Chapter 45: A Dance Between Chaos and Affection
Amanda barely had time to process everything before Elias grabbed her hand and led her through the grand halls of the castle. The sound of hurried footsteps echoed behind them. The palace guards, alerted by the recent commotion, were hot on their trail.
"Remind me why we’re running again?" Amanda asked breathlessly, trying to keep up with Elias’ ridiculous pace.
"Because," Elias smirked, yanking her behind a massive curtain just as a group of guards stormed past, "you decided to throw a pie at Lord Belmont’s face."
Amanda huffed. "It was an accident! Mostly. Who tells a girl she doesn’t look heroic enough to be the ‘savior’ without expecting a reaction?"
Elias chuckled. "Fair point, but did you have to use the royal dessert? That was the King’s favorite lemon tart."
"Listen, I acted on instinct," Amanda whispered defensively. "And besides, he was being an insufferable jerk. I regret nothing."
Before Elias could reply, the sound of boots faded, and the halls were once again silent. He peeked out from behind the curtain before turning back to Amanda with a sly grin. "Coast is clear, troublemaker. Let’s go before someone realizes you’re missing."
Amanda rolled her eyes but followed him. They navigated the castle’s corridors, heading toward the gardens. The fresh night air was a welcome relief after the stuffy ballroom drama. Fireflies flickered in the darkness, casting an ethereal glow over the hedges and marble statues.
"Are we just going to ignore the fact that I humiliated a noble in front of everyone?" Amanda asked.
Elias smirked, taking a seat on a stone bench beneath a flowering archway. "Oh no, I plan to remember this for years. But for now, let’s pretend we came here for a romantic escape rather than avoiding royal wrath."
Amanda crossed her arms. "Oh, so this is a date now?"
Elias tilted his head thoughtfully. "Depends. Do you want it to be?"
Amanda felt heat rise to her cheeks. "You’re impossible."
"And you’re adorable when you’re flustered," Elias teased, leaning closer. "But back to important matters—how exactly do you plan to win over the court after today’s fiasco?"
Amanda groaned, running a hand through her hair. "I don’t know. Maybe save the kingdom a couple more times? That seems to work."
Elias laughed. "I suppose being the hero does come with its perks. Though, I must admit, I quite enjoy this version of you—reckless, unpredictable, and constantly keeping me on my toes."
Amanda raised a brow. "So you admit you like me?"
Elias blinked, momentarily caught off guard, before his signature smirk returned. "Oh, Amanda, I thought that was obvious. But if you need me to spell it out—yes. I like you. Terribly so."
Amanda stared at him for a moment, heart pounding. This man. This ridiculous, infuriating, charming prince. "Well… that makes two of us then."
Elias’ grin softened, and for the first time, Amanda saw something deeper in his gaze. He reached out, tucking a loose strand of her hair behind her ear. "Good. Because I have no plans of letting you go."
Before Amanda could respond, a loud crash shattered the moment. They both turned to see a very disheveled Leo standing at the entrance of the garden, panting heavily.
"There you are!" Leo wheezed. "I’ve been looking everywhere for you two!"
Elias sighed, pulling back. "Leo, you have the worst timing."
"Yeah, yeah, sorry for interrupting your romantic little moonlit escapade, but we have a problem!"
Amanda straightened. "What kind of problem?"
Leo gestured wildly. "The kind where Lord Belmont is demanding an official duel for ‘dishonoring’ him, and the King is seriously considering it!"
Amanda groaned. "Oh, come on! It was just a pie!"
"Royal politics, Amanda," Elias sighed. "Nobles don’t take humiliation lightly."
Leo continued, "And to make matters worse, the King declared that if you refuse, it would be seen as an admission of guilt, meaning Belmont would have the right to challenge you again—this time, on his terms."
Amanda pinched the bridge of her nose. "So, what? I have to fight some pompous lord to prove I’m not a disgrace?"
Elias smirked. "Not just any pompous lord—one with a notorious temper and a very sharp sword."
Amanda threw her hands up. "Great! Fantastic! What else? Should I juggle fire while I’m at it?"
Leo, ignoring her sarcasm, cleared his throat. "The duel is set for tomorrow morning."
Amanda groaned dramatically, flopping onto the bench. "I swear, the universe has it out for me."
Elias chuckled, placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "Don’t worry, we’ll train tonight. I’ll make sure you don’t die."
"Gee, what a comforting promise."
Leo patted her back. "If it makes you feel better, I bet ten gold coins on you."
Amanda shot him a look. "You’re betting on me? Wow, the confidence."
Leo grinned. "It’s called faith. Also, if you lose, I at least get some money out of it."
Amanda rolled her eyes before looking at Elias. "Alright, fine. Train me, oh great prince. But I swear, if you enjoy this too much, I’ll find a way to make you suffer."
Elias smirked, pulling her up to her feet. "Oh, I look forward to it, troublemaker. Now, let’s see if you can survive until morning."
Amanda sighed. "If I don’t, I’m haunting all of you."
Leo grinned. "Noted."
With that, they made their way back into the castle, Amanda mentally preparing for yet another absurd challenge in her already chaotic life.
She was starting to think she might actually enjoy it.