| |
Ariana snuck out of her bedroom. She had pretended to go to bed early to avoid her absence being noticed by her father. Victor had promised to disguise her as a servant when she snuck back into the castle later when they returned.
Ariana felt guilty, but reminded herself that it was only for tonight. She was doing it for a very special reason... Ivan wanted to dance with her!
“Where are you meeting Ivan today?” Victor asked.
“He said to meet him at the outskirts of the West Garden of his castle," Ariana asked Victor. "Do you think you can take us there?”
Victor was unsure about his magic’s reach, but he said, “Yes, I think I can.”
Ariana was so happy to hear this that she embraced Victor.
Victor was flustered by Ariana again, his heart pounding at her embrace.
Ariana blushed too. “I am sorry, I got carried away. Thank you, Victor.”
“I have done nothing yet, so no need to thank me,” Victor replied quickly, embarrassed at being flustered.
As they emerged out of the water, Ariana was wearing a beautiful gown, powder blue in color. The gown had small pearls with intricate patterns throughout the bodice. Victor was dressed more formally too and looked princely in his sapphire blue clothes, with shells embroidered in silver thread. Both smiled and bowed to one another, before Victor offered his arm.
Ariana slid her hand on Victor’s arm and they made their way to the garden that Ivan had promised to meet her. Victor left Ariana saying he will be close by if she needed to return home. He had to be nearer to the ocean water for his magic to hold.
On the night of the ball, Ariana spent a long time waiting for Prince Ivan in the West Garden. They had decorated the garden with twinkling lights for the ball, even if it was miles away from the main castle. The topiaries shaped in the figures of dancing couples looked lifelike under the moon’s glow. There were arches of hanging white flowers that bloomed as night came and filled the air with their sweet fragrance. Fireflies danced around Ariana’s feet, inviting her to dance with them. Ariana waited for Prince Ivan under the marble gazebo, listening to the sound of water coming from the beautiful fountains.
The hours passed slowly until it was past midnight. Ariana was about to go back to the ocean disappointed, and with a heavy heart, when she saw Prince Ivan coming towards her. He looked handsome in his royal clothes. Ariana found it strange that she didn’t hear Prince Ivan’s horse approaching. Perhaps he left the horse at a far distance, and walked the rest of the way here, Ariana thought.
“You look beautiful, Ariana,” Prince Ivan said, smiling.
Ariana blushed and smiled.
“Will you dance with me, Ariana?” Prince Ivan asked. He extended his hand towards her.
Ariana felt her heart fluttering.
Prince Ivan remembered, and he came to dance with her, Ariana thought. It was the happiest moment of Ariana’s life.
She accepted his hand and Prince Ivan swept her away in the waltz. They moved in sync, gliding on the stone floor. Prince Ivan gazed into Ariana’s eyes, not once faltering in their dance. Ariana blushed as she had never seen him look at her like that before. She felt like she was floating on air... that is, until she saw the ring on Ivan’s hand. She stopped and tore herself away from his arms.
“Victor?” Ariana said, horrified. She had seen his immortality ring, the grey pearl on a black band.
She watched as Victor transformed from the mirage of Prince Ivan to himself.
“Why did you deceive me like this?” Ariana demanded. She was furious at Victor for fooling her.
“He was not coming,” Victor said simply. “.. and you had wished to dance with him.”
Ariana wondered how Victor knew this. Was he spying on her conversations with Prince Ivan?
“Then it would have disappointed me, but I would have understood. Ivan said he would try his best, so something must have come up. I dislike being deceived, Victor,” Ariana said, trembling with anger.
“I would have asked you to dance with me, but would you have accepted then, Ariana?” Victor asked.
Ariana blushed at first, but then she said, "You don’t know if I would refuse, Victor. You should have asked, rather than deceive me."
“Forgive me, Ariana, it will never happen again. I will ask myself... will you dance with me?” Victor asked as he extended his hand towards Ariana.
Victor was only trying to stop her from being disappointed, Ariana thought. Her anger had gone. Though she did not like what he did, Ariana accepted his hand, knowing that Victor meant well. Victor took the lead, and it surprised Ariana at how effortlessly they danced together.
Ariana was wrong in thinking that Victor was spying on her conversations. Victor did however drop by her bedroom again.
Victor had originally intended to wake her up to apologize. He wanted to tell her he didn’t want to ask Ariana anything she didn’t want to give, including her time. When he got there, Ariana was fast asleep. Victor cursed his luck and his timing. He noticed Ariana was talking in her sleep again. She was saying how she wanted to dance with Ivan. Perhaps, Victor thought, he could make it up to Ariana by making sure she got her dance with the prince? Victor decided he wouldn’t wake Ariana up then. He thought she might not like him being there, and it might make things worse between them.
Ariana was right in thinking Victor had meant no harm by transforming into Prince Ivan and dancing with her.
“What are you thinking about, Ariana?” Victor asked.
“I was thinking even though you were trying to protect me, Victor, you cannot always save me from being hurt,” Ariana said.
“I will do all that I can to protect you, Ariana,” Victor said.
“Then be truthful to me always, Victor,” Ariana said. "I can accept anything... anything at all, except deceit."
“Then I will always be truthful to you, Ariana. You have my eternal promise,” Victor said.
Although Prince Ivan did not come that night, Ariana had found a good dance partner with Victor. Ariana was young, and had not experienced heartbreak in love, so she didn’t stay sad at the prince not coming that night. She was sure in her heart they will dance together before long.
Ariana was also not the one to remain resentful, so she forgave Victor. Ariana danced with the dark prince under the moonlit night.
Ariana saw Victor was looking at her in a way he never looked at her before. She blushed but didn’t look away. There was something softer about his expression tonight.
