Chapter 19: A Dance to Fuel Rumors
The ballroom glowed with the warm light of crystal chandeliers as the orchestra began a sweeping waltz. Tiara, leaning against a pillar with a glass of punch in hand, had been quietly observing the crowd and occasionally roasting the nobles in her mind. She was halfway through mentally judging someone's feathered hat when she spotted Chris striding toward her with a faint smirk on his face.
"Lady Tiara," Chris said smoothly, bowing slightly, "care to dance?"
Tiara blinked at him in surprise. "You? Dance? Are you planning to step on my feet as revenge for last time?"
Chris chuckled. "As tempting as that sounds, I assure you, I can waltz without causing bodily harm. Shall we?"
Tiara hesitated but eventually sighed. "Fine. But if you mess up, I'm never letting you hear the end of it."
As Chris led her to the dance floor, an excited murmur rippled through the crowd. Nobles whispered behind their fans, their eyes locked on the pair.
"Isn't that the first prince and Lady Tiara?"
"Yes, I've heard rumors they're secretly engaged!"
"Engaged? Really? They do look good together, don't they?"
Chris and Tiara, oblivious to the whispers, took their positions.
"Are you planning to stomp on my feet or spin me so hard I fall?" Tiara teased as the music began.
Chris smirked. "Neither. But I might lift you just to hear you scream in panic."
Tiara rolled her eyes. "Try it, and I'll 'accidentally' kick you."
As they danced, their movements were smooth and surprisingly synchronized. Tiara, despite her earlier skepticism, found herself enjoying the moment.
"You're not bad," she admitted reluctantly.
"Not bad?" Chris echoed, feigning offense. "I'll have you know I'm one of the best dancers in the palace."
"Modesty suits you," Tiara said dryly.
Chris grinned. "And sarcasm suits you, Lady Tiara."
The playful banter between them caught the attention of everyone in the room. To onlookers, it seemed as though the two shared a deep and genuine connection.
---
Across the room, Lilith stood with a group of ladies, her smile brittle as she watched Chris and Tiara.
"How unfair," one lady whispered. "The prince clearly favors Lady Tiara."
"I heard they've been secretly engaged for months," another added.
Lilith clenched her fan tightly, her fingers digging into the delicate lace.
"That can't be true," she said sweetly, though her tone had a sharp edge. "Surely it's just a misunderstanding. His Highness wouldn't keep something so important a secret."
The ladies exchanged skeptical looks but said nothing more.
---
As the waltz came to an end, Chris escorted Tiara back to her spot by the pillar.
"See? No injuries," he said, his tone smug.
Tiara smirked. "Congratulations. You've exceeded my very low expectations."
Chris chuckled. "Always a pleasure dancing with you, Lady Tiara."
Before Tiara could respond, a nearby noblewoman leaned in and whispered loudly, "Congratulations on your engagement, Lady Tiara. His Highness is such a fine match."
Tiara froze. "What?"
Chris raised an eyebrow. "Engagement?"
The noblewoman giggled. "Oh, no need to act surprised. Everyone here knows about it. You two are simply perfect for each other."
Tiara turned to Chris, her expression a mixture of confusion and indignation. "What is she talking about?"
Chris shrugged. "I have no idea. This is news to me too."
The noblewoman, realizing she might have overstepped, quickly excused herself.
Tiara groaned, pinching the bridge of her nose. "Great. Now everyone thinks I'm engaged to you."
Chris smirked. "Could be worse. At least they're not saying I'm secretly courting Lilith."
Tiara snorted. "True. But how did this even start?"
Chris shrugged again. "Probably because we danced together. Nobles love their gossip."
Tiara sighed. "Well, let's just ignore it. If we feed into it, it'll only get worse."
"Agreed," Chris said. Then, with a mischievous glint in his eye, he added, "But I have to say, the idea of being engaged to you is kind of hilarious."
Tiara glared at him. "One more word, and I'll throw this punch in your face."
Chris held up his hands in mock surrender, laughing as he walked away.
---
By the end of the night, the rumors had spread like wildfire. Despite Tiara's best efforts to deny the claims, she couldn't escape the knowing smiles and whispered congratulations from every corner of the ballroom.
"Why me?" she muttered under her breath as she climbed into her family's carriage.
From the palace balcony, Chris watched her leave with a faint smile. He'd heard the rumors too and found them oddly amusing.
"Engaged, huh?" he mused to himself. "I wonder how long it'll take before she comes storming back to yell at me for this."
He chuckled, already looking forward to their next encounter.
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