When we got back to the room, they were already in pairs. Maxine was now with Hudson and I was surprised to see him lift her with ease.

"You're finally here," Alyssa said as she took deep breaths.

Maxine wiped her sweat and placed her hands on her hips. She exhaled and smiled, "As you can see, we already have partners so the two of you don't have a choice."

I resisted the urge to smile as I glanced at Tony, "Really? He's my partner?"

He showed me a lopsided smile, "Would you rather not?"

I rolled my eyes and pulled him inside, "Let's practice."

"By the way," Psyche mentioned, "what did they call you for?"

"It was just concerning about our citizenship," Tony replied nonchalantly.

Adrian raised a brow, "What about your citizenship?"

"I came from Italy," Tony answered, "I was just transferred here to train."

Psyche turned to me with a curious glint in her eyes, "What about you?"

"France," I said, "I was transferred here for the same reason."

Derek scoffed, "France? Yeah, right."

I glared at him, "I really did come from France."

He crossed his arms over his chest, "Prove it."

"Arrête de parler, imbécile," I told him with venom laced in my voice.

Tony snorted and clamped a hand on his mouth to keep him from laughing.

Derek raised an eyebrow, "How can I know if what you said is really french?"

"Essayez de le traduire, génie," I replied.

Nina stared at Tony in confusion, "Why are you laughing?"

Tony smiled, "It's nothing."

Heather rolled her eyes, "It's what Sophie said."

"Huh? How do you know?" Fiona asked.

"I can understand French," she replied casually.

Hudson looked skeptically at Tony, "Then that means you can understand it too?"

Tony shrugged, "I guess."

"What exactly did she say?" Hudson asked.

"Stop talking, you fool," Amadeus said.

Hudson put a hand over his chest, "Sorry, man. I was just asking."

Amadeus tolled his eyes, "That's what Sophie said, idiot."

Hudson's lips formed an 'o' as everybody laughed at him.

"What did the second one she said mean?" Emmanuel asked.

"Try translating it, genius," Heather spited.

"Wait, let me get my phone," he said and searched for his phone in his pocket.

Heather tolled her eyes, "That's what she said. Try to keep up."

Emmanuel cleared his throat and awkwardly placed his phone back in his pocket, "Right."

"Now we know that Sophie is French, is Haris really Italian?" Daniel asked.

"Sì, lo sono certamente," Tony replied.

Everyone looked at Amadeus. He raised an eyebrow and shoved his hands in his pockets, "What?"

"Translate it," Adrian ordered.

"Just because I know French doesn't mean I also know Italian," he replied.

"It means: yes, I certainly am," Tony supplied.

Derek shrugged, "Alright."

I looked at him in disbelief, "You believed him easily?"

He raised an eyebrow, "Why? Do you have a problem with that?"

"But you—" I shook my head in exasperation, "you didn't believe me at first!"

"Who says I believe you now?" He asked.

"What?" I asked incredulously.

He smirked at me and his eyes shone with mischief, "You know what I mean, Sophie."

Tony cleared his throat from beside me and took my hands which were balled into fists, "Let's practice now, shall we?"

I took a deep breath and nodded, "Alright." It was only then that I realized Delilah wasn't in the room so I asked, "Where's Delilah?"

"The boss called the managers for an emergency meeting," Alyssa answered.

"About what?" Tony asked.

She shrugged, "We don't know. Right now, we have one task, and that is to practice."

The rest of the day was spent practicing the dance. It made me feel like Tony and I were in the old days when we danced together. He carried me with ease unlike that scrawny Hudson. The other members stared at us in awe as we danced in sync as if we've done this a hundred of times. Which in reality, we probably did.

"How are the two of you dancing so gracefully?" Hudson asked.

Justin scoffed and rolled his eyes, "You're just really uncoordinated."

Hudson glared at him, "Am not."

"Seriously though, the two of them dance like professional dancing partners," Nichola stated, "how are you doing it?"

Derek raised an eyebrow, "They probably stayed at the palace and got some lessons."

My head snapped to him and I maintained a calm demeanour as I smiled sweetly at him, "Thank you for that compliment, Derek, but no, we did not have lessons from the palace."

Tony shrugged, "Well I did."

I stared at him in shock, "You—What did you just say?"

He shoved his hands in his pockets, "My brother married a countess in Italy. They taught me a few things."

A lot of gasps were heard in the room. Even Heather and Amadeus who were very apathetic had a small 'o' formed on their lips.

I sighed in relief discreetly, "How was your experience there?"

"You're related to royalty?!" Nina exclaimed.

"You—You—" Hudson stuttered. He pointed to Tony in disbelief, "You're a noble?"

He is. He has been his whole life.

"That is so cool!" Adrian exclaimed.

Psyche bowed to him, "Your highness."

The others followed suit. I awkwardly bowed to him since it would be suspicious if I didn't.

"Please rise, everyone," Tony said and ran a hand through his hair awkwardly, "my brother just married into royalty. That does not make me that important."

"But it does!" Psyche disagreed.

Tony sighed, "Please, I beg you, do not mention this anywhere. I ought to maintain a low profile in here and not attract attention. Treat me as you would a normal citizen," then he muttered in a whisper so only I could hear, "I haven't felt that in so long."

That brought a smile to my face. I patted his back, "Don't worry, Haris. You're still the same to us. Right, guys?"

They muttered their agreements and we went back to practicing. I noticed that Derek kept shooting us suspicious—or probably accusing—glances the whole dance. I still wasn't sure if he knew something but if he did, could we trust him?

Tony looked at Derek then glanced back at me, "What exactly is going between the two of you?" He asked with a hint accusation.

I shook my head, "I swear, I know nothing of what he was talking about."

