I turn my head and look. Sure enough, Berta, in her black dress and maid's cap, is entering and heading toward the other side of the ballroom where, if she hasn't left, my mother is standing.

The dancers shift across the floor and I lose sight of her. Nothing unusual, given the sheer number of couples dancing.

At this ball, the teachers and parents don't stay in the great hall. Maybe just a few teachers to make sure we behave properly. Two nearby parlors have been prepared: one for gentlemen, another for ladies. The king and other high-ranking nobles retreated to the gentlemen's parlor shortly after Sol and I danced the opening laltz, enjoying brandy while discussing politics or whatever nobles discuss. The queen stayed longer before moving to the ladies' parlor with several noblewomen. However, many mothers decided to stay, presumably to observe who's dancing with whom and speculate about future engagements and alliances.

The ladies still in the hall occupy the opposite side from us, also near a wall with tables and cushioned seats. It seems we've naturally arranged ourselves by age: the younger students on one side, the grown-ups—parents and teachers—on the other. The king and queen, while present, had matching thrones—chairs with tall backs carved with the royal emblem, ornate arms, and velvet-upholstered seats.

"Bianca, is that your maid?" Lily repeats the question.

She looks worried.

"Yes, that's right."

"Then if she's not with him, where is my brother? I can't think of any reason he wouldn't have come back to us." She turns toward Mary. "During the meal I saw him notice you staring at Ronan's parents. Did something happen that I should know about?"

Mary and Ronan's parents? What did I miss?

"Well, Baron Velbrun was rude to me and Vincent put him in his place. Nothing more. Don't worry about your brother, Lily. If he's not here, it's because something came up. I'm sure he'll be back as soon as he can."

While they keep talking about Vincent, with Karina jumping in, I'm debating whether I should approach my mother to see what Berta is telling her. I mean, had my maid gone to see Vincent and then her? It definitely has to be related to me. So why hasn't she said anything to me?

If it's about my assault—well-deserved—on the crown prince, I'm scared to ask.

The conversation, by the way, has shifted. Alistair jokes with the princess to calm her down while Karina talks with Marco and shy Judith, asking how they met. Theodore, for his part, is listening to what happened to Mary, something about how she defended Ronan against his parents. His normally calm green eyes look like two oceans brewing a storm.

I can imagine it. Having the girl you brought to the ball spend time defending someone you didn't even consider a rival until now has to sting.

As I keep mulling over my dilemma, I'm hesitating, half-standing, when I see the prince walk in.

"Vincent," I whisper.

My nearest companions hear me and point toward the ballroom door.

He's there, heading to the side to reach us without crossing through the dancing couples.

"Oh, what a relief," his sister says.

"What did I tell you?" Alistair asks her.

"It doesn't matter. With the assassination attempts, it doesn't matter what you say."

Was that it? Was Lily worried because she really believes the spider and zombie thing from the water dungeon was an attempt to kill the royal heirs?

Oops. Not like I can tell her it was my pup.

Well, if they find out everything now and try to execute me, then maybe I will.

When Vincent approaches us, his sister tries to monopolize him, but he turns to me:

"Bianca, can we talk for a moment?"

"Hey," the princess protests, "enough with all the secrecy. Can't you tell her whatever it is here?"

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"In front of everyone? No."

The sound of conversations around me grows louder. I look up and realize both the king and queen, along with the nobles who had left the ballroom, are returning.

My stomach drops. Fear or nerves? I'd love to know.

I feel Vincent grab my hand. Karina shoots him daggers with her eyes. I'm so deep in my own head, so consumed by the nightmare that they've come back to accuse and arrest me, that I don't react.

"I'm sorry, Bianca," Vincent tells me. "I know you didn't want this, I know I said we'd wait, but because of my brother it can't be that way."

What?

What's he talking about?

A servant approaches the musicians and they stop playing. The dancers move to the sides of the hall, revealing the king and queen, now seated in the two thrones arranged for them. I don't see Sigfrig anywhere.

Is this good or bad?

The nausea continues. I think it's nerves—not knowing if my life in this world is about to change.

Maybe letting them capture me isn't such a great idea. I can run away, even if it's not to the goblin village. Would another kingdom take in a refugee?

The master of ceremonies enters and positions himself in front of the orchestra platform. He asks for silence and attention, announcing the monarchs have an announcement to make.

