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Love,

Katie

A Rose Of Cinders

Chapter 7

Nervously, she placed her hand on his shoulder, her other one in his hand, and looked at him. He looked back at her, also hesitating where to place his hand. Deciding to do it right, he placed it on the small of her back. Carefully listening to the music, he chose a dance. "Waltz?" he asked her, and she nodded, smiling at the excited sparkle in his eyes.

He carefully started to dance, leading her across the room, and she followed, just like her mother had taught her. Soon, they were lost in each other and the music. They danced and danced, in a world where just the two of them existed, and no one else. They were oblivious to the stares, the muttering and rumors. Neither of them noticed the song ending, and when – after some doubting – the fiddlers and pianists continued with a different song, a tango this time, they continued to slow-dance, regardless to the rhythm of the new song.

They had inched closer during the dances, her head now resting on his chest, her eyes closed, blindly trusting him, following wherever he would lead her. It was still hard for her to grasp that she really was dancing with the Prince, that he was dancing with her . Unconsciously, a small sigh escaped her lips, unheard by the guests, but noticed by him.

Afraid that she might be bored, he pulled back, checking her facial expression. Her eyes were closed, her beautiful, long eyelashes on her cheeks, her eyelids hiding her beautiful eyes from him. Pulling her closer to him, he lowered his head, smelling the sweet fragrance of her hair, the sweet smell of her perfume. Unable to resist temptation, he gave in, and placed a soft kiss on her crown, his lips lingering there.

"You're a very good dancer," he quietly complimented her as she twirled once more. She looked up, a lovely blush gracing her features, and she shyly answered him, "Thank you, sir. My mother taught me."

"Then your mother has to be an amazing dancer," he stated, but he immediately regretted his words. His words had caused her sadness; it flashed in her eyes and passed over her face.

"She passed away a couple of years ago…" she informed him, her eyes sullen. "I'm sorry…" he began, but she quickly, yet softly protested.

"You couldn't know, sir, it isn't your fault." He nodded reluctantly, still feeling as if he owed her an apology. Another thing that bothered him was the 'sir'-thing. It sounded so distant, as if they didn't know each other, while he felt as if he'd known her for years. "Please, do call me Max, not sir…" he beseeched her softly, and she quietly laughed.

"Of course, Max. Your wish is my command…"

She was teasing him, he noticed, and he liked it, loved it. He loved the thrill it gave him, he loved her soft giggles, he loved the gentle smile on her lips, he loved the twinkle in her eyes. He loved her.

He got the sudden urge to kiss her breathless, to do the things to her he'd dreamt of doing to her. "You want to go somewhere else?" he inquired, and she inquisitively studied his face, not sure of what to say. Nodding, she finally agreed with him. Taking his arm, she asked, "Where to, My-Oh-So-Mighty-Prince?", the teasing smile back on her lips, a quick wink telling him she was kidding. "How about the gardens, My-Oh-So-Dear-Lady?" he retorted, and he winked back at her. He heard Michael sighing disapprovingly, and looked back, seeing him with a petite blonde, shaking his head at Max's sappy behavior.

What could he say?

He was a guy in love…

Besides, Michael looked pretty into the blonde himself, smiling at everything she said. Maybe this ball wouldn't only turn out to be a great evening for him, but would it also become the night of Michael's life…

The cold air of the already fallen night welcomed them when they left the palace. He took her to the botanic gardens, for they were closer than the rose gardens.

"Hey Max!" Ryan, one of the gardeners, welcomed him, a knowing smile on his face when he saw Liza. He was removing the whithered and fallen leaves from the ground and at the same time, he watered the plants.

"Goodnight, Ryan," Max greeted him back, and with a goofy smile he approached the man. "Ryan, this is…" he started to introduce her, but stopped, realizing that he didn't even know her name. "Liza," she said smiling, extending her hand.

"Ryan," he replied, and then added, "but I guess you'd already figured that out." She softly laughed and Max just laughed along, immensely glad when he felt her hand slipping back in his.

"It sure is a bright night," Ryan declared, looking up at the sky, "excellent for stargazing," he added, winking at Max, his head motioning at the lawn in front of his cabin. "It sure is…" Max agreed, and he threw Ryan a smile, guiding his beautiful princess to the lawn.

Carefully in order to keep her dress clean – which was irrational, for it would disappear by Midnight – she sat down on the soft grass. A silence fell, but it wasn't awkward. Peaceful would be a better word to describe it.

Suddenly he spoke up.

"Kyste is shining bright tonight, isn't it?" She silently nodded her agreement, unwilling to break the comfortable silence once more, yet eager to hear his low, pleasant voice again.

"Have you ever heard of its myth?" he gently asked her, his hand reaching for hers. It was amazing how well her tiny hand fitted in his own. She shook her head and looked questioningly at him.

