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It was already five in the afternoon when I woke up, and I scrambled to my feet, knowing I had little time to waste. Why hadn’t anyone woken me up, I wondered in panic. The ball would be starting in an hour, and I still had so many things to clear up with the sheikh.
After taking a hasty shower, I didn’t even hesitate at my choice of clothes. I reached for the gown I had mended last night, no longer caring how I would look in it when the world saw me in my old gown and compared it to the fancier dresses of the other princesses.
Nothing mattered, I thought dreamily as I rushed down the stairs, except for the fact that the sheikh loved me. This ball would not be the bride hunt everyone thought it was. Instead, it would be an engagement ball—-
I froze upon reaching the foot of the stairs, suddenly finding myself face to face with the entire royal family – the king, the queen, Lady Dezza...and Khal.
The king and queen had forced smiles on their faces. The sight made me nervous, making me remember a second too late that I had yet to curtsy. “Your Majesties.” My cheeks burned with embarrassment as I bent down.
“Good evening, daughter.” Henri’s voice was overly exuberant.
“Lady Dezza.” I tried to ignore the smirking look on my stepsister’s face while curtsying the second time. Finally, I faced the sheikh. “Your Highness.” After curtsying, I raised expectant eyes at him, waiting for him to say something – anything.
But he didn’t.
The sheikh's handsome face remained coldly expressionless, and my smile started to slip. “Khal?”
A forbidding look crossed his face, and he murmured icily, “Pray tell, milady. Have I ever given you leave to address me in such a way?”
I whitened at his censuring words. “No, but—-” I could only look at him, could only beg the sheikh with my eyes. Why are you like this again? Where was the man who had made love to me so tenderly and passionately last night?
But the sheikh only appeared bored as he drawled, “You’re wasting our time.” His gaze raked over me from head to toe, and his tone was contemptuous as he asked, “Surely that’s not what you’re wearing to the ball?”
His cruelty was an appalling shock, making me stammer like an idiot. “I’m sorry...I...I...” I shook my head in hurt confusion.
The sheikh turned his back on me. “There’s no point in you going if you’re this unprepared.” Facing the king and queen, he said stiffly, “If you will excuse me, Your Majesties, I’d like to take my leave first.”
When the sheikh was gone, Ruth stepped towards me, a look of dismay on her face. “I’m sorry, child.” She considered my dress, and her dismay turned into sadness. “Why did you lie to me about having a dress? Surely you do not truly believe this is appropriate?”
Coming to stand beside her, the king said awkwardly, “While I would like to say we can wait for you to prepare, I’m afraid we can’t do that, my dear. It would be the height of disrespect to have our guests waiting, especially since one of them could be the future princess—-” My gasp cut him off, and the king asked, “What is it?”
“The bride hunt is still on?” I asked faintly.
“It was never cancelled, milady.” Oblivious to my pain, the king glanced at Lady Dezza, asking, “Perhaps you could wait for Ella instead?”
I expected the older woman to refuse, but instead she said with a smile, “Of course. I shall take care of her. Off you go then.”
Henri was visibly relieved, but Ruth still asked me worriedly, “You don’t mind, my darling?”
“I’ll be all right,” I lied.
When they were gone, Lady Dezza startled me by reaching to pat my hand. “I’m sorry the sheikh led you on, my dear.” I flinched at her words, and she said hastily, “I do not mean to hurt you. Please know that as a woman I am on your side.”
“Thank you.” My voice was thread thin. “I’m not exactly sure what to do now.”
“Perhaps you’d like to go away for a while?” With my head bowed, I completely missed the scheming gleam in her eyes as she suggested, “I can help you with that if you wish.” When she saw me hesitate, she said softly, “It’s up to you, of course, but as someone who’s experienced a lot of heartbreaks, I can say that putting some distance between you and...” She paused delicately, as if unsure what other word to use to describe the sheikh without naming him.
I asked painfully, “Have I been so obvious?”
“It’s not your fault, my dear. My brother is an expert in seduction. You stood no chance.”
I bit my lip. “What about the king and queen?”
“Let me worry about them.” Lady Dezza gave me another kind smile. “So, would you like to go away?”
****
I PACKED LIGHTLY AND quickly, as Lady Dezza suggested. On my way out, I spied a package laid next to the door with my name on it. Not bothering to see what was inside, I simply picked it up and zipped the box with the rest of the contents inside my overnight bag.
A black car was waiting for me at the back of the palace, just as my stepsister promised. A pair of burly-looking men came out of the car the moment I appeared, and one of them opened the door for me.
“Thank you,” I mumbled, but the man only grunted.
A few moments later, and we were off, the car speeding down the driveway. As the distance between the palace and me grew, my heart felt heavier and heavier. To distract myself, I unzipped my bag, remembering the package I had yet to open.
Tearing the wrapper away, I took off the lid from the box—-
A pair of glass slippers rested on a bed of white silk.
Just like Cinderella, I thought dazedly.
The symbolic meaning wasn’t lost on me at all, and it wasn’t hard to guess who was the person behind the gift. Suddenly, memories of last night tumbled back into my mind, and this time I didn’t just remember the times we made love. This time, I also remembered the sheikh's words.
Come to the ball, ukhayyah. I will be waiting to make you my bride.
I cried out to the driver, “Please stop!”
The driver and his companion exchanged glances.
“Please take me back! Or drive me straight to the ball!”
“A moment, milady,” the other man said gruffly.
I watched him make a call, and straining my ears, I managed to hear the voice on the other end of the line. It was Lady Dezza, and as the man told her about my request, her answer was explicitly clear.
“No matter what happens, don’t let her come to the ball.”
I didn’t bother listening to the rest of what she had to say. Seeing the doors still unlocked and knowing I only had one chance to escape, I took the opportunity. Even with the car cruising down at full speed, I opened the door and jumped out.