Chapter 56

“Wow, this is beautiful,” I whisper to myself as the limo driver escorts me from the car. Unable to look away, I continued to stare at the regal castle in front of me. It was mesmerizing, and so was the high peak it was built on. Crystal waters so blue I could see the fish swimming inside even in the dark of night, surrounded everything but the land that we drove in on. Its medieval architecture, juxtaposed with the manicured hedges and yellow lights that illuminated it, made it look like something lost between two time periods.

“Well, what do you think?” Ansel asked as he placed his hand on the small of my back. “Is it up to Lady Karin’s standards?”

“What do I think? I think it’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen in my life.”

He smiled. “Wait until you see inside,” he said. Taking my hand, he ushers me up the massive staircase.

“Sir Ansel,” one of the men at the front of the door says. “It’s a pleasure to have you here tonight.” He faced me. “You as well, Lady Karin, and may I say you look positively stunning.”

How does he know who I am?

I’d never seen him before.

“Thank you so much,” I reply hesitantly.

He gives me a warm smile in response. “I hope you both enjoy the rest of your evening,” he says.

“You as well, George,” Ansel replies, and we continue inside. “You should get used to that,” Ansel says to me. “There will be plenty of people here tonight who wish to speak with you.”

“With me? Why?” He smirked but remained silent. Entering the ballroom, my mouth almost dropped to the floor. Ansel was right. The inside of the castle was surreal.

A massive chandelier hung from the ceiling with candle-like lights. Gold trimming dressed the ceiling and walls along with elegant murals. Multiple archways seemed to invite you to explore other areas of the castle, while the hardwood floors lined with people begged to be danced on.

“Wow…” I murmured, making Ansel chuckle. “I could certainly get used to this.”

Kissing my cheek, he whispered in my ear, “You should. When you're Luna you’ll be required to attend several things.”

My eyes widened. “When I’m Luna? I—” My words stop as I notice how silent the ballroom has become. The wanderlust on the pack members’ faces makes me want to hide behind Ansel. They peer from me to him, and I can see the sparkle in their eyes as if we were the only ones in the room. Ansel replaces his hand on the small of my back, and we walk further into the ballroom and onto the dance floor. Not a word is said and though there is still music playing no one is dancing. They continue to fixate on us, but Ansel doesn’t seem to mind.

“Why are they staring at us?” I link to him.

“They are?” He looked around. “Oh, hm, I honestly hadn’t noticed.”

“How can you not notice that?”

He pulled me into his arms. Looking me deeply in the eyes, his eyes tint and I can’t help but blush. From the corner of my eyes, I can see the other pack members’ eyes tint briefly as well. They bow and curtsey at us and then just as quickly they return to what they had been doing previously before we’d entered.

That was weird…

I’d never seen members of any pack act that way, but it was if, for a moment, Ansel and I had some type of control over them. Ansel leans in and places his face against mine, and I can feel his muscular chest rise and fall as he sweeps me across the dance floor.

“Show off,” I say with a smirk. A gasp escapes my mouth when he spins me and pulls me back to him. “Double showoff.”

Ansel chuckles in response. “I can’t have a ballerina in my arms and not be the perfect partner.”

As we continued to dance, my thoughts travel to the conversation I had with Joy and Maggie. My face falls. “Ansel?”

“Yes?”

“I want to ask you for a favor, but I don’t want you to think I’m asking for preferential treatment.”

He looked at me. “Karin, you already have preferential treatment as my mate. If there is something you need, I will try my best to make it happen.”

The sincerity in his eyes makes me smile. “Thank you. I feel the same way.”

“I know. Now what is it?”

“I was hoping that you could help me visit my father. I know he’s imprisoned by a different pack, but I’m so worried about him. He won’t respond to any of my links, and I just know that something is wrong. I would never ask you to do anything illegal or harrowing, so if this is too much, I understand. I—”

“Hey, hey,” Ansel said, shaking his head. “It is alright. I can’t promise anything, but I will speak to their king tomorrow and see what I can do.”

“Thank you,” I reply low and lay my head against his chest. “Anything you can do, I’m appreciative.”

“Excuse me, Sir Ansel,” a man says as he taps Ansel on the shoulder. Looking at him, I could see an unfamiliar crest on his royal robes. “I hate to interrupt you, but unfortunately, I must leave soon, and I was hoping to speak to your father about some important matters, but I haven’t been able to find him.”

Releasing me, Ansel faced the man. “It’s alright. My father is tied up for the evening, so whatever you wish to speak to him about, you can with me, and I will relay the message when I meet with him tomorrow.”

