57 Vying Ball

"Why is he walking in our directions?" Helga asks but Siv does not answer.

Gary takes elegant strides to where the Rouvas are standing. He bows toward them, then turns to Siv and bows again. He takes her hand and kisses it.

"Would you do me the pleasure of dancing with me, my lady?" Gary gazes at her expectantly.

"The Rouvas only dance with the prince at the Vying Ball, brother." Runa informs him.

"I am not really good with rules." Gary shrugs.

"You are making a scene, Gary." Siv notices the guests' eyes on them. She tries to pull her hand from his, but he squeezes it in place.

"Then dance with me." She eyes him for a moment. He is not going to back down.

"Fine." Siv sighs.

"That is a bad idea." Helga tells her.

'Not like I have a choice, do I?'

"It will be alright." Siv gives her a smile and notices Hella rolling her eyes in the back.

'I hope it will be alright.'

Gary guides her through the staring guests to the dancing area. He holds her hand and slips his other one on her back before the music starts. They both start swaying to the rhythms but Siv's attention is all on the crowd.

"They will lose interest, eventually."

"Like they lost interest in all your escapades?" Gary chuckles.

"Fair enough."

"What is the meaning of this, Gary?"

"The meaning of me inviting you to dance?"

"Yes, at the Vying Ball where Rouvas are only supposed to dance with the prince."

"Trust me, love, I am a way better dancer than Brandt."

"Gary." Siv warns.

"What if your destiny was not to marry Brandt, but to be queen?" Gary whispers in her ear. A chill runs through Siv's body because she has heard those exact words before.

'No, that was just a dream.'

"I think you have forgotten the fact that I can only become queen if I marry the future king." Siv says after clearing her dry throat.

"What if there is a way?" The two hold each other's gaze for a while after the music stops.

"Thank you for the honor, my lady." Gary kisses her hand again. "Allow me to escort you back." He makes his way with Siv at his arm. She is feeling hazy and confused about the exchange she has had with Gary.

Siv has convinced herself that the voice she heard in the dungeon was just a dream, or at least a hallucination due to her mental state.

'How is it possible that Gary said the same exact words as the female voice in that cell?'

"Rouva Siv." Brandt repeats extending a hand to her.

'Oh shit.'

She immediately takes it, it is her turn to dance. Siv was so lost in her thoughts, she hasn't noticed that the prince had already danced with all the other Rouvas, and she is last. When they get to the center, the music starts. It is just the two of them dancing. It is more of a display of elegance and compatibility than a dance.

"I must be quite boring to dance with." Brandt starts.

"Of course not."

"Or at least not as entertaining as Gary." He clenches his jaw. "I saw you, you two were chatting the whole time."

"It was mostly him talking, you know how Gary is." Siv notices a subtle movement of his hand on her back.

"Gary, huh? I haven't realized how close you were."

"We are not that close, I didn't even know he was a duke."

"I see." Siv studies his expression.

"Are you jealous?"

"Why would I be?" Siv giggles.

"You're cute."

"Am I, now?"

"Yes you are, Your Highness." Siv grins. "Also, thank you for the dress."

"You are welcome, I had to make sure our clothes match." Siv notices the designs on Brandt's outfit that match the ones on her dress perfectly. "The only way I can show favors at the moment." Siv's smile splits her face in two.

"Well, thank you for that."

After the dance, they both bow to each other and walk away from the dancing area. The king announces for the last dance of the ball, and everyone grabs a partner and waltzes across the floor. Siv's mind is still preoccupied with what Gary said and meeting his eyes every time she looks up does not help.

After the ball, Siv walks to her room and finds that Veda has already prepared a bath for her.

"Oh, thank you Veda." Siv utters as her maid unlaces her corset. "It is quite late so you can leave. I can wear my own sleeping gown after the bath.

"As you wish, my lady." Veda spreads the sleeping gown on the bed and heads for the door. "Have a great night, Lady Siv."

"You too, Veda."

Siv strips naked and gets in the bathtub. The water is warm and soothing, especially to her tired feet. She closes her eyes and relaxes letting her body soak.

"Lady Siv." Siv opens her eyes to an empty bathroom. She looks around but there is no one.

'What the.'

"Who's there?"

"I am here." Siv turns to the light that suddenly turns blue.

"What are you?" Siv asks, getting out of the tub and grabbing a towel.

"Lady Siv, why are you frightened?" The female voice asks. "We have already met."

"What do you want?"

"I wanted to ask if you have accepted your destiny, chosen one."

"What are you talking about?"

'I think I am officially going insane.'

"I have explained everything to you before. Have you forgotten already?" The voice pauses. "Or is it that difficult to believe that I am real?"

"Well I have difficulties with many things these days."

"But you have seen magic before, you know it is real."

"Yes, but this is weird."

"You even have my protege by your side."

"Your protege? Maybe if you told me who you are…"

"I have, already. I dislike repeating myself."

'Sassy… blue light?'

"Yes or no, Lady Siv?"

"I need more time to think about it."

"We have no time."

"Who is your protege?"

"The prince of the sea."

"Who the hell is that?" Siv is even more confused.

"Lady Siv, I will repeat this part, but for the very last time. If you refuse your destiny, many people will perish because of it. But if you accept it, you will have the power to save them."

'No pressure.'

Siv Sighs.

'It's not like I have anything better to do, right?'

"I accept."

"I am glad to hear that, chosen one." The light slowly dims until the bathroom is pitch black. Siv opens her eyes, still in the bathtub.

'Ugh, was that a dream again?'

She pushes to her feet and grabs one of the towels ignoring the déjà vu. She wipes the dripping water from her body but freezes when she reaches her left side. She rushes to the mirror and checks the side of her left breast.

"Is that a…" She touches it then tries to wipe it but it is still there.

'No way.'

"Is that a freaking tattoo?"