The Selection: Bride Of The Dark Dragon
Chapter 64

MIRA

I want to cry. I want to cry when I look at him and I want to cry even more when Dargen comes with a smug face and k****s my hand. But most of all I want to cry when I look into those eyes.

He shouldn’t look at me like this if he doesn’t care. Why does he look like this? As if… as if he is in pain. This ring changes nothing. He is not a part of the Selection, and even if he was – Dargen has the right to choose first, not him. And we all know that this politeness of his is just an act. He will take what he wants. So why… why is there so much magic in his eyes? Why doesn’t he take his eyes off me…

“Leave us, Derwood”, the prince says and I am suddenly terrified. Oh, gods! What have I just done?! “My lady and I want to spend the evening together. In the privacy of her chambers…”

No, no, no, no, no….

“Actually, your Highness,” Derrien says, “There is some news on the murder case. I think you should really take a look at this yourself. The emperor wants to be informed of everything as soon as possible.”

Dargen is silent and I just pray for him to take the bait and leave.

“Well, I can, of course, deal with everything myself and report to the emperor of all the hard work if you wish to enjoy your leisure time instead,” Derrien adds nonchalantly, probably implying that this is the last chance for Ryden to take credit for the investigation process.

“No, that’s more important now,” Ryden k****s my hand quickly again, “My lady, I am afraid I am going to see you at the talent show tomorrow. Duty calls. I hope for your understanding.”

“I understand, my lord,” I curtsy, trying to not sound all too eager for him to leave.

“I’ll be waiting for your dance at the show,” he smirks and I gulp. I am a terrible performer and not the greatest dancer in the world for sure. Not to mention that I have been far too busy trying to replace out who the murderer is. When he sees me, he would be pissed. And it’s going to be the end of me for sure.

And yet… That’s not what I worry about the most now.

“May I give it back to the lady?”, Derrien picks up the locket from the floor, “Purely for safety purposes.”

“Alright,” Dargen nods and then turns to me, “Wear it under clothes. I don’t want anyone else to see it. Only my ring should be seen.”

“Yes, your Highness,” I curtsy again and hear the sounds of flames and feel the spread of dark smoke in the room. They both disappear, leaving me alone.

I fall to the sofa, feeling tired. So tired… I haven’t felt this way even after the hardest of training. Everything is such a mess now. I can’t forget the sparks of magic in his eyes… They are haunting me…

My gaze falls on the locket that Derrien put on one of the little tables. He didn’t even give it to me. In front of him, I chose the prince. He would never even touch me anymore. He is a loyal subject and from this day forward everything is over between us.

It feels more inevitable now than ever before. Remembering him just hurts me physically.

Calm yourself down, Mira. It’s better this way…

A knock on my door brings me back to reality and I drag myself to open it. There isn’t even a minute of peace and quiet in this castle!

Lady Cecilia is literally the last person I want to see! Well, after Dargen that is. But she is a firm second.

“Lady Freyn,” she enters without asking for permission, “I am just coming to talk to you and see your preparation for the talent show.”

Oh, gods… I have absolutely nothing prepared.

“Oh,” I sigh,” I am actually still thinking of the details of my performance…”

“You must be joking! The show is tomorrow! Everyone else is ready!” her voice sounds too pitchy, “Do you know how high expectations for you are? The Crown Prince himself is waiting for your performance!”

“Yes, I know very well! He has just been here to remind me,” I rub my forehead,” I cannot do that now. Anything but listening to her constant nagging. “I am sorry, I am still a bit shaken by Fawn’s death and…”

“Oh, who cares!”, lady Cecilia snaps, “One more, one less! It’s not about you, girls! It’s about them! Everything here is about them! They are important, not you! And the sooner you get this into this pretty head of yours – the better!”

I am speechless. Probably for the first time in my life. Everybody knows this, but nobody says it out loud so bluntly and disrespectfully.

“I see your point, lady Cecilia,” I force myself to say after a while, when I come back to my senses, “I’ll make sure to create a performance that no one ever would forget. That’s a promise.”

“I really hope so!”, she snorts in my face, “You’ve been lucky here. More than any other girl. Ever. And you take everything for granted. Some girls would kill for what you have!”

Some girls already do, lady Cecilia…

“I hope you will think about everything I have just said, lady Miradora!”, she measures me with an arrogant gaze and then just leaves.

Honestly, what was all that about?

Not thinking twice, I run back to my bedside table and take off Dargen’s ring, throwing it inside! I don’t want to see it. But then I notice something else… With trembling fingers I get out Dereck’s ring and put it on, coming to the mirror and swiping my hand across the surface.

This time he appears pretty quickly as if he has been waiting. I notice Nort at his side as well.

“Di!”, Nort yells first and I put a finger to my mouth to signal to him that he should speak quieter.

“Mira!”, Dereck smiles broadly, “We knew you would come to your senses!”

“I am glad to see you guys!” I try to hold the tears and force a smile, but fail miserably.

“Hey, princess, has anything happened?” Rick appears behind those two with a concerned face, “You don’t look yourself!”

“I’m fine”, I lie.

“Did anyone…hurt you?” Dereck asks, hesitation in his voice.

“No,” I splash my hands, “Nothing like that. It’s just generally horrible in here. And I am the Crown Prince’s favourite now. Officially… So, you may need to think if you still want to…”

“Don’t finish that sentence if you don’t want to offend us!” our leader interrupts me, “We are your friends, Mira! We would die for you if the need arises!”

“But preferably not,” Rick snorts, “I am sure we can replace a way to avoid that!”

“I already did,” Dereck pushes him away.

“You did?”, I look at my friend, surprised, “Is it even possible? To get me out?”

“Yes, Mira,” he smiles, “I found someone in the castle who can help us. I can’t give you any details, though. It was our agreement. But if you want to escape, then just say so and…”

“I do,” I say abruptly and swallow, “I want to go home.”

“About that,” Dereck scratches his neck, “You need to understand that coming to your family house would be very unlikely. If anything – we would have to hide you at least for a few years until you are too old to participate in another Selection…”

“I see. Well, it makes sense…”, I nod. It does make sense. The gerdians might looks for me, considering Dargen took a liking to me… If I escape, that would be the greatest insult to the Empire.

“Also,” our team leader continues, “We would have to stage that you were kidnapped. Or killed. Or kidnapped and killed in the process…”

“I agree to everything,” I sit down in a chair next to the mirror, “If I am honest, I don’t care about anything as long as I am out.”

“That bad, huh?” Nort tries to smile reassuringly but fails miserably.

“I can manage,” I lie, “But I can’t stay here. All this… is not for me.”

“Then it’s a done deal,” Dereck says firmly, “You just survive there a few more days and our people would get you out of the castle. Then we will be there to help and protect you.”

“Thanks, guys,” I small tear rolls down my cheek, and I wipe it away quickly. I am not going to humiliate myself by crying in front of them.

“That’s all for now, Mira,” Dereck clenches his lips at the sight, “Hide the ring and wait. It’s best if we don’t talk this way anymore. So only connect if there is some kind of emergency.”

“Alright,” I nod and swipe my hand. The image of my friends disappears and I relax my back into the soft chair.

It’s better this way. I need to get out and to forget about everything.

The next day goes by quickly. No one visits me and I don’t go anywhere. Everything is ready for the evening and I know exactly what I am going to do. This is going to be the talent show of their lives!