Eyan rose from his seat with deliberate grace, every movement drawing the eyes of the nobles seated nearby. He extended his hand toward her, his expression calm but his gaze intent.
"Lady Eva," he said softly, "are you ready?"
Her stomach fluttered, but she placed her trembling fingers in his. "Yes…I am."
Gasps rippled through the hall as he led her to the centre of the ballroom. All around them whispers swirled like a breeze.
"Oh look, His Majesty is dancing with someone!"
"Who is she? Which noble house does she belong to?"
Eva's heart hammered as Eyan stopped at the center of the hall. He slipped one hand around her waist with a careful firmness, the other holding her hand. Her free hand came to rest uncertainly on his shoulder.
She swallowed. "I–I'm not very good at this…"
Eyan smiled, his eyes glinting. "Then just trust me."
The orchestra struck up a waltz, and the two began to move. Eva tried to follow his lead, but on the very first turn her heel came down hard on his boot.
"I—I apologise…" she blurted out, horrified.
Eyan chuckled quietly. "It's alright."
They tried again. Another turn. Another misstep. This time her foot collided firmly with his.
"I'm so sorry, Your Majesty…" she whispered, cheeks burning.
His smile only deepened. "It's nothing."
They moved again. Another spin. Her heel caught his toes once more, harder this time.
Eva panicked, clutching his shoulder. "Your Majesty, are you alright? I'm so sorry! I don't know how to dance…that's why I keep hurting your foot."
Eyan's laughter escaped him, warm and low. "Lady Eva, it's happening because you're thinking too hard about not stepping on my foot."
"Yes! It's true! I don't want to hurt you, Your Majesty—"
"Lady Eva," he interrupted gently, leaning a little closer, "Then don't think about my feet. Focus on me."
Her breath caught. She looked up at him, eyes locking with his.
"Good," he murmured, his voice a velvet command. "Just like that. Only look at me…and follow my lead."
The next few steps flowed like water. Their feet glided together, her body unconsciously matching his. Eva's eyes never left his; her cheeks burned hotter and hotter.
My heart is beating so fast… I hope he doesn't hear it, she thought, feeling the hammering in her chest.
Eyan slowed, his brows furrowing. "Lady Eva, are you sick?"
"No, Your Majesty…why?" she asked, startled.
"Then why is your face red?"
Damn it. He noticed.
"Are you really alright?" he pressed, genuine concern lacing his tone.
Eyan slowly peeled off his gloves, his eyes never leaving her. He reached out and laid his bare palm against her forehead.
Eva's breath hitched; the sudden warmth of his touch made her cheeks flare even hotter.
"It isn't a fever," he murmured, brows knitting. "Then why is your face so red?"
She stumbled back, flustered, her feet unsteady. "Oh, Your Majesty, it's—"
Before she could finish, she bumped into someone passing by. Her ankle twisted sharply, and she fell to the polished floor with a soft cry.
"Lady Eva!" Eyan's voice cut through the music, rough with worry. He knelt instantly beside her. "Are you all right?"
Clutching her ankle, she winced. "My leg…"
"Don't move," he said, his tone firm but gentle.
He slipped the heel from her foot and studied it, his jaw tightening. "It's swollen…"
He shifted her ankle slightly to check.
"Ahh—don't!" she gasped.
"I'm sorry," he said quickly. "Does it hurt?"
"Yes…" she breathed.
"Lady Eva, can you stand?"
"I don't think so."
"Then please excuse me."
Without another word, he slid one arm beneath her knees, the other behind her back, and lifted her effortlessly.
Her eyes flew wide, heart hammering. Eyan, are you crazy? Why are you holding me in your arms…in front of everyone? She thought covering her face.
"Lady Eva," he said softly, his grip steady, "let's get you treated first."
With the stunned hall watching, the Emperor of Velmoria strode from the banquet carrying Eva in his arms, his cloak trailing behind him.
----
Eyan guided Eva gently down onto the velvet couch, his hand lingering at her elbow as she winced.
Hans burst into the room, breathless.
"Your Majesty, what happened? Is everything all right?"
Eyan's voice was low but clipped. "Hans, summon the palace healer at once. Tell him it's urgent."
Hans hesitated. "Forgive me, Your Majesty, but the palace healer is not here. He left for his village this morning to tend to his mother."
Eyan's brow furrowed. "Then call another."
Hans shifted uncomfortably. "All the others rode to the Northern Border with the Imperial Army two days ago. Your Majesty… you were the one who sent them, did you forget?"
