PRINCESS CORALYNN'S POINT OF VIEW :

"Also one of the mouth watering specimen of vampire males," Madeline added giving a seductive eye to King Henry. My brother-in-law, Duke Alystair standing right beside me raised a suspicious eyebrow at her. 

"Of course, and what an attractive wife he has," he said with a sneaky smile while taking a small sip of his wine. Madeline snapped her eyes back at Alystair and cleared her throat.

"Excuse me?"

"You are excused," Alystair smiled sweetly.

"I am standing right here!" She bit back.

"I see that, Madeline," Alystair acted nonchalant and crossed me to stand next to Madeline.

"If you can tease me by praising another man then I am not stepping back."

"Is this a challenge?" Madeline scoffed.

"No, a small warning..." Alystair bent to her side and whispered in her ear, "I shall explain it more briefly in our bed-chambers tonight."

Madeline's ears and cheeks flushed red and her eyes faltered in embarrassment but she chose to remain quiet making Alystair smile triumphantly. I cringed and shook my head, "I am not ready to be a part of this conversation."

Taking a drink from one of the serving staff, I made my way haphazardly through the crowd to a secluded corner.

The social stress and the responsibility to make small talks with random strangers rarely made me comfortable. Madeline always took the social gatherings very seriously since a young age while I would always end up being a wall flower. It never was my forte. I glanced around me and saw people flashing fake smiles and throwing occasional laughter and giggles here and there as if they are having the time of their lives. While a few immersed themselves at the bar in the corner and ordered the servants to pour them more alcohol, some others just glared around and gossiped. My displeasure made itself clear through an involuntary facial expression as I excused myself every time I had to ask someone to give me way to pass.

The pricking corset was a potential torture instrument. It almost felt like an iron cage tightened around the body as much as possible and the longer you wear it, the harsher are the marks on your body.  I tried to adjust it being completely natural and inconspicuous but while pulling at the bodice of my dress, my hand snapped and recoiled back knocking someone's drink.

"Please excuse me!" I quickly apologized with a pale face. My eyes met with two pools of green reminding me of the precious, rare emeralds. Hair strands like the exotically spun gold rested over his porcelain face and a shining gold crown sat over his head elegantly with a slight tilt as if it was done on purpose. His face showed no expression but his blood lips parted ever so slightly to let out a soft minty breath. For a moment I felt he was a live portrait.

"Are you alright?" His smooth, accented voice interrupted my thoughts and I blinked blankly.

"Me? Yes, I am," I said and suddenly felt my throat dry up under his scrutiny.

"I am sorry for the accident," I noticed the wine that fell off his hands and the glass shattered over the marble floor into a million pieces.

"I can always have another," He responded with a grin and gestured a servant to clean the mess I just made. The dreamy looking man pulled out a white handkerchief with a golden emblem out of his chest pocket and wiped his hand that had the traces of red wine. I felt guilty but apologizing frequently like a goose isn't attractive as well.

My curiosity took the better of me and I ended up blurting out, "Which empire do you belong to? If you do not mind me asking, of course."

An amused smile played over his lips and he raised his eyebrows, "Skrines."

"That's a lovely place, I have always wanted to visit," I smiled, "I have heard they have the rare Garden of Blue Blossoms."

He nodded gently, "Yes, there is one. I like the garden too."

"Do you frequent the spot?"

"Sometimes, when I am too stressed," His eyes met mine again and the charming smile made a small dimple pop in his right cheek.

"I am sure the place can do wonders to one's mental peace and help in brightening up the mood," I said remembering my mother telling me stories about the enchanted Garden of Blue Blossoms.

"Certainly, it does. You should visit it sometime," He suggested.

"I surely will," I leaned my back against the pillar and asked, "What can possibly cause you to be here, away from the crowd and in the dark corner?"

"Let's just say, I am not too fond of social gatherings but sometimes you must execute certain tasks as a part of your duties," He tilted his head and shoved the neatly folded handkerchief in his pants' pocket.

I sealed my lips in a thin line and spoke, "I feel that."

"And how about you?" He casually eyed the royal couple we met a while ago.

"Let's just say, I have a similar answer," I chuckled and I must admit it felt strangely comfortable to be speaking to a strange male.

"What would you rather be doing, miss?" He raised an interested eyebrow at me which I felt was quite attractive.

"Probably be in my laboratory working on a steam amplifier project or finish a pending task or... convince my father to fetch me a purple stone telescope. I heard it is ten times more effective than an average telescope in catching images of a celestial body," I nervously rubbed my fingers.

"That's very interesting."

"No, I certainly must have bored you with these, I am sorry I don't have any eye catching and glamorous topic to speak on like a princess should," I gave an apologetic smile while he shook his head.

"A princess with with such intellectual interests and knowledge is certainly more attractive in my opinion."

I blushed, "Glad someone understands me. My sister just wants to find me a nice husband and give the father a political support," I sighed in frustration, "..which would mean putting an end to all my hopes and dreams and carry forward the duty of an ideal wife and be a proper ruling partner. My father and she supposedly arranged the event to make me meet some damn King."

"What was his name again?" I tapped my chin and thought for a moment, "Byron! yes, that's his name." 

He choked on a drink he was just served but recovered soon. I realized I had said more than I was supposed to and bit back my tongue in regret for losing control. Being under stress always gets better of me.

"May I have the honor of knowing your name?" He gave me his unwavering attention and set his drink aside.

"Cora," I said with a frown.

"Cora? Is that it?"

"Coralynn Victoria Adelia Anne Rosa Watts," I chuckled at myself of how lengthy and hilarious it just sounded.

"Coralynn. Princess Coralynn. That's a lovely name," The handsome man's eyes twinkled.

"What might your good name be, sir?" I asked  with a humorous tone and tilted my head.

"Byron. Byron Robert Walton, the same damn King... of Skrines," he took an intentional pause before the last two words.

I froze. Did I hear that right? I just spoke rubbish about the only person I was supposed to act right before and I ruined it! My eyes bulged out of the sockets in astonishment and mouth opened and closed like that of a struggling fish. I was at the loss of words. What was I supposed to do now? 

He must be mentally laughing at my lack of knowledge and thinking how he ended up encountering such a retarded person. Perhaps, I should have paid a little more attention at the geography lessons by Madeline.

I opened my mouth to apologize but he simply raised a dismissive hand to silence me, "I would be delighted if you visit my kingdom sometime. I have a personal laboratory with the purple stone telescope and I shall be honored to give you a tour of the Garden of Blue Blossoms."

The music soon filled the strange silence. His Majesty Byron took a few steps back and disappeared into the crowd after throwing a mysterious smirk.

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Author's Note : 

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