The Villainess Wants Her Prince to Live!

Chapter 15: Dancing with the Moon and Sun

Regina did not want to dance with Crown Prince Aaron Artem, her future brother-in-law and potential past and future murderer.

Regina did not want to do many things, including but not limited to: socializing, wearing giant skirts, crawling through hedges, and being forced to listen to lengthy monologues from people more powerful than her.

However, what Regina most wanted to do was not die , so she managed something that she hoped was a smile and replied, "I would be happy to dance with you."

It was, Regina reflected, not entirely untrue. She was happier to dance with Crown Prince Aaron Alpin than have him execute her on the spot.

However, this was a feeling she would soon regret.

"Then I am happy," said the Crown Prince, as he smoothly moved Regina into position, "to have the opportunity to learn more about my new... sister ."

"I do not know why," Regina automatically responded, mind racing with what the man who had her killed in her prophetic dream could possibly want to know about her, "I am very... boring ."

The look in Prince Aaron's eye made a cold drop of sweat start at the base of her neck.

"I have been," Regina added, trying hard to keep her voice sounding helpful, "compared to porridge, the color beige, and a large rock my uncle once tripped over in the Sheridan garden."

"Porridge?" said the Crown Prince, almost musingly. "I admit that I am very interested in your... tastes. Is that a food you enjoy?"

Regina froze in place, only barely managing to avoid falling because Prince Aaron was both skilled and strong enough to maneuver her body before she could start moving again.

Was Artem's brother trying to determine how to best poison her?

If so, she needed to find a way to convince him she was neither a threat nor of any interest at all.

"Absolutely," Regina said, trying to look as though she enjoyed the blandest food in Carcosa as much as she enjoyed evading the persistent grasp of death. "I once won a contest in my family for both regurgitating and resembling the most bowls of porridge."

The look of mingled confusion and distaste on the Crown Prince's face somehow resembled what Artem's face might look like if Regina had confessed she preferred more subdued jewels.

Unsure of what to say next, Regina added, "Still, I do enjoy other foods. Plain bread. Boiled potatoes. Fried dough. If it is as bland and unseasoned as my person, I practically stuff it into my gullet!"

"Do you," said the Crown Prince, with what Regina was sure was a thinly veiled look of contempt – or worse – curiosity , "refuse other foods if they are not as inoffensive as your favorites? Is that why you have taken neither food nor drink tonight, even though you appear as if you will faint?"

The Crown Prince, Regina numbly realized , was trying to poison her.

He was also, she realized in dawning horror, staring closely at her face for her reaction to her question.

"No, never mind," the Crown Prince said softly.

If Regina had not known better, he almost sounded tired .

"It is not always easy to perform to an audience," he said, which Regina thought was an odd distraction from his previous question.

Even so, Regina was too grateful for the change of topic to care.

In fact, if Regina was not convinced Crown Prince Aaron Artem – her future brother-in-law – was trying to murder her, she might have even agreed that pretending to be something you are not to everyone around you was exhausting.