A Fearful Dance

Prince Zentik of the Winter Nation Shezen

----

As the night grew late, Zentik found himself talking to Princess Zoneen and Lady Iris.

"Oh, you need to meet my friend!" Princess Zoneen suddenly said. "Veiris! Come over here!"

Heir Prince Veiris of Shezum was talking to Heir Princess Kiran of Shezil. Prince Veiris looked up and took a step towards where Zentik was talking. He paused, looked back, and motioned for Princess Kiran to follow.

"This is Veiris - I'm sure you already know that," Princess Zoneen said, placing a hand on Veiris's shoulder. Zentik felt especially short in that moment, as Princess Zoneen was not much shorter than the tall Prince of Shezum.

Zentik put his right hand over his heart and nodded.

"How did you two meet?" Prince Veiris asked.

"I didn't want to dance, and neither did Princess Zoneen," Zentik said.

"He heard about our engagement before my father announced it," Princess Zoneen said, facing Iris.

"Oh?"

"Yes, he was very kind."

"And to think you're from Shezen," Princess Kiran said, smiling slightly.

"Unbelievable, I know," Zentik responded.

----

Iris, Future Queen Consort to Heir Princess Zoneen of the Summer Nation Shezon

----

Iris was very unlike Zoneen. Zoneen was outgoing and lit up a whole room; Iris would rather never speak to another noble in her life. Zoneen could make a one-sided conversation seem natural; Iris could barely talk to the other Healers in Shezon.

But, as the sun reaches for snow to melt, Zoneen had captured Iris's attention the second she was at a high enough rank to heal someone in the Imperial Family.

Zoneen knew every servant in the castle, but the Healers knew her best. She was always climbing trees to get the best view of the sunset. Always running to the highest tower to make sure she won every game of hide-and-seek. As a result, her bedroom might as well be the medical ward of the castle.

The first time Iris treated Zoneen, she was terrified. The Princess had found a cat in the courtyard. She got too close to it, and it scratched her. It had ripped open a vein, and Iris was a satin veil between life and death.

When the bleeding finally stopped, a more experienced Healer brought in a leather sac filled with blood. They began showing Iris how to replace the blood that Zoneen had lost. Three hours later, Zoneen was talking Iris's ear off about how she planned to tame the cat. Two days later, Zoneen got scratched by the same cat, and spent another day getting stitches below her left eye.

As Zoneen stood next to Iris at the Royal Unity Celebration - scar on her face shining in the light; scars on her hand held closely in Iris's - a sense of peace filled Iris. A thousand nobles, and a million ancestors, but Iris only saw the woman she loved.

Iris rested her head on Zoneen's shoulder, and felt a soft hand pat her hair.

----

King Lonek of the Winter Nation Shezen

----

Dear doves, the King of Shezil was desperate.

"...Very smart, too," King Abil was saying. "Yes, she's a handful, but any young lady would love a King. Do you believe so?"

"I've been to parties with nobles," Lonek said. "If I didn't believe that, I'd be the dumbest person alive."

King Abil laughed.

"Yes. Of course, Kiran is also powerful in magic. Very similar to you, keli."

"Oh?"

"Oh, yes. She was able to make our royal garden grow three times the size this year. Isn't that lovely? She's much more powerful than I was at her age. Smarter, too."

"She's always been much smarter than you, Abil," King Neko of Shezum said, walking up and patting King Abil's back.

King Abil laughed. Lonek only nodded along.

"You know it was funny, Lonek. Are you not laughing because you're trying to woo Abil's daughter?"

Lonek certainly was not trying to woo Heir Princess Kiran. He was saved from having to answer by King Neko taking a drink from his cup and saying four terrifying words:

"Go dance with her!"

"Oh, yes - she needs to talk to more people tonight," King Abil said. "Here, I'll hold your food."

Lonek reluctantly handed over his bread. If King Abil took a bite from it, Lonek would seriously consider war.

"I'll have the band play new music. This music is getting boring," King Neko said, as if this would be something to celebrate.

"Go on," King Abil said, gesturing towards where Princess Kiran was talking to Zentik and the Heirs of Shezum and Shezon.

