Chapter 9: A dance with the devil

Growing up, Freya Silvercrest was that child you could easily envy. She was the first and last daughter of the Duke, a man second to the royal family. Her family was incredibly wealthy…from the surface, her life as well as family was perfect. But beneath the surface was a family filled with tension, greed and incompetent and spoiled children. The Duke had five sons, all of which would inherit the many businesses as well as land the duke had after his death. But the sons were incredibly spoiled, as well as greedy. Their father hadn't even passed away and there are already begun to fight for who would inherit the Duke title, surely it should go to the first born son? But the first born son was very incompetent and loved anything other than doing what was important and crucial to his father's business, the other sons believed that they would do a better job at being Duke and that was how the trouble started.

She being the daughter to the duke, meant that she probably wouldn't have anything to call her own when her father died. She was expected to be married off to an equally wealthy family or even more wealthy family.

She didn't have many options on which family she would marry into, except for the royal family. This was her only chance in order to secure a decent life, when her already sick father would pass away.

Her brothers were just too self centered to care about their own sister's future, all so interested in funding their own extravagant life style. If Freya was to make sure she had a bright future, she would have to become Queen. And for the longest time, she never feared the possibility of ending up as a mere concubine…until this particular ball, where the King chose Victoria over her for his first dance of the evening.

She was beyond enraged.

She fought so hard to hide her anger as Victoria placed her shaky hand in the King's outstretched one, and she watched silently as the King led her to the dance floor.

She had to do something immediately, she would not have this good for nothing Elverian who appeared from nowhere ruin her life. She would rather die!

She walked away from her spot with Gwen and Katherine, racking her brain for the next course of action. Gwen and Katherine shared a knowing look.

"Well, what would you know?" Katherine whispered to Gwen who let out a small smile. "I guess Lady Freya isn't our only competition."

Victoria tried her best to calm her harshly beating heart, as the King led her to the dance floor at the center of the ballroom. The eyes of the audience watching her with confusion and contempt, in their minds they thought why in the world would the King have the first dance with the enemy?

The orchestra played music which was somehow a mix between a fast, upbeat song and at the same time calm and sensual. Victoria didn't know how to describe it, she couldn't even focus on anything at the time. Her mind was at war with her body, and she struggled to match his steps as to not embarrass herself in front of people who watched her intently like a hawk… waiting patiently for her to fail like how they failed to win the three hundred year war.

"So, Lady Victoria." The King began breaking her free from a trance-like state with such a cool yet authoritative voice "How are you enjoying Alcazar?"

Victoria subconsciously made it her mission not to maintain eye contact. Yet she found the courage to speak after staring at her feet for what felt like an eternity. "Yes," she lied. "I never expected the Shadow Realm to be this fascinating."

"Really?" He questioned, His blood red eyes watching her thoughtfully. "What do you enjoy about this place to be specific?"

Victoria raked her brain for something she liked about Alcazar. She found it hard to think when then The Demon King had his hand firmly placed on her waist, no man had ever touched her there before… especially not a man who was responsible for so many deaths since his reign began. She felt her blood boil all of sudden.

"The lake behind the castle." She began, "it's beautiful."

The King smiled as if he had been expecting that answer. Then he leaned in to whisper beside her ear, "Are you afraid of me, Lady Victoria?"

She stiffened, was that the way he interpretated her actions? She wanted to come off as timid, not terrified of him. But he wasn't wrong to be honest, she was scared of him being being stronger than her, she could feel the dark magic flowing off of him in waves like he had an above average amount. Elemental magic usually couldn't compare to Dark magic… killing him would be difficult.

Still, though. What was to be her reply?

"...Yes, I am." She mumbled, still keeping her eyes down as they danced to the music.

He chuckled, "Smart girl…You should be, I'm no ordinary man, I'm sure you know that, don't you?"

Victoria nodded, but this time she looked up at his beautiful features. She saw the smile on his lips and thought to herself, 'I can't wait to watch you die.'

"Why are you here, Lady Victoria?" The Demon King questioned.

Victoria tilted her head in confusion, "why am I here? You invited me to participate."

He looked so amused, Victoria hated it. He sounded as if he knew something she didn't. "I am aware of that. But why are you really here?"

To kill you.

"To maintain peace between our Realms, Your Majesty" Victoria responsed robotically.

"How honorable." The music stopped after a few minutes of awkward silence and The Demon King stepped away from her making her release a huge breath she had unknowingly been holding. She curtsied as his took her hand in his and placed his soft pink lips at the bank of hand.

"Please drop the pleasantries, Lady Victoria. You may call me King Alvar."

Then he left to meet the other Ladies.

Victoria nodded and turned around to go back to previous spot when she almost bumped into a servant serving drinks. That wouldn't have been a problem. But the cool red liquid wetting her dress in front of many pairs of eyes made her gasp.

"Oh, would you look at that…"

"So unelegant…"

"Can't even look where she's going…"

She could hear the murmurs and giggles of many aristocrats at her predicament, how strange…she didn't really bump into the servant. Even the woman looked so confused. "I'm so sorry, my Lady!" The servant immediately apologized, bowing and all, Victoria wasn't listening to her.

She looked around the crowd and saw who she believed to be the culprit, Freya was smiling as if she had just seen the most hilarious thing.

"If I were you, I'd watch my dress." Freya's voice echoed in her head. Freya's element was water, she wouldn't have a problem being able to control wine or any other form of liquid.

Unable to remain being in the center of attention anymore, Victoria found herself running out of the Ballroom, pushing away any one who was standing in her way.

All she knew was she had to leave there immediately.