(Painting above for Alex, Alina, and Cylia)

Alina

Alina looked around her in awe.

Everything seemed to glow and glitter, from the Lords and Ladies dressed in their most luxurious outfits and sparkling jewelry, to the marble pillars shining like moonlight within the hall. A massive chandelier with hundreds of candles danced in the center, while gold and purple tapestries and colorful stained glass windows decorated the walls. The whole castle vibrated with blasting music, and the floors shook with dancing youth, and cheering guests. Wine flowed endlessly into cups that never turned empty, and platters of the most exquisite desserts filled the tables.

It was a dream. A chaos of beauty and noise and joy...

"Why, Tristan your entertainers' quality has declined greatly. Tavern whores would have more class."

Alina was suddenly brought back to reality, turning around in shock at the insolent speaker. A beautiful winged woman with raven black waves that hung past her waist and an arrogant look in her dark green eyes. She was dressed in an extravagant red gown, embellished in emeralds and diamonds to match the tiara on her head.

"Sophia!" Tristan smiled warmly, taking her hand and kissing it gently.

"Is that one of yours too?" Sophia asked as she looked at Alex with disdain.

"I am afraid he is," Tristan chuckled.

"My, you have certainly acquired quite an unusual taste." Sophia shook her head in disapproval, while Tristan laughed.

Alina clenched her fists in fury. Why was he laughing? That woman was apparently insulting him!

"Please don't mind my sister. That's her unusual way of humor." A handsome winged young man with long brown hair and matching brown eyes interjected, flashing a dazzling smile at Alina. "I'm Stefan," he said as he took Alina's hand, and Alina's eyes widened. That was Crown Prince Stefan! "And this gorgeous woman here is my sister, Princess Sophia."

"It's a pleasure, Your Highness!" Alina curtsied nervously before the Crown Prince, while Sophia scoffed, turning back to her conversation with Tristan.

Stefan soon joined his sister too, and as they both started chatting with Tristan and Cylia about boring political matters, Alina turned back to watching the celebrations. And even though Tristan sat deeply engaged in conversation, Alina could often feel his eyes boring into her, burning her with their intensity. 

She tried to avoid looking at him at all costs, and she even attempted to distract herself by drinking wine while she continued to watch the guests' extravagant outfits. But eventually her attempts failed, and she found herself finally stealing a peek at Tristan. 

Their eyes locked together for the briefest moment, before they both quickly looked away. And next, Tristan suddenly got off his seat.

"I will go see Mikal," he said, out of nowhere, and Alina frowned in confusion.

"Can I come with you?" Stefan asked excitedly.

"No."

"I can't believe you're leaving us to go hang out with your Northern pet!" Cylia scoffed.

"He's not my pet." Tristan rolled his eyes before he turned to leave, followed by his two guards.

"Who's Mikal?" Alina asked curiously after Tristan left.

"Mikal Nordstrom of Nordenvania. He's our prisoner," Cylia said, and Alina's heart stopped, her whole body freezing. Mikal what?

"He's not our prisoner," Stefan objected. "He's our guest!"

"More like the traitor who is playing you all for fools." Sophia sneered.

Alina tried to remain calm, hiding her terribly shaking hands beneath the table. Mikal Nordstrom of Nordenvania. Prisoner? He was alive? The world spun around her, and several overwhelming emotions flooded her. Relief, fear, excitement, horror...

She suddenly bent down over the table, resting her spinning head against her hand.

"My Lady, are you alright?" Stefan asked in concern.

"It's just the wine. I am not used to drinking so much," she said, her heart racing. Mikal was here? In this very same castle? Was he in danger? But at least he was alive. At least her cruel last words to him had not come true. She snatched a glass of wine and drained it in one go.

"Well, stop drinking then!" Cylia said, taking the glass from her. "I don't think you'll like Jared carrying you home."

"Everyone thought he was dead," Alina said, her voice shaking.

"Who?" Stefan asked.

"Mikal."

"Oh. He is very much alive, thanks to Tristan," Cylia said.

"Is he doing well?" Alina asked.

"As long as Tristan's the one babysitting him then I believe yes, he is doing quite very well." Cylia rolled her eyes.

"Why does it concern you that much?" It was Sophia who asked as she turned to Alina, her dark green eyes narrowing suspiciously. "Do you know him?"

"No! I mean, I only heard about him. I am a Northgirl. Everyone in the North knows who Mikal Nordstrom is," Alina said before she picked another glass of wine and took a long sip.

"Hmm..." Sophia pondered, her eyes still narrowed. "But your concern seems a bit too much for someone you only heard about," Sophia continued, cornering Alina.

"He was quite a distinguished figure in the North," Alina challenged, trying not to sound nervous. "I was simply curious, not concerned."

"Right, you were not concerned. You were only about to pass out when you heard his name." Sophia chuckled.

"I only got dizzy because of the wine."

"And yet you are still drinking."

"Sophia darling," Stefan interfered with a nervous laugh while he wrapped an arm around her, "stop taunting the poor girl. She's our guest after all."

"Of course! Well, enjoy the party, guest. And the wine." Sophia smirked, before she elegantly turned around and left, followed by her brother.

Alina let out a long breath. Damn, that was close. How stupid she was, showing so much concern for Mikal. She should never let her true identity known around here. She didn't know what they would do if they found out that Bernard's wife lived among them. Indeed she was disowned and banished. But yet she could never know if they would still welcome her.

The music suddenly got louder, turning everyone's attention to the dancing guests in the middle of the hall. Alina was grateful for the distraction, and she managed to drain more and more wine without being noticed.