Lonek walked over there and silently held a hand out to Princess Kiran, who looked like she had been struck by lightning. He tried to convey the message that he was just as uncomfortable as she was, but it probably came off as annoyance with her refusing to dance earlier.

Lonek seriously had to work on his social skills.

A lively tune began to play, and Lonek led Princess Kiran to the center. Right as they were the only ones in the middle of the room, the music became slow and soft.

By the band, King Neko gave Lonek a wide grin and thumbs-up.

Lonek was saved by Heir Princess Zoneen and Lady Iris going to the center. He nodded in thanks, and Lady Iris shrugged.

It quickly became awkward. Lonek tried to focus more on the dance itself than who he was dancing with. Princess Kiran seemed to be doing the same.

The other Kings were now on the dance floor with their wives, diverting attention from what would soon be every noble's favorite topic of gossip.

Eventually, the nobles joined in.

On the sidelines, Lonek saw Zentik nod in a "I-know-you-hate-this" manner. Lonek couldn't agree more.

"I know this song," Princess Kiran said. "It'll be over soon."

"I apologize. Your father insisted."

"Oh, I know."

"I'm sure you'd prefer one of the Princes or nobles your age over me."

"None of them fit my standards quite yet."

"I'll tell my brother that."

"I'll consider him when he's taller than me."

Lonek smiled.

"So, he's never on the list?"

"No."

"Your father failed to mention your standards. Besides height, what are they?"

"Easy to talk to is pretty high on the list."

"I can see why you don't prefer me, then."

"At least you're aware."

The music stopped, and Lonek quickly stepped away from Princess Kiran.

"I hope that satisfied your father, Princess," he said, bowing slightly.

Kiran smiled and bowed back.

"He won't be satisfied until we have three sons. I hope you like spring, because I'm sure he'll invite you for dinner sometime soon."

"Let's hope he doesn't."

Princess Kiran walked back to where Zentik stood.

----

Heir Princess Kiran of the Spring Nation Shezil

----

"It's a good thing the nobles have no concept of not wanting to marry a King, because otherwise they would have died from second-hand embarrassment," Kiran said as she stood by Prince Zentik and Prince Veiris.

"I can't wait for the servants to hear about this," Prince Veiris said. "You're about to be the star of every nation's gossip."

"Oh, no, we can't let the common people know about this. They'll already come up with wedding dates and names for children."

"Hopefully they're distracted by the fact that Lonek actually spoke to someone," Prince Zentik said.

"At least King Lonek seems just as uncomfortable with the whole idea as you are," Prince Veiris said.

"Stop making me content in my situation. I'm already traumatized."

"What did you two even talk about?" Prince Zentik asked.

"Well, he started off by apologizing for dancing with me and saying that my father made it all happen."

"A true gentleman."

"Obviously. He also asked if I preferred any other Princes or nobles. I said that none of them fit my standards."

"How so?" Prince Veiris asked.

"Well, every noble here is a dusty wall when it comes to conversation, to start off."

Prince Veiris and Prince Zentik laughed.

"Oh, I hope someone heard that," Prince Zentik said.

----

Heir Prince Veiris of the Autumn Nation Shezum

----

The night was ending, and everyone was leaving for their own nations. In the crowded front of the Unity Castle, Veiris glanced around for Princess Kiran.

She was talking to a noble man twice her age and size. She glanced over at Veiris with an annoyed glaze in her eye.

Veiris to the rescue, apparently.

"Hello, sir," Veiris said, placing his hand over his heart in greeting to the noble.

"Oh, greetings, Prince," the noble said. "Surely you remember me."

"Were you from the land of Kita?"

The noble's eyes widened at the insult. He straightened his posture and straightened his clothes.

"I've never been to Kita, actually."

"Really? Then why is your carriage so loud?"

The noble's face grew red, and he stormed off.

"Thank you," Princess Kiran said, sighing in relief.

"It was nothing."

"Veiris!" Yakel called from Veiris's family carriage.

"I have to go. Will you write to me sometime?"

"Sure," Princess Kiran said, shrugging.

Veiris smiled and walked to his carriage. Yakel gave him a teasing wink that only a sibling could master, waved at Princess Kiran, and climbed into the carriage. Veiris followed, and his parents soon joined.

The one-day journey to the castle began.