Spellbound

Chapter 7

    Senya was struggling to pull her hair together when a knock on her door threw away her progress. She frowned at the messy bird’s nest that had formed and hastily brushed it back, so it was at least presentable. The hair could come later, she supposed. She still had time to figure it out. The ball was in three days, anyway.

    Senya rushed to the door, and as she suspected, Liane stood there with a smile on her face. She lit up even more at the sight of Senya.

    “Come on!” she said, grabbing Senya’s hand. “Let’s go to dinner. The Knights have invited us to dine with them, and I think your mother will be there, too.”

    “Okay. Let’s go.” Senya shut the door and walked with Liane to the Knights’ room. Hethel and all the Knights were already there, as well as a few maids preparing the table in the dining room.

    Liane and Senya joined the sisters at the couches. Alton was there, too, entertaining them with a game of cards.

    “Oh.” Ellaine threw down her hand of cards. “That’s not fair. This is my third loss in a row!”

    “Hey, can we join?” Liane pushed Senya on the seat next to Alton and squeezed in next to her.

    “Liane, what—” Senya flushed as Liane made sure she was as close to Alton as possible. This girl didn’t know when to give up.

    “Of course,” Alton said. He threw down a card. “Just as soon as I win.”

    “Really?” Veira chuckled. “How confident are you?”

    “You’ve just lost, little sister!” Alton grinned at the card he’d just picked up from the pile.

    “Hmm…” Veira tilted her head, pressing a delicate finger under her lips. “Are you confident enough to lock?”

    “Of course.” Alton peered at his sister from over his cards. “I’ll lock it in. I pass my next turn.”

    Veira discarded a card and drew another from the deck. She sighed. “I suppose I don’t need another turn.”

    “Really, now? You still have another chance. Do you draw, lock, or fold? What’ll it be Veira?”

    “I’m locking it in.” Veira calmly sipped the tea that was resting next to a pile of cards.

    “Aha, big mistake. A royal hand. Present. You can’t beat that, now can you?” He threw down his cards face up to reveal his winning hand. Three queens and two kings. The current seating of the royal council.

    Veira smirked. It was only in a game that Veira could be wily. A stark juxtaposition to her usual timid personality.

    “Ah, so close.” Veira set down her hand. Four witches and a king. Senya chuckled. “You’re so unlucky, Alton. The one time you get such a rare hand, I have the only set that scores higher.”

    “Dog scat!” Alton fell back on his seat. “What sorcery is this?”

    The girls burst out laughing.

    “There was no magic,” Senya said through tears. “I can confirm!”

    “Want to go another round, big brother?” Veira snickered.

    Alton rested his arm on the back of the couch. “I swear, you’re cheating somehow, you little devil. I’ll pass.”

    Senya tried not to think about the muscled arm behind her. She sat at the edge of her seat and shuffled the cards together. “We all know we can’t beat Veira. Anyone want to play for second place?”

    “I’m in!” Liane chirped.

    Ellaine grinned, her competitive fire sparking at a new challenge. “Oh, yes! Anyone who’s in second place will be the winner of the game.”

    “What?” Veira’s cherry lips drew into a confused frown. “Then what’s the point of winning at all?”

    “Oh, Veira,” Liane flapped her hand, “So innocent. You know you’re going to win. We’ve all accepted that.”

    “Sorry to break up the party,” Torren’s towering figure loomed over them, “but it’s time for dinner.”

    “Aw, but Dad!” Ellaine whined.

    Torren ruffled her hair with a laugh. “Now, don’t ‘but Dad’ me, you little fiend. You can have the rest of the night to play. And besides, Misa is here. Go say hi.”

    “Mom?” Senya leaped up like a rabbit and scooted past Liane. As Torren said, Misa was in the dining room, chatting with Hethel and Amiara. At the sight of Senya, she paused her conversation.

    “Senya? What are you—” In a lower voice that Senya could still hear, Misa growled, “Royle.”

