Page 1 of Song of the Heart Scale (The Dragon’s Ballad #3)

CAT

“ I want strippers.” I laid on my bed with my head hanging off the edge as I looked at an upside-down Maeve.

Maeve frowned. “You want… what ?”

“Strippers,” I repeated. “I have the money… but it would probably be painful if I start throwing a bunch of gold coins at them. Does Elaria have paper money? Can I exchange my coins for dollars?”

“For… what ?” Maeve’s frown deepened, clearly confused.

I sat up faster than I should have and the blood rushed to my head.

“Whoa.” I spun around to face her. “You know, cash? Paper money? If I throw gold coins at my strippers, I might poke an eye out. My aim is pretty good. It’s bad enough I’m about to be Crown Princess.

The last thing I need is a lawsuit to top things off. Now that would be horrible PR.”

“My lady, sometimes you say things I truly don’t understand.” Maeve shook her head and went over to my closet to pick out my clothes for the day.

I sighed. “Where I come from, Maeve, when a woman is about to get married, they throw her a party known as a bachelorette party, and in these notorious parties, we have strippers. They are males… or females. I mean, whatever floats your boat. But in my case, it would be men who dance to some sleazy, overhyped music and start to undress—”

“By the Immortals!” Maeve gasped and poked her head out of my closet. “They get naked ?”

I grinned. “Oh, yeah. Right down to their knickers. Dick swinging, booty shaking, hip thrusting, all up in the bride’s face. It’s truly a rite of passage.” The horrified look on Maeve’s face made me burst out in laughter.

She, on the other hand, was not laughing with me. Her blush was crimson. “That sounds horrific, my lady,” she whispered.

I exhaled loudly and leaned back down on the bed. “I definitely can’t take you to Vegas, then.”

Her brows furrowed. “Your world sounds… crude.”

I chuckled. “We’re a planet filled with seven billion heathens. Crude sounds about right.”

“How can you talk about your world like that?” Maeve asked, clearly in shock.

I shrugged. “The world is a messed-up place. I mean, can’t you say the same about yours? Your emperor is a freakin’ tyrant, and Crown Prince Thorne isn’t far behind.”

“My lady!” Maeve hissed. “You cannot say those things out loud! The walls have ears…”

I rolled my eyes. “Yeah, yeah. If someone hears, I’ll be executed for treason or something. I know,” I muttered. “But am I wrong?”

Maeve gulped, her eyes widening. “Well… no.”

I made a gun motion with my hand and winked at her. “Exactly.”

“My lady…” Maeve fidgeted. “It’s been three days since Crown Prince Thorne came with the betrothal gifts… Are you really going to marry him?”

I tilted my head and stared at her. “Did you think otherwise?”

“Sort of, my lady. I thought you asked for more time because you planned to run away with the third prince.”

I sighed again. “I sent a message to Damien, hoping we could come up with a plan together, but…”

“But?”

“But he hasn’t come to see me. He hasn’t even sent me a message,” I murmured. “I don’t know what’s going on, but it’s one of two things. Either Damien is planning something and just can’t get a note out to me, or…”

“Or?”

“Or he’s given up.” I shrugged. “And he no longer plans to pursue anything with me.”

Maeve swallowed tightly. “What are your thoughts, my lady?” she whispered.

“I have none. I’m just going with the flow.” I affected a nonchalant expression and leaned back on the bed.

Maeve stared at me for a moment, her brow furrowed in deep concern. “Just going with the flow?” she repeated, clearly skeptical. “If you’ll pardon me saying so, that doesn’t sound like you, my lady.”

I snorted and rolled onto my stomach, propping my chin on my folded hands. “What else can I do, Maeve? Throwing a tantrum won’t change anything. Besides, I've learned that apparently, princes don’t take kindly to being punched in the face. Who knew?”

I’d learned that the hard way with Damien, then again with Julian.

She shook her head and returned to sorting through my closet, pulling out an elegant emerald dress embroidered with delicate gold threads. “If it helps, my lady, I’ve heard whispers that the Crown Prince is… generous?”

I raised an eyebrow. “Generous? Sure, if we’re talking generous in terms of narcissism. I’m pretty sure he can fill an entire ballroom with his ego. Probably two, actually. Three, if he really tries.”

Maeve’s lips twitched, but she quickly masked it. “You really ought to stop speaking this way, especially around the staff. Rumors travel fast, and they could reach the wrong ears.”

I groaned dramatically. “Fine, fine. No more disparaging his royal ego. Instead, let’s focus on something productive.

” I perked up. “We could still have a party. An Elarian version of a bachelorette party. I mean, no strippers, obviously, but we can improvise. Maybe some shirtless guards? A dance-off? Drunken games of chance?”

