dancing words
Jude and I leave the room arm in arm, the buzz of the crowd fading behind us as we step into the quieter hall. The weight of the victory still hums in my chest, warm and electric. I didn’t think winning something could feel so rewarding, so right.
“And his face with your second riddle?” Jude says, laughing.
“I don’t think I’ll ever forget it. You were so mean. I loved it.”
I glance at her, a smirk tugging at my lips.
“Do I have to be mean to get compliments from you?”
“What are you talking about? I always compliment you”
her tone is mock-offended but her eyes sparkle with amusement.
“But still, my respect for you grew more seeing that”
I laugh, the sound light and genuine, and for a moment, it feels like everything is as it should be. But then, as we round a corner, a figure steps in front of us, blocking our path.
He’s clearly a nobleman, though not one I recognize. His skin is the color of yellow ochre, smooth and luminous in the torchlight, and his feline eyes gleam with a sharp, calculating intelligence. He holds a glass of wine in one hand, the liquid swirling like liquid rubies as he regards us with an amused smile.
“Impressive”
he muses, straightening to his full height. His voice is smooth, almost purring, but there’s an edge to it that sets my teeth on edge.
“I wasn’t sure a mere human could manage to hold her own against a Greenbriar.”
I don’t know who he is or why he’s talking to me, but I don’t like this situation. Not one bit.
Jude stiffens slightly beside me, her hand tightening on my arm.
“Is there perhaps something being implied?”
she asks, her voice cool but laced with steel.
The noble’s lips curl into a knowing smile, his feline eyes glinting like shards of glass.
“Oh don't get me wrong, I was fascinated by her talent of words. It's only that our prince seemed… particularly invested in the match, it's unusual for him don't you think?”
His gaze flicks to me, sharp as a blade.
“I wonder, was it only the match you wanted to win? Or something more?”
I meet his gaze, my expression calm but my pulse quickening. I refuse to rise to the bait.
“I'm afraid this is a matter that should concern me only. But if you wish to know so hardenly, I just aimed for victory.”
I reply, my tone dry and dismissive.
The noble chuckles, a low, velvety sound that sends a shiver down my spine. He takes a sip from his glass, his eyes never leaving mine.
“Being vague doesn’t help you, dear. Everyone has eyes around here.”
he says, his tone almost teasing.
Then, with a final, lingering look, he turns and walks away, disappearing into the crowd like a shadow melting into the night.
Jude watches him go, her brow furrowed.
“I don’t even have the slightest idea of who he is” she mutters.
I look at her, raising my eyebrows and making a knowing grimace.
“Neither do I. And I want to keep it that way.”
We continue walking, the tension from the encounter slowly easing as we make our way to the lounge. The air here is lighter, filled with the soft strains of music and the murmur of conversation. Those who aren’t interested in the riddles have gathered here to enjoy dancing, wine, and the company of others who want to have fun. It’s a welcome change from the intensity of the game, and I feel myself relaxing just a little.
We spot Kiki near the edge of the room, talking animatedly to someone. Her face lights up as she sees us approaching, and she quickly excuses herself from the conversation, hurrying over to us with a wide grin.
“Girls!”
she exclaims, her voice bubbling with excitement. She throws her arms around us in a quick, enthusiastic hug before pulling back, her eyes sparkling.
“How did it go?”
“Lilia won” Jude says, her tone proud but matter-of-fact. “She was great.”
Kiki’s eyes widen, and she turns to me, her expression a mix of awe and disbelief.
“You… you won? That’s amazing, Lili!”
But then her smile falters, her brow furrowing slightly.
“But I mean, how did it go? Did you and the prince have fun?”
She glances around, as if expecting him to materialize out of thin air.
“By the way, where is he? Isn't he supposed to be with you as your partner? I haven’t seen him yet, and I heard his sister is looking for him too.”
I blink, caught off guard by the question. Of course, Kiki doesn’t know about everything that’s happened between Cardan and me. To her, we’re just two people who get along, maybe even friends. The only time she’s seen us interact was in our living room, and even then, it was nothing more than casual banter.
“Yes, yes, it was nice”
I say, forcing a smile and hoping it sounds convincing.
“And I don’t know where he is, honestly.”
and I don't even care, I would add.
Kiki nods, her expression softening, but there’s still a flicker of uncertainty in her eyes.
“Well, I’m sure he’s around somewhere don't worry”
she says, her tone bright but a little too cheerful.
