Your Heart Or Your Duty

The summer sun was just beginning to set as Kris Ellsworth and his

younger sister, Sophia, made their way through the cobblestone

streets of their small village. They have been living there for their

whole lives, but Sophia was supposed to leave for university. A hint

of excitement filled the air, as the local festival was gearing up,

the sounds of music and laughter wafting through the evening breeze.

As they approached the main square, the sight of the grand stage

came into view. A makeshift platform constructed by the townsfolk was

adorned with colorful banners, and a small orchestra was tuning their

instruments, preparing for the night's entertainment. Kris' eyes

scanned the area and settled on a group of performers gathering near

the stage, their bright, colorful costumes catching the attention of

those passing by. And then he saw her. A girl with golden hair that

fell in waves around her shoulders, and eyes the color of lush,

emerald leaves. It was as if time slowed down, as if the world had

suddenly become still, as he gazed upon her. She was breathtaking,

and he couldn't tear his gaze away.

Across the square, Alice Harvey adjusted the straps on her costume, her heart fluttering

nervously as she prepared for her performance. An accomplished dancer

from the nearby city, she had been invited to perform at this

festival, and the thought of dancing in front of a small-town crowd

was both thrilling and intimidating. As Alice took her place on the

stage, ready to start her routine, her gaze swept across the

audience, taking in the faces of the people gathered to watch. And

then, her eyes landed on a boy standing towards the back, his sister

beside him. He was staring at her, his eyes full of undeniable

fascination and something else, something almost like enchantment.

The music started playing, and Alice's body moved gracefully to the

rhythm. Each step, each twirl, was perfectly executed, and her

presence on stage was captivating. She was mesmerizing, like a

firefly dancing amongst the stars, and Kris found himself bewitched,

unable to look away. The music started playing, and Alice's body

moved gracefully to the rhythm. Each step, each twirl, was perfectly

executed, and her presence on stage was captivating. She was

mesmerizing, like a firefly dancing amongst the stars, and Kris found

himself bewitched, unable to look away. Her dance was a mixture of

elegance and grace, each movement executed with the precision of a

master. As she spun, her hair flared out behind her like a golden

halo, and her green eyes sparkled with an intensity that matched the

passion of her dance. The audience was enraptured, clapping and

cheering with each pass of her lithe form, but Kris could barely hear

them, his focus completely drawn to the woman on stage, the woman who

seemed to hold his heart in her slender, dancing fingers. Beside

Kris, his younger sister, Sophia, noticed the change in his demeanor.

His eyes were fixed on the stage, his face a mixture of wonder and

what could only be described as fascination. She followed his gaze

and noticed the golden-haired dancer moving effortlessly across the

platform. It dawned on her, and a small, knowing smile played on her

lips. She elbowed her brother gently, a lighthearted tease in her

voice.

"You're smitten," she whispered. "I've never seen you look so enraptured."

Kris jerked his head to the side, his attention broken. He looked at his sister, a mixture of surprise

and denial on his face. But the flush on his cheeks betrayed him, and

she could see the truth in his eyes.

"I'm not smitten," he replied, trying to sound

nonchalant, but his voice was too gruff, too lacking in conviction. Sophia laughed softly, her eyes flickering back to the dancer on

the stage. "Oh, come on. I know that face. You're completely

captivated by her. Admit it."

Kris opened his mouth to protest,

but the words died on his lips as he returned his attention to Alice,

a slight shiver running down his spine as she executed a particularly

difficult move. He swallowed, his throat suddenly dry. "Okay, maybe I'm a

bit...intrigued."

Sophia chuckled, her gaze locking with her

brother's. "Intrigued, huh? That's a polite way of putting it.

You're practically drooling."

Kris rolled his eyes, trying to

hide his embarrassment. "I am not drooling," he retorted,

but there was no heat in his voice, only a hint of defensiveness.

"But I have to admit," he continued, his eyes glued to

Alice's every move, "she's an incredible dancer. I've never seen

anything like it."

Sophia smiled, her expression suddenly

turning sly. "You should introduce yourself. Go talk to her

after the performance."

Kris snapped his gaze to his sister, his eyes widening. "What?

Are you kidding? I can't do that."

"Why not?" Sophia leaned in, a mischievous grin playing

on her lips. "It's not like she's going to bite your head off."

Kris swallowed nervously, the thought of actually approaching

Alice making his palms sweaty. "But...what if she's not

interested? What if she thinks I'm a country bumpkin?"

Sophia rolled her eyes. "You're seriously overthinking this, you know

that? You're a good-looking guy, Kris. Give yourself some credit." She gave him a gentle shove. "And besides, what's the worst

that could happen? She says no? Life goes on. But at least you'll

know you tried."

Kris sighed, running a hand through his hair.

He knew she was right, but the thought of rejection was a real fear.

Still, he couldn't deny the pull he felt towards Alice, the way his

heart thumped in his chest every time she moved on stage.

He looked back at the stage, catching a glimpse of her emerald

green eyes as she spun. "Okay, I'll do it," he said

quietly, more to himself than to Sophia.

His sister beamed, giving him a quick pat on the back. "That's

the spirit! Now, let's get closer. I don't want to miss this."

They moved closer to the stage, Kris' heart thudding in time with the

music. He couldn't take his eyes off Alice, his breath catching in

his throat each time she made a particularly graceful move. His sister leaned in again. "Don't forget to breathe,"

she teased.

Kris shot her a glare, his heart still racing. The dance was

nearing its end, and the realization that he was actually going to

speak to Alice made him feel both excited and terrified. He wiped his

sweaty palms on his trousers, his mind already running through a

hundred different scenarios.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the dance ended with a flourish, and the applause of the

crowd rang out. Alice took a bow, her cheeks flushed from exertion,

her eyes scanning the audience. It was then that her gaze landed on

Kris, their eyes meeting for a brief moment before he quickly looked

away, feeling the heat rise in his cheeks once more.

"She saw you," Sophia whispered, her voice full of excitement. "She

totally saw you. Now's your chance!"

Kris' heart was in his throat, but he knew that his sister was right. He took a deep breath,

steeling himself. "Okay, I'm gonna go," he mumbled. He took a step forward and made his way towards the side of the

stage where Alice was exiting. As he approached, Alice was surrounded by a group of her fellow

performers, each of them congratulating her on her performance. Kris

hovered on the edge of the group, his heart pounding, until one of

the performers noticed him.

"Can we help you?" a performer asked, a hint of

suspicion in her voice.