Chapter 12 Liora Mia was brushing her hair and babbling again. I thought she was the quiet type, turns out, she opens up once you get to know her. It was a strange comfort, the way she filled the quiet. I'd never met someone who could talk in parentheses, one topic spilling into the next with barely a breath in between. Tonight, it was the castle. Homecoming. She was more than excited. "To think," she was saying, "We're gonna have homecoming in a real castle! Usually we just have it in the banquet hall here. I mean, stunning of course, but a castle! One of royal blood! Isn't that amazing!?" I looked up from my desk, where I was skimming over an etiquette guide that had the audacity to include phrases like "a lady's gentle laugh" and "walking like you glide." Mine looked...nothing like this. "They have locks," I said, calm and matter-of-fact. "Only royal bloodlines can open the gates. That's how the old magic works." Mia paused mid-brush. "What does that have to do with...isn't Bianca a royal princess?" I smirked slightly, but didn't look at her. "That's a secret, plus one paperclip. I'll tell you later." She gasped. "That means you know something!" I said nothing. Instead, I flipped the etiquette guide shut. My shoulders ached from training earlier. My patience was wearing thin, and I still had one problem I hadn't solved yet. 1/4 Mia caught my silence. Wait, uoi i ten me..... Ivu su naveni tiqunu one?~* I shook my head. "I asked around." That was putting it mildly. In the past two days, I'd approached at least seven boys. All had either nervously stammered an excuse or suddenly remembered a very important project, toothache, or spiritual calling. Others just... ran. Then there were the ones who approache me, but only if I agreed to spar first. As if I were some trophy to be broken, proved wrong, not a girl asking for a dance. The last one had actually asked if I could beat him in a duel to prove I was worthy of his time. I'd declined. Then knocked him on his back. Jessica, of course, had witnessed that. "Ugh. No wonder you're mateless. Strength doesn't make you a woman," she had said with a sneer. "What else do you have besides biceps?" "Better reflexes than you," I replied, eyes steady. "Want a demonstration?" She flushed and backed off. I think she wanted to slap me, but she also liked her face too much. She ran off to whimper into Bianca's shadow. Now, with Mia looking worried, I felt a headache forming. "Maybe I should ask my father to attend as my partner," I muttered dryly. Mia squeaked. "No! Gods, no, Liora! That would be mortifying. You'll find someone, okay? I believe in you." I gave her a look. "Optimism looks exhausting." 2/4 Chapter 12 She grinned. "You get used to it." I tilted my head. "And what about you? Dance partner secured?" She blushed. Bright red. Then said a name I recognized instantly. "Him?" I blinked. "The tall one with soft eyes? That one asked you?" She nodded. Glowing. I narrowed my eyes. "He rejected Jessica." "I know." She squealed. "And three others." "Still me." +15 BONUS I stared at her for another beat. Then, slowly, nodded. "Alright. He might actually be a decent person." Before she could respond, I stiffened. That feeling again. Like a thread tugging at the back of my mind. Like I was being... watched. I turned toward the window. Nothing. Mia noticed. "Something wrong?" "No," I lied. "Just... instinct." I let it go. For now. But the feeling lingered like a shadow. I asked her, cutting the silence. "Mia, is there...anyone left who's still dateless for this dance 3/4 Chapter 12 that you know of?" Mia hesitated. "Well... I can think of one, so, technically yes." "Technically?" "But he's not exactly the best partner... he's kind of a playboy." +15 BONUS 4/4