Chapter 4

Odeliah watched as couples twirled and glided gracefully across the dance floor. The smell of wine mixed with the humidity of the night was quite intoxicating. Despite the joy and laughter, she was still the only person standing by the pillars, watching the dance like an outsider. She saw Koa talk to each other while their sponsors huddled together, excited for the big opening event. She saw a few humans dotted around—most likely nobility who had been invited to watch the events. She considered talking to them, but she did not have the strength to make small talk.

Her thoughts were interrupted by a sudden hush that fell over the room. The grand doors at the end of the ballroom swung open, and a herald stepped forward to announce the arrival of the crowned princess.

"Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome Her Highness, the Crowned Princess Hesperia!"

All eyes turned towards the entrance as Hesperia entered, exuding an aura of regal authority. She was breathtakingly beautiful, her hair flowing freely down her back, her official garment being the armour of the kingdom's soldiers. A deep read cloak attached to her shoulders as her left hand rested on the sword at her waist. She was the only one who dared to brandish a weapon in a royal ball since she was the host. Hesperia's arrival stirred complex emotions within her, Hesperia was the very vision of a future Queen. Compared to her, Odeliah realised she was lacking in too many ways, the gap felt too wide to close.

As Hesperia made her way through the crowd, greeting nobles and dignitaries with a polite smile, Odeliah couldn't shake the feeling of being overshadowed. She forced a smile as her sister approached, preparing herself for the inevitable confrontation.

"Ah, dear sister," Hesperia said, her voice smooth and composed. "How lovely to see you here tonight."

"And you as well, Hesperia," Odeliah replied, keeping her tone neutral.

Hesperia's gaze flickered briefly to Ahqi, then back to Odeliah. "I see you have chosen your Koa. An interesting choice, to say the least." Odeliah looked at the person behind her, someone she had not noticed before. The woman had been completely overshadowed by Hesperia's aura; she was a short woman with a slender figure, dressed plainly in a simple blue dress. She occasionally tugged at her belt, appearing uncomfortable in the formal attire. Her onyx eyes were sharp, and her glossy hair was tied up in an elegant updo.

"You must be Anaia Pendragon," Odeliah said, addressing the woman directly. "It's a pleasure to meet you." She bowed her head ever so slightly, showing enough respect to acknowledge Anaia's presence without seeming subservient. The girl glared at her as if she had said something unforgivable. Hesperia, noticing the intensity of Anaia's gaze, sighed and shook her head.

"It seems my Koa is not in the mood to greet you yet. I hope you don't take offense," Hesperia said sweetly, her tone laced with an undertone of superiority. Odeliah merely smiled. Who would dare take offence? If the Queen was absent, Hesperia held the highest position in that room.

"I wouldn't dare," Odeliah replied, maintaining her composure. She wished she had brought her fan to help hide her expression, at least to aid in keeping her unbothered facade intact.

Hesperia's smile widened, but her eyes remained cold. "Good. I'm sure the competition will be... enlightening for all of us."

Odeliah bowed as Hesperia left to continue her rounds of greetings. Ahqi noticed her fists clenched tightly behind her, a small but telling sign of her frustration.

As she straightened up, Odeliah subconsciously grabbed a drink from a passing servant's tray. She raised the glass to her lips but paused, remembering her vow to not drink. As she brough down the glass, an attendant bumped into her, causing the red wine to spill all over her dress.

"Oh, I am so sorry, your highness!" The attendant's voice trembled, she swiftly dropped her tray of drinks and tried to wipe off the stain. "Please, let me help you clean up."

Odeliah sighed, looking down at the stain spreading across her dress. "Stop. Wiping it won't help, just escort me to get changed." Her mood was already bad, this just made things worse.

The attendant nodded quickly, her body still shaking, and began to lead Odeliah out of the ballroom. Ahqi moved to follow, but the attendant discouraged him. "I can handle it, sir. Please, stay here."

Odeliah turned to Ahqi and offered a temperate smile. "It's okay, just wait here. I'll be back soon."

The two women walked out of the ballroom straight into a series of open hallways, with no windows or walls separating the passersby from the large lake next to the castle. The turquoise water shimmered under the moonlight, casting reflections of the two as they walked past as well as the shadows moving and flickering due to candlelight. Soft ripples created by the koi fish distorted the reflections, the scent of night-blooming jasmine wafted through the air, mingling with the cool breeze that drifted in from the open windows.

As they reached the end of the corridor, the attendant suddenly gasped, her eyes widening in realization. "Oh no, I forgot to inform the butler of my absence! Please wait here, your highness. I'll be right back."

She looked genuinely flustered, her hands fluttering nervously as she spoke. Odeliah nodded, leaning against the finely chiselled railing that bordered the pond. She watched the attendant hurry away, her footsteps echoing softly in the corridor. The princess glanced around, admiring the delicate lanterns hanging from the ceiling, the tranquillity of the moment almost made her forget the earlier tension of the ballroom, allowing her a moment of peace as she waited.

Suddenly, a shadow passed over her. She looked up just in time to see men in black drop down from the roof, their movements swift and silent. Before she could react, a cold blade was pressed against her neck.

"Make a sound and it will be your last," the man holding the knife to her neck hissed. Odeliah's heart pounded in her chest. She glanced around, realizing she was isolated and vulnerable. Her thoughts raced, searching for a way out of this predicament. The knife pressed into her neck as if feeling her racing mind, it stung, and she could smell the sweet iron smell often associated with blood.

The smell of death.