Chapter Treinta y Cuatro: Dance of Destiny

Meanwhile, the sun filtered through the blooming trees in the garden, casting dappled light over the estate gardens. Adanna was engrossed in a spirited game of croquet, which she played with Lady Midori. The game was a cheerful affair, filled with laughter and lighthearted competition.

"Take that!" Adanna exclaimed playfully as she swung her mallet, sending the ball sailing toward the next hoop. It rolled smoothly until it disappeared into a bush.

"Adanna, you have lost the ball again!" Lady Midori giggled, placing her hands on her hips.

Adanna laughed, brushing a strand of hair out of her face. "I swear it has got a mind of its own!" She stepped off the croquet lawn and into the surrounding bushes to retrieve it. After a few moments of searching, she spotted it nestled in the foliage. She bent down to pick it up and was about to turn back when she heard the sound of someone moving nearby.

Curiosity piqued, she followed the sound and found Alejandro sitting on a bench, his gaze fixed on the distant horizon. His expression was unreadable, his shoulders tense. Adanna felt a twinge of worry. She had never seen him look so troubled. Her heart raced as she looked at him. He was so handsome, even in his sadness.

"Alejandro... are you okay?" Adanna called out softly as she approached the bench.

He started, as if pulled from deep thought, and turned to look at her. "Adanna...." He stood up, his eyes searching hers, a hint of something unspoken in his gaze. "What... what brings you here?"

"We were playing croquet," Adanna said with a small smile, holding up the rogue ball. "But it had other plans."

Alejandro's eyes followed the ball in her hand before meeting hers again. "Ya veo," he said, his voice laced with something she couldn't quite place. ( I see )

"Are you okay?" Adanna repeated, stepping closer to Alejandro, her concern growing with each moment of his silence.

He forced a smile that did not quite reach his eyes. "I am fine," he said, his voice quiet as usual.

"You do not look fine," she pressed, concern etching her brow. "But I shall not force you to tell me something you do not wish to share."

Alejandro's shy smile grew slightly, the sadness in his eyes fading a bit. "I appreciate that," he murmured, his gaze dropping to the ground.

"However," Adanna continued, placing a gentle hand on Alejandro's arm, "I shall not sit idly by and watch you suffer in silence. Let uss do something to take your mind off it, shall we?"

Alejandro looked at her, his eyes filled with confusion. "What...what do you mean?"

Before he could process what was happening, she reached out and helped him stand up. "Let us dance," she whispered, her eyes sparkling with a mischievous glint. Alejandro stumbled over his own feet for a moment, his cheeks flushing a deep shade of red. "But... there is no music," he stammered, his heart racing.

Ignoring his protests, Adanna stepped closer, placing a hand on his chest and another on his hand. She began to sway, her movements gentle and sure, guiding him in a silent rhythm that seemed to resonate in the very air around them. Alejandro's eyes searched hers, filled with a mix of confusion and surprise. Adanna shrugged playfully. "So? We can make our own music."

As they twirled in the serene garden, Alejandro couldn't help but smile, feeling the tension of his earlier worries lift just a little. Adanna moved gracefully, her laughter contegious, and Alejandro found himself caught in the whirlwind of her cheerful nature. They danced, their movements in sync without the need for music, as if they had known each other for a lifetime.

"See? This is better," Adanna said, her voice gentle, her eyes sparkling with the joy of the moment. Alejandro's cheeks remained flushed, but a smile had found its way to his lips. He stumbled a bit in his movements, but Adanna's confidence was infectious, and he found himself relaxing into the dance, his steps matching hers. Adanna leaned closer, the space between them shrinking until their bodies were almost touching. Alejandro's heart raced, his eyes locked onto hers.

As they danced, the tension between them grew palpable. It was a dance of friendship, of comfort, of two souls finding a brief respite from the storm raging outside. And then, as if the universe itself had decided to acknowledge the tenderness of the moment, the sun peeked out from behind a cloud, bathing them in a soft, warm glow. Alejandro's gaze drifted to Adanna's mouth, and he felt himself leaning in, his shyness momentarily forgotten.

But just as their lips were about to touch, the sound of approaching footsteps shattered the serenity. Adanna's eyes widened, and she pulled away abruptly, her cheeks flushing. They both turned to find Duke Ricardo standing a few feet away, watching them with a look of bewilderment. His eyes flickered between Adanna and Alejandro, and for a brief moment, there was something in his gaze that seemed almost... pained.

Silence enveloped the garden, and Adanna's breath caught in her throat. Alejandro stiffened, quickly taking a step back. "Duke Ricardo," he managed, his voice steady but low. The duke's gaze shifted between Alejandro and Adanna, his sharp brown eyes narrowing with confusion.

Adanna, trying to regain her composure, stepped forward. "Hello, Your Grace," she said, dropping into a curtsy, her heart pounding. Alejandro followed suit, his eyes never leaving the ground. "I am Lady Adanna. It is a pleasure to meet you."