He tightened his grip on me, "What did he say?"

My breath hitched as I remembered what he whispered in my ear.

Because I own you, Iole Haidee Eudora.

If my memory serves right, I was supposed to tell him what he told me, but alas. I have not.

Tony shook me a little, "What is it, Dee?" He whispered but made sure to make still sound stern.

I took a deep breath, "He told me he owns me and called me by my real name. He said my parents did something I didn't know."

"He—He what?" He asked in disbelief, "there must be a mistake. How can he own you?"

I sighed and shrugged, "I don't know and I can't even ask my parents about it."

His face fell, "Then let's not dwell on that topic anymore."

I rolled my eyes and managed a smile, "But you were the one who brought it up, remember?"

He grinned, "Yeah, and now I say let's not talk about it anymore."

I took a deep breath and nodded, "Alright."

The time spent dancing with Tony made me ache for the old days when we danced with no worry—of course we had a lot of worries now but you get what I mean.

I wondered how my friends are right now. I wanted to hear from them but it would be dangerous if I sent a letter to them. I wanted to send a letter to the royals at France to tell them about my situation, but when can I do it? Discreetly?

I'd be in big trouble if I don't send it in time.

The day ended when everyone was on the floor, panting hard and sweat covering our bodies. Alyssa was the one who dismissed us but Derek told Tony and Hudson that they still had practice after—to which the two begrudgingly obliged to.

I departed to my room and was shocked when I felt a force from behind sent me toppling to the ground.

I screamed in surprise as the one who made me fall laughed.

"You're so funny, Sophie!" Ayumi exclaimed and pulled me up.

I dusted myself and gave her a fake smile—she won't know it's fake, though. "Good to see you, Ayumi."

She grinned and put her arm around my shoulders. Her scent of vanilla filled my nostrils as she moved. It was amazing to think that even after practice, she smelled as though she was just out from a bath.

"I heard your dance had a mix of ballroom in it," she said as we walked to our rooms, "is it true?"

I nodded, "Yup."

Her head turned to me and her eyes shone with excitement, "Really? Omg! I want to watch!"

I smiled, "Sure you can, but you can only watch it at our debut show."

She pouted, "But by then, we've already debuted and would be really busy."

"When exactly is your debut?" I asked and in the distance, I saw our room numbers glinting in the light.

"This Saturday," she replied.

In shock, I stopped in my tracks, bringing her with me. My mouth was agape, "But that's like four days from today!"

She grinned and nodded, "Yup, and the Erotes are debuting on Thursday."

If possible, my mouth dropped lower, "What?! Don't you think that's too early?"

She chuckled, "Well, dear Sophie. You've been here for only a week or so and they've been practicing for years. I think it's high time they debut."

"But what about Haris?" I asked, "He just got here, right?"

She nodded, "Yes, and they've done something about it. I heard he's a fast learner so don't worry."

I smiled. I can't imagine Tony dancing anything but ballroom dances. Whenever I think of him dancing a pop song, an image of a graceful swan pops in my head but it is wearing shades and a cap that's tilted to the side with a chain necklace dangling on its neck.

We stopped walking in front of our rooms as Ayumi got her card from her pocket. She slid the card on the machine and the door opened. She turned to me and smiled, "I'll see you tomorrow."

I smiled and waved goodbye, "Good night."

She waved and closed her door. When the door closed with a thud, I reached my pocket to get my card and proceed inside my room.

Due to my everlasting luck, the card wasn't there. I sighed as I left towards our practice room again.

The hall was quiet as I passed. The only sound heard was my footsteps. So I was scared when I heard something suddenly drop. It made me jump a little from where I stood.

I was already at the practice rooms when it happened. I glanced at the door where the sound came from. It was from ours.

The door was slightly ajar when I approached. I peeked inside to see who was inside. I gasped a little at what I saw.

The boy was holding a necklace which was so familiar to me. I instantly patted my neck to check if I was wearing the necklace that Abigail gave me. It wasn't there.

I was sure I was wearing it earlier. Or maybe I didn't and I left it at my room but my room is locked, and without the card, no one could enter.

Then I saw it. A black and silver piece of plastic in his hands. Sure, it could have been his but I walked close enough inside to see my fake name imprinted on it.

He was placing the card on the table and shoving my necklace inside his pocket when I spoke, "Derek."

If he was startled, he didn't show it, but I quickly took my card away from his hands and held it up so the name imprinted on it is seen clearly, "What are you doing with my card?" I asked then motioned my head to the necklace he put in his pocket, "and my necklace?"

He raised and eyebrow and took the necklace from his pocket, "So it's yours, huh? Tell me, then. What design is in the necklace."

I glared at him, "It's a necklace with a key and the word 'Illéa' is carved on it."

He nodded and spun the necklace on his finger, "Correct."

"If it's correct then why aren't you giving it back to me?" I asked exasperatedly.

He hummed, "How peculiar it is when you claim to have lived in France but own something with my country in it."

My heartbeat quickened as I felt nervous but I didn't let it show and crossed my arms, "I got it when I got here. It's a souvenir I found in the streets and I thought it was beautiful so I bought it. Now give it back," I ordered, "and you haven't answered my question yet."

He looked at me with his eyebrow raised, "What question?"

"Why was my card and necklace with you?" I repeated and got the necklace back from him.

He shrugged and shoved his hands in his pockets, "I found it."

After he said that, he turned his back on me and walked to the door.

I scoffed, "You're leaving without an acceptable explanation?"

He stopped walking and looked back, "I told you," he said then walked away, "I found it."

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Something smells fishy . . . 😂😂 Well I hope you liked this chapter and I'm going to inform you that this book will end at about chapter 35 or 37 so yey! The end is near :)