Everyone looks at them. Me too.

I tense up.

A hand touches my right arm.

"Relax," Vincent whispers to me, "everything will be fine."

I turn toward him. His eyes are full of strength and determination. I don't know what's going on. He can't know about punching his brother—so what did Berta tell him? And why did he apologize to me?

The king is speaking. I break eye contact with my prince.

"Dear subjects, there is an announcement we are very excited to make as parents. The second of our children, Vincent Draycott, has found the woman with whom he wishes to share his life. It fills us with joy and pride to announce the engagement between Vincent Draycott and Bianca L'Crom."

I hear a muffled scream that sounds familiar—I bet it's my mother fainting—and the room fills with congratulations. Many directed at the monarchs, but also us—our friends swarm us with well-wishes. Despite being separated from him, Vincent manages to get close enough to whisper that I shouldn't worry, that Marco's parents have already been properly compensated, that he's sorry the announcement had to be rushed.

I want to ask him why but I can't—Karina's monopolizing my attention.

"I thought I could beat you," she's telling me, "but it looks like I never had a real chance. Well played and congratulations, Bianca."

I'm floored—falling in love isn't a game...

At least she didn't take it too badly.

I see Marco looking at me with disappointment and I can't say anything to him because now Darius is patting me on the back. I see Marco leave with Judith. Good. Smart girl getting him out of here so no one looks at him with pity, and at least he'll have someone to comfort him. When all this chaos dies down I'll send him a letter or something to explain that I didn't intend for this announcement to happen today.

Lily wants to talk to me and hug me and call me sister, but the queen takes the floor to address everyone and requests a new laltz for the happy couple to dance.

Our friends step aside and everyone watches us. It's different from when I opened the ball with Sol, because no one expected this. I look into Vincent's eyes and let myself be guided to the center of the floor. The first chords play. I try to silence the inner chaos screaming at me about what's happening with Sigfrig.

"Why did you move it up?" I ask him between turns, clearly talking about the engagement.

"Because Berta found out my brother intended to be the one to marry you. I immediately went to talk to my mother. She had assured me she approved of our engagement, so I asked for her help. And they announced it hastily, before Sigfrig could try to use the fact that almost all the nobility is gathered at this ball to do the same."

"I see."

We keep dancing. Alone. No one joins us. The laltz is slower than the previous ones and I'm completely stiff. I don't know if I dance like a future princess or a demon queen who still doesn't know if she's been caught.

So much for my real Earth parents talking about the midlife crisis at 40. The one at 17 is terrible, I can vouch for that.

"Did he say anything to you?" Vincent finally asks me.

"Who?" I panic and play dumb. I almost miss a step.

His hands tense on mine and my waist.

"That selfish... I don't know what he said to you, Bianca, but I won't let him threaten you. You're my fiancée and I won't let that change."

Normally, my heart would melt and beat with love. But I punched his asshole brother. High treason. If he talks, fiancée or not, I'm finished. How am I supposed to relax?

The hormones that had me dopey left with the punch, like a good night's sleep curing a hangover.

Yes, I love Vincent, but right now I'm worried about other things.

Anyway, I smile at him—a smile he misinterprets (I think he believes his brother did something to me)—and we finish dancing the laltz.

When the music stops, everyone applauds us. Vincent pulls me toward his parents, who officially welcome me to their family, the royal family. There's no trace of Sigfrig, nor his current fiancée, Faith.

I do see Sol, looking at me with envy and spite.

Ugh, Sol. After thinking about her so much these past few days, I'd almost forgotten we have unfinished business...

Anyway, if her sister finds out her fiancé wanted to trade her in, I see myself with a new mortal enemy.

So I stay focused. I return with Vincent to our friends, make sure Sol sees me, the king and many high-ranking male nobles leave the hall again, and I, with the excuse of touching up my hair, do the same. I leave the ballroom, alone, ensuring Sol sees me.

I move forward toward a secluded area of the building. As soon as I see she's taken the bait, I speed up and, at my chosen spot, I stop and turn around.

"Damn thief," she hisses, baring her perfect white teeth as she reaches me.

I'm in that area again, where no one passes by.

I smile at her like I'm enjoying the victory.

Wait, I actually am.

"And I was thinking I'd show you your place when they attacked Mary... How dare you steal my future husband?"

Attack Mary? I don't think that's happened.

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