286 SHALL WE DANCE?

Zoe closed her eyes as she listen to the sounds of the festive music being played along for the guests. And as she opened them, the whole venue made her realize that she is in a different part of the world. 

'I hope no one would notice that I am not one of them.' She secretly wished while she crossed her fingers as her eyes darted to the guests of this prestigious event.

"Try this one. This is one of my favorite and I personally requested them." Princess Taia, who was seated on her right, gently pushed a dish on her side. 

She smiled at her bashfully and tried to nibble a bite. It was indeed delicious! If it was an event outside of this land, she would gobble on it quickly. But her tensed feeling seemed to suffocate her esophagus from wanting to digest the scrumptious food in front of her.

"Is anything troubling you, Lady Asha?" Princess Taia asked her.

"No, I'm okay. It's just my first time and I feel a little uncomfortable." 

"I see! You better get used to it. I think my older brother really likes you. He might ask for your hand and your parents' approval anytime soon." 

Princess Taia's face stretched into a mischievous grin as she put both her closed fists on her cheeks. 

"Princess Taia!" Zoe blurted out in astonishment as she cupped her jaw-dropped mouth at the straightforwardness of Raigon's youngest sister.

But then it quickly dissipated as she recalled herself imagining then how her would-be fiance would propose to her. She has lost her parents and she is only with her Uncle and cousin who lived at the other end of the world. 

She was envious when she heard of stories from her colleagues when their boyfriends went to their houses to ask for their parent's approval in their marriage. Some of them were against them. But there were some who were overjoyed that another member would be part of their family. Still, they had a family to celebrate it with.

'Would it be a different story now that I found my Grandmother?' The thought of her grandmother existing penetrated Zoe's lonely past. 

All the guests, including the royal family started to taste the delicious menu offered to them by the host of today's event, which is the King himself. 

Everyone nodded their heads in agreement that it was indeed a delightful time, not only because of the flavorsome meal but because the King personally invited them to be a part of it. 

As they were all finishing with their meals, a different kind of music played in the background. The men's eyes lit up as it was the cue for them to stand up and ask the ladies for a dance even though it would be a group dance.

Zoe, feeling a little comfortable already, was still munching on her food when a deep sultry voice disturbed her meal. 

"May I have this dance?" 

She swiveled to her left as she didn't realize that Princess Taia was not there anymore. But his older brother, Raigon, the Crowned Prince of Terra himself.

Her hand flew to get the nearest cup of drink and gulped it down in less than five seconds.

Zoe gazed at him with his irresistible smile that could melt anyone's heart. Who would dare refuse this commanding presence of a man?

But then Zoe's eyes darted to the other people who were now looking at her in disdain. Most of them are the ladies. 

"Maybe later, your Highness. I'm still not done with my food." She beamed at him sheepishly as she pointed the leftovers in her plate. 

An amused smicker played on Raigon's cheeks, perhaps being reminded of the times he witnessed her great love for food.

"Very well then. But I will come back. Enjoy your meal." He assured her in a confident manner before standing up.

Zoe sighed as she ached for his nearness. She does want to dance with him. She has never danced with anyone before as she was not really into partying. And even when someone invited her for a formal event, which she accepted like one in a billion years, she just sat down, ate and chatted with her colleagues.

However, she doesn't want to cause a scene and give a wrong impression to the other guests. She would already be honored in front of everyone in the later part of the program. Dancing with the Crowned Prince might give them a misleading idea that she seduced her way to it. 

She quickly finished guzzling up her food so she could flee away from the scene while Raigon was away. 

"Where are those two?" She put her hands on her waist as she furrowed her brows on the empty seats of Azra and Erin. 

As she lifts her eyes to the dance hall, she witnesses them dancing together with the other men and women in merriment. 

"What would I expect? This is a pleasant experience for any 'ordinary' couple." She quotes and unquotes the word ordinary as she talked to herself.

She crossed her arms as she watched them in envy, wondering if she would experience the same thing herself with the one that she adored.

As she was sulking in a corner, a servant approached her and gave her a letter. Zoe was surprised but still she accepted it and read what was inside. 

"Come to the solar."

Zoe tilted the letter from all sides wondering who could have written it. Still, her curiosity got the best of her as she followed the sender to the solar.

Being in the Castle for quite some time, she already knows her way around. And as she opened the door, she didn't expect the person who would be inside it.

"I thought you left -" Zoe breathed in her astonishment. But before she could even finish her sentence, Raigon already stepped forward and tilted her chin so he could rake over her face.

"I told you I will come back. Now shall we have this dance?"

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Dancing with the one that you love is that fleeting moment when your souls are entwined into one.