The Dancing Partner

The best musician in the whole Astrana started playing the piano placed at a side of that ballroom. It was a piece of music that suited that royal gathering. Following the piano, the music trope started playing the violin and other unknown musical instruments belonged to Astrana.

Unlike what is described in most of the fairy tales and books I've read, a few people were involved in the dancing. The majority was focusing mainly on food, alcohol and gossip.

I was bored to the core looking at those faces, pretending to be happy since the queen was observing them. It was a goddam boring luxurious party. I wanted to escape the boredom so I went to the queen with a sad face.

"Mother," I called her.

The queen seemed proud about her lavish party so she turned to me with a proud smile. "Yes, Nana" her smile froze when she was confronted with my saddened face.

"What's wrong?" she asked.

I moved a bit closer and muttered, "James, does he care about me?"

As a woman, I understood what I should say to make this woman feel guilty. She must be already feeling guilty because they were forcing me to marry a scum. Since he was too busy to attend the ball, she must be even more worried about my life with him at that moment. Though she may not show it judging from her stubborn personality, she should be thinking about that as well.

It was just like I expected. The queen frowned as she gently caressed my face. "Silly girl. It's not like that. He just got an important work in his country," said the queen.

'Important work, like courting new women in his country?' I internally smirked.

"But mother, he never told me about anything. It's been a while since he spoke with me the last time. I feel like I'm unwanted," I continued.

"Nana, don't worry over this," the queen tried to calm me down.

"How can I not worry mother? It's my life" I pretended to be on the verge of crying. The queen speechlessly looked at me.

"Ah!" I made a cry and slightly massaged my temple.

"What's wrong Nana?" the queen stepped forward and touched my shoulder.

"My head… It aches so much, mother," I pretended to be sick.

The queen immediately signalled Flora. "No mom!" I stopped her. "I don't want to leave. It may become the cause of the guest's suspicion. James is also not here," I continued.

"No Nana. Your health comes first," the queen firmly objected.

"Then mother, can I go and stay somewhere peaceful? I feel like suffocating in my room," I looked at the queen in the pitiable way possible.

"Yes, yes sure. Leave with your servants," the queen told me.

I searched and found my maids and guards in the crowd. Henry was dancing with Lily. Merlin was dancing with Violet. Nilo was eagerly looking at Flora to ask her for a dance.

"Mother, I don't want to stop them from enjoying this amazing ball you've arranged. I just want them to dance and be happy this night. I'll just go out with my chief guard," I continued.

"What about him? Isn't he happy with the preparations?" the queen dubiously asked.

"He is. But he is very reserved and won't dance with anyone" I made up a new story. It can't be called a lie since he was indeed standing by and watching others dance.

The queen looked at him once then looked at me worriedly and touched my face once again. "Do whatever you want. But don't go far," she said.

'Do whatever you want!' That indeed sounded like freedom. It was more like uncaging a bird after cutting off its wings. I can do whatever I wanted that day since I was engaged to a scum. The queen let me out of the cage since she was guilty. Still, she had no intention of calling off this engagement. I finally understood that she would rather see me as a sad queen rather than see me as a happy woman.

I sighed as I turned and signalled the only person who truly cared about me. With him, I went out of the palace and strolled around the palace for a few minutes, silently. He followed me without asking any questions. Then I climbed up the stairs to the hall where we have practiced the dance a few days ago. Victor followed me there as well.

The whole floor was ill-lit. The only source of light there was from the crescent moon. Nonetheless, I could see the surrounding. Not only that, I could listen to music as well.

The ballroom was exactly below this floor. It made it possible for me to hear the music. But unlike the ballroom, the noises of people's blabbering had notably reduced. It was indeed better here.

I went to the balcony and looked up at the moon listening to the music and sighed. "All those practices were a waste of time. Isn't it?" I muttered.

Whenever Victor is unwilling to talk, all I need to do was to irritate him. Then, he'll immediately lash out at me and return to normal. This time was no different.

Hearing me say that Victor who was following me a few feet behind stepped forward and stood by me. I didn't mind that since there was no need to pretend to be a guard and a princess. We were the only people there.

"Do you regret not being able to dance with him?" I got an immediate harsh reply. In that ill-lit room, his intriguing voice rang right beside my ear.

"Not him. I just wanted to find someone handsome in the crowd and wanted to dance with him."

