Celia walked with slow steps until she reached the door of the dining room. Opening the door, the maid turned towards her and, with a smile, gestured with her hand for her to walk inside.

Without even breathing or looking around the room she entered reluctantly.

She thought the maid would enter with her, but contrary to her expectations, she did not and this only made her more anxious.

"How much longer will you stay by the door?" The voice that made her heart jump out of her chest asked, as she was still not daring to approach the table and sit even after some time had passed.

Hearing his familiar low male voice, she once again wanted to do what her instincts were screaming, so she turned towards the door to open it and run towards her room. But unfortunately, this time she only managed to put her hand on the door knob, when another hand was on top of her own, stopping her from turning it.

"Where are you going? The table is the opposite way." He said with a gentle voice tickling her ear, as his face was right beside it. Really, he was killing her. He was always touching her, but it seemed that his touching was even more forward than before.

He took his hand away, but still stood near her. He was clearly waiting for her to sit down. So having no other choice and trying to not disrespect him further, she went towards the chair and sat.

Following behind, Salas also went to his seat. He had not yet begun eating as he had waited for her.

As he did when they previously ate together, he selected different types of foods and put them on her plate, before also selecting some for his own.

They ate in silence, and at first she barely tasted the food only nibbling some. It was difficult as she felt like her heart was stuck in her throat, but it was better than not eating, she thought. With food in her mouth she would not have to speak, so she forced herself to eat even though she did not taste a thing.

After the meal she wanted to retire to her room. She was about to speak of this, but he beat her to it and spoke first.

"Let's drink some tea." He said and directly put the cup in front of her.

She thought she could still retire early, she just had to gulp down the tea and quickly go.

"So now then, about the kiss..." He started to say, just as she was about to take the first gulp, but stopped when Celia started coughing, having choked with the tea.

"Drink slowly, it's still hot. Why are you so clumsy?" He sighed as he grabbed a napkin, handing it to her.

She took the napkin and wiped her mouth. Really this man, who exactly was at fault for causing her to choke?

"Are you alright?" Salas asked her worried.

She only nodded not wanting to speak, she was afraid she would stutter, if she uttered even one word. She also did not dare lift her eyes to look up. Last night he had captured her gaze and she was afraid of it happening again.

He verbally sighed a little louder than he generally would.

"You do not even want to look at me anymore?" He gently asked, more like whispered. But of course she heard him. She was mostly recuperated, so her hearing was back to normal.

Like it or not, she had to move her gaze up and look into his eyes. He was as expressionless as always, but she did not know how it was possible that she was still able to detect the small fluctuations of his mood. His ocean blue eyes were sad, and his handsome face looked clouded with worry.

"T-that's not it!" She apologized. She felt guilty as he had been nothing but caring towards her and it was indeed her fault. She had clung to him and she was also the one who touched his lips. She had been confused when she woke up and thus did not remember that in fact, he was the one who kissed her first.

"Then what is it? After doing something like that to me..." He sadly said.

She felt her heart drop seeing the frowned and sad face.

"It was an accident. I am truly sorry, I did not mean any discourtesy towards your highness. If I can make up for my error somehow?" She quickly said. She did not know of his personal life, as he had a tight security around him and nobody knew much of the king outside official visits and business. Perhaps he had many women, perhaps he had none, but even so it was not like he would accept such a personal contact with anybody. He must have felt insulted.

"Please don't call it an accident. For a first kiss of a person to be called an accident..." He said again with a dejected tone, but did not continue. It was like he had already gotten his point across.

"Ahhh. I am so sorry! It really was an..." She wanted to say accident but, because of his pleading she could not actually say it. To have committed the blame of taking the king's first kiss and then not acknowledging it, how would he think of her?

At this point she did not even realize that their roles had reversed, or that it was her first kiss also.

"I do not blame you. Yesterday I was only worried about you, seeing you stagger towards the roses, so I came to make sure you were alright. And when you fell asleep hugging me, I was concerned to move you, so I let you sleep. I did not expect for you to run away like that from me. If I offended you in any way I am sorry!" He said looking at her, his face was one of pure honesty.

"No no! It was my fault! If there is anything I can do to right my wrong, I will do it. I truly mean it!" Celia quickly apologized.

"Well there is something you can do, but never mind. I do not want to make you uncomfortable." He said briefly, dismissing the problem.

"No, your highness please tell me. As long as it is within my abilities I can do it." She affirmed with eagerness. She was accustomed to help others. She had done many things for her family until now without them deserving it. For his highness who had done so much for her, she could do it without question.

"Then for the winter ball that is on the 20th, could you accompany me as my partner?" Salas asked immediately and, seeing her confused look, continued explaining.

