Chapter 28 Dance

Lyza
IT'S MIDNIGHT. I can already hearthe hum of the happy crowd from the hall many floors beneath my bedroom. Rosa has managed to coax me into an ecru gown made out of satin. The hems are blood red and Rosa has fastened a matching blood red veil to my hair.
"What's the point?"'I moan. Rosa gives me a puzzled look. "What's the point of the kohl to line my eyes and the henna on my skin?"
Rosa stares at me with something like pity in her eyes," Lyza—"
I caught in immediately to stop her. "No one will ever want me, Rosa. I know my parents organize these dances every new year and every other festival in hopes I might get wedded but there is no point—"
"Lyza!" She sounds shocked and outraged at the same time and her eyes stare at me like orbs.
"It's a waste of time," I spit not minding the look Rosa is giving me. "No Prince will want me, Rosa not even a commoner would!" My eyes begin to sting and burn with salty tears.
Rosa gathers me in her arms and hugs me into her bosom. I sniff and do nothing to stifle my sobs. "I love him, Rosa. I want to be with him tonight. He is the only person who wants me. Some day, I'll run away with him."
"Stop talking gibberish," Rosa scolds me softly. "You are truly beautiful, Lyza even if you don't think so,"she sighs. "Our deal still stands. I don't think I can keep you away from him no matter how much I try."
I give her a weak, watery smile and wipe my fallen tears with the back of my hand.
A soft knock makes me twirl to the door and Isla steps in. She locks eyes with me probably thinking how unattractive and plain I am before sinking into a low bow.
I gasp and walk to her. Holding her by her hand, I make her stand up. She doesn't shudder or flinch at my touch.
"Please don't curtsey to me, Isla." She blinks at the sound of her name. "You are now a sister to me." Since she is my brother's betrothed, I have no choice but to accept her.
"I'm honoured to meet you, Princess," her voice is thick and raspy somewhat sore. I can only imagine what she had passed through. "The Duchess told me to come here and ask for Rosa," her eyes rests on Rosa, "she wants you to help me dress up for the dance. That is if you don't mind."
"Of course not, dear,"Rosa coos. "Come here."
Isla walks to the dresser and Rosa gestures for her to sit. Isla gives me an uncertain look clearly asking for my permission.
"Go ahead," I say with a slight smile.
She sits on the chair but sits on the edge as if she is expecting the chair to bite her. Rosa looses her braids and finger combs them. "You have such lovely hair, Isla."
Isla beams rather shyly and looks anywhere but the mirror or Rosa. "Thank you."
There is something hard in my throat, I can't speak or swallow. I turn away and admire the silky curtains of my bed.
"How will you like to wear your hair? In braids?" I hear Rosa ask. I don't hear Isla's reply. I sit on my bed and wait for Rosa to be done with Isla. I'll need her escort to the dance even if I know she can't enter the hall but I'll like her to walk me down the dreadful hallways and down the swirling staircases.
"Duchess Alira asked me to give this to..." The prim voice trails off. The maid sees me and bows in a very low curtsey," your highness."
I nod at her and watch her walk over to the dresser and hands over the delicate lacy dress to Rosa.
Isla doesn't say a word. She continues to avoid the mirror and avoid Rosa's eyes.
I turn away when Rosa asks her to strip down to her underwear so she can try on the dress.
"Perfect fit!" Rosa cries. "You, my dear is blessed with such a beautiful body."
Isla flushes but doesn't say a word. I swallow at the sight of her, she looks like a goddess in the dress. Her feet are they most beautiful pair I've seen in heeled sandals. No wonder she is chosen for my brother.
Hot tears are brimming in my eyes and I feel smoldered. I can't and will not be as beautiful and breathtaking as Isla. The tears spill and I walk out of the room in haste. I can not allow Rosa see me crying.
I walk a safe distance from my room and from the guards before squatting by the hard stony wall and burying my face in my dress. I let my sobs come out in raspy breaths and wipe the tears off as soon as they fall.
"Lyza?"
His voice makes me freeze. I wipe away all my tears, jump to my feet and send my legs a command to run for it. But unfortunately, he is too fast for me and his strong hand wraps around my wrist and twirls me almost violently to face him.
I suppress a gasp. "Kyan?" I sound surprised and I do little to hide the tinge of disappointment in my tone. My grief had sent my imagination wild, I was thinking about him.
"Yes, Lyza." He stares at me for what seems like eternity. "Of course it's me," he adds.
I wiggle my hand free and take a cautious step back. "What are you doing here?"I didn't mean for it to sound curt but I can't help it.
"To check up on you, why else?" He raises a brow at me. "Why were you crying?"
I look at my short stubby toes in sandals. And I bite my lip till my eyes water again. "It's nothing."
"You cried your eyes over nothing?" He scoffs skeptically. "You can lie better than that, dear sister." He chides softly.
Kyan cannot be lied too. He can smell a lie miles away. I have to think fast.
"It's Isla," I feign a sigh of resignation. His eyes narrows and a scowl is already tinting his features.
"What did she do?" Is that loathing I hear?
"It's not her, Kyan. I'm just scared I'll lose you after your marriage," I say in one breath. Kyan and I have never been really close. I know he has genuine love and care for me but we never spent so much time in each other's company. But if Kyan senses this is a lie, he doesn't show it.
"Family comes before anything else, Lyza,"he takes my hand in his and stares directly at me. He probably doesn't think of Isla as family even though she will be soon. "Let's go down for the dance. Father must be looking everywhere for us. Shall we?"
The hall is as hot as an oven. I can barely hear over the melodious sounds of the harps and the ear-splitting chatter of the excited guests.
"You don't have to stay with me, Kyan," I tell him. I just hope no one spots us especially not those vain ladies. I don't want to stand and watch them gush over him.
"I have no other place to be," he replies gently.
I catch a glimpse of a flowing lacy dress and the advancing form of Isla.
"Your betrothed is on her way here," I tell Kyan with an amused smirk.
He gives me a squint that makes my smirk falter and he makes to go. My hand grabs the sleeve of his well tailored kaftan. "You can't leave! That's rude!"
But he is out of my grasps.
Isla stands awkwardly before me. I can see her internal battle on whether to curtsey or not.
"How are you, Isla?" My voice is calm and collected. A sharp contrast to my shaking hands as I pick two cups of what I assume is wine from the tray a steward holds out to me.
Isla seems baffled by my question. "I'm fine," she says begrudgingly but I can tell otherwise.
"Are you sure?" My brow juts up and I hand her the cup of red wine. She collects it without the expected hesitation.
I take a sip from my cup, my eyes not waiver form her face.
"I'm not sure," she says with a deep sigh."I feel uneasy."
Her admittance surprises me.
"I understand", I hear myself say. "I wouldn't be fine if I was away from home." The words roll off my tongue easily.
She doesn't say a word but stares into her cup of wine. I'm sure she's admiring her gorgeous features. I suppress the bile rising up my throat and the trembling of my hand. Feeling lightheaded, I throw back my head and finish the contents of my cup with one gulp. "I'll see you later, Isla."
Isla stares at me with wonder, shock and something close to confusion all mixed into one.
I resist the urge to throw a fleeting glance over my shoulder as I walk to the gardens, out of the smoldering stone walls and into the liberating planes of the gardens.