Cora turned away from her, but her mother, Queen Serena Valentyne kept her gaze sharp on Maren.
Maren knew Cora's family dynamic, almost as well as she knew her own.
Their father headed everything, and like many young men in the Empire, their sons followed suit behind them — no better than yes men.
But their family took it to the extreme.
Queen Serena was quiet, but to mistake her silence for weakness or softness would be a tragic mistake.
The woman was a panther, waiting silently in the shadows.
And now, her gaze was locked on Maren.
Beside her, Twelve knocked her interlocked arm into Maren's side. "Interesting choice of dress if I do say so myself. I imagine there shall be a riot by the end of the night."
Maren smirked. "If that means I get to slip away and do what needs to be done for my country, then a riot tonight shall be."
Twelve sighed, tongue in cheek, but the sound was amused more than anything.
"Is the rest of the Star Court aware of tonight's happenings?" Twelve asked.
Maren was silent, her heels meeting the ground floor of the room.
Twelve clicked her tongue. "Do you plan on telling the Court of what takes place tonight?"
Maren's gaze locked on Prince Darrin across the room as he slipped through the crowd.
"As soon as we know the facts," Maren said quickly, forcing her bright smile, "you will be the first to know. What you tell them is up to you."
Twelve grunted in response. "I suppose I can assume that 'we' you mention is no other than a certain Ruby Princess?"
Maren blinked. Panic surged in her chest at Twelve's comment, but there was no time to answer.
Prince Darrin approached them, a wide smile stretching across his face.
"Princess Maren!" He exclaimed as if they'd met more than just a few days ago. Then, he turned to Lady Twelve, "And this must be one of the Star court members."
He bowed deeply, continuing. "My name is Prince Darrin of Forsyth. I am ever so pleased to meet you. This may be rather forward, but I don't want to make a fool of myself — how may I address you?"
Beside her, Maren felt the way Twelve's energy jumped. It was like joy exploded from within her at the presence of such a handsome young man.
"It is quite the pleasure indeed, Prince Darrin," she replied, holding her hand out. "You may call me Lady Twelve."
Prince Darrin took her hand and when he leaned down to kiss her glove, Twelve stifled an amused giggle.
Maren turned her face away to hide the smirk that pushed the corners of her mouth up.
That's when her eyes met Cora's, bright red and silent blaze.
Across the room, Cora and her mother conversed with a small group, one of them a tall young man with hair so deep and rich in color, it was black, similar to Lexi's. Maren thought this was surely a Prince Candidate picked by her family.
Maren wanted to avert her gaze, but Cora's intensity kept her glued in place, the beat of her heart like a metronome.
Her and Cora locked in a silent battle, like they were communicating in a physical language so still and silent, it would be impossible to learn.
But between them, all they heard was the quiet thump in their chests…
…thump…
…thump…
Suddenly, Queen Serena's eyes flicked to Cora and both girls turned back to the scene in front of them, as if they had been listening all along.
Maren tuned back into her conversation, not daring to look back at Cora, in fear that she may meet the Queen of Garyn's gaze.
Her eyes met Prince Darrin's and panic clawed at her chest. He watched her, his expression thoughtful, and surprised, like he'd walked in on something he shouldn't have. Twelve clung to his arm, chatting along about the party and the music.
It was nothing.
It was just a look.
That's what Maren repeated to herself but his expression told her that he'd definitely noticed something.
"Well," Twelve said, finalizing her chatter, "I've spotted a delightful refreshment table that I absolutely must investigate. I'll leave you two kids alone to catch up."
Prince Darrin blinked, and responded with, "Huh?"
But Twelve was already gone before he knew it.
Maren pushed her panic down and raised her eyebrows. "My apologies for Twelve. She may be years ahead of us but she has a fiery spirit I've never known."
Prince Darrin peered down at her with a look of surprise, but said nothing.
Maren dipped her chin down in question. "What?"
"No, nothing," he responded, straightening his back with his hands in his pockets. "It's just…you're plenty fiery, Princess Maren. Surprisingly so, for a Sapphire Princess."
"Yes, well I did grow up beside Princess Cora and she has enough fire to lead a nation on her own," Maren joked, which earned a small laugh from the Prince. "I'd not wonder if some of it rubbed off on me."
There was a beat of silence between them, and Maren realized what exactly he'd just said.
"Not that I'm saying she should!" Maren exclaimed, trying to pull the foot out of her mouth. "I simply meant that she's…energetic…"
Maren sighed internally.
"Indeed," Prince Darrin smirked, gazing down at her affectionately. "I've heard rumors that you and the Ruby Princess do not get along, but in your short stay at the castle, that does not seem to be the case."
