The King's Mistress

Chapter 76: Slow Dance With You

Since then, she could feel his gaze on her. More than half the time, when she mustered the courage to glance over, he was looking in her general direction. Sierra glanced around the hall, hoping no one else noticed this.

However, someone else did. Princess Cassandra witnessed it all. She saw how infatuated the King seemed to be with Sierra. It made her jealous. What qualities did she not have that Sierra had?

"Enjoy his attention while you still can, Princess Sierra," she seethed in anger, "He will be mine."

As the final course was being served, Alistair got up from his seat and raised his glass. He called for all of their attention by lightly tapping his wine glass with a spoon. The conversation in the hall died down shortly after. It fell silent.

"Thank you everyone for attending the dinner party this evening. I hope you’ve all had a wonderful experience tonight. Once you’ve finished your desserts, please feel free to proceed to the dance floor."

As Sierra finished the last bite of dessert, most of the princesses had already gotten up on their feet. The live orchestra had already begun to play a beautiful piece in the background, which helped set the mood of the evening.

Once she was done, she got up on her feet too.

"Would you care for a dance, Princess Sierra?"

She could not believe her ears. For a moment, she thought it was all a dream. But as she looked up, she met his gaze. It reminded her so much of the night he had pulled her to dance at the ball. fɾeeweɓnѳveɭ.com

For a moment, Sierra did not know how to respond. She wasn’t sure if she should accept.

"Are you asking me?" She was still in disbelief.

Alistair chuckled as he held his hand out to her, "If not you, who else?"

He glanced over to Ida, "Perhaps Ida would like to have a dance with me in your stead?"

The maid was caught completely off guard by the King’s quick response. When she finally came to her senses, she quickly shook her head.

"You’re teasing me, Your Majesty. I can never replace her Highness. Only she is worthy of dancing with you."

Alistair chuckled Ida’s response. He turned his attention back to Sierra.

"Even your maid agrees. So, Sierra, may I have this dance?"

Sierra glanced behind him, hoping for someone to save her from her predicament. When she finally caught sight of Myra and Taia, both of them were rooting for her to take the opportunity.

With no other choice, she smiled as she placed her hand in Alistair’s and replied, "Yes you may, Your Majesty. I will be honored."

"No no, sweetling," he whispered into her ear as Sierra came to his side, "the honor is mine."

Alistair took her by her hand and led her to the dance floor. As the melodious music began to play, Alistair wrapped his hand around Sierra’s waist and guided her each step of the way. Everyone gasped when they saw who the King had chosen for his first dance.

Princess Agnes and Cassandra were both seething in anger when they saw that it was Sierra who was dancing with the King. Every princess in that ballroom wanted to be Sierra.

The King and the knightess could not take their eyes off each other throughout their dance. In their minds, there was no one else in the ballroom. It was only them and the music.

"Princess Sierra."

"Yes, Your Majesty?" Sierra was caught off guard. She was deep in her thoughts when Alistair called her name.

"What is it about me that you like so much?" He asked with a grin.

"What?"

"You’ve been looking at me non-stop since we began dancing, surely you must like what you see?"

He was flirting with her and she knew it. Sierra had her fair share of men vying for her attention in the past. Having lived in an army camp for most of her life revealed to her all the tricks men would often come up with when they tried to court a lady.

"My King, where else would I look if not at you?" She played along at first, "There simply aren’t any places else."

Alistair chuckled. Sierra had seen through his words in an instant. Most other princesses would have blushed and averted their gaze. He loved her even more than before.

His silence was noted by Sierra. She was going to turn the situation around to her advantage.

"Is that all you have rehearsed to say, King Alistair? I’m feeling a little disappointed now..." Sierra sighed.

She wanted to see how he would react. She remembered the times she teased Cedric like this in the past. He never once reacted the way she wanted him to. Perhaps that was a clear sign that he was not the one for her. If only she had seen it earlier.

"Now now, sweetling. Don’t group me with other men," he said, as if he had read her thoughts.

"If you have the time, I’ll show you all the tricks I have up my sleeves," Alistair replied without skipping a beat.

He was so smooth with his replies, Sierra could not help but chuckle. He had given her quite the response.

"My apologies for underestimating you, Your Majesty. Although..." Sierra glanced over to the orchestra as the music mellowed out, "it seems like it’s time for you to find your next princess."

The song had come to an end and it was time for them to part ways on the dance floor as Alistair was to choose his next dance partner. He released Sierra’s hand unwillingly as both of them took a bow.

"Who would you like me to dance with next, Sierra?" He whispered to her, so that the conversation remained between the both of them.

Sierra was surprised by his question. Right off the top of her mind, she wanted to tell him the true answer in her heart. She wanted to be the next one to dance with him, and for every dance that came after that.

She glanced over to the sidelines. She could see everyone was eager to be picked. Even Agnes and Cassandra.

"So long as it’s not Agnes or Cassandra, it’s all the same to me," she finally replied with a smile before walking away.