First Night in the Castle

TEMARI considers herself as a brave person. She has a nerve of steel, thanks to her childhood in the orphanage. She also believes that her heart is already hard and cold as ice, trained by the traumatic and eye-opening experiences she had when she was sixteen. She also thought that she was prepared for her mission. That no matter what comes her way she will be able to finish this mission ten times richer and no scratch at all.

She didn't expect to see a man with a face too beautiful and ethereal that it hurts to stare at him. She definitely didn't think she will see that eye color again, forest green eyes that she only saw once. Her stomach clenched painfully and she couldn't breathe because at that moment she knew who was the man standing in front of her.

"Your Highness," the person behind him called his attention again. "Master Lennox is waiting for you at the entrance of the ballroom. All the guests are already there."

"Not all, apparently," the man in front of Temari commented dryly. He didn't take his eyes off her face. He was not smiling and his eyes look cold and cruel. His gaze was intense but also detached as if he was looking at a piece of stone that he wanted to kick away so he can continue to walk.

Temari's heart sank and she felt like something was stuck in her throat. She knew how to hide her feelings though, so she took a few step back again, enough distance that he had no choice but to let go of her arms. "I told you that I got lost..." She glanced at the man's face again, particularly at this emotionless eyes, before she lowered her eyes and politely added, "…Your Highness. I apologize for getting in your way. I shall go and find my own way back to the ballroom. Excuse me."

She curtsied just the way she practiced then turned around and walked away. When she turned into a hallway where he could no longer see her, Temari ran. She didn't stop until she got to the washroom and saw her lady's maid standing outside the door. She looked scared and in panic. Relief washed over her face when she turned her head and saw Temari approaching.

"Where have you been, Lady Temari?! Almost everyone is in the ballroom already."

"I'm sorry. Let's go," Temari told the lady's maid.

The latter frowned as she looked at her. "Are you alright, Lady Temari? You look pale."

Temari just nodded because she was still trying to catch her breath. It was hard to do what with the tight bodice constraining half of her breasts. "Let's just… go in the ballroom now."

The lady's maid still looked worried but she agreed. She accompanied Temari to the top of the grand staircase where the butler was waiting. She took a deep breath and did her best not to wince when the butler announced her arrival in a loud and booming voice.

"Lady Temari of Winterfield!"

Temari plastered a smile she practiced just for this mission and began to walk down the grand staircase. Her lady's maid walking a few steps behind her. She scanned the ladies and princesses on the ballroom, memorizing their faces and hopefully their names later.

Almost all of them are looking at her too and she knew based on their expressions that they were sizing her up. Temari doesn't care whether they find her a threat or not. She was not in the castle to be chosen as the future queen. She was here to steal a royal heirloom.

[Yeah. I need to remind myself of that.]

Temari didn't know anyone since unlike some of the ladies in attendance, she never participated in balls and parties before. She found a good place in the ballroom where she can observe the people around her. She noticed that there are some men around.

"I thought only women are invited in the castle," Temari asked her lady's maid.

"Some aristocrats close to the royal family are invited just for this royal ball, my lady," the maid answered.

Temari nodded. That means there are more people than necessary inside the castle tonight. She won't be able to explore much without someone seeing her. She tried already and look who actually caught her.

Just when she thought about that something changed in the ballroom. Excitement and tension thickened the air. The women covered their mouths with their fans as they began to murmur at each other while their eyes were darting to the top of the grand staircase.

Temari stood straighter. Her stomach clenched painfully and she had a strong urge to flee. But she remained standing there as the butler at the entrance to the ballroom announced louder than the previous announcements, "His Highness, Crown Prince Rhys of Mowsland!"

Everyone looked up and a collective gasps and sighs were heard in the ballroom. Temari's throat went dry but she forced herself to look up too because she didn't want to look suspicious or anything like that.

Temari saw the crown prince walking down the stairs. He looked even more otherworldly in the bright lights of the ballroom than when she bumped into him in that dark hallway. His white shirt, black breeches and black boots hugged his magnificent body, leaving almost nothing to the imagination. His long royal blue robe with gold lining made him look regal. His height and his beautiful face looked intimidating yet attractive. No wonder Temari could see at the corner of her eyes that there are women already swooning because of him.

The crown prince is really a beautiful creature. He continued to walk down the staircase with a few men following behind him. Temari noticed the old man who welcomed them earlier, the royal advisor named Lennox. There are three others she didn't know but there was one wearing a royal guard uniform. She didn't pay much attention because just then, the crown prince finally stepped into the ballroom and he looked around the crowd before him.

Temari froze when his majestic forest green eyes landed on her. Their gazes met. His eyes were really the most beautiful pair of eyes she has ever seen despite the fact that they were devoid of emotion. It was so different from when she first saw him many years ago. He looked away after a split second. It confirmed what Temari already knew: Rhys doesn't remember her.