    “Surprise!” Torren grabbed Senya’s shoulder and directed her to Misa.

    “Torren. This is what you’ve been harping on about? The ‘surprise’ is my daughter in the palace?” Misa flew out of her seat and stalked towards the captain. “Why am I not surprised? I bet you were the one who convinced Royle to bring her here, weren’t you?”

    Torren chuckled. How he remained calm under Misa’s fiery temper, Senya had no idea. Even her father had a hard time when he was arguing with Misa, but Torren almost seemed to take it as a joke.

    “Relax, Misa.” Torren patted Senya’s head. “She deserves to experience the Peace Day ball at least once in her life.” When Misa opened her mouth to argue, he cut in with a cryptic, “That she can remember.”

    To Senya’s shock, Misa relented with a harsh sigh.

    “Well, since she’s already here, nothing can be done about it. But, I swear, Torren, you need to stop spoiling her. It’s bad enough that Royle can’t stand his ground the moment she says, ‘Papa’.”

    “Mom, I’m right here,” Senya grumbled.

    “Yes…” Misa smiled when her eyes settled on Senya. Before Senya could react, her mother had thrown her arms around her. “Oh, my baby. I missed you so, so much!”

    Alton and the girls chose that moment to walk into the room. Senya flushed when she heard Alton’s deep rumble of laughter.

    “Royle’s not the only one who’s weak against her charms,” Torren observed.

    “Mom, I’m not a baby!”

    “Yes, yes.” Misa backed away, still smiling affectionately. She patted Senya’s cheek. “You’ve grown so beautiful.”

    “It’s been only a week since you left,” Senya stated matter-of-factly. Still, she couldn’t deny the wave of affection she felt when Misa showered her with attention.

    “That’s enough chatter, you two,” Hethel cut in. “Let’s eat.”

    She gestured to the table embellished with glittering food. Senya’s mouth watered as the aroma of it hit her in full force. She’d never thought food could look so beautiful. Her stomach rumbled.

    The dining room was lively with a festive mood. There was a clear divide between the generations, and while the older occupied themselves with memories, the younger was busy making their own.

    Senya had made a point to sit between her mother and Liane to ensure she wouldn’t have to be close to Alton. But, she had come to regret it when he took a seat right across from her. Now, she was busy hoping she ate like a lady, and she was constantly rubbing a napkin on her face in fear that any residue of grease or food was left behind.

    And was it her hopeful imagination, or did she catch Alton looking her way from time to time? Senya chose to ignore the thought. She’d let him go, and it was too late if he wanted to have something with her now. Too long she had waited, and she was too prideful to fall back on her own promises. She would need to inform Liane of her resolve so her friend would stop pairing her with him.

    When Senya had finished her meal, she decided to excuse herself from the table first, only because her imagination was beginning to irritate her. It wasn’t considered rude, at least, because everyone there was like family. So, Senya isolated herself to the balcony and took in a fresh breath of air.

    The moon shone brightly tonight, past the gray clouds that had parted just enough for the crescent shape to be clearly visible. Once again, Senya was struck by the familiarity of the palace courtyard. It was beautiful, but she didn’t know why it continued to tickle her nostalgia.

    “It’s a nice night. A little cold, but at least it’s not raining.”

    Senya swore under her breath. She refused to turn around, but Alton joined her side at the stone railing anyway. Their shoulders nearly touched, and Senya subtly inched away.

    “Yes, it’s quite relaxing,” she said, choosing to keep her gaze on the moon. “It’s strange. I feel like I’ve been here before.”

    “Is that so?” Alton leaned his arm against the rail and breathed in. “How have you found the palace, so far? Are you settling in well?”

    “Yes. It’s larger than I expected.” Senya basked in the wind that swept back her hair. “Exciting. I can’t wait to see what a royal ball will look like. It must be so extravagant.”

    “Oh, no one can throw a ball like the royal council can.” Alton chuckled. “It’s a pity Rellon isn’t here. I can just imagine how awkward he would look if he were to attend.”

