CHAPTER 12

Tessa extended her right hand to Klaus, for some reason she believed he was a real man, unlike the rest who backed away because of a superior being. 

If trouble were to come, these men would submit immediately, they wouldn't dare to go against something bigger than them, she doesn't want that kind of man. 

She wanted a man that would stand by his word and fight for it. 

Klaus was stunned on his spot, he looked at the people behind Tessa and asked. 

"Are you rejecting king of war Alexander for me"

His voice was low, but it sounded loud due to the sudden quietness in the room, and it seemed it was intentional, there was no fear in his tone. 

Everybody's face darkened, Klaus just disrespected king of war Alexander by making it obvious that Tessa rejected his hand, he shouldn't have made his voice loud, now they wondered how he planned to straighten his error. 

Any further mistake could get him in trouble, somebody like him shouldn't even dare to mention a king of war's name, let alone say it without respect. 

Tessa wasn't expecting to hear that from Klaus but it didn't scare her one bit. 

"I decide who I want to dance with, and I choose to dance with you"

Tessa's words raised a little murmuring sound in the room, she took one step closer to Klaus and continued. 

"Are you afraid, if you are afraid, I could just walk away"

Her eyes were fixed on Klaus's eyes like she was trying to find a hint of weakness or fear. 

"I definitely don't want to dance with a scared cat"

Klaus stared at Tessa for a while before his cheeks slowly raised. 

"Since you have clarified that Miss Wood, as a private, the lowest rank in the military, I must say that I am the luckiest man here, to dance with somebody as beautiful as you"

He accepted Tessa's hand with a little bow. 

Everybody was flabbergasted, they couldn't believe what they were seeing, to think someone would reject a king of war and go with the lowest military personnel in the building was crazy, mad, and stupid. 

The ladies couldn't comprehend what Tessa had just done, she must be mentally ill. 

The military men in the surroundings were stunned, they couldn't comprehend Klaus's action. 

Does he understand what he just did? 

He just disrespected a king of war, isn't he afraid of his life? 

The head commanders, the commanders, and even the remaining king of war couldn't comprehend Klaus's attitude. 

Alexander squeezed his fist hard, his face turned ugly when Klaus accepted Tessa's hand, he was waiting with a smile because he knew nobody would accept Tessa's hand, and eventually she would have no choice but to come back to him, that way she would know his superiority. 

Never in his wildest dream did he see somebody accepting Tessa's hand, and not just somebody but a mere private, a private!

The lowest among the lowest. 

The ladies already surrounding Alexander tried to comfort him by touching his hands and arms, but he gave them a deadly look and they backed away. 

Alexander turned and left, how disgraceful to remain in the room, he swore he would find a way to pay this humiliation back. 

The two must pay! 

To maintain his reputation, he would not be able to do anything here. 

Everyone's attention was still on Tessa and Klaus, it was a surprise that they still couldn't get over with. 

Klaus took Tessa to the dancefloor, the lights in the room all changed to blue, and the place was a little bit dark, but one could see each other, and the people close enough. 

Klaus and Tessa stopped when they found a suitable spot. Klaus held Tessa's other hand. 

"My entire life, I have never danced before, I have never held a woman's hands before. This is my first time"

Tessa was staring directly into Klaus's eyes, she could tell he was telling the truth, but it didn't seem right, it seemed strange. 

She couldn't tell what she was seeing in his eyes. 

Tessa diverted her attention away from Klaus's eyes. 

"Well, opportunity will always present itself, this is your opportunity. How about you practice with me? I will be your mentor today"

At an early age, she learned how to dance, not the freestyle dancing, but the boring royalty dance, later she found it quite interesting, and it became part of her. 

Klaus placed his hand on Tessa's waist, he gently pulled her closer to himself. 

"I might step on you, you might end up having a sore foot, or you might end up falling which would be very disgraceful. Are you sure you want to continue"

Tessa was astonished, she couldn't help but ask. 

"Mr. Walker, you keep selling yourself short, yet you had the balls to accept my hands, are you thinking of going back after you have angered a king of war? 

"Wouldn't you just enjoy this moment like it might be your last"

Klaus couldn't help but smile, the music started then, and he slowly pulled Tessa closer to himself, she was inches away from his embrace now. He bent his head a little and whispered in Tessa's ears. 

"If I was afraid, if this would be my last moment, then I wouldn't have accepted your hands"

Tessa's heart missed a beat for unknown reasons, she looked into Klaus's eyes. 

'Is he indirectly saying that he is not afraid of a king of war, that he is not afraid of making enemies with a king of war'

Tessa continued to stare at Klaus, after she extended her hand to him, she regretted it because he was a private, the lowest among the lowest, she believed she had put him in trouble, yet her pride didn't let her back away at that moment. 

She wanted him to accept her, and at the same time, she wished he would reject her, but when he voiced out, he seemed unbothered, not even a single fear could be seen on his face or tone, he seemed to be relaxed like nothing was happening. 

'Who exactly are you'

Klaus moved his face closer to Tessa's face, almost reaching to make contact with her lips, he stopped and simply muttered.  

"Like I said. I am not brave enough to shorten my lifespan. Miss Wood"