Chapter 19

Arya took a deep breath and stepped into the ballroom.

Almost instantly, she was hit by the blinding lights, the beautiful music, the nobles staring at her.

She was standing on top of a descending staircase and she was looking down at everyone and everything.

It was a beautiful ballroom with polished floors, tall and elegant walls decorated with gold, an elaborate gold and diamond chandelier dangling from the ceiling. It was wide and huge and Arya could see people everywhere: nobles in elegant clothing, musicians in black uniforms playing in a corner, she even spotted some of the royal children among the crowd, eyeing her.

She walked down the stairs, slowly and carefully, one hand on the railing while another held up her skirt even though her dress hemline was designed to be short and allow her to move more freely. The green flats that she chose to wear instead of heels made no sound as she made her way down the stairs. Everyone was just staring and taking her in.

She noted some of the young lords blushing and that their faces were red. Was it because of her beauty or because she was showing off everything from her knees down?

People were whispering and talking as Arya stood up tall and confident before them.

They were sizing her up. Looking her up and down. This was the first time that they had ever seen her before, after all.

They dispersed and went back to doing what they did before and Arya met up with the king who gently took her hand and hugged her.

Arya was shaking and she looked a bit panicked.

"That was so scary!! So many people were looking at me. You think I looked stupid or-"

"No, you were amazing. You came and conquered, little Arya. I think you have some admirers now. But we need to show them definite proof of your lineage."

The king gestured towards a male servant who carried over a long and black box of some sort with a golden lock on it. It looked to be holding something inside.

The king opened up the box to reveal a beautifully made sword, about 4 feet long and double-bladed. It shined like it was made from silver and it was embellished with pearls and diamonds at the hilt.

The king turned to face the crowd, holding the sword above his head for everyone to see.

The crowd was left even more stunned and surprised and awed by the sight of the sword. It was an ancient relic that belonged to the first king who established the kingdom. It was said to be magically enchanted so that only members of royalty could touch it. Anyone who was not royalty who tried to wield it would suffer unbearable pain and be forced to let go of the sword.

The king called over the male servant and ordered him to hold the sword.

The male servant did so and he cried out in agony and dropped the sword to the ground as he clenched his arm in pain. 

After the servant was dismissed, the entire process was repeated with various random nobles who were called up to the top of the staircase, all of them crying out in pain and dropping the sword, the sword detecting that they were not of royal blood, and finally the king addressed the crowd.

"As you can see, this is no fake or replica. This is the real Evil Slaying Heavenly Sword that was passed down for generations to be used by members of the royal family. Now, my dear girl, wield the sword."

A deadly silence filled the ballroom and everyone held their breaths. If Arya really was of royal blood, her father being a king, then she should be able to hold the sword without suffering the painful consequences.

Arya's hand was steady and firm as she reached her hand towards the sword. Fingers wrapping around the hilt, she picked it up and raised it high in the air above her head. The sword did not reject her so she was able to wield it.

Everyone knew for certain now that there was no doubt about her parentage.

After that, the sword was put back into its box and whisked away.

The king himself guided Arya towards a little seat of her own that was positioned next to the royal table. Of course, she felt grateful for Catalina's lessons as she remembered that distant relatives of the royal family would be seated separately form the direct royal family; That meant that she had her own little table as she was a niece of the king, not a daughter.

He then went back to his original seat and left Arya all by herself. 

The royal table was positioned on top of a towering staircase so Arya could look down on everyone else from down below. 

Round tables littered the entire ballroom and three or four nobles sat at one table.

She spotted Catalina and Elijah sitting together but not Baron Pax.

Wait, she saw him. He must be with who must be his wife and daughters.

The banquet started and servants brought in the food which was served on fancy china plates.

 Fresh Tomato and Grilled Shrimp Kabobs, Endives With Shrimp Salad, Creamy Chicken and Mushroom Fricassee, Onion Soup and Slowed Cooked Beef Brisket, thin sliced veal with buttered peas, all sorts of dishes and delights were served.

Desserts of cakes, cookies, pastries of all colors, shapes and sizes were also being served.

Waiters and waitresses went around collecting empty plates, refilling glasses, and waiting hand and foot until they were needed.

Arya wondered as she accepted a bowl of Onion Soup along with some other dishes if she was seated at a different table simply because there was no room for her there or if it served as a message that Arya might be a princess with royal blood, but she was not considered a real princess yet-or maybe it was just to follow the royal etiquette rules or maybe both. Or maybe he wanted to keep her separated from the nasty glares and stares she was getting from the royal children and from some nobles. They were trying to determine if she was a friend, ally or just not worth their time.

Baron Pax was right that being a royal meant being considered part of the political games even though she had no interest in politics.

She shoved a spoonful of that onion soup into her mouth and found it to be delightful and delicious.

A piece of veal was buttery and heavenly.

Some sort of grainy white grain that went well with potatoes and carrots and grilled chicken.

She took a sip of her wine glass filled with apple juice. Underaged guests got either apple juice or water while their parents got wine. 

Arya looked down at the gossipping nobles and saw a boy looking up at her.

He was quite good looking with long pastel blue hair that was tied back in a short ponytail with a golden ribbon, sharp and attractive golden eyes that seem to be made from real gold and tanned skin. He was toned and muscular with the body of a warrior. He was wearing a gold and blue suit that made him look even more handsome.

Their eyes met and Arya blushed a little bit before she turned her head away.

Nobles chatted and laughed among each other but behind the laughter and smiles, they schemed and plotted, eyeing each royal prince or princess with the eyes of someone betting on a racehorse; The sparks of a succession war were about to burst into ignite and turn into a fire and that fire would soon consume and destroy the kingdom.

