"I don't understand what the trouble is mother." He answers running his hand through his hair.
"You don't under....Oh that is just fantastic." She says sarcastically.
Caramel catches Mia peeping and startles her. "Let me guess. You are cause of this monstrosity." She says chuckling.
"No....yes." answers Mia. "He made me do it. I am at his beck and call after all." She says rolling her eyes.
"Come on. You have robes to wash." Says Caramel leading her away from the queen's chambers.
She takes to the sowing machine to prepare the prince's robes for the royal ball. It was coming up in three days. Something that made her feel uneasy.
She is startled by a knock at her chambers door. "Am I interrupting something?" Asks the prince.
"Oh no. Not at all. Come in. I was just preparing your robes for the royal ball." Answers Mia.
She notices his cheek has turned pink. Her brows crease as she imagines how that went down. Then, he catches her looking at him and smiles.
She had no idea why but that smile was very disarming and handsome. He puts his palm over hers instinctively rubbing her knuckles, making her push her dagger further away from his grip.
She tries to hide the fact that she is blushing and quickly says, "I am sorry for your cheek."
"Oh don't worry about it. I know you are wondering why I am here." He says tracing a finger on her most recent bruise. "I have come to talk to you about the ball."
"What about the ball?" She asks.
"I am nervous. I have been banned from the ballroom and I do not know how to dance. I will embarass myself and my father." He says sighing in frustration.
She ruffles his hair and says. "I might be able to help with your predicament." She look him directly in the eyes. "Only if you agree to my terms.
"Anything to get away from my mother and her whining. I will do it." He answers.
"Very well. Meet me at crust haven tomorrow at dusk and we will resume our lessons." She says. "Now get out of here before you get your ears pulled." She adds.
He steps forward and places her palm on his cheek. Her palm so rough on his skin so tender. "Thankyou little mouse. I owe you." He says as he walks off to his sleeping chambers.
After he leaves, she holds her hands to her chest and takes a deep breath. She did not like this one bit.
***
"Did you bring the music?" Asks Mia as she tucks her hair under her hat.
"Yes. Yes I did." He says handing her the radio cassette as he pulls on his gloves.
She clicks the play button and the music begins. Each time, she puts her opposite forward pushing his foot to the side guiding him through the moves just as they had always practiced.
He watches her as she nods her approval when he dances alone and stops when the sun rise illuminates her face. She was indeed beautiful. Her lush pink lips and rosy cheeks which had lightened with the warmth of the sun brought out her face well. Blinking twice, he notices that the music had stopped.
"We should get back before we get discovered." She says.
"Alright." He answers.
Just a clarification my loves...
Cassettes were invented in the early 20th century incase you are wonderingðð