365: CURIOSITY, CONFUSION ARIEL’S POV “Dad! Anything wrong? “Do we have a problem?” I asked my father in a “Well, it’s time for me to introduce you to Sir Reynold,” he said in a whisper, looking around. “I wonder where he is right now.” As my father spoke of Sir Reynold, a distinguished figure approached us from across the hall, his presence commanding attention. His posture was regal, and his eyes held a hint of warmth as he drew nearer, although he was an old man. He looked kind of young for his age. “Ariel, this is Sir Reynold,” my father said, turning to me with a proud smile. “Sir Reynold, may I introduce you to my daughter, Ariel?” Sir Reynold extended his hand towards me, his gaze unwavering as our eyes met. “It’s a pleasure to finally meet you, Ariel,” he said in a deep, resonant voice. “Your father has spoken very highly of you.” I offered him a warm smile, feeling a sense of respect and admiration for this esteemed gentleman. “The pleasure is mine, Sir Reynold,” I replied, shaking his hand firmly. “Thank you for your kind words.” Sir Reynold nodded graciously, his eyes crinkling with a hint of amusement. “I must say, your beauty truly does justice to your father’s praise,” he remarked, his tone sincere. I blushed at the compliment. “Thank you, sir.” “No problem. I just hope you’re enjoying yourself at the party.” “Yes, yes, I am.” “I would really like it if you met my grandson. But apparently, he’s not here yet.” “No problem; it’s okay. He’s going to show up, right?” “Of course, but it’s becoming too late.” Sir Reynold let out a deep sigh before he told me, “I’ll be back. I have to greet the guests. “Okay.” I nodded, and he walked away. A young man with a charming smile suddenly diverted my attention as I watched Sir Reynold make his way through the crowd. He had dark hair and piercing blue eyes, and he was dressed in a sharp suit. “Hello there, may I have the pleasure of this dance?” he asked, extending his hand towards me. I hesitated, not wanting to leave my father’s side. But before I could politely decline, the young man continued, “I’m sure you’re a great dancer, and I would love to have you as my partner.” I couldn’t help but feel flattered by his words, but I knew I couldn’t accept his offer. “I’m sorry, but I don’t think I can,” I replied, trying to keep my voice firm. “Oh, come on, just one dance,” he pleaded, his tone becoming more insistent. 365 CURIOSITY CONFUSION I shook my head, feeling a little uncomfortable with his persistence. “I appreciate the offer, but I’m here with my father, and I can’t leave him alone.” The young man’s expression turned sour, and he seemed to be getting a little annoyed. “Fine, then, at least introduce yourself. I’m Alexander,” he said, still holding out his hand. I hesitated for a moment before reluctantly shaking his hand. “I’m Ariel; it’s nice to meet you,” I said, trying to be polite. “Likewise. Now, about that dance,” he trailed off, clearly not giving up. “I’m sorry, but I really can’t,” I repeated, feeling flush with embarrassment. Just then, Sir Reynold returned and noticed our exchange. He quickly made his way over to us, a stern look on his face. “Is everything okay here?” he asked, his tone serious. Alexander’s expression changed immediately, and he stammered, “Yeah, everything’s fine. I was just asking this young lady for a dance.” Sir Reynold’s gaze shifted to me, and I could see a hint of disapproval in his eyes. “Ariel, is this gentleman bothering you?” He asked, his tone protective. I quickly shook my head, not wanting to cause any trouble. “No, it’s fine. He was just asking for a dance, that’s all,” replied, trying to diffuse the situation. Sir Reynold seemed satisfied with my answer and turned to Alexander. “I suggest you find someone else to dance with, young man,” he said sternly before leading me away from the dance floor. Moving away from the dance floor, Sir Reynold looked at me with a warm smile. “I apologize for that, my dear. I hope that young man wasn’t bothering you,” he said, his tone full of concern. I shook my head, trying to reassure him. “No, it’s fine. “Thank you for stepping in, Sir Reynold,” I replied, grateful for his protection. He patted my hand gently. “There is no need to thank me, my dear. It’s my duty to look after my guests, especially a young lady like yourself. Now, I wanted to talk to you about my grandson.” I couldn’t help but feel a little confused. “Your grandson?” Sir Reynold chuckled. “Yes, but before that, I apologize for that man’s behavior. Anyways, my grandson is a handsome man who is loyal, humble, and caring.” I couldn’t help but wonder why Sir Reynold was telling me all of this. “Is there a reason you’re telling me this, Sir Reynold?” I asked cautiously, not wanting to offend him. He smiled kindly at me. “I just wanted to let you know that my grandson is a good man. You’re going to meet him very soon, and you guys are going to get along pretty well.” I nodded, still unsure of why he was telling me all of this. “Thank you for letting me know, Sir Reynold. I’ll keep that in mind,” I replied, not wanting to question him further. Sir Reynold seemed satisfied with my response and changed the topic, engaging me in a conversation about my interests and hobbies. I found myself enjoying his company, and it wasn’t long before I forgot all about the awkward encounter with Alexander. I noticed Alexander observing us from a distance, his expression unreadable. I couldn’t help but wonder why Sir Reynold had told me about his grandson, but I decided not to ask. I didn’t want to ruin the pleasant evening I was having. “Is everything okay, Sir Reynold?” I asked, noticing his restlessness. He let out a heavy sigh. “I’m just worried about my grandson. He still hasn’t arrived. I tried to reassure him. “I’m sure he’ll be here soon. Don’t worry,” I said, giving him a reassuring smile. But Sir Reynold couldn’t seem to shake off his worry. “I just can’t understand why he’s not here yet. He’s usually very punctual.” I could tell that Sir Reynold was really looking forward to introducing me to his grandson, and I didn’t want to disappoint him. “Maybe he got caught up with something. But I’m sure he’ll show up soon,” I said, trying to remain optimistic. MU Just then, he noticed one of the servers walking by and promptly called out to him. “Excuse me, do you know where my grandson is?” The server looked a little taken aback by the question. “I’m sorry, sir. I haven’t seen him all evening.” Sir Reynold’s expression fell, and I could tell he was starting to get really worried now. “Thank you,” he said to the server before turning to me. “I’m sorry, Ariel. I should’ve introduced you to him earlier. I just can’t understand why he’s not here.” I could see how much this meant to Sir Reynold, and I didn’t want to see him upset. “It’s okay. I’m sure he’ll show up eventually.” But deep down, I was wondering why his grandson hadn’t shown up yet. Sir Reynold had spoken so highly of him, and I couldn’t wait to meet him.
