Chapter 40 Get drunk

Isla
LYSIA COMES BUSTLING THROUGH the door with a grin plastered on her face. Curious to know what has enthralled her, I place the comb I was using to untangle my locks on the dress, I jerk to my feet and spin on my feels to face her.
"You won't believe what is going on, Isla,"she gushes smile unwavering. She giggles and grabs my finger and starts spinning under our linked fingers.
I blink. Lyza has never been this perky and boisterous before. Something really good must have happened.
Her happiness is contagious and I catch myself smiling with her.
"Can you just tell me what this is about, Lyza?" I ask amid giggles.
"Well, we are having a party tonight."Her eyes lit up with euphoria.
"Another one?" I ask. How often do these Royals throw parties?
"Not a dance silly," Lyza leans forward like she wants to share a secret," my father is planning a surprise party for Aunt Alira's birthday today!" She squeals and twirls around in pirouettes, her dress fans out around her thighs.
"Well, it is not a secret anymore is it?" Her excessive display of happiness is amusing.
She shushes me, pressing her finger to her lips and her eyes dart around like the Duchess maybe lurking somewhere in the room. I clamp my mouth shut and nod in exaggeration humouring her.
"She doesn't know about it and she won't. Not till sundown at least," she discloses.
It's almost sundown, an hour or so to go.
"I have already picked out a befitting dress and I'll help you pick one too," she offers and makes a beeline for the closet. She halts by the dresser and her eyes linger on the ornate ceramic vase which holds the flowers. There are twelve days to go before the wedding ceremony. I don't have time, I need to get out of here and fast. But I haven't found the perfect opportunity yet.
"Lovely flowers," she comments and fingers a delicate petal. It is already wilting and not as fresh anymore.
"Thanks. They aren't fresh anymore though. Kyan gave them to me," I say.
"That's... Good. He really likes you." She breaths through stiff lips muttering to herself rather than to me.
"You think?" I don't think he likes me. He said it himself that he doesn't want this as much as I do. He probably wants to be polite, the flowers and bracelets are a way of obeying his father.
"Yes." She grabs my hand scrutinising the bracelet, "you didn't tell me about it. I noticed it yesterday but I was waiting for you to tell me."
"Oh." I can see the disappointment clearly marring her face. "I didn't think."
She shakes her head, "don't bother. The bracelet is beautiful, it suits you."
Her compliment causes my cheeks to grow warm and my heart to flutter like the wings of a hummingbird. She looks pensive as she considers the dresses in the closet. "Why don't I give you one of mine instead?"
"Er... I'll just wear one of the kaftans. I feel more comfortable in them."
"No. You need a dress. This is the Duchess' birthday!" She pulls out a dress with full tulle skirt and long sleeves, "don't you like it?"
I roll my eyes, there is no talking to Lyza once she has made up her mind. She giggles obvious to the fact that she has won. She lays it out on the bed and turns to face me. "Now for the jewellery," she tilts her head from side to side while rubbing her chin thoughtfully. I'm sure she is considering what colour of gem will suit my complexion better.
"I don't need any jewellery, Lyza,"I whine like a child but she rolls her eyes.
"Nonsense." Her dyed fingers touch my cheek with the lightest of touches, "I need you to be gorgeous for my brother."
I stare at her with my forehead and nose scrunched and she bursts out laughing. "Why the face? You two have to fall in love before the wedding. And I'm going to make it happen."
I bite my lip feeling exasperated reasoning with Lyza is hopeless. I won't stick around long enough for that to happen and besides, Kyan seems too distant and rigid.
"I'll be right back, Isla." She floats out with poise. Exhaling, I sit on my bed and admire the dress. It's a very beautiful dress but it's not my style, it's too expensive and befitting for a princess not a lowly commoner like me.
"Here, try these on." Rubies loll from her palms and tumble onto the bed. I stare with a gape not believing my eyes.
"I can't wear these, Lyza. Please—"
She holds up her hand muting me. "It's just for a couple hours, then you can go back to looking drab," she says sternly.
"Um, sure." I can't argue with Lyza, I want to stay on her good side. I let her clasp the gold necklace with the single teardrop ruby pendant around my neck. The cold metal singes my skin, I run my tongue over my lips and wait for Lysia's approval.
"Try the earrings," she prompts. The matching rubies kiss the sides of my face as they dangle merrily like a sparkling red waterfall.
"Are they... Okay?" My hand finds it's way to the bracelet that hurts my wrist with it's waves of fire. I grab an emerald, twirling it from the gold link that suspends it.
"You look magnificent," her tone is wheezy almost sad. "Rosa will come to dress you up before the party. I-I have to go." She walks out of the room with her shoulders slouched and her head bowed.
Is it something I said? Did I do something wrong? Maybe I seemed ungrateful.