    “You have a twisted sense of humor.” Still, Senya laughed along. There was something about that thunderous, guttural noise that tickled her. Alton had a way of making her forget about everything else. Including that promise she’d made to herself.

    A companionable silence fell over them. Senya watched several moths dancing around the sphere of light from a streetlamp. Their fluttering wings were bright and illuminated under the strong glow. Moths. Butterflies. It reminded Senya of the foul man she’d met at the courtyard that afternoon.

    “Alton, do you know the man called Tyrion Lios?”

    There was a shift in his breath, as if his mood had changed drastically. “Everyone knows who Tyrion Lios is.” He bristled, and Senya was surprised to hear annoyance in his voice. Alton rarely clashed with people, so the fact that he didn’t seem to like Tyrion was enough evidence of his character. “It’s best you stay away from him, Senya.”

    “Yes, I know.” Senya looked at him from the corner of her eye. “He’s very rude. I don’t want to associate myself with someone like him.”

    “Oh, he’s more than just rude.” Alton shook his head. “Last year, he made Ellaine cry. He has an arrogance that sours everyone around him. It doesn’t help that he’s quite popular with the ladies. I suppose his good looks surpass his foul personality.”

    Senya let out a scoff. “As if. I bet they all run from him the moment he opens his mouth. I can understand their initial attraction, but they’d be foolish if they continue to pursue him despite knowing what he’s like.”

    Alton’s lips quirked into a half-smile. “You better be careful when you say that, Senya. Don’t let Princess Pria hear you. She’s marked her territory with Tyrion. It’s the only reason his popularity has dropped in the last couple of years.”

    “I don’t understand.” Senya rested her chin on her hands. “What does she see in him? He was yelling at her today in front of all the other nobles. So crass and rude.”

    “He has quite a temper.” Alton nudged Senya playfully. “Not unlike yourself.”

    Senya scowled. “Don’t compare me to that pompous arse.”

    Alton laughed. “I don’t know what it is about you Benthams. There’s something so fun about teasing you. You and Relly always have the best reactions. I don’t think I have nearly as much fun with anyone else.”

    “Ha ha,” Senya mocked. She couldn’t keep a straight face, so she kept her attention carefully away from him. It was only after silence reigned once more that she realized he was watching her. Flushing, Senya finally met his gaze. “What?”

    “Senya.” Alton leaned closer, sparking a heat that crawled up Senya’s neck. “Suppose there was someone I fancied; would you be willing to give me some advice?”

    Senya’s heart dropped. She managed to catch herself before she lost her smile with it.

    “Of course,” she said, keeping her voice low in fear of it breaking. She wondered who it could be that had captured Alton’s attention. Most likely, it was a high-class lady attending the ball. Perhaps he intended to propose to her this year. She scolded herself for feeling disappointed. She should be happy for him, not hurt. But still, fate was cruel for asking her to be the one giving Alton advice on how he should woo another woman.

    Alton hummed in thought and flipped himself around so his back was against the railing. He rested his elbows on the stony surface and crossed his ankles. His tied hair swayed with the wind. It truly was cruel. Under the moonlight, Alton’s form painted a beautiful picture of Senya’s perfect man. His deep-set eyes were gazing thoughtfully at the sky from under dark arches of his brows, his plump lips pursed into a subtle frown. His jaw was sharp as if sculpted by an artist, and Senya couldn’t stop her eyes from trailing down to his bobbing throat, at the source of his wonderfully deep voice.

    “There’s a young lady I’ve come to admire,” Alton finally began. “I’ve known her for a little while, but I’m closer to her brother.”

    Was it foolish of her to think he was speaking of her? But he’d said ‘a little while’ and they’d been acquainted since childhood. A lot longer than a little while.

    “When I told her brother about my interest, he gave me a good reason to keep away from her. To protect her from my family.”

    “Your family?” Senya frowned. Yes, there was no way he was talking about her. She was already practically part of his family. “Why does he think your family will be a danger to her?”