Maren inhaled sharply, averting her gaze momentarily and pursing her lips.
When she looked back, she replied. "Cora and I have a…complicated friendship. But since the Star Court's ruling, we have made a concerted effort to get along. It would be difficult for our future spouse if we were constantly at each other's throats."
Prince Darrin gazed down at her, his eyes sharp, but his expression calm.
"And your choice of dress tonight?" He asked. "I gather that it is a declaration of such a…friendship?"
"It's a declaration of unity and trust," Maren corrected him, her tone firm but smooth. "It's no secret that we've been pitted against one another since birth. I thought it was right that I make the first social gesture. This isn't the time for petty politics and personal feelings. We have a duty to our country."
Prince Darrin smirked, pursing his lips, tongue in cheek.
"I couldn't have said that better myself, Princess," he said. "Though, Starblessed Princesses traditionally don the color of dress of the country of the Prince they have chosen. One might mistake that you've chosen the Prince Candidate from Garyn with that color."
Maren blinked, surprise smacking her clear across the face.
Because a Princess of Garyn was born into the Starblessed line, Maren assumed they would merely be holding the games. She had not considered that they would post someone from their own line as a Prince Candidate.
"My apologies, my Prince but that is absurd," Maren nearly choked on her own spit. "The royals of Garyn cannot. Their own child is a Starblessed. To enter a relative of the Starblessed would be…"
Maren scrunched her face, baffled and unable to find the words.
"I'm glad you agree, Princess," Prince Darrin nodded slyly in agreement. "I am also glad to know I have one less opponent to worry about. I doubt the Ruby Princess likes the idea of marrying her cousin — even if it is a distant relation."
Maren glanced over at Cora, still engaged in conversation with the dark haired gentleman.
"That's not him," Prince Darrin interjected, leaning down to her level, eying the group from afar. "Princess Cora is speaking to Prince Valen Theros of Wildburn."
"He's taller than her," Maren muttered.
"What was that?" Prince Darrin asked, looking her face up and down.
"Nothing," she replied, annoyance in her tone. "And what makes him so special that her mother would approve that marriage?"
Prince Darrin raised his eyebrows with a slight smirk, noting the bitterness in her tone, but said nothing.
"Beside their territories being so close," Darrin began, "Valen is quite a catch ... on paper that is. He was three years ahead of me at the Academy and led his year in Sword fighting, and jousting. He kept his grades up without his parents' financial intervention and he's the only one out of all the Prince Candidates that's actually aided a country in war."
Maren's head snapped toward Darrin, her brow furrowing, "What country?"
"One of the smaller countries in the north east on the Vervornean continent. But war is still war," Darried replied, losing his amused tone. "Of all the Prince Candidates, I'm most concerned about him. He's an arrogant bastard but he has the background to act in such a way. And…though I hate to admit it, he can be charming when he wants something."
Prince Valen turned slightly and Maren took in his face. Many of the prince candidates were handsome, but Prince Valen of Wildburn was more than that. His face was carved in sharp features and high cheekbones. His wild dark hair fell in waves at his broad, muscular shoulders.
He stood at minimum six foot five, his body hardened in muscle by years of battle and experience. He was handsome, but not in a polished sort of way like the other prince candidates. This was someone who looked like he was at peace covered in blood, sweat and dirt.
And when the corner of his mouth curved in an amused smirk at Cora's words, Maren's gut dropped.
He wasn't simply a prince candidate or someone fit to be a ruler.
This was a man.
Maren grimaced. He might be nearly eight years their senior but he was the perfect pick for someone like Cora — a Ruby Princess fated for battle.
With a man like him by her side, she would never lose — never worry for her safety.
Not like if I was by her side, Maren thought. Cora would be protecting me.
Maren stewed in her thoughts, indulging in dark ideas of ruin if she stayed by Cora's side. She never really cared for the idea of fate, but gazing at them now, Maren wondered if she had been childish all along.
"Princess Maren?" Prince Darrin asked, his tone light and amused.
Maren snapped out of her thoughts and faced him, his face close to hers. She stared at him, her eyes analyzing up and down, his green eyes gleaming with mischief.
He tilted his head to the side slightly — curiously — and whispered, "If you chose me, I wouldn't deny you those feelings that stir behind your eyes."
Maren blinked, a horde of questions infesting her mind.
Was it that obvious?
Who would he tell?
What should she do to correct her mistake?
Prince Darrin straightened, his gaze calm and level.
"I don't mean to frighten you, Princess," he said, his smile softening his face. "I simply wanted you to know the full extent of your options."
He held his hand out to her, eyes sharp. "Would you like to dance?"