Chapter 234
Tris
The steps come as naturally as breathing now after all those hours of practice, so long as I keep my eyes fixed on Arthur. And how could I not, when he’s smiling down at me, that dami curl across his forehead, those forest green eyes shining in the light of the chandeliers?
As we move, the crowd around us falls away. Suddenly, it’s just me and Arthur, moving as one across the gleaming ballroom
floor.
We execute a perfect turn, and I hear appreciative murmurs from the crowd. My wildflower gown swirls around my legs, and the crowd gasps softly at the sight of the layers of tulle swaying like a field of flowers on a sunny day.
I still can’t believe that this is actually happening. I’m dancing at a ball, in a gown worth more than my life savings, with hundreds of the most powerful people in the country watching. Little orphan Iris would be in heaven right now.
The dance calls for me to turn away from Arthur at this point, performing a solo twirl before returning to his arms. I’ve done it a hundred times or more in our lessons, and I execute the move flawlessly, extending my arm as I spin.
But as I complete the turn, my foot slides unexpectedly. The floor beneath me is suddenly slick, as if someone spilled oil or grease in exactly the spot where I need to pivot. My ankle twists painfully as I try to catch myself, and before I can regain my balance, I’m falling.
Time seems to slow down. I see the horror on my mother’s face, the barely–concealed smirks on several others. My hand reaches out instinctively to break my fall, and I manage to catch myself before I completely face–plant in front of everyone.
It’s not graceful, but it’s not a total disaster either.
Arthur is at my side in an instant, helping me to my feet with a concerned look. My ankle throbs painfully, but I force a smile and nod slightly, letting him know I can continue.
“Are you sure?” he whispers.
I nod again, even though I’m really not okay. My ankle feels like it’s on fire–definitely twisted. But I can’t fail now. Arthur can definitely sense my pain, but he doesn’t argue as I smile and move back into position.
The music never stopped, and we slip back into the dance as if the stumble was planned all along. I grit my teeth against the pain, forcing my face to remain serene as we complete the final turns of the waltz. Arthur subtly takes more of my weight, supporting me through the steps.
As the final notes fade, he dips me low, both a little breathless and flushed. The crowd erupts into applause, seemingly impressed by our recovery. We hold the pose for a moment before Arthur helps me straighten, his hand discreetly supporting my waist.
The moment we’re out of the spotlight, Arthur’s smile drops.
“You’re hurt,” he says, his eyes flicking down to my ankle.
“I’m fine,” I lie, although I can’t help but put more weight on my good foot.
Arthur’s not buying it. “Come with me.”
He leads me out of the ballroom and down a quiet hallway to a small sitting room. Once inside, he helps me to a comfortable chair and kneels in front of me.
“Let me see,” he says, carefully slipping off my shoe. His touch is gentle, but I still hiss in pain as he examines my ankle. It’s already starting to swell. “It’s definitely sprained. What happened out there?”
“The floor was slippery,” I say, grimacing as he rotates my ankle slightly. “Like someone put grease or something right where I needed to turn.”
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Chapter 234
+25 BONUS
Arthur blinks up at me, and I stare back. Normally, I would think anyone is being paranoid if they actually believe someone greased a fucking dance floor,
But the longer I live in this world, the more I come to understand that people do those kinds of things all of the time. People are cruel and vindictive, and if any of Selina’s supporters are in attendance tonight, I wouldn’t put it past them to try and sabotage my debut dance.
Once he realizes I’m being completely serious, his eyes darken. “I have Ezra look into it. For now, you need ice.” He stands and goes to the door, speaking quietly to someone outside. A minute later, a staff member arrives with an ice pack, a cloth, and a bottle of mild painkillers.
Arthur returns to kneel in front of me, wrapping the ice pack around my ankle while I take the painkillers with some water. This should help with the swelling. Elevate it for a little while. You really should stay off it for the rest of the night, though.”
“I can’t,” I protest. “It’s my debut. I have to go back out there.”
“Iris-”
”
“No, Arthur, I’m not hiding in here just because someone tried to embarrass me. I’ve been through way worse than a twisted ankle.”
