bed, so she dragged herself out of the ballroom and started towards her guest room, more than ready to snuggle into the large, comfy mattress.