When we reached the banquet hall, I noticed the music has stopped. Everyone just stood there waiting.
But waiting for what?
Papa walks towards me and reaches a hand out to me. Levi whispered, "I'll meet you later at the dance." I turned to him but saw him walking away already.
Confused now, I looked at Papa and just grabbed the hand he offered.
He guides me to the dance floor and then bowed before me. "Will you dance with this old man, my princess?"
I can't help but to smile. "Of course, Papa. I would love to dance with you!"
He beams at me with his kind eyes, standing up straight as I place my hand over his and another on his shoulder.
I saw Aeron steps in with Mama from across us. We exchanged glances and just nodded at each other. It's like saying 'Let's do this!' or something apt to it.
The music began and the final dance commences.
I see the people watching us in a smile as we glided through the dance floor. The feet movements became easier for me to follow though the steps were larger than before. "You had trouble awhile ago?" Papa spoke. I gaze at him and saw his kind eyes fixed at me. "It was nothing big. My friends helped me."
"I'll talk to that boy's father for what he had caused you."
"There's no need, Papa. It has been taken care of. Let him be."
"That's what I like about you, my princess. Brave, clever, and kind. You're growing up very well."
"No, it's in the genes!" I winked
He laughs but that slowly fades into a frown, "I owe you so much time, my love. I lost so many years in watching you grow up. I've always been away while you widen your horizons alone. Many bad things happened to you because of that. I'm sorry." He leans his forehead against mine and closed his eyes shut. "I should've been there to protect you. I should've been the father to raise you. But I failed."
This warmth inside my chest feels nice, I thought. In my previous life, I grew up in a broken family. I never had the father to treat me like this.
This is one of the best things in this second life I have. The chance to experience the love of a father. And I love it.
This life I have now is too precious to end.
"It's alright, Papa. I was never alone. Aeron stood by my side every step of the way. He's actually very protective of me." I reached for his face and tried to catch his eyes, "I never thought for a second of my life that you're a failure as my father. I know you're working hard to make this country great and peaceful for the people— for us. You're doing your best, Papa. And I know of it."
He presses his lips on the palm of my hand then kissed my head. "How amazing of a Lady you're becoming... And a splendid woman you will be, I'm sure. I'm proud of you, my princess."
I lifted my head and smiled at him, "No, Papa. I'm proud to be your daughter."
"You give me too much credit, child. This old fool can't handle too much praises in one day!" He chuckled.
"Just let me pamper you this once then!" I giggled. He laughs along.
We stopped on our feet and he makes me spin in place, slowly. "Happy birthday, my princess!" He pokes the tip of my nose.
I threw myself on his arms and embraced him tight. "Thank you for this party and spending this evening with us."
He hugged me back and then pats my head as I released him. "Oh, I see you're finally using Eriol's present for you."
I looked up at him and realized he's eyeing the hair clip I wore near my bangs. "What do you mean, Papa? This is given to me by Levi."
"Oh? Strange. I think I saw the same one from Eriol in a small blue box. My mind must have played tricks on me."
A blue box? Levi gave me this in a red box though. Papa must've confused Eriol over Levi since I've been always spending time with both of them.
He took a deep breath and beamed at me. "You're a bright young girl. I trust your better judgement. So don't hesitate to follow your heart as well." He says.
I tilted my head curiously, crunching my brows.
"I meant what I said about affiliating our country with Osteell and Levi is a fine young Lord." Papa jerks his head to the side, "But I know there's also another fine young man in our presence. His background or past doesn't define him. And I know you know that too."
I followed the direction Papa was referring to and saw Eriol standing in a corner, mixed in the crowd as he watch us.
"I'm always here to support you."
My eyes grew wide.
"W-why suddenly bring Eriol in this?" I flustered.
"Oh, my child. Despite being bright, it seems there's still a long way for you to go." He laughed. "Even Aeron already realized it."
"Realize what?" I murmured.
He just pats my head and then walks off.
I don't get it.
I looked at Aeron and Mama and saw them finished dancing as well.
Aeron walked towards me and just reached his hand out. "I'll admit greed and ask for another dance with my own twin sister." he stated. "Quickly, give me your hand. Bowing is too bothersome at this point.
Hurry up now! Your hand, dimwit!"
I just rolled my eyes and took his hand anyway as I watch people walking in to fill the dance floor by pairs.
"So who manage to give it first?" Aeron asks. I began to moved to my toes then relaxes by my ankle, ending on a flat foot.
"Give what?"
Aeron mirrors my movements. Paused then spun me in my heels.
"That awful looking thing on your hair."
"Hey! This is Levi's present! If you must know, I think this hair clip is very cute!"
"Levi, huh? Hmm. Tough competition, I must say." He grunted. We rotated and we swayed, with our hands leading us to the direction. "When did you see that clip anyway?"
"When we were in Ak'hilheim this morning." I answered. "But I swear I didn't ask him to buy this! I planned to buy it myself but I forgot to bring any money."
"You dimwit, you could've just told me. And now tensions arises because of it"
"Tension?" I rolled my eyes up and aligned my thought.
Ah. He wants my hair clip?
But why, I wonder.
As we circled around the line of the dance, I saw Ifrit by the crowd, waving at me so cheerfully.
Oh, I get it.
Aeron wants to give it to Ifrit!
I have misunderstood things.
"I didn't know you want it. I think I saw two of this being sold back there. If you want we can just go back to Ak'hilheim!"
Aeron eyed me deadpan. "Hopeless! You're hopeless! How dense can you be?"
"I don't want to hear that from you! There are girls who are throwing hints that they want you to ask them for a dance! I bet you don't even know that!"
"Well.... If there are, why didn't they just tell me directly?"
