Her grandfather walked up to her and smiled at her, before offering his arm to her. "Most of the people in this room have never liked us, you will have to stay besides me tonight so you don't fall for one of their schemes." He whispered in her ear.
'But he did not like her either.' Merva thought sadly as she raised her fingers slowly.
She hesitated before she placed her hands in the crook of his arms and gently descended down the stairs with him, raising her head high and forcing herself to smile at the many faces that watched them.
"PRIME MINISTER OF EDIGOR, AND HIS GRANDDAUGHTER." A speaker announced, like they did not have much attention on them already.
It was only the top one percent of the continent that was present, Merva noted. And only three that came to them once they had descended the staircase.
"Lady Merva." Lord Frost called. "You really have grown up." He said fondly.
Merva scoffed in her mind, wondering when he had ever been fond of her, but she dismissed such thoughts. She already hated the eyes that constantly pointed at them, and did not want to focus on false relationships.
The speakers announced the arrival of the supreme leader and his family, and everyone stopped talking almost standing at attention to welcome them.
High god Zoran walked in first, with lady Metis by his side, her fingers in the crook of his arm. Everyone bowed slightly at the ever imposing and heavenly looking couple. The rulers of the continent.
Zeus walked in after them, his head bent and his eyes cast down looking at his shoes. Then he straightened up, many catching their breath as he looked at them, his eyes like he was staring into their souls.
His golden brown hair had been combed back neatly, a rebellious strand resting on his left brow.
Zeus looked like sin and salvation all in one, the spotlights following him as he majestically descended the stairs. He was a mixture of dazzling charm, and dark intensity.
Merva's eyes followed him like everyone else, young ladies lost in fantasies that seemed impossible. Until she heard a lady sigh audibly which broke the hypnosis.
His lips were slightly open, his eyes searching the crowd. "What for?" Merva whispered, glaring at the ladies looking at him. 'Don't they have any decency?' She thought righteously.
'No. Don't do that.' Merva screamed in her mind about Zeus moistening his lips. 'My mind is messed up.' Merva cried in her head.
'What?!' She heard Minerva ask, and shut her out.
"Lady Merva." High god Frost called her, but she was too busy admiring the tuxedo he was wearing. Merva blushed, a smile on her face. 'He looks so good.'
She heard her name finally, and shook her head clearing out all the improper thoughts within and looking at High god Frost and her grandfather innocently. "Yes." She answered.
High god Frost nodded. "I was just telling your grandfather how good your evaluation score was." High god Frost said, pausing for effect. Merva had stopped listening after the first two words, knowing that all he had wanted was her acknowledgement.
She saw the ladies surround Zeus, and she wanted to join them too. He seemed uncomfortable in their midst, but only she noticed such.
He charmed the ladies and walked past them, walking with authority like the future ruler he was going to be.
The party began in full swing after the opening dance by the monarchs, young people taking to the floor while the older generation stayed in cliques and discussed the good deeds of High god Zoran, problems in their respective countries and politics.
Merva waited patiently for her opening and escaped as soon as she got it. She and Zeus had already seen each other before, and shared smiles, and now she wanted to speak to him.
Merva stumbled over someone's extended feet, catching herself in time. "Karin." She said quietly, snorting as she straightened up. Karin looked away from Merva as though she had not done anything, and Merva shook her head. What else could she expect from someone so fickle minded.
She walked away gracefully, holding her head up in case anyone had seen her stumble.
She was very close to where Zeus was now.
Someone held onto her hand and pulled her away as she called Zeus.
"Good day My lady." She greeted, bowing slightly once she saw it was Lady Metis.
"Good day my dear." Metis responded, smiling at her warmly.
Merva forced a smile on her face, wondering what was going on and why the Lady was not subtly staring at her with venom.
"Wo...would my lady be needing me for anything?" She asked fearfully, but Metis only chuckled.
"Don't be scared, I don't bite. Or at least I won't bite you now." She said as she dragged Merva away.
Merva did not find it assuring.
She led them through the throng of people gathered around High god Zoran, Merva's heart beating loudly in her chest as they neared him.
"Learn to keep your heart under control, everyone can hear it pounding." Lady Metis adviced as she pulled her along.
Merva felt self conscious, wondering how many people heard her loud heart and how they would be looking at her.
"Darling." Lady Metis called High god Zoran, and he looked at them a smile appearing on his face.
"Yes dear." Zoran answered, leaving all the people around him to themselves and walking towards Metis.
"This is Merva." Metis told him as she looked at Merva, before looking at him.
Merva wished she could bury herself in the ground, or hide behind Metis, but it was impossible.
She tried to stand her ground and look him in the eye, but found his aura too suppressive to try such.
"Good day My Lord." She curtsied, her eyes permanently fixed on the floor.
"Good day dear." He answered quietly, his attention on Metis.
Too many eyes were watching her with interest now, and there was no way of her fading into the background unnoticed.
The monarchs had forgotten about her existence it seemed, talking quietly amongst themselves and sharing secret smiles.
"Hey." Zeus whispered in her ear, and she smiled as she looked at him.
"You look ethereal in the dress." He added, smiling at her.
Merva blushed, putting the decorative strands of her hair behind her ear.
"Son, you should take her to the dance floor." Metis told Zeus as she placed her hand in High god Zoran's arm and moved away from there.
Zeus crooked his arm, and Merva placed her hand in it.
They walked off to the center of the hall, many people giving way for them as Zeus bowed and Merva curtsied.
"What is this party for?" Merva asked Zeus as they began dancing.
"I actually don't know." Zeus told her.
"Oh. I thought you sent me this dress because of it." Merva said perplexed.
"I did. I mean my mother did." Zeus started.
"My mother said she wanted to host a party, and dragged me along for shopping. She said she wanted a special dress for you, one that you would love." He finished.
"I love it." Merva told him.
The walls and everyone became their background, the two of them lost in each others eyes as they danced, and the spell did not break even after the music stopped and they left the dancefloor.
Appetizers and drinks were brought around by the servers, Zeus carrying two glasses of champagne of a tray for him and Merva.
Zeus listened as Merva spoke, chuckling at her anecdotes and her thoughts.
"Before I forget, I wanted to ask if you know where miss Nadine is? The matron of the ladies quarters." Merva asked him, but he shook his head.
"Did she go missing?" He asked her.
"She was taken away by some people from the DCSA, but I haven't heard any news about her."
The sound of spoon against glass filled the air from the speakers, everyone turning and watching as High god Zoran stood in their midst.
Everyone gathered closer, so that they could see him as he spoke.
"Many have asked me what is the purpose of tonight's event," High god Zoran began. "And I kept silent, waiting till this moment to make this announcement known to you all."
Metis walked to his side, smiling and already clapping before he made the announcement.
"I am here to officially announce the engagement between my family, and the family of prime minister Pollo's family."
The spotlight was on Zeus and Merva within seconds of the announcement, their stunned faces visible for all to see.
Many clapped without registering what High god Zoran said, their stunned faces slowly turning to look at Zeus and Merva, then her grandfather and the monarchs plain evidence.
Merva stood there frozen in shock, unable to comprehend what new trick of Lady Metis this was.
And suddenly Merva remembered that her grandfather was there, and that he had seen her with the monarchs and Zeus all this time.
She turned and their gazes locked, hers shock filled, and his brimming with anger.