"It is imperative for me to have a female partner, but unfortunately I do not have one. The problem is also that the ball is for alphas and betas and their partners, as you are an alpha you would be the perfect fit. Of course if you do not want to participate, I will not blame you. Forget it, on second thought it is too much, I should not have brought it up. I will go alone." Salas said, still expressionless, but she could see in his eyes that his pride would have to suffer.

She was the kind of person, especially now after learning what her family did, that could not be pressured into doing something. But if you would not insist then she would help you immediately.

"Alright. I will be your highness's partner. Leave it to me!" Celia quickly offered, without a second thought.

"Really! Thank you! Now then I have some work to do, we will discuss more later." Salas thanked pleased and, without even drinking his tea, briskly left.

His sad attitude changed immediately, brightening up at her response. Moreover he was previously sitting relaxed, like he was not busy at all, but now he quickly left. It felt a little suspicious to her, how he changed from one moment to another and also the fact that he left suddenly. It felt like he was leaving so she would not change her mind.

She brushed the thoughts away, there was no reason for his highness to do that and at least now it would not be awkward to see him again. Actually it was better that they discussed the previous day's situation. And perhaps deep down, a tingling feeling rubbed a corner of her heart, knowing that the king had been her first kiss and she had been his.

The following day she ate breakfast and lunch alone in her room, as his highness was once again absent from the palace. So her time passed peacefully until the afternoon.

She was reading books trying to catch up on her studies, when four maids interrupted her learning time. Because the ball was only a few days away, they were instructed to help with her outfit and accessories.

The maids brought with them dresses in all kind of different styles and, even though she tried to tell them she was satisfied to how the first dress she tried on looked, they did not want to hear it, forcing her to try on every single dress. Only after she tried all the gowns, they would settle on the one that looked best.

"This is the one. It looks absolutely stunning and it matches your body." Exclaimed one of the maids, when Celia tried on the last dress. In reality they had arranged the dresses in the order from the least beautiful to the best, so naturally the last one she tried on was the most suitable one.

The other maids were quick to agree and even Celia knew the last one was the one most fitted for her. She was the one who had done all her dresses in the past and could see that, even though each dress was made from the finest materials, the last one was the most beautiful.

"I cannot wait to see miss Celia and his highness side by side. They will make such a beautiful pairing!" Enthusiastically noted one of the maids. Imagining the picture of the two of them, made her eyes sparkle.

"That's right I too can hardly wait. His highness has never brought a partner to the winter ball. How lovely the two of them will look." Agreed another one.

"Yes, they will look stunning. Although, it would have been better for his highness to inform us earlier. We only have premade dresses. We could have dressed miss Celia in a custom one. I had no idea he would bring a partner with him this year, I thought his highness would go again alone to the ball like the previous years." Another maid affirmed slightly dissatisfied at the lack of time.

"His highness went alone to the ball the previous years?" Celia asked curious, only now paying attention to the conversation between the maids.

"Yes miss Celia. His highness has never brought a female partner. You are the first one!" Assured the maids immediately. Perhaps they were afraid she would be sad if she thought the king was used to having a female partner each year.

"But isn't it imperative to have a female partner?" Celia inquired again slightly confused.

"Miss Celia, of course it is not necessary to bring a female partner. The only ones obligated to attend are the alphas of the packs. Their companions and the betas are an optional presence. If there are some who do not come, there is no problem." Explained one maid who was still arranging her hair, checking which style best suited the dress.

"And even if it was mandatory, who would dare to say something to the king. So many years he has went alone and nobody said anything about it. The alphas can barely breathe in his highness's presence, much less gossip about him." Added another maid, with the other three approving.

Hearing their words, Celia was even more confused than when she started to ask the maids. Even when they left, she was in deep thoughts. If it was not mandatory to bring a partner, why did his highness make it seem like it would be a problem?

Thinking some more, his highness was the first ranked werewolf and in fact was the strongest of all werewolves. His words were the law, so why would he care about anyone saying anything? Why did he make it seem like his pride would be tattered.

She thought some more from the beginning of yesterday's conversation to the end, realizing that the maids' words actually cleared her suspicions of when he briskly left, after getting her to agree to be his partner.

Clearing her thoughts now, as she was not under the pressure of explaining about the kiss.... touch ... it was a touch! The entire conversation had been steered in the direction of her being his partner to the ball.

Did his highness trick her into feeling guilty so she would not refuse his request? Indeed if he had not confused her or if there was another situation, she would not have agreed. To be the king's partner, such unwanted attention was not something she wished for.

She could not believe it. All her life until this moment she had respected the king of the werewolves. She had studied about him and admired his strength, his courage, his relentlessness in pursuing for the causes of the werewolf race, his fairness and his honesty. She had looked up to him. She had considered him the ideal of a person she wished to become.

She would have never thought she would come to consider his relentlessness as brazenness.

And most importantly she would have never, absolutely never, thought that she would end up thinking of the king of all werewolves as a shameless man.