All the guests bow their heads to the coming royal family before they all rose back again.
They watched as the queen descended side by side with their hands locked to one another before the four princesses ascended as well.
They were beautiful indeed, just like everyone expected, three wore beautiful Royal blue gowns adorned with silver. While the birthday girl herself wore a lovely silver gown with a royal blue hand fan to not leave the royal colour out of her look.
They all went and sat on their respective chair before the king announced " I appreciate you all for coming to our ball,ladies and gentlemen, tonight we celebrate not just a birthday, but the brilliance of my daughter. From the moment she came into this world, she has carried a light all her own gentle, unassuming, yet impossible to ignore. Like the moon in a quiet garden, she brings calm and wonder wherever she goes.
Happy birthday, my dear. May your days be bright, your laughter endless, and your spirit forever luminous."
The princess bowed to her father, her king " thank you my king, for your kind words"
The queen clapped and everyone joined her before the ball resumed to music and dance.
The gentlemen on the ball all forgot about the ladies when the princesses arrived, all looked for a chance to dance with them, and some dukes and knights of high power, got the chance to have a dance with the princesses.
Leon was still with Alias. He couldn't help himself but whisper to his friend " I shall leave you here Alias, for I cannot miss a chance to have a dance with one of the princesses"
"and so you must" Leon chuckled before her left. Serena and her momma stared at Leon with a heart break as they watched him approach one of the princesses to have a dance, before Serena's eyes landed on Alias as Alias gaze wondered through the ball, with an expression of boredom.
" May I have a dance your grace?" Serena mastered up her courage and asked Alias.
Alias was a captivating man, six seven height of man with a body that screams nothing but power and wealth. His sharp gaze with raven eyes landed on hers, and she felt her heart skip a beat. She smiled awkwardly as she waited for his answer, and luck be on her side, he nodded. Held out his hand for her, her mother wouldn't be nothing but happy, he held her hand and took her to the dance floor.
Though Alias wasn't the one who liked social gathering especially such as these ones, he knew one thing or two about dancing. As a duke, he had to, as atleast once in two weeks, he'd be invited to a ball, and with his sharp looks, he'd always be invited to the dance floor and as a gentleman as he was, he couldn't refuse.
"You're an exceptional dancer your grace" Serena commented as she smiled warmly to him, her long blonde locks striking his arm as they waltz over the ground, Alias smiled back to her and told her " I would say the same thing for you my lady, you're an exceptional dancer as well."
"Thank you my lord, I must ask are you back for good my lord, you've been gone for quite a long time and…."
She kept on talking and asking questions as Alias listened to her chatter, he looked like he didn't mind on the outside but there was nothing that he wanted more than to leave the dance floor, he knew where this was going, she wanted for him to court her, and love wasn't really in his bucket list.
He came back to Ashbourne to take care of his duchy not marriage or anything else.
But this lady and the approaching king would think otherwise.
The king's hand fell briefly on his shoulder, warm and commanding.
"Alias," he said, like a man who's known him for quite a long time, his voice rich and steady, ever since Alias came of age, the king has been keeping him close, keeping record of each battle he won that he sent him and well… good looks,Alias and Serena both turned and bowed down to him, before Serena excused herself "it is a pleasure to finally welcome you to our home. The evening is young, and the halls are full of eager eyes, but none I hope will matter more to you than one."
Alias bowed slightly, careful to hide any nervousness. "Your Majesty, it is an honor to be here."
The king's eyes twinkled. "Then allow me to introduce you to the jewel of the kingdom." He gestured elegantly toward the other side of the hall.
There, standing amid a circle of admirers, was Princess Loraine. Her silver gown shimmered under the chandelier light, royal blue embroidery tracing delicate patterns that caught the eye like moonlight. Her red hair fell in waves to her back, the exact colour of the king and the three princess, the queen's hair was dark with a Trace of silver indicating old age.
Princess Loraine was a beautiful masterpiece, with her light blue orbs yet resembling her father glowed and even from across the room, Alias could feel her quiet luminescence.
"My daughter, Princess Loraine," the king announced, with a courteous bow.
Princess Loraine turned her gaze toward Alias, her eyes curious but gentle. "Welcome," she said, her voice soft yet carrying through the air like a whispered melody.
"Princess," Alias replied, bowing in return, "the honor is entirely mine."
The king smiled knowingly. "May I have the pleasure of seeing you dance, Loraine?"
With a nod, she extended her hand toward Alias. "Shall we?" Alias couldn't refuse the hand.
They stepped onto the dance floor, hands meeting as the music swelled. The first steps were formal, measured, but soon they fell into a smooth rhythm, gliding across the polished floor as if they were alone in the ball.
"I must say," Loraine murmured, keeping her gaze on his, "you move better than I expected."
Alias chuckled softly. "I take that as high praise, coming from someone who seems to float effortlessly."
A small smile curved her lips. "Effortless, perhaps—but practice does make perfect."
They danced in silence for a moment, letting the music carry them, before she spoke again.
"So, my lord… what brings you to our kingdom tonight?"
"I'm quite sure you're aware of the invitation sent to my castle three days ago, Your Highness," he replied smoothly. "If not for that… well, why else would I be here?"
Loraine's eyes twinkled with amusement, and a flutter of a smile danced on her lips. "So you're only here because of the invitation, my lord? Not… for my birthday?"
He met her smile with a quiet one of his own. "Well, I don't think your royal guards would allow my feet to be here—holding your hands in mine—if I wasn't invited."
Her smile widened, teasing and mischievous. "Well, then I must say… I am quite heartbroken. For sure."
Alias tilted his head, amused. "Heartbroken, Your Highness? I had hoped to be the one to remedy that."
"And just how do you plan on doing that, Sir Alias?" she asked, her voice light, playful, yet carrying a note of curiosity.
"By staying close," he said simply, his hand brushing hers as they glided across the floor, "and perhaps making you forget the notion entirely."
Her laughter, soft and melodic, mingled with the music as the waltz carried them on, leaving the crowd and chatter behind—if only for a fleeting, perfect moment
Alias had to keep her entertained just until the night ends, after that, he hoped the king nor her would bring the notion of marriage. He had a lot on his plate, and marriage wasn't his plan to add on his plate.
The crowd so how the princess and Alias talked to one another, her smile was bright and she looked happy, with Alias only a fluttering smile was displayed to her highness
" Well their goes Lord Harrington" Marielle stated as she watched her mother with a knowing smile on her face. " and lord Stratton"
Her mother stared at her with fire in her eyes as she knew what her daughter was trying to do, she wanted Serena to atleast get Leon or Alias on her side, but it seems like the king had other ideas, as lord Stratton was busy waltzing with the second princess, princess Selene with lord Harrington waltzing with the first princess, princess Loraine.
Serene felt her blood boil as she watched the two men waltzing with the princesses, of course who would waste a chance to dance with the princesses in hopes of getting married to them and have the royal family as their in laws and risk it dancing with them, daughters of dukes they were, but not as powerful as the royal family not the three dukes of Avelesse, duke of Ashbourne, Duke of Elvings and Duke of Barron. Who was also waltzing with the fourth princess, the fifth princess as the youngest was sitting next to her mother the queen, her time was not yet. She was still an unripe fruit.
She scanned the three dukes when her eyes lifted to the first floor of the castle. Squinting her eyes, she saw someone watching the ball as she hid behind a wall, when she looked closely, her eyes went wide, as she covered her mouth with her gloved hand, she knew who she was, the third princess, who was hidden like a rare jewel " Princess Isabelle"