"Why didn't you do so, then?" his fascinating voice once again reached my ears.

"No one there is my type," I said.

"What is your type?" he asked immediately.

"Hmmmmm, someone who is tall, handsome, has blue eyes and cold personality" I described my type when I was alive on Earth.

"That's your brother," Victor immediately replied, making me stupefied.

"Then what about someone taller, more handsome, and a colder personality?" I asked. "I wouldn't mind if you can find me a guy like that," I said.

This had already silenced him. He kept thinking for a few seconds, probably because he was hesitant to speak the next words. After leaving me in distress for a few seconds, he replied.

"Do I count?" he calmly asked lowering his voice a bit. Now it sounded sexier than before and gave me goosebumps. I clenched my hands in nervousness. Still, I managed to gather myself and looked at him up and down once.

"Not so bad. I wouldn't mind," I grumbly replied. He smirked once leaving out a soft sound of laughter. It was more appealing in that dark environment.

"Then Your Highness, may I have this dance?" Victor turned as he extended his hand towards me. This time, I could see his face I would have teased him more if he had just asked me that. But there was also a charming smile sticking on his face which made it difficult for me to reply.

I squinted at him and placed my hand in his.

He effortlessly pulled me into his hold. Once we've started dancing, I had already stepped on his foot two, three times. Every time I stepped on his foot, he let out a soft chuckle making me even more nervous.

At last, he told me in a coquettish tone, "Your Highness is indeed a bad dancer." When I was about to object, he continued. "Do you want me to teach you?"

I looked up at his face. He was looking down at me with a mocking yet appealing smirk. "No need. I can learn from my fiancé in the future," I replied nonchalantly, looking straight into his eyes. This should have induced him. He pulled me closer. Though it felt like a normal dance step, the force inserted explained his warning. He shifted his hand which was placed on my waist to my back and held me closer.

This time, he leaned and whispered in my ears, "See, I'm a better dancer than him," he paused. "You'll be my exclusive student," he continued. Again he shifted his hand back to my waist, "I don't think you would be the only student for him" he whispered by my ears then straightened himself.

"Exclusive student?" I looked up at him.

"Yes," he whispered as he released me for a twirl and with that, my dress swirled around. Then promptly he pulled me closer again, this time hugging me from behind.

His left-hand fingers moved their way up from my fingers to my shoulder. He swiftly turned me.

Again he carefully held my hand in one hand and hugged my waist with the other.

"Do you like it?" he whispered once again. This time I wasn't sure what exactly he was asking still I assumed it was about the dance class.

"I have a few concerns," I said.

"Like?" he questioned while lifting me, holding my waist and placing me down after turning a bit.

"The fees," I muttered.

He pulled me closer and rubbed the side of his face on my hair. "Hmmm…" he hummed as an indication of thinking, "What about accepting me as an exclusive teacher in return?"

"I am not allowed to learn from others?" I widened my eyes. "Obviously," he muttered in a seductive tone as he twirled me around again.

By that time, I was already under his enchantment. His voice, his words, his scent and his moves had successfully made me a puppet in his hands. I was unable to tease or argue. Soon, he too fell silent.

He placed both of his hands on my waist. Both of our movements slowed and stopped. Promptly, I was in his tight embrace. All I could hear was his thunder-like heartbeats and pacifying soft breaths. Without thinking twice, my hands raised and returned the hug.

That night suddenly turned into one of the most beautiful nights because of him.

He didn't stop there. He tightened his embrace even further and made it difficult for me to breathe. I was dumbfoundedly standing unable to break out of his charm. Within seconds, I felt his hot breaths brushing over my neck. It had already wakened me out from my dumbstruck state. When Victor's lips touched the curve of my neck I was fully awake.

I realized where we were and what we were doing. If only anyone from the palace saw us, he would be beheaded that instant. I instantaneously pushed him away.

When I looked up at his face, he looked a bit unhappy. Still, I could say that he had already gathered himself.

I remembered how worried I was after pushing him into the royal pond so I didn't want to hurt him this time as well.

"It's already late," I calmly told him.

"Mn," I got a stiff reply.

"Let's go back," I continued looking around checking if there was anyone on that floor.

"Mn."

When I looked up at him again, he had already turned ready to leave. I swiftly stepped forward and gave him a quick hug from behind.

"Thank you for today," I said then released him. After that, I didn't turn around and almost ran back to my chamber.