"It's said that there once was a man, a Prince of Antar. He loved a girl so beautiful, but – according to his parents and his people – totally unworthy of him." He saw her stares shifting between the stars and his own face, her gaze resembling feather light caresses, loving touches.

"She was a servant, and he was obligated to marry another woman, a queen of a distant planet. And so he did. He couldn't resist temptation, though, and his love for her was too strong to be ignored. Finally, they both gave way to their feelings. The queen found out, and had them both executed."

The horrible expression on her face pained him, knowing that he had put it there. "It's said that they died with each other's name on their lips, tangled up in an embrace. The sky darkened the moment they were murdered, a solar and Third Moon eclipse at the same time. A blinding light flashed before the crowd's eyes, and shot up in the sky, the soft pink and light blue mingling into a star, thence forming Kyste. It's folklore believe that their love will once return to Antar, and into the light of two new star-crossed lovers…"

He trailed off, looking at her. He tried to gauge her reaction, but she just looked up at the sky, a pensive look marking her beautiful features. He awaited a sign, a remark, but she didn't reply, tears shimmering in her eyes, reflecting the moonlight.

"Liza?" he carefully asked her, enjoying the sound of her name on his lips. Great. He'd made her cry. His hand reached out for her face, her cheeks, and he turned her face to his.

"It's such a sad story…" she softly muttered, and he nodded, distracted by her enchanting eyes.

"Have we met before?" he asked her all of a sudden, voicing the question that had kept him busy all night. For a moment, he could have sworn that he saw shock, panic in her eyes, but he must have imagined it, for it was gone when he took a better look.

"I would have remembered…" she replied, her eyes refusing to meet his.

He nodded, then laughingly shook his head. "You're right. It's just… You remember me of this girl I once met…"

A secret smile played on her face, and she laughed quietly. "Should I be jealous?" she teasingly asked him. Blushing, he shook his head. "No… I'll never see her again. Besides, I think my heart has taken a liking in another girl…"

"Really?" she asked, holding her breath. He nodded, and his hand traced her jawbones.

"Could I…" he stammered clumsily, "Could I kiss you?" Shyly smiling, she nodded. He crossed the small distance between them and – after closing his eyes – he placed a gentle kiss on her lips, his heart nearly beating out of his chest. Her sweet lips responded to his, and kissed him back, igniting a fire inside of him. When he extracted to look at her, her eyes were still closed, a blissful smile on her lips. He shifted positions so he could kiss her again, needing more of her lovely taste. She willingly let him, and pulled him down with her.

Time ticked away, and as their kiss grew deeper and more passionate, the hand of the Palace clock had neared the 12. She didn't notice, though, oblivious to anything but Max, totally lost in him. At the first strike of the clock, she hastily pulled back, panic mingling with the feeling of perfection.

"I have to go…" she reluctantly whispered, and kissed him once more.

"Please, do stay…" he murmured against her lips. She remorsefully shook her head, her heart aching at his wistful look.

"Will I see you again?" he beseeched her.

"Tomorrow," she vowed. "I'll see you tomorrow…"

She swiftly exited the gardens, ran through the dining hall, the ballroom and managed to leave the Palace before the last strike. Alex and Maria were already waiting for her, behind the bushes, their knowing smiles mocking her.

"Had fun, Lizzie?" Maria playfully asked her. Liza blushed, following Alex as he left for their coach, which was once more as plain as it used to be, without the Royal decorations. "He wants to see me again," she said.

"I bet he does…" was the response she got from Maria, and Alex just smiled at her.

"Just ignore her," he said. "She's been like that ever since she and Spikey - " "Michael," Maria corrected him, a dreamy look in her eyes, "ever since she and Michael " he continued, good-naturedly rolling his eyes, "escaped to his room…"

"Maria!" Liza shrieked, giggles welling up inside of her. "You are sooo bad, girl…"

"Am not!" Maria protested, and giggled along with her best friend. "Listen to him… He's got no right to speak at all! He's just as bad as I am…"

"He is?" Liza curiously asked, and Alex shamefacedly looked away.

"Yeah…" Maria nodded enthusiastically, "you should have seen him dancing with the Princess… Tongues tied, hand entangled in her hair, eyes closed, one hand dangerously close to her breasts, an-"

"Maria, stop!" Liza interrupted her. "Too much details! This is my brother we're talking about!"

"Sorry…" Maria apologized, but her expression was nowhere near regretting what she'd just said.

"Do you think Amelia could handle another night?" Liza softly asked, praying that it would be possible. She'd give everything to see Max once more. To kiss him just once more…

"I don't know," Maria answered. "It depends on how she's doing, I guess…"

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And the story continues... =) I'll honestly try to update more often, if you want me to, okay?

Lots of love,

Katie