The Truth Behind The Mask

The following evening was shrouded in the soft glow of candlelight, as the grand hall of Azula palace filled with The sounds of conversation, the clink of silverware and the occasional burst of laughter. The tension had been building since the prince's unexpected dance with Elira, and the contestants knew that the next stage of the contest would not be any less dramatic.

Seraphine stood at the edge of the ballroom, once again her posture perfect, her smile calculating. She was losing patience with the charade, and it was time to shake things up.

"have you seen the prince lately?" she asked, her voice honeyed as she leaned over to Lady Evelynn, who was nervously adjusting her gown. "He seems distracted."

"Distracted?" Evelynn blinked in confusion, clearly nervous.

"Oh yes, I heard he was last seen speaking to....that strange woman, the one who arrived on horseback. Elira, I believe.?"

Evelynn's eyes widened "Elira ??..." she whispered the name like it was a curse.

Seraphine smiled inwardly, already imagining the seeds of doubt taking root in Evelynn's mind. " I know, shocking isn't it? and here we are looking our best while she .... Well, she doesn't quite fit in, does she?"

Evelynn took a step back , glancing at Elira who was talking with Kaelith in the corner of the room. "She's different " Evelynn mumbled already beginning to look at Elira in a new light.

Seraphine continued to observe the scene, her gaze drifting towards the prince, who stood alone by a column, his posture as stiff as ever. She couldn't help but notice that his attention was often drawn to Elira.

This is too easy, Seraphine thought, smirking, she was a master at weaving webs of intrigue, and this contest was just another game to her.

.....

Elira on the other hand felt like she was unraveling, she had been trying her best to blend in, but with each passing day, the pressure grew heavier. Every glance from the prince, every whispered word between the contestants, was another reminder that she didn't belong.

"Do you think the prince will notice the lack of .....flair?" Kaelith asked raising an eyebrow as she gestured swirling crowd. "you know the things that really matter here, right?"

"I don't know, I don't think that's what he's after." Elira frowned.

kaelith Snorted " Oh sweet naive Elira, the prince wants someone who can wear a gown, twirl like a princess and look good while doing it. He doesn't care about anything else.

"I'm not trying to win him over with a gown !!" Elira muttered, her voice low.

Kaelith raised an eyebrow "Then why are you here? to rescue him from a life of perfection?"

Elira hesitated, "Maybe..maybe I'm just trying to figure out what's really going on here, or probably don't know what else to do or say"

Kaelith tilted her head, her gaze flicking toward the prince. "You might be onto something, I don't trust this whole contest, it's all too convenient "

Just then a voice rang out from across the room.

"Ladies, it's time for the next round of assessments."

...

As the evening wore on, the tension thickened. Ardyn had been watching the contestants closely, taking note of their movements, and conversations every word. But with Elira, it was different. There was something about her that pulled him in. Something raw and unrefined that intrigued him.

He approached her slowly, careful not to draw attention. "Elira," he said, his voice low and steady "can I speak with you for a moment?"

She turned to face him, startled by his sudden appearance "Your Highness "

He smiled softly, his eyes flicking briefly toward Kaelith, who had been watching them with an unreadable expression. "Alone if you don't mind "

Elira hesitated but nodded following him to a quieter corner of the ballroom.

Once they were alone, Ardyn studied her, his expression unreadable "I've been thinking about you, Elira."

Her heart skipped a beat "about me!?" she fumbled for the right words, her nerves getting the best of her " I...uhm don't understand ".

"There's more to you than meets the eye," he said leaning in slightly "and I can't help but wonder, why are you here?"

"I came because... I have two reasons, but first something felt wrong," she admitted. "I didn't come here for the prince I know I'm not in his class. I came because I think there's something more to this contest something nobody is telling us."

Ardyn's eyes narrowed, his gaze intensifying. "I thought as much. And what do you think is going on?"

She hesitated before speaking, her voice quiet but firm "I think this contest is more than just choosing a bride, there has never been a royal ball before in Azula, this is more about the future of Azula, which means...."

" The bride cannot be just any lady, with beauty and endowment, " he interrupted

"but then why would you host a royal ball? why don't you pick a bride from one of the other kingdoms?, a daughter of a king, whom I guess has similar training and aura ,that royalty thus entail, why....." Before she could complete her questions, Ardyn cut in again.

"Look Elira, I admit! " he said looking deep into her eyes to read the curiosity in them before proceeding " I understand, but you must know that this wasn't my decision, I need a bride, yes ! I will become King ofcourse, but I won't marry a woman I do not love, I won't marry someone like me, who has spent her life in comfort, and affluence, barging orders at people, feeling like a god and all that!!" His voice raised .

A brief spell of silence ensued between them, Elira could feel his plight, he must have been through a lot more than she could imagin, plus, hearing him speak in that manner and tone was enough to relax her rising curiosity.

" What do you want my prince? what do you really want from me?" she asked softly.

Ardyn heaved a sigh of relief, "Look Elira, I'm sorry for how your night has been going, ok? I understand how you're feeling right now, but trust me, I have not ill intentions towards you, " he said, this relaxed her even more. " Can I ask you for something Elira?"

"What my prince" she retorted

"Can we be friends, like I...Uhm ...kinda like your company....." for the first time ever, Elira saw the prince looking shy, and blushing. She couldn't help but return a smile.

" is that all.....my Prince?" she replied still smiling

"uhhh...I guess so" he replied still fidgeting but before he could say another word, a voice interrupted

" Ladies and Gentlemen, it is time to announce the next stage of the Contest!!"

Ardyn straightened, his expression shifting back to one of indifference "Um ... by the way I hope to see you later tonight after this" he said turning to leave

"Uhh..okay!! my prince!!" she responded while trying to contend the laughter welling up within her

"Is that a promise?" his face lit.

"Yes " she replied without hesitation. As he stormed off, Elira took out time to laugh, her amusement being that for a moment, the prince was sounding sober and pitiful and the next moment as if controlled with a whip, he became stiff as ever.

...

As Elira rejoined the others, her mind was racing. She had always suspected that there was something more to this contest, but now she had confirmation from Ardyn himself.

But the question remained: what was the prince's true intention? Why had he sought her out? What did he know that she didn't?

one thing she could not deny anymore was that, for a moment she felt a natural attraction to him, it was like they've met for ages, a part of her wanted more but the other part wasn't still sure.

Elira shut her eyes for a minute swallowed hard and joined the others.

Her real fear was about to manifest, she knew having the prince's attention all to herself meant that she was now a threat to other contestants, the hunted one, what if She couldn't meet up? what if she actually became targeted ? or fall victim to dubious plots, whom would she turn to? was she really up for it?.

The Stage was set, the battle line drawn, the goal- The prince, and the threat?

ELIRA!!!!

TO BE CONTINUED...