"I want to dance," Alex said, already swaying on his chair, unable to contain himself. "Will you come with me, Alina?"

"I don't know how to dance," she responded flatly, and Alex pouted while he still squirmed in his chair.

"Do you know how to dance, Sir Jared?" he asked as he turned to Jared who sat opposite to him, and everyone stared up at Alex in shock.

It was quite unusual to start a conversation with Jared whose only language was either a deadly scowl or a flying fist. But to ask him if he could dance...

As expected, Jared turned to Alex with one of his deadliest glares, and Alina couldn't help but feel scared for him. But Alex didn't seem to care. He gulped down a cup of wine before he turned to Jared with a smile. A rather seductive smile.

"Come on Sir Jared, dance with me." Alex swayed while he looked at Jared with a sultry expression, and Alina noticed Jared's massive fists clenching tight above the table, his knuckles turning white.

"Why, you cheeky bastard," Cylia scolded. "I am the reason you are sitting here right now and you are asking others to dance with you!" 

"But I don't need to ask you for a dance Cylia. I know you'll just follow me anyway," Alex chuckled.

"Well, let's see who will follow the other," Cylia said, grabbing him by the ear. Alex squealed, obediently following Cylia as she dragged him behind her towards the dancing crowd, thankfully saving him from getting murdered by Jared's hands.

Edward followed Cylia of course, and Alina realized that only she and Jared were left alone at the table. In an attempt to distract her mind from thoughts of Mikal, and the fact that she sat face to face with the furious dragon, Alina busied herself with drinking more wine and watching the guests dance.

Cheers and whistles suddenly rose from the middle of the hall and Alina looked up towards the sound, her jaw dropping.

Alex stood on top of a high table, swaying his hips in the sultriest, dirtiest way possible. He had almost the whole presence in the hall around him, watching in shock and awe as he danced so shamelessly. He was a slut indeed. Alina almost laughed in amusement at his provocative moves and erotic expressions, but then she flinched as she found Jared's fist landing on the table with a thud, startling her. She looked up at Jared warily, and she cowered before the murderous look in his eyes. But what scared her most was the fact that his dangerous scowl was aimed at Alex.

Alina looked back in concern towards Alex who was back on the ground. And now not only was he dancing dirty, he was flung against a young man, openly flirting and swaying his half naked body against him. The crowds hid them from her sight for a moment, and next she caught a glimpse of Alex and his dancing partner fleeing the hall together.

Jared stood up at once and stomped in the same direction. Alina had long forgotten about Mikal, and all her concern had turned to Alex now. She was dead worried. If that drunken man he had just fled with didn't hurt him, Jared definitely would. And next she found herself running behind Jared.

It was dark and humid outside, the air filled with drunken laughter and the smell of beer. She trembled as several drunken men approached her. But she followed Jared as steadily as she could, given her own drunken state. A big man came staggering her way, and she gasped as he suddenly stopped before her, grabbing her arm. She squealed. But the next moment she found his hand lifted off her. He grunted as his arm twisted behind his back, while a gleaming knife rested at his throat.

"Keep your hands to yourself, pervert," a familiar voice hissed, before the man was shoved forward.

Alina sighed in relief as she found Cylia standing before her protectively while the man scurried away.

"What the hell are you doing out here?" she yelled angrily at Alina.

"Jared... He is going to kill Alex," Alina said as she tried to keep her balance.

"Why the hell would he do that?"

"I don't know. But he's gone... that way." Alina pointed towards a large tree that had somehow turned into two trees now. Damn she was drunk.

A few moments later, someone was sent flying from behind the tree, apparently having received a vicious blow. Alina was not sure if her drunken mind had imagined it, but he looked like the man that Alex had fled the hall with earlier. The man landed unto the ground and rolled several times, And Alina could tell there was blood on his face.

And then Jared came out from behind the tree, grabbing Alex by the arm. Her heart sank. Alex was crying out and squirming while Jared dragged him behind him.

"Let me go!" Alex screamed. "You're hurting me!" But Jared kept dragging him, an unrelenting glare on his face.

"Stop!" Cylia called as she approached them, but Jared ignored her. "Hey, you're hurting him!" Cylia shouted, blocking their way. Jared still had his huge hand around Alex's arm, while Alex twisted and wailed, his face soaked with tears, his makeup all smeared, and his mouth wide open as he cried his heart out.

"No. We're going home," Jared growled. "You too." He turned to Alina and she shuddered.

Alex was still whimpering as he sat next to Alina in the carriage, rubbing his bruised arm. Despite the warm summer night, Jared had tossed his own cloak at Alex, glaring a silent order at him to cover his body. Alex knew better than to disobey, and he meekly wrapped the cloak around himself. He continued to cry, while throwing a few condemning back glances at Jared who flew behind them.

Alina put an arm around Alex and he leaned his head against her shoulder.

"What happened?" Alina whispered as she smoothed his hair, wondering what had possessed Jared tonight.

"Nothing. We were... just kissing... me and that guy..." Alex struggled to speak between his sobs. "Then... Jared just appeared... and beat him up for no reason."

Alina frowned in deep thought, processing Alex's words.

No way!

Indeed, Jared had not kept his eyes off Alex all night. He had not stopped glaring at him as if he wanted to strangle him. Could that possibly be? It seemed that what she had mistaken to be incomprehensible hatred, was in fact, not hatred at all!

Alina's lips twitched in an amused smile despite herself, and she suddenly started laughing.

"What's... funny?" Alex sniffed.

"Nothing!" Alina giggled, patting Alex on the head.

Well, she had not expected that.

Jared was jealous!

***************

So, what was your impression of Princess Sophia?

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