Chapter 9 Jealous

Lady Katharina was sitting at the royal table. Daggers were coming out of her eyes and stabbed right through Am's heart. The blonde was fuming because the attention she was accustomed to receive before was given to Amalthea.

Lady Katharina has being always the recipient of all the compliments as the fairest of the women in the kingdom. The gowns she wore and her hair styles were the last trend in fashion and she was the future princess of Abhainn. Lady Katarina knew she was envied and she enjoyed that so much. The young woman had always been the center of attention and now that Prince Alasther had chosen her to become his wife, there was not a single woman who could compete against her for charms or beauty. But that night everything seemed dismal for the Katarina. This red haired villager witch had grounded her to invisibility in what was supposed to be one special occasion for the countess.

Lady Katharina couldn't stand the way she was ignored by everyone including her prince. Blood was boiling in her veins and pumped up straight to her face making her high cheekbones look a higher shade of pink than usual.

At least, by the moment, Prince Alasther was still sitting by her side... What! Wait! He was sitting next to hers a minute ago! How could she missed that. Lady Katharina was so immersed in her own thoughts that she didn't notice the prince left her and walked straight to where King Ataro and that intruder were standing.

Prince Alasther stood next his father... and Am. He interrupted an animated conversation amongst his father and some important people... But he didn't care at all. He just wanted to be where Am was.

"Father, I'm afraid I am going to steal the 'royal present' for a moment. And since it is 'my' royal present, I need no permission. Can I grant the privilege for a dance, Lady Amalthea?" Prince Alasther extended his arm to the red haired lady. A smiling prince waited for an answer.

Am gave a childish glance to the king as if asking for permission. King Ataro nodded fatherly and watched them walking to the center of the salon.

"Who can blame the prince? He is as spell bounded as everyone by the charms of Lady Amalthea. Like father, like son, huh?" King Ataro laughed out loud and so did the persons he was talking to.

Am's body was shaking. She felt how the nerves possessed her entirely. Of all the things she dreamt about, this was the last she couldn't expect could happen to her... Am was going to dance with the Prince. She was going to dance with the Prince!

Amalthea felt the warmth of Alasther's body as he embraced hers close to him. Really close... Sensually close. He was staring straight into her eyes. She could see her reflection in the Prince's deep brown irises and she felt she was being dragged by those dark spheres and for a moment she was lost in the spell.

The music played a soft ballad and Prince Alasther broke the awkward silence between them: "That was a magnificent performance, Lady Amalthea. My father gave us a tremendous surprise bringing you to the ball... A very beautiful and pleasant surprise... For me."

"Oh, my Prince, those are very kind words from you. I am just a humble servant of the crown. I am the one that is flattered for all your attention Your Greatness." Am blushed.

The couple danced gracefully talking and laughing. They swirled and blended perfectly synchronized in every movement. He held one of her hands tenderly high in the air and her waist tight but gently. They enjoyed that dance and everybody looked at them. Everyone including Lady Katharina who was standing in a corner next to the Queen with a not too happy expression on her face. Her whole body was burning to see how Am and HER fiancée were having such a good time together.

Lady Katharina couldn't stand that the filthy peasant was stealing the time, words, smiles from HER PRINCE. She was not going to allow that. All his attention belonged to hers and only hers and she didn't want to share him any more.

There was a brief halt between the music pieces and before the couple could start dancing again, the jealous blonde was already grabbing the prince's arm: "Oh, darling, I was looking for you all around the place. Then I found you here, dancing with our... guest. You know, this is why I love you so much. In all your greatness, you don't mind to entertain the villagers and peasants. But I think this is when I claim my right to dance with my future husband. Don't you agree...? Oh...What was your name singing girl?"

Am's face reddened with embarrassment. Lady Katharina spoke with disdain in each and every word to her. The Prince was a little annoyed after his fiancée sudden outburst and the way she talked to Am.

"Her name is Amalthea, Lady Amalthea my dear... She is not 'The singing girl'. Besides her marvelous voice, she can dance and talk pretty well too. And she is not a peasant, Katharina. Lady Amalthea de Albis is the daughter of a Spanish noble who was very appreciated by the King himself. In a future, you should choose better the words you use to address someone you don't know well and most if she is a guest of the crown in the castle. Remember you intend to be a Princess." The prince's tone was severe. The blonde's face paled. How could he defend this villager and talk to her in that bitter tone. The Prince talked this time to Am: "Lady Amalthea it was a great pleasure to dance and chat with you. Thank you. Now I beg your pardon. I think I need something to drink." The Prince kissed Am's hand and departed grabbing Katharina's arm.

Am didn't believe the Prince defended her so passionately. She felt honored, excited and so happy when the prince asked her to dance. He was a fine gentleman. Yet she didn't like Lady Katharina's reaction who looked down at her from above her slender and noble nose. And in the end Am felt somehow guilty. It was not entirely Lady Katharina's fault to feel that way. She thought, she would feel somehow jealous if she was in her shoes. Prince Alasther was very handsome and after all, he was the Prince and her fiancée.

Am turned around and walked away proud of herself. Even though she was aware that more than one was looking at her, she didn't need to feel ashamed. Am knew she did no harm to anybody. Besides, she had a great time dancing with the prince and nobody could erase that memory from her mind. His touch was still latent in her skin and his perfume was impregnated in her dress. The way he looked at her with his dark brown eyes, she had never seen eyes so deep and bright. Am couldn't wait to tell Maeh and the rest of the girls when she returned the next day to the village all the wonderful things she had experienced.