Maeve dropped the gown she was holding, her eyes wide in horror again. “Shirtless guards, my lady?”

“Oh, come on, Maeve, live a little! You act like you’ve never seen a naked chest before.”

Her cheeks turned crimson, betraying the truth, and I laughed harder. “Oh, sweet Maeve, we really need to expand your horizons. You’re missing out.”

She cleared her throat and adamantly shook her head. “Such frivolity isn’t suitable for someone of your standing, my lady… or of who you’re pretending to be.” She looked at me pointedly. “Besides, the Crown Prince explicitly forbade any unsanctioned gatherings before the wedding.”

I gave a dramatic eyeroll and pushed myself upright on the bed again. “Well, then it’s settled. We’re absolutely having a party. Unsanctioned is my middle name. Alongside stubborn, impulsive, and mildly reckless.”

Maeve sighed heavily. “I fear you’ll be the death of me.”

“Nonsense!” I chirped. “I’ll be your salvation.

Think of all the fun you’ve missed by being so proper all the time!

Now, round up some of the household staff you trust. We’ll do it tonight, in the gardens behind the Ryder residence.

No one ever patrols there. Bring wine and food and tell them to prepare for games that will surely scandalize the entire household if anyone finds out. ”

Maeve looked utterly terrified yet oddly intrigued. “Are you quite certain, my lady?”

A wicked grin crept across my face as I felt a surge of excitement for the first time in days. “Absolutely. What’s life without a little risk? Now go, my dear Maeve. Spread the word. The future Crown Princess demands a scandalous night to remember!”

She bowed, still clearly conflicted but resigned to my mercurial whims. “As you wish, my lady.”

“Oh, and Maeve?” I called as she headed toward the door.

“Yes?”

“Find someone attractive to handle the drinks. Eye candy is essential.”

She muttered something unintelligible under her breath, flushed even deeper, and fled the room.

I chuckled softly and collapsed back onto the bed, where I stared up at the intricately painted ceiling. My heart pounded lightly in anticipation as bittersweet realization settled over me.

If I had to be stuck in this world playing a princess, I would at least have some damn fun with it.

That night, the gardens behind the Ryder residence looked like a medieval carnival.

Lanterns hung from tree branches, casting flickering amber and gold light onto tables laden with food and wine.

A music troupe played lively tunes from their corner, fiddles and lutes mingling into an upbeat rhythm.

Household staff moved around excitedly and ringing laughter echoed through the air.

Maeve stood by my side, nervously clutching a goblet of wine. “Are you certain no one will find out, my lady?”

“Relax, Maeve,” I reassured her, sipping from my own goblet.

“Lord Zacharia and Jacob are in Dragon Valley for a council meeting with the emperor, and Gianna is out with the posh ladies of the Northern district. All that’s left are us and the servants.

And, well… if they say anything, we’ll just say this was a ceremonial rite of passage. ”

Maeve laughed, her eyes darting shyly to the guards, several of whom had willingly lost their shirts, flexing muscles and earning appreciative whistles from some of the staff.

“You did good.” I teasingly nudged her shoulder. “I knew you had excellent taste hidden beneath all that propriety.”

Maeve blushed fiercely and hid her face behind her goblet. “My lady!” she gasped.

I laughed and waved to one of the guards. “Good evening, uh, shirtless guard number three! Enjoying the festivities?”

The guard sheepishly grinned and offered an awkward bow. “Very much so, my lady.”

“Excellent! Remember to flex those biceps—it’s tradition!” I called out, laughing when he blushed.

Looking far too anxious for her own good, Maeve leaned close and whispered, “My lady, perhaps we should tone it down?”

I waved off her concern. “Nonsense, Maeve! Look around you. Everyone's enjoying themselves. Relax.” I handed her another goblet of wine. “Drink up. Tonight is about living a little.”

Maeve hesitated but finally took a long sip, giggling softly as the wine warmed her. “I suppose just this once.”

“That's the spirit!” I grinned and tugged her toward the musicians. “Now, let’s dance until our feet hurt. I’ll teach you a few moves that’ll scandalize you.”

The music swirled through the cool night air and wrapped around us like an invisible cloak, heavy with notes of fiddle, lute, and drums. Maeve stumbled, her cheeks flushed from both embarrassment and wine. She clutched my arm and laughed breathlessly as I spun her around.

“See? You can dance, Maeve! And here you claimed you couldn't,” I teased, guiding her through another turn.

Maeve shyly giggled and gripped my hand tighter. “Only because you're leading, my lady. If you let go, I'm certain I'll collapse.”