Still frozen on her spot, after hearing such a bomb explode right in front of her, Adira felt her world spin as information she had forgotten rushed back to her after learning Casey's full name.

Casimir Athanasius Rozen Versaillus, first prince of the Versaillus Empire, heir to the throne. The crown prince that died on his seventeenth year due to an assassination which paved the way for the Dalriada heir to take his place as the crown prince after the second prince died, also of assassination.

A distant blood relative of the royals but a legit blue-blooded heir, nonetheless.

Rumors circulated after the incident about how the assassinations of the princes were orchestrated by the Dalriada household to usurp the throne.

Adira, who loved Triton as madly as a loyal dog, was enraged with the said rumor which catalyzed her tyranny. She shut the one who dared speak of such rumors the easy and the hard way.

It was the catalyst to her ruined reputation which earned her the name of the Ash Demoness—a monster spawn from the king of the devils that crawled up to make their lives miserable—which eventually became the Mad Queen.

She didn't mind what names they called her as. What was important to her was Triton's reputation. All that mattered to her was to clear Triton's name of the malicious rumors they spread. No matter if hers was dragged to the mud and stepped on.

She felt lightheaded and swayed back before feeling strong and reassuring arms snake around her waist, keeping her stable.

However, what was more dangerous than falling was how this absolutely, divinely, immaculate attractive face was suddenly too close to her that she unconsciously placed a hand on his chest— a poor attempt at keeping him at bay.

"Are you okay? I'm sorry for surprising you like this."

Ah, just like how we met. He's apologizing again after helping me out of my own mistake.

"I'm... I'm fine... Your highness." She whispered and turned away.

She couldn't believe that Casey was one of the few people who was above her in status. And yet! She dared act slovenly in front of him!

How shameful, Adira!

Upon remembering her unlady-like gestures, a blush crept up to her face, dusting her cheeks prettily that it made her more exquisitely alluring and perfect. Stirring a man's desire unnecessarily.

"Maybe that's the reason why I hesitated to tell you." Casimir whispered before gently taking Adira's hand while still keeping his eyes on her visage that secretly visited his dreams at night.

Hearing his cool voice so close to her ears, she shivered slightly and slowly turned to look at him after listening to his words.

Hesitated?

Seeing the confusion on her face, he continued, "I didn't want you to feel distant with me. I wanted you to see Casimir and not the Prince. I love how you call me Casey and how only you call me that."

Guiding and leading her into the dance when the melody started, a small pleading smile graced his apathetic gorgeous face while continuing, "So please, don't start calling me 'Your Highness' now. Just call me Casey like you always do."

"But your highness, that is inappropriate." She stubbornly rejected him while allowing herself to fall willingly into his pace. Swaying and turning with his every move.

"Well, you've always been headstrong."

Casimir fell silent after he spoke and focused more on their dance. Relishing this beautiful and romantic moment where nothing else mattered but the lady in his arms, following him at every turn, every step and every pause.

Adira did the same but Casey's words still lingered in her mind. She was too occupied with her thoughts that she missed a step and almost fell sidewards when Casimir automatically, like an inate reflex, grabbed Adira's waist and lifted her up as he spun her around to save her once again.

It was truly a magical and resplendent moment that they both looked as if they were drawn out from the paintings of the greatest artist and his greatest masterpiece.

A few more turns and steps before the song ended and Casimir bowed from his hips with graceful movements befitting a prince and Adira curtseyed so low, displaying her respect to the man in front of her, the prince as well as her fiancee.

Casimir helped Adira up and offered his hand to her. The scene looked just like the moment they first met—a young Casimir helping a young Adira up and also offering his hand as the young lady only stared at him—before Adira smiled so radiantly all men were now drilling holes through her.

As soon as she was up and standing beside Casimir, she spoke in a soft whisper, "But if you don't mind, can I still call you Casey when it's just us?"

She looked up to him to watch his reaction and damn was it perfect. A genuine miraculous happy smile, that very rarely presents on his face, bloomed majestically all women must've been struck with an arrow or two by now—and of course, our very own lovely Adira's no exception to that.

The sheer power of that smile! God! I really have to be extra wary of my back from now on.

She had a sudden thought as she stared at that dazzling smile.

After the first dance was done, all the other nobles, with their respective partners—fiancees, brothers or cousins—took over the dance floor while Adira retreated to a corner and sat to rest her feet.

From a corner of her gaze, she saw that striking pink-haired lady walk down the stairs with her yellow sunlight gown adding to her bright and adorable charm.

She walked close to Casimir, who personally went to get Adira some water himself, and greeted him with a low curtsey. And the latter, being the civil yet cold prince that he is, only nodded his head in acknowledgement before walking away and returning to Adira's side.

Adira, who was watching their exchange, felt nervous. It wasn't because she was jealous or anything, but because she couldn't help but feel like so when she sees her. Also, there's still Casey's assassination.

"What's wrong?" Casimir asked when he saw the anxious gaze of the maiden on him and raised a brow.

"No... Nothing." She avoided his gaze unconsciously as it drifted back towards the girl as bright and joyful as sunlight. While she was as dark as blood.

"Here. Water." He simply said, without any inessential words, and handed her a glass of water which she casually replied with a "Thank you."

Casimir settled down beside her, wordlessly, but somehow his presence was reassuring enough and she smiled languidly. She's never been more relaxed tonight than now.

"By the way, Casey." Adira started when a thought suddenly dawned on her now that she knows his real identity. Casimir turned to her with an easy and relaxed expression on his face as his mesmerizing platinum eyes asked her silently.

"I was not present in your coming-of-age, right?" She spoke of it with a guilty expression on her pretty face that made Casimir smile slightly before the former continued, "What did you do with your dance?"

He hummed softly when he thought back to that time and answered after a few seconds, "I didn't dance."

"You didn't dance? Is that even allowed?"

"Well, my fiancee was sick in bed. I didn't even want to attend it and skip it so we could celebrate our coming-of-age together but I had to for various reasons." Was what he wanted to say but summarized it all together in a simple reply, "Together."

What? Together? Together what??

"Do you mean that you wanted to celebrate it with me but couldn't because of certain reasons? Is that it?" Adira, playing the little mind reader for Casimir's entertainment, asked which earned her another smile.

My god! If I have to play as a mind reader just to see that smile, I'd gladly play it a million times more.

"So that's why you knew that I was sick when you came to visit two days later when I got better."

Casimir only nodded and kept his stare on her while she immersed herself in her own thoughts, rearranging the new informations in her head.

Well, it was fun talking with her but lately, he noticed that it was even fun just simply watching her facial expressions change every now and then.