“Well now you have to tell me everything! What was it like? What did you say? Did he—”
Kiki asks, her words tumbling out in a rush of excitement. But before she can go any further, I cut her off, eager to steer the conversation away from the raw, tangled mess of emotions I’m trying to ignore.
“It wasn’t that bad”
I lie, forcing a smile. The anxiety had been eating me up the entire time, but I can’t tell her that.
“His riddles weren’t too hard. Mine weren’t too hard either. I think I only won because he asked for an Echo in my last riddle.”
Jude raises an eyebrow, her expression skeptical.
“Weren’t they hard? I had a hard time understanding what you both were saying, but you immediately understood what he meant.”
I shrug, trying to play it off. “I guess I just got lucky.”
Kiki beams, her hands coming to rest on my shoulders.
“He even asked for an Echo?” her tone is a bit too enthusiastic.
“I don't even know what it is but it's nice to hear, dear”
she says, her tone warm and genuine.
Although Folk is very attached to its traditions, not everyone knows the rules of every game, like every word of every song, or every court rule. These are like the things that everyone knows in general without feeling the need to go into depth, Kiki is an example of this. But I, like Jude or others like us, cannot afford the luxury of being able to overlook these things, even if some may seem trivial.
Then she turns to Jude, her smile widening.
“Lili has always been very modest about her abilities.”
I glare at her, my cheeks heating.
“What abilities?”
I say, my voice sharper than I intend. I don't know if it's because of the 'motherly love' she says she has, but I often feel like she tends to exaggerate things.
“You have a lot, and you don’t even realize it!”
Kiki says, her tone teasing but affectionate.
“Give me an example” I challenge, crossing my arms.
“Like—”
Kiki starts, but then she stops abruptly, her gaze shifting to a spot across the room. Her eyes widen slightly, and she lowers her voice.
“Isn’t that prince Cardan?”
Jude and I turn in unison, following her gaze.
Sure enough, Cardan is standing near the edge of the room, his eyes scanning the crowd with an expression that’s equal parts bored and restless. He looks out of place, and I feel a flicker of unease as his gaze lands on us.
“Prince!”
Kiki calls, raising a hand and waving it elegantly to get his attention.
“Is that really necessary?”
Jude mutters near me, her smile tight and forced.
“Absolutely not”
I reply through gritted teeth, my stomach twisting as Cardan’s eyes lock onto mine.
He hesitates for a moment, scanning the room again, then starts making his way toward us.
When he reaches us, he greets Kiki with a slight nod of his head, his movements fluid, Kiki does the same thing.
“Your sister, princess Elowyn is looking for you”
Kiki tells him.
“I thought so”
Cardan replies, his voice smooth and friendly.
It’s a vague answer, and I can’t help but wonder if he’s intentionally avoiding her.
“Anyway”
Kiki continues, her excitement bubbling over
“Lili was just telling me about the game earlier. I'm happy you guys had a lot of fun!”
Cardan’s gaze shifts to me, one eyebrow lifting slightly.
“Did we?”
his tone laced with amusement.
I feel my cheeks flush, but I keep my expression neutral.
“I don’t remember using those exact words” I say, avoiding his gaze.
“You could say it was fun indeed”
Cardan says, turning back to Kiki. His tone is casual, almost dismissive, but there’s a glint in his eyes that makes me uneasy. I frown, unable to stop myself.
“So much so that it’s almost hard to believe”
I say, my smile tight and fake.
Kiki glances between us, her brow furrowing slightly as if she’s trying to decipher the undercurrents of our sentences. But then she simply nods, her lips pursing in thought.
“Well, I’m glad”
she says, her tone bright but a little too cheerful.
“Isn’t that the spirit of spring?”
Before I can respond, Kiki steps forward, placing a hand on my back and gently pushing me toward Cardan.
“Now that you’re officially a champion, you should at least enjoy the victory. Maybe even dance a little?”
“What?”
My eyes widen as I turn to her. Is she going crazy?
“You two have been paired, but you haven’t danced together yet”
she adds, as if that explains everything.
For mortals here, dancing is no small feat. Unless someone stops them, once they start dancing to the music, humans could continue dancing until they die. And sending me into the arms of someone who I know would benefit from seeing me in such a situation does not seem like a good move.
“Oh, I don’t think that’s really necessary”
I say quickly, my voice strained.
“Besides, I’m sure his Highness has other things to do.”
Cardan looks at me, his expression unreadable for a moment. Then he turns to Kiki.
“Surely he has other commitments”
Jude interjects, trying to save the situation.