Eyan exhaled sharply, rubbing his temple. "Yes. I remember now." He glanced at Eva's foot, the swelling creeping upward. "Then who is left?"
Hans opened his hands helplessly. "That is what I was going to ask, Your Majesty."
Eyan fell silent for a moment, thinking. Then his eyes lit with decision. "Luca. Yes… bring Luca here at once."
Hans bowed deeply. "As you command."
He hurried to the banquet hall, dodging courtiers and servants until he found luca Hans bowed. "Master Luca, His Majesty requests your presence immediately."
"I see." Luca straightened his coat. "Then let's not keep him waiting."
The two returned quickly. Hans announced, "Your Majesty, Master Luca is here."
"Good. Luca, over here," Eyan said, his tone softening. "Her foot—use your magic to treat it."
Luca crouched and examined the ankle. "It's swollen. Quite badly." He glanced up at Eva. "Sis—ah, Lady Eva, does it hurt?"
Eva's lips trembled. "Yes… it does."
"Don't worry," Luca said with a reassuring smile. "I'll heal it. My magic should take care of it in seconds."
But before he could channel his energy, Eva's fingers closed around his wrist.
Luca blinked at her, whispered. "What is it?"
She shook her head faintly, eyes pleading. "No."
He understood at once and stopped, withdrawing his hand.
Eyan frowned. "Why did you stop? Heal her foot."
Luca hesitated. "Eyan, there's a problem."
"What problem?"
"I drank wine tonight."
Eyan's patience thinned. "And?"
"My magic doesn't work properly when I'm drunk," Luca explained quietly. "You know this."
Eyan's jaw tightened. "Then at least try. Do something."
Luca sighed. "Very well. But don't blame me if it backfires."
He raised his palm, murmuring an incantation. A faint glow spilled from his fingers onto Eva's ankle.
Eva cried out, clutching the couch. "Ahhh—!"
Eyan dropped to one knee beside her, alarmed. "What happened? Show me."
The ankle had swelled twice its size.
Eyan's voice hardened. "Luca, what have you done? I asked you to heal her, not harm her."
Luca's expression remained maddeningly calm. "I told you. My magic is unstable when I'm drunk."
Eva's eyes filled with tears. "Your Majesty… please… do something."
Luca shifted slightly, hiding one hand behind his back. With a flick of his finger, an invisible pulse of energy slid into eva's skin.
Eva gasped inwardly. Wait… the pain is gone, but the ankle still looks bad. What just happened?
She glanced at Luca. He winked.
Oh… so it's you, brother, she thought.
Eyan, still unaware, snapped at Hans. "Call the palace physician at once."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Hans returned moments later. The physician bowed deeply. "You called, Your Majesty?"
"Yes. Examine her foot. She's injured."
The physician knelt and pressed gently around the ankle. "Your Majesty, the lady's foot is not broken—merely swollen from a twist. Nothing serious."
He took a vial from his satchel. "Take this medicine, Lady. Rest and avoid walking too much, and you will recover."
Eyan straightened. "Hans, fetch water."
Hans hurried off and returned with a silver cup. Eva swallowed the medicine, then set the cup aside.
Eyan looked at her, his voice soft again. "Lady Eva, don't worry. You'll be fine soon."
She nodded faintly.
Hans cleared his throat. "Your Majesty, the guests in the banquet hall are waiting for you. They're asking for your presence."
Eyan looked torn. "Lady Eva, the physician said you shouldn't walk much. It would be safer for you to stay in the palace tonight."
Eva's eyes flickered. "All right… if it's not too much trouble."
"Then I'll have Hans prepare a room."
"Okay."
"Hans, arrange it."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Eyan rose. "Then, Lady Eva, I must return to my duties."
"Of course," she said softly.
When the door closed behind Eyan and Hans, Luca sat back in the chair opposite her, watching her with a smirk. "Sister-in-law, why did you stop me from healing your foot?"
Eva smiled faintly. "Because I wanted to stay here tonight. I knew if I looked injured, Eyan would never let me go home."
Luca chuckled. "You know him so well."
"Of course I do. I'm his wife."
He raised a brow. "True."
Eva leaned closer. "Oh, brother—did you bring what I asked for?"
"Yes." He pulled a small bottle from his cloak. "Here."
Eva took it with both hands, her expression unreadable. "Thank you."
He tilted his head. "You never told me why you wanted this. What's it going to do?"
"This," Eva said softly, turning the bottle in her fingers, "is the key to my marriage to Eyan."
Luca blinked. "I don't understand. How will this help you marry him?"
"You'll understand soon enough, brother," she murmured. "Just wait… and watch."