Page 49 of Song of the Dragon Rider
“Speaking of handling,” I continued, “how do you deal with all the stiff upper lips around here? There must be a secret stash of muscle relaxants for after the parties.”
“Ah, the true secrets of the nobility,” he played along, his tone laced with feigned conspiracy. “Muscle relaxants and an unyielding patience for pomp.”
“Just add a stiff drink to the mix and I might even survive the night,” I said, only half-joking. Me and drinking were a recipe for disaster. One drink would lay me out flat.
“Survival is one thing,” Royal Prince Bai said as the dance drew to a close and the final notes lingered in the air. “But I find a little humor goes a long way in these halls. Thank you for the dance and the levity. I must say, Lady Arya, you are quite different from what you used to be. It’s quite… disconcerting, to say the least.”
I nervously nibbled my bottom lip. I wasn’t Lady Arya Ryder, but honestly, I didn’t even want to try to be more like her. She was a total bitch. I couldn’t be her if I tried.
“What can I say, Your Highness? The accident changed my perspective on life.” I shrugged. “Life’s too short to be miserable.”
He narrowed his gaze on me as if questioning my answer, but he nodded and seemed to accept it for what it was. “Very well, my lady. I hope—”
But before he could continue his thought, a sudden force slammed into me from behind. My breath hitched in my throat and I stumbled forward, nearly tripping over my feet. Royal Prince Bai's hands shot out to steady me before I fell to the ground. Whirling around to see who tried to knock me down, I stared into the cold, furious eyes of Prince Julian.
“I don’t care what you said,Uncle,” he seethed. “Whether she’s under your protection or not doesn’t matter. I have a score to settle!” Julian aggressively stepped into my personal space. “After the way you spoke to me earlier, you think you can just prance around here like you’re more than a disgusting, lowlyhuman?”
“I don’t know what you want me to say, Your Highness. That I’m sorry?” I shot back, keeping my voice steady despite the adrenaline pumping through my veins. “Because I’m not. You can take your bruised ego and—”
Before I could finish, Julian’s hand darted out, attempting to slap me in the face. With lightning-fast reflexes born on the battlefield, I snapped to the side and grabbed his wrist, twisting it behind his back. “I told you not to touch me!” I hissed, forcefully pushing him away.
Julian stumbled back, pain and surprise flashing across his face. His guards hurried over but he held up a hand to stop them. “You think you're tough, huh?” He rubbed the sting out ofhis wrist before squaring his shoulders and coming at me again. This time, his approach was more calculated, anger fueling his movements.
I readied myself, my heart pounding against the tight-ass corset I’d been crammed into. When he lunged, I sidestepped and used his momentum to propel him past me. “I don’t want to fight you, Your Highness, but I'm not going to let you push me around.”
“Fight back, Arya! Or are you too scared?” Julian taunted, regaining his balance and facing me again.
I clenched my fists, ready for another charge, but it never came. Royal Prince Bai intervened, stepping between us with a stern expression. “That's enough, Julian! This is neither the time nor the place for such disgraceful conduct!”
The ballroom's festive atmosphere abruptly turned tense again as Julian, driven by fury and humiliation, made a rash decision. With a low snarl, he pivoted, aiming not at me this time but at his uncle, who had dared to interject as a barrier.
“Out of my way, old man!” Julian hissed, swinging a clenched fist toward his uncle.
The elder, seasoned in courtly disputes and unexpected brawls, deftly sidestepped the blow, his expression turning from concern to stern rebuke. “Julian! This is disgraceful!” Royal Prince Bai exclaimed, easily catching Julian's wrist and twisting it sharply behind his back. “You dare attack your own blood?”
Julian grunted, pain flashing across his features, but with a desperate twist, he broke free from his uncle’s hold and stumbled forward. His eyes, wild and unfocused, found me again. With a growl, he lunged.
Prepared this time, I dodged his initial swing and swiveled. Grabbing the skirts of my dress, I countered with a swift kick to his midsection, causing him to double over. “Really, YourHighness? You should know better by now,” I taunted, circling him warily as he regained his footing.
Enraged and embarrassed, Julian's attacks became more frenzied. He swung wildly, each movement more predictable than the last. I parried each strike with growing confidence, using my agility to keep him off-balance, which was no easy feat wearing a dress and a corset. If this continued much longer, I would eventually trip over the fabric and be at his mercy.
Startled guests had formed a circle around us, their astonished whispers growing into a buzzing chorus of shock and intrigue. Julian, realizing he was becoming a spectacle, roared and aimed a particularly vicious punch at my head. I ducked under his arm, spun behind him, and brought him crashing to the marble floor with a well-placed kick behind his knees.
“Enough!” I yelled. Standing over him, my chest heaved against my corset from exertion and adrenaline. Julian lay on the floor, grimacing and clutching at his legs. “You’re not proving anything here tonight, except maybe your embarrassing lack of control.”
Just then, a firm hand clasped my shoulder. I turned to see my brother Jacob, his stormy expression filled with disbelieving anger. “Arya, what are youdoing?” he demanded, his voice carrying over the rising murmurs of the crowd.
“What? He needs to learn when to stop.” I nodded toward Julian, who was being helped to his feet by a couple of wary spectators. Royal Prince Bai, meanwhile, had regained his composure and was speaking in hushed tones with a few alarmed dignitaries, likely smoothing over the disruption.
“He is a prince, Arya!” Jacob scolded as he gripped my wrist and tugged me behind him. “You shouldneverlay your hands on royalty!”
Julian scrambled to his feet and strolled toward us, scoffing loudly. “This must be the young master of the Ryder family.You clearly do not discipline the women in your household since they obviously don’t know basic manners!” he shouted, his face turning beet red.
I gritted my teeth and took a threatening step toward him, but Jacob pulled me back and pushed me behind him, standing as a barrier between me and the prince.
Jacob offered a deep bow. “Apologies, Your Highness. My sister has been unruly since youth and has not been taught well. We will be sure to discipline her. If you’ll excuse us—”
“You maynotbe excused!” Julian shouted, making us freeze in place. “Where is Lord Zacharia? Is he here?” Julian looked around the ballroom for the Minister of Rites.
