The Palace, shrouded in luxury and dark mystery, was infamous for claiming more lives within its walls than any other place in the region. It was a realm of secrets, with parties thrown in the king's honor that were just as lavish as they were deadly. There were rumors that he needed such distractions to prolong his life, but it did little to cover up the tales of missing beautiful women and the perverted behaviors of the princes.
Yet, amidst the chilling stories, of which some are true, and others mere fabrications, the dancers remained steadfast, never failing to appear each month to entertain the King.
Today, Anna was among them, her heart racing with a mix of excitement and dread. After three days of practice, she had absorbed a wealth of knowledge about the castle and its inhabitants, information she intended to use to her advantage. But first, she had to focus on her performance, striving to captivate the king's attention with her dance.
The king was her main target. If she could enchant him, completing her task would be easy. It was common knowledge that he rarely noticed the dancers, but perhaps the allure of the new girl would pique his interest.
"Are you ready?" Salma, the lead dancer, asked, scanning the group to confirm everyone was dressed to impress.
"What about Anna? Is she feeling any better today?" Salma's gaze lingered on her, recalling how she had stumbled during the last practice.
"Yes," Anna managed to reply, though in her mind, the truth was quite the opposite.
"I'm ready to go. I'm a bit nervous since it's my first time, but I'm ready."
"Good," Salma replied, offering an encouraging smile.
As they stood outside the grand gates of the castle, anticipation tingled in the air. They could not enter until a guard, summoned by the king's command, came to escort them. This waiting period gave Anna a moment to prepare herself mentally.
"System, initiate emergency dance protocol."
[Would you like to activate the dance emergency protocol for twenty-four hours? Confirm to proceed.]
"Proceed."
[You have activated the emergency dance protocol for twenty-four hours. This skill will stay active for this duration.]
[Time left: 40 hours and 17 minutes or 1 day and 16 hours.]
"Okay, it's showtime," she whispered to herself.
Just five minutes later, a guard reappeared, swinging the gate wide open and ushering them through the entrance of the Palace. The sight that greeted Anna was breathtaking, not simply because of its grandeur, but because it resembled the enchanting settings of the medieval tales she had grown up hearing.
The small fountain in front sparkled under the sunset, while a flurry of horses and carriages hinted at the king's esteemed guests. The joyful strains of music came from deep within the castle, signaling that the festivities had already begun.
Once inside, Anna quickly realized her team was not alone in their mission. In the waiting hall, she spotted seven other dance troupes, each clad in striking, unique uniforms. Some wore matching headbands and sandals, so organized elegance that it made Anna's team feel like an afterthought.
As she observed the dazzling displays around her, a spark of self-doubt flickered. Why had fate dealt her a hand that led her to perform with the least glamorous group? She shook off the thought, steeling herself for the challenge ahead. Today was her chance, and she would seize it, no matter what.
As each team prepared to showcase their moves, Anna felt a mix of anticipation and anxiety. The performances lasted nearly thirty minutes, and the weight of being the last to dance settled heavily on her shoulders. One moment, relief washed over her like a wave, then the next, she longed for the dance to be over already.
"Alright, girls, it's almost time!" the lead dancer's voice pierced through the din of the hall, breaking the spell of anxiety that had wrapped around Anna. Thankful for the cue, she joined her team, huddling together by the entrance from which they would make their grand debut.
But as they lined up, waiting for their moment in the spotlight, Anna's heart raced like a drumbeat in her chest. The last time she felt nerves this intense was during her high school presentation back on Earth. Her hands trembled slightly, the pressure mounting as the team leader rallied them.
"Alright, this is it, girls! Let's dazzle the king, as we always do!" The lead dancer's words rang out, charging the atmosphere with energy as they prepared to step into the hall.
The opening dance move was simple, requiring only graceful footwork and fluid hand gestures, but as they glided into the main area, Anna's breath caught in her throat.
"Oh no, it's packed with men," she muttered under her breath. Putting on a revealing attire, she felt exposed, a quick reminder that she was yet to be married in this world.
"Just breathe. You've got this," Anna whispered, waiting for the drummer to cue their turn, hoping to unleash the rhythm they had rehearsed relentlessly.
[Congratulations! You have received your first reader support.]
With her eyes widening with disbelief, Anna marveled at the prospect. Even if it was just one supporter among thousands, for a starting author, that single acknowledgment felt exciting.
But it also aised a nagging question in her mind, 'what part of her story does the reader see? Surely, Emma Broadway's narrative was free from all these extra parts.'
"Bang! Bang!'
The sound of the drum disrupted Anna's train of thought, and her body instantly moved to the beat. It marked the start of the performance and Anna's march to a successful quest.
Just like she did on the first day, Anna left the audience stunned. All eyes were on her even though there were ten of them on stage. But Anna wasn't interested in all these men but the King, however, he didn't seem impressed or perhaps he was always indifferent during these performances?
As time went by, Anna became worried,
"What was I thinking he'd do?" She asks herself,
"He's not even looking at me. This old man should better play along with the plot before I force him to.
She remained calm for as long as possible, reminding herself that they still had almost twenty minutes to dance, but after a while, Anna had no choice but to go with plan 'b' even though it might disrupt the flow of their performance.