Page 79 of A Broken Promise

“Anastacia! What a pleasure to see you!” He smiled, exchanging a couple of kisses on the cheeks of the beautiful dark-haired female.

“Florian, long time no see.” She smiled, patting his shoulder with her peacock fan.

“Oh, you know me, always busy with the business. How are things with dear Provost?” he said while wrapping my hands around his arm once again. I couldn’t help but notice Anastacia’s piercing look at that gesture.

“He is doing his best to stay away from any parties,” she said smiling, yet a few notes of frustration made it past her perfect tone. “Who is this gorgeous guest you’ve brought today?”

My heart slightly fluttered, realizing I had nothing to reply, but Florian continued as if nothing was of less importance than this conversation.

“This is my dear friend, Finn,” he said, patting my hand with his.

“Oh, what an interesting name. I don’t remember hearing it on any of the Gala Lady Roasters.”

“Oh, she is foreign, I am afraid,” Florian replied gently, though hiseyes already wandered off to another group of beautiful young ladies giggling and waving at him. Anastacia turned to see them, clearly irritated. She took a step closer, blocking them from his view and grabbed my hand in hers. Her hands were so much warmer than mine. Mine were covered in cold sweat, the only proof of my rising anxiety.

“Crowned Lady Anastacia,” she introduced herself. “I shall hope we will get to know each other better,” she said, smiling at me, yet her eyes never leaving the now uninterested face of Florian.

“My pleasure. I am Finnleah… Daughter of … The Dead.” Florian looked at me slightly amused and surprised as I muttered the words with the so familiar elvish accent. Tuluma’s accent. My accent. The one I had hidden so well but never forgot. It felt almost comforting to tweak my tongue just a bit to draw out the words just a notch. Anastacia was slightly taken aback, stumbling, looking for words, but Florian took the opportunity and waved at another lady not too far in the crowd.

“Enjoy the party, Anastacia,” he said, bowing so slightly.

“I shall hope to hear from you soon Florian.” She smiled and frustratingly bowed back.

But he was already pulling us back into the swelling crowds.

We walked past a dancing crowd and the rushing servants when Florian finally nudged me with his elbow smiling.

“Nice job on that fake accent, gorgeous! And Finnleah, Daughter of the Dead? So much better than Finn like the Fish Finn. Gods, I need to step up my game. Florian Casteol sounds so boring now.” Florian smirked while I rolled my eyes.

“For your information, it’s always been Finnleah, Daughter of the Dead, and the accent is not fake. I had an elven maid. Before I spoke your language, elvish was my native. It took me years to get rid of that accent.”

“Well don’t. It’s actually pretty hot, not going to lie. Can you say something else so I could remember it better for my fantasies?” he asked, amused.

Discreetly, I elbowed him in the side. Content by his immediate flinch, I continued.

“But really Florian, a crowned princess? Dismissing her, too? I mean how do you even know her?”

Florian heartly laughed.

“Oh, beautiful, I might not have the title, but I am more of a crowned heir than she is. She is like the fifth crowned lady. Royals get obsessed with their presumptuous titles and heirs. Anastacia and I had school together. Come seventh grade, we made out. Once, okay? And before you get defensive, I usually don’t kiss and tell, but she was… gods damned awful. Terribly, excruciatingly bad.”

He shook his head and frowned dramatically in remembrance of the awfulness.

“Anyway, she has been obsessing over me ever since. Granted, now she is married to a wealthy businessman, Provost. She has the title, he has the money, you know how things are. Women can be very ambitious at times, even at the cost of their own happiness.” He nodded to another female, sending a flirtatious smile his way. Before I could say anything, another two ladies stopped by to say hello to Florian, as if he was indeed the crowned Prince himself. One after another, more gorgeous than before. Similarly, each conversation more pointless than before. Yet each girl more eager to land another kiss on his cheek or run her fingers against his arm. After a while, I pretended I was a mute, just smiling and waving.

I learned that I had no interest in wasteful pleasantries and bogus conversations. Instead, I watched, amazed by the dancers or the acrobats spinning in perfect pirouettes and somersaults.

“Gods, you two look utterly disgusting over here mingling with this filth,” Priya said, sneaking up behind us while we hid in the shadows of the large column, avoiding the crowds.

“Priya. Would you like a kiss too?” Florian smirked as Priya imitated the kissing that everyone greeted Florian with.

“It is astounding you all are not dead of some serious disease,” she grumped.

Florian rolled his eyes while I chuckled. Priya had a point.

“How is the hunting going, Mother Death?” Florian asked as we all stood scanning the ever-moving crowd.

“Not very fruitful,” Priya said irritated, her eyes pinning the large woman with an even larger wig surrounded by a few people, including guards. “When do the rest of them arrive?” she asked Florian, stealing a small appetizer off a clueless waiter passing by.

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