Chapter 248

"Looks like you have quite the fan club," I remarked, a teasing smile playing on my lips as I gestured towards the group of women who were eyeing him eagerly.

The Prince chuckled softly, but there was a hint of resignation in his expression. "It's flattering, I suppose. But sometimes, I wish they would give it a rest."

I raised an eyebrow, intrigued by his candid admission. "Really? I would have thought you'd enjoy the attention."

"It's not that I don't appreciate it, Shana. But sometimes, it feels... suffocating. Like they don't see me for who I am, only what I represent." He shook his head, his gaze scanning the crowd with a hint of weariness.

I nodded in understanding, sensing the weight of his words. "I can imagine that must be frustrating. It's hard to know who genuinely cares about you when you're surrounded by so many people who only see the crown."

"Exactly," he replied, a touch of gratitude in his voice. "You understand. I just wish my father could see it that way..."

"Were you able to talk to your mother about it?" I questioned. "About how you wanted to find someone for love... and not just because your father is forcing you?"

Prince Alexander's expression softened at my question, a flicker of vulnerability crossing his features.

"I tried," he admitted, his voice tinged with a hint of resignation. "But my mother, as much as I love her, she's always been one to follow tradition and uphold the expectations of our position."

That surprised me, and I was sure the shock could be seen written all over my face. The Queen seemed so understanding. I thought for sure she would be on her son's side in this.

"I'm sorry," I murmured sympathetically, sensing the weight of his words. "It must be difficult feeling like you have to conform to something you don't believe in."

He nodded, a rueful smile touching his lips. "You have no idea."

Alex twirled me around him one last time before the song ended.

The King's booming voice immediately cut through the air. "Ladies and gentlemen, welcome! Please settle down."

The King waited for all of the guests to quiet down before continuing, "It has been many years until these walls have seen such incredible visitors and experienced such merriment," the King proclaimed, his tone filled with pride.

"Tonight, we gather not only to celebrate the grandeur of our palace but also to embrace the bonds of friendship and solidarity that unite us all."

His words reverberated off the ornate walls, carrying a sense of significance. I watched as the guests leaned in, captivated by the King's commanding presence.

"We stand on the cusp of a new era, one filled with promise and possibility," the King continued, his gaze sweeping across the assembled crowd. His eyes landed on mine, freezing me to the spot. "And it is with great joy that I welcome each and every one of you to this momentous occasion."

A ripple of applause filled the air, echoing the King's sentiment as the guests expressed their appreciation for his words.

A chill ran through me as I thought about the King's words... "We stand on the cusp of a new era, one filled with promise and possibility."

Was he referring to me? He had to be. I was the White Wolf that the legends had been professing for years, and here I was. A real, living thing.

Lost in my thoughts, I barely noticed the Prince's concerned glance as he gently nudged me, bringing me back to the present moment.

"Are you alright, Shana?" he whispered, his voice filled with genuine concern.

I nodded, offering him a faint smile. "I'm fine, just... lost in thought."

He regarded me for a moment, as if trying to decipher the emotions swirling within me, before offering a reassuring squeeze of my hand.

As the applause died down, I couldn't help but feel a sense of confusion over the magnitude of the moment.

I was surprised that the guests weren't also confused over the King's sudden decision to throw a ball. It seemed odd that nobody else would question it.

"Please enjoy the food and music," the King continued. "Dance the night away and make merry in the halls of our palace."

As the King concluded his speech, the guests erupted into applause once more, the sound mingling with the strains of music and laughter that filled the air.

I scanned the room, searching for Lucas's familiar figure. But he was nowhere to be found. Panic gnawed at the edges of my mind as I realized I had forgotten to warn him to abolish the plan.

I didn't want him to steal the locked White Wolf book from Alexander's secret room anymore. It didn't feel right to go against Alex now when the two of us were slowly starting to get along.

My eyes searched, trying to find Lucas but I couldn't spot him.

The weight of responsibility settled heavily on me, and I made a move to leave the ballroom, intent on finding Lucas and putting an end to his reckless scheme.

"I have to go," I said to the Prince, turning to walk away.

He stopped me by reaching a hand out to grab my wrist. I couldn't tell if he was frowning because his mask was covering his forehead, but I was sure that there were lines pulled in confusion on his forehead as he said, "Where are you going?"

"I... uh..." I struggled to make some kind of excuse to leave. "I'm just going to get some refreshments."

"Okay, be careful out there," he warned kindly, letting go of his grip on me.

I nodded. "You too," I said, thinking about all of the women who wanted to steal the Prince's attention.

As I hurried away from Prince Alexander, the weight of my worry pressed heavily on my shoulders.

The ballroom seemed to blur around me as I navigated through the sea of dancing guests, my mind racing with thoughts of Lucas stealing the book.

Every shadow seemed to whisper his name, urging me to find him before it was too late. But amidst the swirling chaos of the masquerade, locating him proved to be an impossible task.

My heart pounded in my chest as I scanned the room frantically, hoping for a glimpse of his familiar form. But as the minutes stretched into eternity, a sinking feeling settled in the pit of my stomach.

Had I missed my chance to stop him?

I began walking towards the entrance doors of the ballroom. Perhaps I just needed to go to the room itself. He was probably already there, lurking in the shadows.

Fear gnawed at me as my heels clicked against the floor. How was I going to leave without being detected? I had been announced formally when I entered the ballroom...

Guests or guards would surely spot me if I walked out of here.

Before I could take a another step, Kendrick appeared at my side, his expression serious.

"Shana, we need to talk," he said, his tone urgent.

I paused, my heart racing as I turned to face him. "What is it, Kendrick? Is everything alright?"