I let out a short gasp.

I saw Marlee kissing Officer Woodwork. They both seemed so comfortable with each other. I could see that they were so much lost in each other that they didn't even care for what was happening out there. I mean, they were in a not-so-used passage but still, it was risky. And, as I suggested, I heard footsteps approaching.

What do I do now?

"Marlee." I shouted.

I did what my brain commanded me to. They both turned abruptly to face me and I ran towards them. I knew it was thoughtless but I didn't have a choice. This was the only thing that caught my attention.

"America, what are you…." I cut her off in between.

I went towards her and hugged her.

"Hey! Calm down. It was just to warn you guys. Somebody was approaching." I whispered in her ear while embracing.

She whispered back, "Oh! America."

I turned and saw the puzzling face of Officer Woodwork. I was pretty sure he didn't grasp a bit of it.

"Marlee, go on." I told her.

She nodded and gave an expression to woodwork which, I didn't understand. In a few minutes, a guard came and stood a few blocks ahead of us three.

"Queen Amberly needs to see you, Lady America and Lady Marlee." He said.

"We'll be there in a couple of minutes." We both replied.

With this, he moved out of the place and I turned to Marlee. She was stressed all over and I could sense that. There was sweat all over her forehead.

"America, I just…I was mad." She was fully tensed.

"Hey, it's okay…no worries. Clear." I said lifting her face by the chin.

She gave me a frail smile.

"What if, we would have been caught?" she spoke as her eyes welled up with tears.

I pulled her in a tight hug, brushing her back.

"It's okay, sweetie. Nothing is going to happen like that. I won't let anything happen." I murmured.

She was losing hopes and I never wanted it to happen.

"Marlee, don't worry. We'll be together…always." Officer Woodwork spoke in the middle.

Marlee turned to face him and they both hugged each other for a while. I knew it wasn't safe but I just couldn't stop it from happening. Then, Marlee and I walked towards the meeting room where Queen Amberly had been waiting for both of us.

We were already late. Celeste was showing a lot of attitude when we advanced. I wondered what could be the cause behind it.

"You are welcome, Lady Marlee and Lady America. Come stand in the queue." She invited us.

We paced forward to join the queue. And that was when she started with her speech….

"So, I've invited all of you for a congregation which is going to be held in our palace. You are going to play an essential part in this. In this gathering, all the elite people of Ilea will be invited and the members of the palace would, of course, be there to judge you." She spoke.

"Judging…for what?" Natalie asked.

"There is going to be a Waltz dance competition."

"Cool…." Kriss spoke trying to sound playful.

Bu this was literally a headache for me. I didn't know anything about which she told us. I mean the dance. I wasn't familiar with the basics also. How was I going to perform in there, in front of thousands of spectators?

This was going to be pretty hard and pretty pathetic too.

"But…but what about our basics and practice…." I stammered.

"Don't worry sweetheart. We'll appoint a tutor for all of you." The Queen spoke.

I sighed. Although it was going to be difficult but I was extremely excited. Maybe I could handle it well, with a tutor.