Chapter 5 I'm leaving

Yellow flexed her toes in her small heeled shoe- that her overbearing mother had imposed on her and insisted that she wore- while she swayed gently to her partner's rhythm.

The music had a soft feel to the ears, almost like a soft pat on her back. She wouldn't say she was enjoying it but she didn't hate it either.

She looked around the spacious ballroom with boredom in her eyes.

She knew immediately that she wasn't cut out for this. In fact, she had better things to do than to stay and dance with a bunch of people her own age who probably didn't even want to be here but couldn't muster up the courage to say 'no' to their parents.

At one end were the instrumentalists, performing their paid work. To her, they looked like statues.

Clown-ish statues– in her own honest opinion.

They had on a different attire and an equally different but very ridiculous mask with a long bird-like nose that could almost pass out for 'scary'.

Almost. Because fear was a thing of the mind and she had long conquered the power of the mind and the hold it had over people who took 'overthinking' as a hobby.

"Yellow looks stunning on you, my Lady."

She blinked at her partner's words and lifted her chin to hold his gaze.

His voice was a rumbling thunder and for a moment, she was in shock. He was such a big huge man. A huge dark man with a gentle touch. He was probably scared that he would break her if he added pressure. Plus, he towered over her by at least five inches... maybe.

The hand on her waist was gentle and careful and the one holding her hand was as big as a Tiger's paw.

His dark skin coupled with that height, body build and deep voice only made her wonder what he looked like without the mask.

"And your eyes," he continued. "Forgive me for asking, but are they real?"

Her brows knitted in a slight frown but she was curious and not mad, "Real?"

"Yes, real," he repeated and she could hear the soft smile in his voice. His attempt to make her comfortable. "These days with a little magic, anything is possible. The people from Waikya Kingdom have great sorcerers that can perform wonders." he explained. "Have you ever been there?"

"Sadly, no," she found herself replying, suddenly interested in the conversation. She did fancy a little bit of magic, some may call it 'witchcraft.'

Actually, she was that 'some.'

"But I have heard a great deal about the Kingdom," she continued. "Are you from there, your Grace?" She asked.

His lips spread in a smile, "No. But I have visited quite a lot. They have the daily drama needed after a year of peace and quiet and of course, their ladies are one of the prettiest."

Yellow cocked a brow, "Well, if you think so, why are you in this ball then?" she chose to ask as she found herself slowly getting irritated.

"Isn't it obvious?" he chuckled. "I'm guessing I can find the one here."

"The one." Yellow tasted the word. It tasted like cranberries and yuck!

"Be nice. Be humble. Be ladylike. Be everything you wouldn't be on a normal day!"

Her mother's words played back in her head, fierce and threatening just as she had said it.

"I wish you good luck on your quest, my Lord." Yellow said and bowed.

"Mmm. And you? What brings you here at such a fine hour?"

A ghostly smile spread across her lips, "I guess we're on the same quest, my Lord." she looked around, again, with bored eyes. "Everyone here is. And for your previous question, forgive me I got carried away-"

"No, no. It's fine. I couldn't help but be distracted myself." her partner confessed in that african heavy accented voice.

She gave a small smile, "Mm."

"Tell me about yourself, Lady..." he trailed off, searching her eyes expectantly.

"The King never said it was okay to share names, my Lord." she reminded, fighting an eye roll.

Her partner in an orange suit showed off his thirty two in a wide smile. With a hand on her waist, he gently pulled her closer and leaned down just a little till she felt his hot breath against her ear.

"The King also never said it was not okay to not share-"

"Love behind a mask, my Lord." she chimed in with a cold look on her face. Hating desperately the closure and desiring nothing more than to step back, "Rules are rules."

He examined her face for a while, "You do not strike me as one who would budge no matter what I say." he said, his voice heavy laden in thought.

"I am ladylike," Yellow replied with a huff. "I do not need to try so hard to be, mother." Those were the exact words she said to her mother. "If no one likes me the way I am, I know I am perfect, then I'd rather be single for a thousand and one years than try to change it."

Yellow pushed away from him. Her breathing ragged and her chest rising and falling as she took in deep breaths.

Coming here was a mistake.

"My-"

"Don't!" she said with a show of her palm.

Yellow turned and began to walk away.

"Did I do something to upset you?" her partner asked right beside her.

The death look in her eyes made other guests pave way as she walked.

Yellow eyed the opened door up ahead. She needed to get out of the royal grounds fast. This was no place for her.

Desperation filled the air as every young woman had to be on their best behaviour and every man had to hide their cocky attitude and bad habits in order to get a lady.

Yellow, on the other hand, couldn't put up a pretence.

"I'm leaving," and there was no going back.