"Touché, brother. We are both hopeless so it seems" I sighed.
He chortles.
I looked at him. He looked at me.
And we both laughed.
"Good luck!" He bids as he spun me with great force. I twirled at my own heels, surprised I tried to keep the momentum to avoid tripping down.
On the process I saw Aeron walking away.
And then someone catches me, one hand on my waist. The sudden stop made me lean on him close.
"Levi?" I gasped. He just smiled at me. "Finally, my turn." he says.
He helped me stand back to my feet. All of the sudden the music stopped. I looked up at the balconies where the instruments are being played. I felt a finger touches my cheek and softly he pressed until I move my head back to his direction. "Eyes on me" he uttered.
He then gently took one of my hands, shoulder almost aligned up. Another hand he places on my back. And then he paused and watched me.
The next melody is played.
On the first beat of the music, a step is taken forward. He tags at my hand a bit, pulling me. He presses close to me, then slides me along with him around and smoothly with flowing fluid movements, traveling the line of the dance floor.
I took a side long glance at the rotating movements of pairs dancing together around us and realized everyone was locked eyes with each other. The crowd that stayed along the perimeter lingered a smile as they seem to watch in bated breaths; all eyes gleaming and dreamy. The air is sober with the sound of thick music, dense with the golden lights shed by the chandeliers.
"What would you have me do just to keep your eyes in my direction?" I hear Levi murmured. I looked at him, "Sorry, I was spacing off." I shrugged.
"Bored?"
I shook my head vehemently, "No!"
He leans down to my ears. "Let's make this a little more exciting" he whispered.
I can feel his hand shift from my back, running down the line of my spine then slithered to my waist and stopped there. All my senses focused on that all of a sudden. But although that hand snagged my breath for a moment, his eyes managed to steal my attention back.
And then his steps lengthen, the movement became wider but quicker too.
He spins me around, following the tempo of the music as it picked up speed. Then swayed me to the sides; suddenly releasing my hand, grabs both my waist then lifts me up off my feet in a floating turn. My skirt whirls and spreads as we went gliding and swinging in a round yet steady fluid fashion.
He puts me down and like a snap, his hands grabbed mine once again and off he went to guide me around again.
I was no longer following the dance steps I am accustomed to nor the music around us that my ears have now chose to ignore. It felt like I was just being swept around to his motion. My conscious focused on him— on his directions. The flow of his body, the phases his hands when it shifts, and the drumming heart beat I can feel against my ribs. He was completely in control. The dance floor was ours, he declared it with his movements. But his eyes held mine captive. I can no longer look away.
The moment was drowning as it was exhilarating.
There was subtle warmth on his eyes but his gaze was imperious. That cold yet calm amber orbs that I'm familiar with, regards me as a lady while others tend to look at me like a child. But his skill in not showing emotions out from his face left me curious what he's feeling right now.
"What are you thinking?" I asked,
"I'm rather trying to concentrate."
"Oh. I understand that. I concentrated too that I won't trip and embarrass myself when Aeron and I first danced."
"No," his brows arched for a moment, "I'm trying to concentrate not to forget you're still too young. I might scare you if I let my instinct take over."
"So... you are still thinking something."
He narrowed his eyes at me, holding back a smirk. "You don't want to know what's inside my head right now, Aerra. All in due time."
I opened my lips for a second to talk but closed them back again. His statement just left me more curious than ever but there's this storm in his eyes that I see that made me want to just keep quiet and let it go. It felt dangerous but there was no hostility in it.
He suddenly stopped and bowed before me. I snapped back to reality and realized the sounds of clapping roaring around us. The music has also ended.
I was quite breathless. I never thought dancing can be this fun.
"I'll get you a drink" he says, walking off to the crowd.
I was about to follow him but the music began once again. This time it was a much slower tempo.
I felt a tap from my behind.
No more. I want to rest for a bit, I thought.
I turned around and saw a guy with silver hair and vermillion eyes. The one I have been wondering all this time. "May I have one last dance?" his voice is gentle but somehow spine chilling with a monotonous tone.
I nodded reluctantly and took his hand. It was cold.
Somehow the slow beat of the music lured so many guests to dance, almost crowding the dance floor.
"You're growing up fast" he says.
Why do I feel like his voice sounds awfully familiar?
"Do I know you?" I asked.
He didn't answer.
I studied him, trying to discern why do I sense an air of familiarity around him. He's clad in black garments that covered up to his neck. His posture is remarkable but he seems thin though lean enough. He has silver hair with a bundle of black strands behind his ears which drapes down few inches longer than the rest of his hair. He has a fair but pale complexion and a sharp pointy nose that matches his soft facial features; and his lips is... well it's rude staring at his lips like a pervert so I averted my eyes away from that.
Generally, he has ethereal good looks. His face looks more flawless than mine too.
He's far taller than any of my friends. And looks about the age of early twenties.
But what made him look so ominous and strangely interesting is the color of his eyes. They are brilliant red, the color of vermillion.
I didn't notice how long have we been dancing, I just realized the music stopped and Papa began to call the attention of everyone as he stood by the staircase beside Mama. Aeron is there too.
"I better go." I told him. "Thank you for the dance, err..." I haven't got his name yet.
He just nodded slowly and took one step back.
Papa spoke about how thankful he is for those who came tonight and such. I turned to watch for a bit.
"Happy Birthday, Ri." I heard a voice said with his monotonous cold voice.
'Ri'
It just dawned on me—
Only one person calls me Ri.
I quickly looked back but he wasn't there anymore, my eyes scanned around like a mad man. "Master Faram!" I called out.
I caught a glimpse of him walking towards the terraces.
"Wait!"
I hurried after him.