Chapter 89. A Tangled Waltz

Anastasia's POV

Rowan's firm hands are wrapped around my waist, while mine rest crossed on his neck, creating an invisible bond that connects us amidst the crowd.

Around us, other nobles also dance, forming a circle of witnesses who watch us with a mixture of disapproval and envy. Some gazes are sharp as blades, full of judgment, while others are merely curious, trying to understand the scene unfolding before them. Nevertheless, I do not allow it to affect me too much; at this moment, it is as if the entire world could collapse, and I would still be there, suspended in that instant with Rowan.

"What is it that you would like to discuss with me privately, Rowan? Have you come to try a new form of kidnapping to target King Ethan?" I ask with a sharp tongue, ready for any new attack that may be directed at me. The words come out with a mix of challenge and caution, a reminder that, despite the intimate setting, there are still hidden dangers at eve