Cardan seems about to reply, but then his gaze shifts to a point in the crowd
“I might not be as busy as you think”
his tone light but with an edge of amusement while his gaze is flicking toward the entrance of the room.
I follow his line of sight and see princess Elowyn approaching, her light golden skin seems to glow in her white dress, which billows as she moves with aplomb, her expression sharp and determined.
As if on cue, Cardan turns back to me, extending his hand in a gesture that’s both formal and mocking. Not this again.
I stare at his hand.
I don’t want to dance with him, not after how he insulted me, not after he did the same thing publicly a while ago during the match. And I don't trust the fact that he will stop me after dancing with him.
“My offer is about to expire”
he says with an edge of impatience.
This is a terrible idea. But Kiki is watching us with wide, hopeful eyes, and Jude is standing silently. Both of them waiting to see what I’ll do.
Reluctantly, I take his hand, my fingers brushing against his for the briefest of moments before he tightens his grip. His skin is cool, his touch firm, and I feel a shiver run down my spine as he leads me toward the center of the dance floor.
I don't flinch because of him, of course. It’s just the situation. The absurdity of it all.
Cardan doesn’t lead me immediately into a dance. Instead, he stands still for a moment, as if considering something. His hand settles on my waist, his touch is like a caress, and I place my hand on his shoulder, my movements stiff and awkward.
“If I didn’t know better”
he muses, his voice carrying over the noise
“I’d say you didn’t want to dance with me.”
“How very observant of you.”
I reply, my tone dripping with sarcasm
As the music begins to swell, my body moves instinctively, each step flowing seamlessly into the next. I don’t hesitate. I don’t falter. Dancing has always been something that made sense even though it was always forbidden to me. But in secret, when no one could see me and use this thing against me, I often started dancing. Imagining melodies in my mind, humming to myself.
Cardan catches on quickly, adjusting to my pace with an infuriating ease. But I notice the flicker of surprise in his eyes, the way his grip tightens just slightly, as though he hadn’t expected this from me. As though he assumed he would be the one leading, dictating the rhythm. But he might actually have to put in effort to keep up with me.
“I wouldn’t want to be the one to say you’re better at riddles than dancing.”
I scoff. “Would you really? Perhaps you should ask for an Echo again, maybe that would help you here as well.”
His dark eyes gleam with something sharp and wicked.
“You have an awfully quick tongue for someone in my arms, don’t you think?”
His voice is low, for my ears alone.
“Should I take that as an invitation to put you in your place?”
Is he trying to intimidate me? I arch a brow, refusing to let him see how his words affect me.
“By all means, try.”
He laughs, but there’s something dark in it, something dangerous. The kind of laughter that makes people uneasy, that makes them wonder if he is amused or merely toying with them.
We move as if we have done this before, as if we have spent lifetimes memorizing each other's steps. It should be unnerving, how naturally we fall into sync, how the crowd seems to blur around us. But instead, it feels like a battle, each movement a strike, each step a parry.
“Did you get this attitude from the ones you surround yourself with?”
He doesn’t need to say Jude’s name. The implication is as clear as the smirk curling his mouth.
“I could ask the same thing of you. Seems like birds of a feather flock together”
I snap back.
Brave of him to judge my company by those he surrounds himself with.
Valerian, Nicasia, Cardan, they are all made of the same nature.
"As they should." He tilts his head, considering me.
His tone is condescending, as if he’s reminding me of my place.
“You know, Your Highness”
I say, my voice low but steady,
“you might find that some birds, even if considered preys, have sharper talons than you think.”
Cardan’s smirk deepens, lazy and unbothered, but there’s something in his gaze, a flicker of interest, like a cat watching a mouse that refuses to scurry.
“Is that so?”
he says.
“Then let’s hope, for your sake, that you never forget which creatures rule the sky, and which ones are plucked clean and served on a silver platter.”
His fingers tighten on my waist, just slightly, a silent reminder that in this moment, I am in his grasp. But if he expects me to wilt, to bow my head and let him win, he’s sorely mistaken.
I lean in.
“Let’s hope then, that you never mistake a hawk for a songbird.”
I see his eyes gleam with something, surprise, maybe, or something darker, more dangerous.
“Is that a threat, Lilia?”
I meet his gaze, my own steady and unflinching.
“It’s an observation”
I reply, my voice calm but laced with steel.
“Take it as you will.”
“How delightful” he murmurs, a smile curling at his lips.
“Do go on. I’m beginning to enjoy this.”