She walked towards her mother with a big smile on her face. Jocelyn was sitting in a table on a corner. When Am was about to sit next to her Mamah, she heard some one calling her name. It was King Ataro. He wanted to dance with Am. She only hoped the queen wouldn't react the same way Katharina did.

After the dance, King Ataro introduced her to some other guests. "My beautiful Amalthea, I want you to meet my friend, Roderick Gustemberg, Duke of Lannishire. Duke, I want you to meet Lady Amalthea de Albis. She is the daughter of a friend to my family, who sadly passed away some years ago... Oh, I beg your pardon. Queen Cephora requests my presence. I must obey my queen." Everyone laughed to the king's joke. Then the king spoke to Am. "My beautiful lady I'll leave you in good company. I need go before the queen gets mad with me. Enjoy the rest of the feast." The king walked away.

Am smiled to the man in front of her, Roderick Gustemberg. She thought he was very young to be a duke. He might be as much five and twenty, and truly handsome now that she scanned his features from a little bit closer. He was taller than most of the other gentlemen in the ball. His hair was the color of honey, and his eyes emerald green. In his blue coat he looked very regal; a true noble, she thought.

"I think Lady Katharina was a little jealous of you, Lady Amalthea." The duke broke the awkward silence. Am looked at the gentleman and remained quiet without any expression on her face. "Oh, I'm sorry lady Amalthea. It was not my intention to disturb you with nonsense babbling. I was talking with the king in the other side of the salon and we noticed her reaction after you danced with Prince Alasther. However, it was nothing that you provoked, milady. Not with intention, of course. But who can blame Lady Katharina? You are a true belle and very young and fair... charming and Heaven Above, you possess a wonderful talent on that voice!"

"Thank you, Milord. Your words are very kind." Am smiled timidly and blushed. She was not used to these kind of emotions and this amount of attentions. But lord Roderick spoke to her with respect and kindness.

"It's nothing far from true, Lady Amalthea. You are very beautiful indeed. And looking at you, what other harm could you cause? Only to receive the admiration of all the gentlemen and the consequent envy of all the pompous and dull women in this ball. Haven't you noticed that you are tonight's main attraction and not the Prince or his vane fiancée?"

"My Lord, you are talking about the Prince and his future wife! Besides, I was invited to sing for the royal family and guests by King Ataro himself. My devotion is for him and to the crown, and that includes the Prince and Lady Katharina, who is going to be the future Princess in right of Abhainn. I am nothing more than a maiden that lives in a humble village in the woods... I know my place here. And I have accomplished my duty here this evening and it was to please my King and Prince." Am answered firmly looking straight to the Duke's face.

"I hope you can forgive me one more time. I offended you milady with my words, I see. It was not my intention. But don't underestimate yourself. You are never less than any of the other ladies here. You are as noble as the rest of the guests in this ball. I know who your father was and how highly appreciated he was by all the noblemen in this realm and beyond. And even though you were some daughter of any butcher or smith, you are the most beautiful and charming lady I've met before. And if you have mercy of this fool and forgive my words before, I will be grateful and feel honored if you accede to be my companion for the rest of this evening."

Am felt it was no use to argue anymore and she wanted to enjoy the rest of the evening, and the duke had proved to be sincere and kind to her. "I accept with two conditions...", she said.

"You can ask for anything on Earth..." Lord Roderick smiled.

"That you accept to sit on that table where my mother is, and avoid that jealousy and envy theme for the rest of the night."

"Your wishes are my commands, Lady Amalthea." And with an exaggerated bow, a huge grin and taking gently Am's arm, the duke escorted her to Jocelyne's table.

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Prince Alasther observed how beautiful and happy Amalthea was dancing and laughing with Lord Roderick. He wished he was the one dancing with her and not that pompous pedant duke. Prince Alasther was feeling jealous and he didn't know why he was thinking this way about Am. He had just met her. But since the moment he saw her walking into the salon, then the moment he heard her beautiful voice... and that dance... She felt so tender in his arms. She moved so gracefully and charming. Something was moved inside of him.

Prince Alasther noticed that everyone in the castle was enchanted by her. Everybody was talking about her voice and beauty. Her father introduced her to everyone because everybody was intrigued by her. And lady Amalthea was so humble accepting everyone's compliments.

He couldn't stand the way Katharina spoke to her. She had to control that childish temperament and those jealous outbursts if she really wanted to be his wife. Lady Katharina was really beautiful and from noble lineage. The world stopped when Katharina walked by. In her twenty years she possessed wealth and beauty, and the admiration of everyone for her stunning looks. But she behaved most of the time like a spoiled only daughter of the rich earl of Cadocia.

The blonde belle studied painting and literature and traveled to far-away regions in the east and south of the Continent. She was an icon of fashion and style amongst the wealthy and the noble people of this part of the Northern Alliance of Kingdoms. Many men wanted her hand in marriage since she was ten and six. But his father would never allow her to marriage no other than a prince. And in this case she was bethroded - not officially yet- to the Prince of the wealthiest Kingdom of the Alliance.

Let me know how do you picture both Am and Lady Katharina... What do you think of Lord Roderick and Prince Alaster?

Did you like the chapter? It was a sweet dance, wasn't it?

Thanks for reading.

Rosaimee