Did Victor look happier? Ariana thought. Perhaps it was the effect of the moon glowing above them. Perhaps she was wrong to distrust him. It wasn’t his fault that he was Ursula’s son.
She had heard of Victor’s wickedness but saw nothing in the way he danced with her tonight. Did Victor have a change of heart? Ariana wondered. Was she the reason Victor seemed different?
————
Prince Ivan had spent the night dancing with Princess Isabelle. He became considerably less enchanted with Isabelle at the end of the night than he was in the beginning of it. The ring ceremony took place, and the people in the ballroom saw Richard place the ring on Sarah’s finger.
“My sister is much different from me. She does not like the spotlight,” Isabelle observed as she saw her older sister blushing.
“As are Richard and I,” Prince Ivan replied.
“How are you different from Richard?” Isabelle asked curiously.
“Richard is the golden son. He can do no wrong. People look at him differently, with different expectations seeing that he is older, and first in line to the throne. I suppose I should be grateful, it takes pressure off of me,” Prince Ivan replied, joking.
“Would you have thought differently if you were the older of the two?” Isabelle asked.
“Perhaps, but it is no use speaking theoretically. Richard takes his role seriously, and for that the kingdom is grateful,” Prince Ivan replied.
“I am glad that I am not the older sister. I don’t think I can marry for politics alone,” Isabelle said. "I get restless if both my heart and mind are not involved."
“In that we are much the same,” Prince Ivan replied, smiling.
“I love my sister. I am protective of her. We may be different, but our bond is stronger for it,” Isabelle said passionately. “I wouldn’t be second to anyone in the world, but to her. I am sure that you feel the same about Richard?”
“Of course,” Prince Ivan replied.
"Truth be told, I don't think that is how you really feel," Isabelle said. "Am I right, Prince Ivan?"
Isabelle’s question surprised Prince Ivan, but he said nothing else, except giving her a polite bow. Perhaps Isabelle was only teasing him?
She is opinionated, and probably used to having her way, Prince Ivan thought about Isabelle. She is not like Ariana at all, he thought, who was much more gentle and trusted him.
Prince Ivan wished he could have met Ariana that night, but he never found the right opportunity to do so with Isabelle by his side.
———-
Prince Ivan apologized to Ariana for not meeting her the night before.
“I thought about you every minute last night, Ariana, but I couldn’t come meet you. My future sister-in-law’s younger sister detained me. She wouldn’t let me leave her sight!”
Ariana giggled. “Oh no! I hope she didn’t steal your heart, Ivan.”
“That is impossible, for my heart is already full of you,” Prince Ivan replied.
Ariana blushed.
“I brought you something as a token of my apology,” Prince Ivan said, as he handed her a flower.
Ariana had never seen it before. It was red, the deepest of colors.
“What flower is this?” Ariana asked. The petals of the rose looked so soft.
Again, Prince Ivan was surprised to learn what Ariana didn’t know.
“This is a rose, Ariana,” he replied. “The most beautiful one from my garden.”
Ariana thanked him as she held the rose’s stem, but gave a small cry when one of its thorns pricked her finger. She watched in surprise as a single drop of blood fell to the ground.
“Careful, Ariana! I should have warned you about the thorns,” Prince Ivan exclaimed.
“Why does this flower have thorns?” Ariana asked.
“It is for its protection. When people see beautiful things, they want to keep it for themselves, so the rose is protecting itself from those who want to take it.”
“But you didn’t keep the rose for yourself, you brought it for me...” Ariana said.
“I would bring you an entire garden of roses, Ariana,” Prince Ivan said.
Ariana blushed again.
“Tell me more about the ball, Ivan,” Ariana requested.
Prince Ivan smiled. He went into detail about all that he had seen in the night and how the ring ceremony happened.
“I am happy for my brother,” Prince Ivan said. “I hope to see our kingdoms prosper once again.”
Ariana smiled. Prince Ivan had filled her head with visions of the ball. She hoped she could attend in person one day and dance with Prince Ivan on the ballroom floor.
————
Prince Ivan’s father asked to see him in private. He wondered what his father wanted to talk to him about.
“Your brother Richard is getting married soon,” King Stephen said.
“Yes, father. I am happy for his marriage. I hope everything goes well,” Prince Ivan replied.
“Yes.. Yes. We all wish for it. The kingdom depends on this union,” his father said. “Son, I called you here for a reason.. I wanted to ask you, have you considered your own marriage?”
Prince Ivan was silent. He wondered if he should tell his father about Ariana. Perhaps it was a little soon to tell him he was thinking about marrying the sea king’s daughter?
“I noticed Sarah’s younger sister Isabelle taking a liking to you,” King Stephen said. “Although Richard’s marriage with Sarah would secure our kingdom, your marriage to Isabelle would cement our ties even further.”
He would be second in line in the other kingdom too, Prince Ivan couldn’t help but think. Second place to Richard... the same way it has been throughout their lives.
“I will consider it, father,” Prince Ivan replied. “First, I would like Richard to get married. I wouldn’t want to take away from his big day.”
“You are quite right, my son. Richard wouldn’t mind a double wedding, I am sure of it... and it would have saved us additional expenses... but let him have his grand wedding. He worked hard at the diplomatic efforts, and he deserves a grand celebration,” King Stephen replied with pride.
“Of course, father,” Prince Ivan said. “I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
Prince Ivan bowed to his father before leaving.
Twice he had been asked about his thoughts on marriage. Perhaps it was time that he decided. Prince Ivan would tell his parents about Ariana as soon as Richard had his grand wedding. He just hoped he would have enough time to do so. He just hoped he wouldn’t be forced like Richard to choose between love and his obligations to the kingdom.
If they forced him to decide, his choice would not please his father, Prince Ivan was sure of that.
——-