The man exhaled in relief. “Thank you. I was afraid I would have to speak to Sir Edwin, and I honestly would rather not.” He covered his mouth quickly. “My apologies. That was out of line.”

“Perhaps, but understandable,” Ansel replied, smirking. “You aren’t the first to admit their frustration with his dislikable demeanor.” He turned to me. “Karin, this is King Mair, Alpha of Rising Moon.”

“Hello,” I say and King Mair smiles.

“Hello.”

Ansel grabs my hands. “Duty calls,” he said.

“No problem. I need to use the restroom, anyway.” Leaving the men to address business, I search for the bathroom. Finding it, I quickly made my way into a stall. I heard the door of the bathroom open.

“Did you see Sir Ansel and Lady Karin arrive?” a woman’s voice says on the other side.

I bit the side of my lip. Tugging at the tulle of my dress, I try my hardest to remain quiet.

“Yes! I think the entire room stood still when they entered,” another woman replied. “Sir Ansel has always had that kind of presence, if I’m honest. But the real question is, did you see her dress? I mean, seriously, where did she get something so gorgeous?”

“I know right! That must be customed made. I would ask her, but I don’t want to bother her.”

“From what I hear, she’s nice and not stuck up like the other ladies of the royal court. Apparently, she treats everyone as if they are on the same level. I even heard that she’s close with one of her maids and a courtesan. I also heard she kicked Gertrude’s butt,” she said, giggling. “How many ladies can you say would fight at the risk of their manicures?”

“Really? Well, maybe I will approach her…if she’s not busy…on second thought, never mind.”

Smiling, I flush the toilet and exit the stall. The moment the women saw me, their faces ashened.

“L-Lady Karin,” one stumbled , and I raised my hand, silencing her.

“It’s okay. I only wanted to say thank you for the compliment on my dress. The royal seamstress will be please. Her, Maggie and Joy worked hard to pull me together for the evening. You two look splendid as well, by the way.”

“Really?” the other asked, and their faces brightened. “Thank you so much.”

“Of course,” I reply as I wash and dry my hands. “Have a lovely evening.”

“You as well!”

Exiting the bathroom, I can hardly contain my smile. Making my way back to Ansel, I spotted a familiar face.

“Lady Karin. I was hoping I would see you here,” said the gardener’s wife as she approached me. “You look lovely, as always.”

“You as well.”

“For a pregnant woman?” she asks smirking and I shake my head.

“For anyone.”

“I appreciate that,” she says, and gives me a small smile. “Now that we’re done pleasantries, I have a bone to pick with you.”

“With me?”

“Absolutely. My son is completely smitten with you. He hasn’t gone a day without asking for Hair.”

We share a laugh that carries through the room.

“Please have him visit soon. I would love to see him again.”

“Actually, that’s what I wanted to talk to you about. I was wondering if you would consider giving Thomas dance lessons.”

“Huh? Me?”

She nodded. “Yes. The staff at the manor rave about your dancing.”

“But do you think ballet is something Thomas would enjoy?”

“I do. Plus, I think it would be good for him.” She rubbed her belly. “And maybe this little one as well.”

“And our children too!” a woman said behind me, causing me to jump. Turning around, I see the two women from the bathroom. “Sorry about that,” she said bashfully. “We didn’t mean to pry, but we overheard your conversation and, well, if you’re going to be teaching ballet, we’d love our children to join.” The other woman nodded eagerly beside her, making me chuckle.

“I would love to,” I reply and the three women playfully cheer. “Let me sort some things out first, alright?”

“Of course!”

The two women excitedly depart, and the gardener’s wife shook her head in amusement. “It appears you now have a fan club.”

“I wouldn’t say that…”

She smirked but didn’t press the issue. “Alright. Well, I need to find my husband before he eats his weight in shrimps.”

“Please do. I will be in touch.”

Watching her leave, I find myself excited about the prospect of teaching dance to children.

I wonder what Ansel will think?

The thought pushes a wave of sadness through me.

I hope one day I can teach our child.

A voice behind me sends a chill up my spine.

“Entertaining commoners I see.” Edwin says. I faced him and glare and he grinned. “I tried to warn Ansel, but he refuses to listen to me.”

“About what?”

He took a step toward me. “About you. He can dress you as royalty all he wants, but you’re always going to be street trash.” Grabbing my arm, his grin turned into a snarl. “Come with me. The two of us need to talk.”