The romantic harmony of the music that could be heard throughout the room in the palace, were still ringing in the ears. All the invited guests were still busy with their conversations in their respective groups. Almost all of them were talking while holding a glass in his hand. The conversation that seemed unwilling to they did not want to end, occasionally interspersed with drinking activities.
Daniel's sharp eyes caught the presence of a girl who looked from behind, it felt like Daniel was very familiar with the golden brown dress she wore. The man in the black tuxedo stepped closer to the girl who was sitting alone near the pillar of the palace building.
"Good evening, Martha!"
"Ah, Daniel! You startled me."
"Can I sit here?" he asked, turning Martha's gaze to an empty chair nearby.
"Of course Daniel. Sit down!"
"Are you daydreaming, Martha? Until I startled you?"
"Ah, that's... It's just that I was thinking about something. I was thinking too seriously."
"Hmm. You're wearing the dress I gave you."
"Hmm. That's right Daniel. I really like this beautiful dress. I didn't expect it would fit my body so well. I feel comfortable wearing it."
"Really? You like it?"
"Of course Daniel! I'm talking about honesty, not for the sake of please you." she said with a smile and a shy look.
"I'm very grateful if that's true, Martha."
A few seconds of silence.
"You know Daniel, my brother really likes a girl. But, now I can see that there is another girl who likes my brother."
"Ah, really? Then do you think your brother will walk towards which girl?"
"Hmm. I don't know! It's just that I feel that liking someone is quite complicated too. Sometimes you even have to hurt the feelings of someone who already likes you sincerely."
"Martha, look at me!" he pleaded as he shifted to face the girl beside him.
And with her heart beating wildly, Martha struggled to look at Daniel's face.
"You shouldn't think about complicated things. You know what, Martha? I like you!"
Her eyes rounded, a tremor filled her chest cavity. It made her struggle to open her mouth.
"Did you say Daniel? Please say it again."
"I like you!" followed by his best smile.
Martha tore her gaze away from Daniel's eyes, she looked down and laughed lightly. She couldn't meet Daniel's eyes anymore.
"And you know it too, Daniel?"
"Hmm. What Martha?"
"I've also liked you since... Since..."
"Since when, Martha?"
"Since you became a new student at our elementary school."
"What? Hahaha. Are you kidding me Martha? Has it really been that long?"
"Hmm. I'm not joking, Daniel."
"But, how could you hold it in for that long?"
"I don't know! I worked hard enough to try and hide it."
"Ah, look at Martha! They're starting to dance. Would you like to dance with me?" as he thrust out one of his open palms, asking for Martha to dance with him.
Of course Martha couldn't refuse. With a twinkle of happiness, she accepted Daniel's hand. Holding hands, the two dragged their feet to the center of the dance floor.
One couple after another advanced to the dance floor in front of them. Likewise Matias and Nivea did not want to miss this moment. Princess Nicole who looked displeased, chose to sit quietly by the door of the living room. While crossing her chest, she observed pair after pair of couples who were dancing happily there.
As for Prince Edmund, he has disappeared since the arrival of a man who whispered something in his ear.
Three hours have passed, now the palace area has returned to silence. In the quiet of the night, a princess's cry could be heard. However, only herself could hear her cries of anguish.
Princess Nicole was lying face down on her bed. The girl covered her head with a pillow. Inside, she swallowed the pain and jealousy that filled her chest cavity. As it turned out, falling in love was not as beautiful as people said many people say.
She wanted to end her feelings for Matias right now. End the pain. But she couldn't bring herself to, to get rid of those feelings in just a moment.
Princess Nicole began to move from her position. She leaned her back against the back of her luxurious bed. With both hands she wiped away the tears on both cheeks.
She sighed then slowly moved down the bed. The steps that brought her out of the room. Her ears caught the faint sound of her father's voice in his study. Princess Nicole, who had not yet replaced her party dress with a nightgown, stepped closer to the source of the voice.
"You should have restrained yourself for a moment, Edmund! You left in between the banquet and didn't return until it was over."
"How many times do I have to say it, Father? I have something to take care of out there."
"What is that something, Edmund? What's more important than the the banquet?"
"I can't say."
"You're a prince. You're my son. My future successor. Why do everything as you please?"
Prince Edmund only replied with a sigh.
"Tell me, what are you doing without my knowledge?"
"Alright Father! I'll tell you. I came to the widows' settlement, Father. I was just helping a widow whose land was about to be taken over by a the private sector."
"Are you sure, Edmund? If I had known you dared to lie to me, I would never have ever forgive you. Go away! It's useless to tell you to talk the truth."
For the umpteenth time the king quarreled with his son. Their natures were completely at odds. It was like they were not biological children.
Seeing her brother coming out of her father's study, Nicole's daughter, without any fear, approached Prince Edmund.
The girl even poured gasoline on the fire that was still raging in her brother's chest.
"Someone's going to take Nivea away from you, brother!"
The man frowned, "So you're telling me to compete with that trash?"
"What? You're calling the boy I like a trash?"
"Hahaha." the prince laughed wickedly at that. "My guess was right, that's the guy you fell in love with."
"Seize Nivea on your own, brother! Don't you dare touch Matias in the slightest! Find a more honorable way to take your Nivea!"
Princess Nicole turned around and walked away. She went back into her room and slammed the door from the inside.
"Damn it!!! Everyone in this palace underestimates me. You'll see, I'll pay me back!" the prince ranted in solitude. Cursing the treatment his father and sister to him.
It was clear that the night did not have a happy ending for everyone. Perhaps only Daniel and Martha can feel how memorable the night was.
They had begun their relationship as lovers.
And in the distance, Nivea was still looking at her face in the mirror. Even though she was wearing her nightgown, her eyes were hard to close.
She was thinking about the words Miss Isabel had spoken to her in a dream the other day. She was quite regretful of her destiny of being born from the reincarnation of a person, with a terrible love story.