Ricardo studied her for a moment, his brow furrowed as if he were trying to piece together a puzzle. He smiled back. "A pleasure, indeed. You are quite... lively."

Adanna felt a rush of warmth at the compliment, though the tension in the air was palpable. "Thank you, Your Grace."

"What were you two doing?" Ricardo's voice was curious but not accusatory.

"We were just... uh, dancing." She glanced at Alejandro, who was still frozen in place, his eyes wide and his cheeks a bright shade of red.

"Dancing?" Ricardo repeated, a hint of amusement breaking through his confusion. "Is that a common practice in these gardens?"

"It should be!" Adanna replied brightly, trying to ease the tension. "Everyone should dance more. It brings joy, would you not agree?"

Ricardo chuckled lightly, though his expression remained serious. "Perhaps you are right." His eyes flickered back to Alejandro, and for a brief moment, a shadow of recognition crossed his features. "You are quite the dancer, my young friend."

Alejandro nodded, keeping his distance from the duke. "I try my best, Your Grace."

"Indeed," Ricardo said, crossing his arms. "And how is your mother?" His question seemed innocent enough, but Adanna felt a flicker of apprehension.

"She is well," Alejandro replied, his voice steady. "Thank you for asking."

Adanna watched the exchange, curiosity piquing within her. She noticed a flicker of tension in Alejandro's posture, his hand tightening around the mallet as he answered the duke. "Your Grace, I appreciate your concern," he said, his voice formal. "But I assure you, my mother is quite well."

"Lady Adanna," Ricardo said suddenly, pulling her attention back to him. "Have you been enjoying your time here?"

"It is been incredible," she said genuinely. "The gardens, the contests—everything is beautiful." She glanced at Alejandro, her heart fluttering. "I have made wonderful friends."

"Ah, friends," Ricardo mused, a hint of a smile on his lips. "Friends can be quite... revealing."

"Revealing?" Adanna asked, puzzled.

Ricardo nodded thoughtfully. "Yes. They can uncover truths that may be hidden from us."

Adanna felt the weight of his words but couldn't quite understand their meaning. "I suppose that is true."

Silence fell again, thick with unspoken emotions. Alejandro looked away, avoiding the Ricardo's gaze. Adanna sensed an undercurrent of tension between them, like a thread ready to snap.

Finally, Ricardo spoke again, "I should not interrupt your... dancing." He offered a half-smile, though his eyes were sharp with scrutiny. "Please, carry on."

"Thank you, Your Grace," Adanna replied, though the warmth of the moment had dissipated.

As Ricardo turned to leave, Alejandro's shoulders relaxed. He looked over at Adanna, her eyes questioning. "What was that about?" she whispered, the romantic moment lost in the shadow of the duke's sudden appearance.

"I am not sure." Alejandro's voice was soft, his gaze still on the ground.

Adanna and Alejandro exchanged goodbye's, the tension of the encounter with Ricardo lingering in the air like a heavy fog. With a sigh, Adanna made her way back to their shared chambers, her mind racing with questions about Alejandro's sadness and the mysterious arrival of the duke's amnesiac condition. When she finally arrived at her chambers, she found Serena sitting on the bed, her expression clouded with distress. Adanna's heart sank. "Serena, what's wrong?" she asked, walking over to her friend.

"Nothing," Serena replied, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Come on, it is obvious you are upset. Is it something to do with Princess Anjali?" Adanna pressed, her brow furrowing with concern.

"No," Serena said too quickly, a forced smile attempting to mask her feelings. "I'm just a bit homesick."

Adanna studied her friend, sensing there was more to it but deciding not to pry further. "I spoke to the duke's father, Duke Ricardo," she said, changing the subject. Serena's eyes snapped to hers, her curiosity piqued despite her sadness.

"What? How?" Serena's eyes searched Adanna's face, her curiosity momentarily overriding her own distress.

"I was playing with Lady Midori when we lost the ball. I went to get it and saw Alejandro sitting on a bench looking quite upset, so I decided to cheer him up. Then the duke's father came along." Adanna paused, her gaze drifting to the floor.

"Adanna, this is amazing news!" Serena exclaimed, her eyes wide. "What did the duke say? Did he seem off? Was he nice? Did he seem confused?"

"Serena! Serena! Please Calm down!" Adanna's voice echoed in the dimly lit corridor, her eyes filled with genuine worry. "He seemed quite normal...however he did say something about hidden truths being revealed by friends...I am not sure what he meant by that."

"ADANNA!" Serena nearly shouted, her excitement palpable. "This could be a clue! Maybe the truth of his disappearance is linked somehow!"

"Ohhh," Adanna replied, the realization dawning on her.

"It is late, but tomorrow, we shall go and figure this out together," Adanna said, placing a comforting hand on Serena's shoulder. Despite Serena's insistence that she was okay, the worry lines on her friend's face told a different story.