Jameson rushed to her side, gathering her in his arms. Lillian struggled to breathe, while the world around them glitched.
[Ding! 9 seconds]
"Come on, Lillian, just say yes," James said in a panic, holding on to her jerking body; his hands shook as lines appeared on his forehead.
Lillian's eyes were on the verge of rolling back. Between the shaking episodes, she spoke up lightly, gritted teeth, "Yes."
Suddenly, everything paused; not even a single insect moved.
The whole world around them froze; it felt like they had stopped time entirely, like a time capsule of some sort of void.
Lillian's body slumped against Jameson, her eyes returning to normal, her pupils fully showing.
Jameson put two fingers against her nose, checking if she was still breathing. The signs were weak, but at least she was breathing.
Suddenly, Jameson's vision became blurry; he held his head with his left hand, still holding Lillian.
He shook his head, blinking twice, he put his arms under Lillian, gritting his teeth, and he carried her in his arms.
In that moment, it felt like the world was focused entirely on them alone.
He stared at her, calmly etching her face in his memory, the very lines he yearned to trace and ease whenever she's troubled.
Maybe in another lifetime, but for now, he needed to keep her safe.
Holding her in his arms as he stood up, he sighed before taking a step; the waters in the water fountain began rushing again, the insects buzzed around, and the rift was no longer in the sky.
Everything returned to the way it was, like the very world wasn't about to get torn off its axis.
Castella appeared before him. Jameson didn't look at her, but he knew she was the one, as if sharing a mental connection.
Castella stepped back into the shadows.
Jameson took a different path in the garden maze.
A path only he knew, one where he used to play a lot with Lillian when they were kids.
These were memories he got from the body he inhabited.
But it seemed like Lillian didn't have many of the memories of the person's body she inhabited, making Jameson have an inkling of suspicion.
____________________________________________________________________
Back at the ball, before the clock struck 12.
All that everyone could talk about was the mysterious brown head girl prince Jameson danced with; everyone forgot that she was first paired with Randolph.
Randolph gritted his teeth; he truly had messed up this opportunity, or was there something to Lord Harold's niece that Jameson already knew that he didn't?
It was like a spell was cast over them to forget.
And in Androva tradition, whoever the prince and other nobles pick to dance with first will be paired with each other through the season.
The King picked another wine glass and a small spoon from the servant beside.
Clearing his throat, "It's almost midnight. Once the bell rings twelve times, all identities should be unveiled."
A huge screen appeared in the middle of the ballroom, floating.
Everyone's eyes were set on it, some holding their breaths, hoping they got a good partner, counting along with the crowd in the room.
The bell began ringing, voices began counting each bell toll, that came all the way from the town's square "7,6,5,4,3,2…..1," came the excited shouts in the ballroom.
It was as if someone had pressed a pause button; everything moved in slow motion before coming to a standstill.
Even the music that effortlessly flowed through the air came to a standstill.
Estella held her breath, for fear that she was part of the same strange enchantment that had been cast in the ballroom.
Not being able to hold her breath longer, she let out a gasp, heaving for air.
When she noticed some sparks in the air, like someone was tearing the very atmosphere like a piece of paper.
She muttered a few words under her breath as she tried piecing the tear back together.
But unbeknownst to her, magic couldn't fix this; her magic was being depleted like it was feeding off her.
Suddenly, she spat out blood. She held the edge of her seat to stop herself from collapsing to the floor.
Her eyes furrowed, before they widened, her breath hitched, panic was beginning to set in, "What enchantment is this?" she muttered to herself.
Mustering strength, she walked up to her husband and pinched his nose, but nothing.
He didn't even move, nor shake even a bit. 'Why am I the only one who can move?' she pondered.
"I must find this powerful enchanter," she said to herself again.
In a twinkle, everything returned to normal, her brows furrowed, lines marring her forehead.
Estella touched her lips and brought her hands up to see them, but nothing, no blood.
Did she see a vision of the end? Was she dreaming?
Or truly someone stronger than her was at foul play to overthrow her, and if so, they truly have caught her attention and proven to be worthy opponents.
"Now, which kingdom plans to overthrow them?" she muttered to herself.
"What did you say, my love?" King Cedric asked.
"Oh, nothing, just my mind straying, hoping the person we picked for Randolph will be up to the task." She smiled at her husband.
King Cedric hummed in response, not wanting to truly validate his wife's reply even though he still had a soft spot for his first son.
The king lightly hit the spoon against the delicate frame of the wine glass.
He dropped the spoon back on the tray, drank his wine and also dropped the empty glass cup on the tray.
He removed his mask along with everyone in the room.
Some gasps erupted, from some of the debutantes, while others smiled, knowing truly Mother Luck was on their side.