My Prince My Master

Princess Bella hurried back to the grand dance hall, her heart racing with a mix of excitement and anxiety. She needed to comport herself before her father returned with Prince Leo. The weight of what she had just overheard pressed on her mind, but the undeniable attraction she felt toward Prince Leo had begun to drown out her concerns. It was as if something magnetic pulled her toward him, despite the dread of her father's debt looming over them. As she entered the hall, she spotted King Patrick returning with Prince Leo by his side. The atmosphere shifted as the king urged Prince Leo, "Please, stay and enjoy the dance with us. We'd be honored to have you."

Prince Leo hesitated, scanning the room with an air of indifference, yet his gaze soon locked onto Bella's. A spark ignited between them, and he couldn't look away. "Very well, I'll stay," he said, a confident smile creeping onto his face. Bella felt her breath hitch. The way he looked at her sent a thrill through her, igniting a warmth that spread across her cheeks. She tried to maintain her composure, but the fluttering sensation in her stomach was undeniable. As the dance resumed, Prince Leo approached her with a boldness that made her heart race. "May I have this dance?" he asked, his voice smooth and captivating. The entire hall fell silent as Bella nodded, unable to form words. She took his hand, and together they made their way to the center of the floor.

All eyes were upon them, but Bella was blissfully unaware of the attention. As they began to dance, the world around her faded away. Prince Leo moved with an effortless grace, and Bella found herself entranced by the rhythm they created together. Their movements were fluid, in sync as if they had been dancing together for ages. "Do you always dance like this?" Prince Leo teased a playful smirk on his lips. "Or is it just for me?" Bella shot him a look that was part irritation, part amusement. "I pride myself in many skills," she quipped back, allowing her wittiness to shine through her nervousness. Prince Leo smirked, clearly charmed and said in a very low voice, "I'd like to see what other skills you have." When he said this, Bella blushed bright red. As they twirled and spun, she felt herself melting in Prince Leo's powerful arms. The way he swung her close made her heart race even faster. Panic set in as strange sensations coursed through her—an exhilarating mix of attraction and fear. "Is something wrong?" Prince Leo asked, his brow furrowing as he noticed her flushed face. "No, I'm fine!" she replied, a bit too quickly, trying to regain her composure. But every time he pulled her closer, she felt herself surrendering to the moment. The dance seemed to last forever, each second stretching into an eternity as they lost themselves in each other. Bella was captivated, feeling as if they were the only two people in the universe, dancing amidst swirling whispers and gazes. As the music faded and the dance came to an end, Prince Leo gazed deeply into her eyes, his expression filled with longing and desire. Then he whispered softly in her ears so only she could hear "Thank you for the dance," he said. As he backed away from her, he touched her bare arm before bowing gracefully. Bella was still trying to compose herself, her heart pounding in her chest. "Thank you," she stammered, feeling a rush of warmth at the intimate moment they had shared.

Prince Leo did not know who Bella was, and she did not want to introduce herself, feeling it may change the way he looked at her. He turned away from her and returned to his men, bowing slightly as he addressed them. "It seems we must take our leave, gentlemen," he said, his demeanor shifting back to one of authority Then he approached King Patrick, greeting him with a respectful nod. "Your Majesty, it has been an honor." With that, he swept out of the palace, leaving Bella standing in the center of the dance floor, her mind swirling with confusion. What had just happened? As she watched him leave, a mix of exhilaration and apprehension filled her. The sensations he had awakened in her lingered, leaving her breathless and wondering if this was the beginning of something extraordinary—or a fleeting moment that would dissolve into the shadows of her royal life.

Bella walked off the polished dance floor, her heart racing as she replayed the events of the evening. All she could think about was the piercing gaze of Prince Leo. He had arrived like a storm, commanding attention as he reminded her father, King Patrick, of the looming debt that threatened their kingdom. "What does it mean?" she wondered, her anxiety bubbling to the surface. "What debt did Prince Leo speak of?" Bella felt a pang in her chest as she thought of how handsome and imposing, he was. Her thoughts kept drifting back to his piercing blue eyes. Moments before his departure, their eyes had locked, and she had felt a spark—a connection that ignited something deep within her. "Why can't I shake this feeling?" she thought. "I don't even know him, yet I feel drawn to him." The prince had stirred something within her that she could no longer ignore.

Bella suddenly overheard, a group of princesses huddled together, their whispers cutting through the music. "Look at her, dancing with a stranger, how disgraceful" sneered Princess Clara, her eyes narrowing with envy. "Who does she think she is?" added Princess Victoria, crossing her arms. "That Prince Leo isn't even from our kingdom!" "Bella is such a disgrace," Clara scoffed, a hint of bitterness lacing her words. Bella felt their stares, a mixture of disdain and suppressed jealousy. She could sense their eyes burning into her, and it made her cheeks flush. Indeed, Prince Leo's presence commanded the room, and being from the Eastern Kingdom he was of a higher ranking than even her own father. "What does it matter that he danced with Bella!" Victoria replied, rolling her eyes. "He's just a man, after all. I'd rather dance with someone from our kingdom." Bella laughed out loud and to Victoria and Clara's surprise she said to their hearing, "Princesses who are full of envy, would never be satisfied and live miserable lives." With that, Bella held her head high and walked towards her father.