The bodice of the dress clings tightly to me so it's almost like a second skin. I can barely lift my arms, and each time I inhale my ribs hurt within the confines of the dress. While everyone — the King, the Queen, unknown members of the Royal Court (at least unknown to me), Namir, Kyan, Lyza and last but not least ( I'm obviously the least ) Rakar — are eating and drinking and talking noisy over the sweet melodious concert of drums, trumpets and tambourines, I'm sitting rigidly on my seat with a goblet full of wine. I have barely sipped from it not wanting to get drunk.
Namir gave me a small smile when I walked in. From the corner of my ear, I can see Lyza already swaying and hiccuping while chatting with Kyan. I'm surprised no one seems to care that she is drunk.
Kyan seems calm and even more rigid than I. Rakar, the Duchess and Namir seem to be having a quite serious conversation. The King and an unknown man are whispering seriously like people planning a conspiracy, their heads are bent close and their eyes don't leave each other's faces.
The King looks terrible since the last time I saw him, his skin is pallid and his eyes are bleary and bloodshot like he is sleep deprived. He probably is. I shouldn't care about his health, he is a man who doesn't care about a whole kingdom.
In the midst of all these Royals and Nobles I feel out of place and have no option than to trace the intricate designs craved onto the silver goblet in front of me. I wish for this party to be over soon, I just want to climb into bed and sleep.
The air is quite frigid and the earthly fragrance of roses and lilies are almost pungent as they adore every corner of the vast room. Golden chandeliers that gleam with the glow of hundreds of candles lit up the room so there is almost no difference between day and night.
I feel the tickle of warm air on my nape. I hear someone's deep breaths.
"Isla." It's a raspy whisper. I jerk and twist my head to see the owner of the voice.
"Hello". I blurt and bite my tongue afterwards. He sends me a chilling stare and an icy finger runs down my spine.
"Are you having a good time?" He raises his thick brows in question and his steady stare dares me to say the truth.
"Best night of my life." I let a grin stretch across my dyed lips.
He snorts. "How much longer can you endure it then?"
I shake my head. I don't know. I might just fall asleep on this chair with my hands cradling my head on the table, it may not be pleasant but it will do. "I don't know."
"You should come with me." He takes a long sip from the goblet I didn't notice he had his fingers wrapped around earlier.
"And why is that?" It sounds incredible that Kyan wants me to dodge his Aunt's party with him.
"Because I can't stand it any longer and I'll need some company."
I still don't understand why I'm his choice for company. What's wrong with Rakar or Lyza? "Why me?"
"Lyza is drunk and Rakar... I don't want to be around him." He shuffles his feet uneasily like he has said too much.
"You should come. They won't notice we are gone." He takes another casual sip.
I doubt that they won't notice, nevertheless I slip out of my chair and follow him out of the busy room.
"You look nice," he throws over his shoulder as we leave.
I have no idea why I'm with Kyan in the orchard. I should be scared, petrified, trembling and shaking like a leaf but I'm completely still, calm even.
He shuffles beside me, I hear the sound of his shirt being pulled off from his body. Starlight showers his hard edges with a soft glow lending him a kind of ethereal beauty.
"Do you mind?" I hear him ask. I have no idea on what I'm supposed to or not supposed to mind but I shake my head hoping he sees the movement.
I swallow back a gasp when he strips to his underwear and waddles into the water, not even giving me a glimpse to see my reaction. The river submerges him as he goes in deeper and remains immersed for so long that my heart begins to thump for fear of him drowning and finally, he breaks out gasping for air and filling his starved lungs with air.
My breath hitches when my eyes take in all of his lean form. The ridges and planes of his taut abdomen, the hard lines of his face, the enchanting pools of his eyes, everything about him is painfully beautiful under the starlit sky. I feel utterly plain just watching him.
"Aren't you joining me?" The breeze takes his question to my ears.
I shake my head slowly. I can't risk doing such a thing, I'm scared that sharing this night in the river with him will break me. I don't want to test the theory.
"No. Thanks." I play with a lock of hair, trying to distract myself from staring too long at him lest he might notice.
"Suit yourself," he says and swims a few long laps.
The table and chairs are still beside the river but are damp with dew. I sit on the chair facing the river recollecting the times I'd tease the river back at Kintil. I'll give anything to return to that time.
"Isla." His voice wakes me from my thoughts. I jerk and turn to face him. "Are you bored?" He drawls the question
"No." It's the truth. I don't think a person will be bored while sitting under a starry sky just a few metres away from an attractive person.
"Well, I admit I am." He moves in the water making it gurgle and splash. "Mind telling me a story?"
I think of telling him a story of a prince who stalked a young maiden of another Kingdom and out of lust, asked his father to kidnap her for him so he would marry her.
A laugh threats to burst out from my throat but I manage to reduce it to a lousy snort. I clamp my hand over my mouth but the snorts don't relent.
"You think I'm joking don't you?" He smiles.
"I think you are drunk." I blurt out. His eyes narrow into a squint and I gulp. Me and my big mouth. Well, he must be drunk before asking me to be his company while he swims.
"I'm not." He says blandly. And he submerges himself again. This time, I see bubbles rise to the surface of the river.