Rue did not enjoy the stares the further she walked into the ball. Was it so strange that she was wearing a dress? She wore plenty of dresses, but none .
The whispers puzzled Rue as well. There was fear in the eyes of the guests, which shouldn’t be there since she had left her weapons at home.
To get some answers, Rue turned to Penelope and asked, "Why do they stare so much?"
"It is our first appearance since we married in secret, and they are foolish to believe that I am cursed," Penelope answered, forgetting that Rue didn’t know what was said.
"Cursed? You are not cursed. My great-grandmother would have told me and found a way to help you. It is just like my mother said that this kingdom is strange," Rue said, no longer worried about the stares. "If they think you are cursed, why haven’t they offered to help you be free of it?"
"Lockwood isn’t that kind of town. They would rather gossip than seek help or simply not believe such lies. There is some beauty to this town, and I will help you see it. Perhaps when I am done, you might not want to leave," Penelope said jokingly.
Rue shook her head. "I cannot stay. I want to be by my sister’s side when she becomes the next leader. Lockwood doesn’t suit me. I do enjoy my time with your family. My father always looks forward to seeing the duke and king."
"Maybe one day Tyrion and I can travel to the border and you can show us around. I want to see much more of the kingdom," said Penelope.
"I would love to show you around," Rue replied.
Tyrion found a quiet corner for them to stand by whilst they waited for Penelope’s family to arrive. While Penelope and Rue spoke amongst themselves, Tyrion kept watch of the crowd around them.
So far, there were only stares and chatter, but Tyrion knew it wouldn’t be long before someone approached them. It was too good an opportunity for the crowd to find out details concerning their marriage to let it pass.
It was rare that Tyrion attended a ball without drama.
Tyrion was grateful when he heard the announcement for his family’s arrival, since the crowd would now be focused on the royals.
Tyrion was able to see the entrance and was pleased to see that his grandmother was not in attendance. It was only his parents and siblings present.
He watched as his family went toward the designated area held for them so they could remain in the safety of their guards.
"Would you like to go greet them?" Penelope asked, noticing Tyrion’s gaze on his family.
Normally, Tyrion stood with his family at balls.
"Not right away," Tyrion replied. "Let them entertain the crowd while we enjoy the peace. Would you like anything to drink? Both of you?"
"No, thank you," Penelope declined the offer. Tonight was not the time she wanted to have wine or whatever else was served.
"I do," Rue said, looking forward to tasting more wine. "I must take many bottles of wine back home, but in secret. My father doesn’t care for wines as I do."
Tyrion stopped a servant, offered a glass to Rue, and held one for himself.
Amelia, who stood nearby the group to keep an eye on Rue, smiled.
"See," Amelia whispered to Octavia. She was lucky to have found her friend early. "She did not accept a drink. It must be true. We must prepare gifts for her."
"I did not want to believe it," Octavia said, smiling as she looked at the other young ladies who enjoyed the gossip. "The prince is handsome, but we mustn’t forget what we have been taught by our mothers and governesses. We are waiting for marriage."
"I thought such behaviour was only for women without any status, but now it is spreading to us. She isn’t trying to hide it," Amelia said, shaking her head at Penelope’s foolish behaviour. "She must not care since she is now married."
"I think she tries to hide it. Look at her dress. It looks like she cannot breathe," said Octavia. "She is hurting the child."
Octavia’s smile soon fell after she noticed the crown prince approaching Penelope’s group and speaking to the woman she did not know. "Who is the woman with them?" She asked.
"Do not be fooled by her appearance. That woman is one of the barbarians visiting the palace," Amelia whispered.
Octavia gasped, partly by the word Amelia used and who the woman was. "Why is the crown prince speaking with her? Is he considering marriage to her? Look!" Octavia tapped Amelia’s shoulder. "He is offering his hand for a dance."
Amelia frowned. She had planned how she would be Teo’s first dance since the first dance meant everything to her.
Amelia closed her right hand into a ball. "Let all the ladies and men present know where she has come from. It is not right for her to dress up like us and fool everyone."
Octavia nodded and turned to her peers to spread the word. The crown prince should not waste his time with such a woman when there were others more suited for him standing nearby.
Back where Penelope stood, she watched as Teo and Rue bickered over dancing. Rue did not want to dance while Teo thought it was fun, and now the conversation had turned to how they could win a sparring match.
Penelope did not get the feeling that these two would marry. They were more like siblings born into different families.
"Do you want to dance?" Tyrion asked, offering his hand to Penelope.
"I would love to," Penelope replied, accepting his hand.
Penelope walked with Tyrion to join the other couples as the music would soon start.
Penelope smiled since she thought of how their last dance went. She had pushed Tyrion away then, but now they were married. It was hard to fathom how so much happened after one dance.
When they reached the centre of the room, the crowd’s attention was back on Tyrion and Penelope, but Penelope didn’t pay any attention to it. All that she could see was Tyrion standing before her.
Tyrion was the most handsome man in the room for Penelope, and as he stood before her, Penelope thought of the uniform he wore during their last dance.
"Tyrion," Penelope said, her feet moving as the music filled the ballroom. "Did they allow you to keep the uniform which shows off your medals?"
"They did," Tyrion replied. "I earned them fairly. Why?
"Then, do you have stores somewhere at home?" Penelope asked.
"I do. You are confusing me. Should I have worn it today?" Tyrion asked, trying to place what she wanted.
"No, not here," Penelope replied, smiling when she came near him. "Only when it is the two of us," Penelope whispered.
Tyrion finally caught on to what she wanted. How cruel of her to mention it now when they could not leave the ball soon.