“At least one of us is enjoying himself here”
my tone is dry.
“Immensely” he drawls.
“Nothing is quite so entertaining as an opponent who does not yet realize they’ve already lost.”
I huff a laugh, my fingers tightening in his grip just enough to remind him I’m still here, still fighting.
“How tragic, then” I murmur, leaning closer again
“that I still don't seem the one who’s struggling to keep up.”
He exhales a sharp laugh, the sound low and dangerous. And then, suddenly, he shifts his hold, pushing me faster, forcing me to follow or stumble.
I don’t stumble.
I match him step for step, letting the movement guide me, my breathing steady, my body light. He might have tried to unsettle me, but he’s the one whose smirk wavers, whose grip tightens on my waist as though he’s the one trying to regain control.
“Wouldn’t it be a shame to let the one who’s doing you a favor by avoiding your relative fall?”
my voice light but pointed.
“Who says I’m avoiding anyone?”
his tone is casual
“Because otherwise we wouldn’t be here dancing with all these eyes staring at us”
I reply, my gaze steady.
“Does the thought of someone staring at you scare you?” he says, his smirk returning.
“I definitely look better when I don’t have anyone’s attention on me”
“It doesn’t seem that way”
his eyes glinting with amusement.
He’s trying to divert the subject.
“Are you trying to set me up by saying I owe you a favor?”
“I would never do that, Your Highness”
my voice dripping with false sweetness.
“Intrigues and plotting is what your kind is after, not mine.”
Cardan laughs, the sound low and dangerous, and for a moment, it feels like the rest of the world has faded away. But then the music shifts, the melody slowing to something softer, more intimate, and I feel his grip on me tighten just slightly.
"Intrigues?"
he repeats, drawling out the word as if tasting it.
"I'm quite sure your kind likes that.”
“And you don't?” I ask
“I merely enjoy watching lesser players attempt to win a game they don’t understand."
I tilt my head, considering him.
"And what a game it must be, if even you don’t seem to know the rules?"
"You mistake me"
he murmurs, spinning me once before pulling me back in.
"I don’t need rules. I can win regardless."
I let out a soft hum, feigning contemplation.
"That’s amusing. I don’t recall seeing you win anything tonight."
His smirk deepens, and this time, when he pulls me closer, it’s with the full intent of making sure I feel it—the tension, the power play, the silent dare.
"Perhaps you should wait until the night is over before making such claims"
he says, voice like velvet over a blade.
"After all, there’s still plenty of time for you to lose."
I look at him, almost holding my breath. I know he’s saying this to unsettle me, to remind me of his power.
“Be careful of what you let slip through words, prince” I reply, my voice low but steady.
“I might actually enjoy it”
Cardan’s smirk falters for the briefest of moments, his dark eyes narrowing as he processes my words. I stare into his eyes with an intense gaze, refusing to back down.
For a moment, we stand there, still locked in the remnants of movement. His hand lingers at my waist just a second too long before he finally lets go. He stopped me after all, and I didn't even notice.
The silence between us becomes awkward as we stare into each other.
I bow solemnly, a gesture more perfunctory than respectful, and turn to go back to Kiki and Jude. He lets me go without protesting, walking away as well but in the opposite direction.
When I reach them, Jude is gone, and Taryn stands in her place.
“Where’s Jude?” I ask immediately
Kiki looks at me, her expression puzzled.
“I don’t know. She said she was going to look for Taryn”
she says, gesturing to her sister.
But Taryn is here.
Something doesn’t add up.
“But I didn’t see her when I arrived”
Taryn says, her tone casual, but still confused
I turn to her, my brow furrowing.
“When did you arrive?”
“Just before you started dancing” Taryn replies, her voice light.
“I saw you two walking to the center of the room as I was heading here.”
It’s impossible, then, that Jude didn’t see her. Why would she lie to get away?
My stomach twists, a bad feeling knotting in my mind.
“By the way, you guys looked really good dancing together”
Taryn continues, her tone bright but with an edge of something I can’t quite place.
“Your mom told me you already did the riddles. I’m sorry I missed it.”
I barely hear her words, my mind still spinning with worry.
“Yeah, already did. I won”
I say absently, my tone distracted.
“Sorry, I have to go for a minute.”
I don’t wait for her response, turning on my heel and striding away from the group.
As I weave my way through the crowd, my pulse quickens. Jude wouldn't just leave without telling me something—unless she had a reason. A reason she didn't want to say out loud.