Arya was on her second plate now and she was starting to feel a little bit stuffed.

She decided to try a slice of chocolate cake of some sort with creamy and rich white frosting.

She remembered all the table manners and proper etiquette she learned from Catalina and was grateful for that because everyone kept staring at her and looking at her like an animal on display.

…

After the banquet was over, it was time for the ball.

Tables and chairs magically disappeared and music started to play from an army of musicians.

The first song started to play out and couples went out and about to dance the night away after eating their fill.

Arya didn't feel like dancing-her dancing skills were average at best no matter how hard Catalina tried to help her improve- and she just decided she'd rather just watch from the sidelines.

Arya spotted Elijah dancing away with some blue-haired lady in a beautiful pastel yellow ball gown.

Arya also spotted Baron Pax and his wife-a middle aged woman with whitish-blonde hair with soft golden eyes. She wore a beautiful gown of salmon pink that was decorated with a complementary white bow at the back and white lace- hitting the dance floor. They were really good and Baron Pax twirled and spun his wife around while she laughed and giggled. They looked so in love with each other.

More and more couples were dancing and it looked so surreal and beautiful that Arya found herself motioning and copying their movements with an invisible partner.

She felt awkward and like she didn't belong here.

Someone tapped her on the shoulders.

She whipped her head around to find the same pastel-blue haired boy who had been staring up at her during the banquet. He must be the son of some high-ranking noble family or something. His stupidly handsome face was making Arya turn red like crazy. Really, his parents must have some strong pretty genes or something because he was just that good looking.

He was smiling broadly.

"Can I have this dance, your highness?"

He was calling her "your highness". Arya had been introduced as a princess but so far, no one acknowledged her at all, treating her as if she didn't exist. The other royal children were busy talking with their own factions and supporters but Arya saw that the Crown Prince was paying her close attention and seemed interested in her.

He was her cousin through the king. The king was his father and her uncle.

Arya was feeling bored and honestly, if she was at a ball, why not have some fun?

At least she didn't have to ask someone herself and saved herself from the awkwardness of it.

She returned his smile.

"Yes, I accept. But please know that I'm a bad dancer and I stepped on my teacher's feet a lot when I was learning-"

He laughed. Arya felt her heart flutter and beat a little bit faster.

"It's okay. You can stomp on my feet as much as you want if you'll dance with me. I see that you're considerate enough to not wear heels. You have no idea how much getting your feet stomped on by those torture devices hurts."

He had a sense of humor as well. Also, he was paying close attention to her feet.

Her dress was showing off her legs and she was the only one to wear such a revealing dress.

"I think your dress is very pretty by the way. Different too. It always seems like ball gowns and long dresses all the time. It gets a little boring."

Arya cocked her head.

"You mean that? Some think it's a bit scandalous."

"Scandalous? No, you mean gorgeous. The dress suits you in my opinion. Now, please, my beautiful princess, will you dance with me?"

He guided her out to the dance floor as people stared and tried to look discret about doing so. They failed miserably.

Arya felt like some female lead from a romance novel right now as he grabbed her and placed her hands on his shoulders and he gently grabbed her waist.

They started dancing and, true to Arya's warning, she stumbled and stomped on his feet a lot. He was the one doing the leading and he twirled Arya around in a circle. They spun and danced as everyone else watched, clearing the dance floor for the lone couple. The music played as they danced.

"You know, I think I may have fallen in love with you at first sight when you walked down those stairs."

Arya raised an eyebrow. He wants to flirt with her? Well, two could play that game.

"Oh,you're one to talk. You and that pretty face of yours. I bet you made many girls fall in love with you just by looking at them."

Atlas hung Arya upside down and pulled her back up. His face was an amused and charmed one.

"Yes, I know I'm good looking but you are too, princess Arya. Especially those green eyes of yours."

They twirled around the dance floor. Arya must have stepped on his foot 10 times now.

"What's your name, pretty boy?"

The boy smiled a cocky smile.

"It's Astraeus Avarti, my princess. I'm the oldest son of the house of Avarti. My ability allows me to create portals."

The music was slowly coming to an end now and Arya honestly felt a little bit disappointed it ended so soon.

Remembering back to her lessons, she curvestyed to Astraeus and he bowed to her.

Catalina was finished dancing with some guy and she gave Arya a big nod of approval.

Arya rushed over to Catalina and gave her a big hug.

"Catty!! I did it!! My first dance with a boy!!"

Catalina smiled.

"Yes. Yes, you did."

This night would have ended perfectly if it weren't for the unexpected duster that followed suit.

A sudden scream pierced the air. Arya and Catalina and everyone turned their heads in the direction of the scream. They looked over to where the king had been standing moments before, alive and talking with some nobles.

It was Princess Freya. She was the one closest to her father and she was the first to see an arrow sticking out of the king's chest straight through his heart, a growing red spot on his chest getting bigger and bigger.

Panic and chaos erupted and the royal guards attempted to regain order.

Everyone was shouting and screaming. The king slumped over face first like a puppet with its string cut off.

Freya fainted and had to be carried away by several servants.

The other royal children were shocked and horrified by the murder of their father but who was pretending and who wasn't? Who was actually pleased by their father's death now that the throne was empty and ready to be filled by a new king or queen? 

The concubines themselves were in shock and horrified by what had just happened. But which one of those women were actually shocked and which ones were pretending.

The king had been assassinated.

The royal succession game is about to begin among the dead king's children.

Now, the fire was lit.

Arya knew she was in danger now.