    “Our…classes are quite different,” Alton said. “He’s afraid that if I started courting her, my family will discourage her from our relationship and break her heart.”

    “That’s stupid.” Senya shook her head. “Why should a difference in status get in the way of what makes you happy?”

    “It’s not just my family, Senya…” Alton sighed. “There’s something about this lady that will make it immensely difficult for her to be accepted as part of a noble family. Not just within my family, but from the society as a whole. Her brother is afraid that the pressure will be too much for her, that she’ll break and become miserable. I understand his perspective; I even agree to some measure. But…”

    “Something? What’s so special about her?” She must have been immensely low class if he was this concerned. A maid in the palace, then?

    “Uh, it’s…” Alton cleared his throat. “Nevermind about that. What do you suppose I should do? Perhaps I should court someone else and try to move on.”

    So, he was only asking for Senya’s opinions before he made the decision to move on. Of course. Senya felt sorry for whoever it was that managed to capture Alton’s interest.

    “Hmm, I don’t know.” Senya leaned her chest on the railing and let her arms swing over the edge. “I’ve never been good at romance. But, if you ask me, I think other people’s opinions is a cowardly reason for not pursuing what you really want. It’s not just about people, either. If you really want something, whether it’s a person or a dream, you should at least try to get it before you give up on the basis that it’s impossible.”

    “You think so? Even when her brother is adamant about staying away from her?”

    Senya scowled. Why did that remind her of Rellon? But that was ridiculous. As if Rellon cared about Senya getting hurt. On the contrary, he’d probably keep Alton away from her on the account of protecting Alton, not Senya.

    “To hell with her brother. He doesn’t control her life or yours. Why should he get in the way of the two of you? If anything, you should ask the lady before you decide. I’d understand giving up if she doesn’t feel the same way about you, but you don’t even know how she feels. It’s not fair that she’s being completely taken out of the equation when she’s the center of the problem.”

    “I see…” Alton paused for a moment of consideration. “Thank you, Senya. This has been most helpful.”

    “Glad I could help.” Senya peeked at him from over her shoulder. “If you don’t mind my asking, who is this person you’re interested in?”

    “She’s uh…” He tugged at his collar and cleared his throat. With the harsh lighting streaming from the window, Senya could see a slight blush dusting his cheeks.

    “Senya, Senya!” Liane burst through the balcony door. “What are you doing out here in this cold weather? Ooh, and with Alton, no less. Am I interrupting something?” She giggled. “Were you in a,” she dropped her voice to a whisper, “moment?”

    “Liane!” Senya stole a glance at Alton and ran up to her friend before Liane could embarrass her any further. “Shut up!”

    Alton chuckled. “I’m sorry for keeping Senya from you, Liane.”

    “Yes, you should be very sorry.” Liane hugged Senya’s arm and nuzzled her cheek against Senya’s shoulder. “Senya’s mine forever.”

    “Liane.” Senya couldn’t help but laugh. She patted Liane’s head. “Okay, okay. Quit being so adorable. You’re supposed to be nineteen, not ten.”

    “So, are you still up for a game of Witch Hunt?”

    “Sure, sure.” Senya nudged Liane towards the door. “Let’s go. Are you coming, Alton?”

    “No.” He looked up at the sky. “I think I’ll stay out here for a while. Go enjoy yourself, Senya.”

    “He likes you, you know,” Liane not-so-discreetly whispered. She pulled Senya back into the palace, and it was as if Senya had stepped into a hearth. “You could’ve stayed out there with him.”

    “Stop giving me false hope, you devil,” Senya hissed. “Come by my room later. There’s a lot I have to explain to you, and you won’t be pairing me with him once you know.” She finished the sentence more bitterly than she’d meant. Catching her discomfort, Liane thankfully dropped the subject.

    “Ellaine, Veira! I got Senya. We’re playing for second place!”

    Though Senya’s mind was soon preoccupied with winning against her friends, it sometimes strayed to Alton, and she wondered just who he could possibly be interested in.