"All right... everyone's eyes are on us now."
Men and women, couple or just a simple partner, these pairs dances all together under the radiant light of the monstrous crystal. And as if to take the main spotlight of the royal dance, the princess of Kruule and the prince of Reilaea, who are now brother and sister to one another joins them on the center stage.
The mob of people including Queen Elena and King Castile, and the other rulers stand in awe as they gaze upon the young princess and prince in astonishment, matching the rythm of the other dancers' graceful and fluid movements, making a photogenic scene that the people couldn't help but marvel in astonishment.
"They both look wonderful."
"It's like they came straight out of a fairy tale."
"Amazing..."
The royal dance continues. And as it goes on, Celestine finds a chance to speak to Edle.
"You seem unamused. It's all on your face."
Addressing it makes Edle feel even more unamused, but the princess did not stop as she asked Edle:
"Could it be that it's because it's me you're dancing with, instead of the girl that you liked?"
Celestine proceeds to look at Atalante who's watching them from the mob of people along with Pina and Aura.
"I don't have that kind of relationship to Atalante, and she got nothing to do with this."
"Eh..."
Edle aggravatingly replied. But the princess did not stop there as she continues to ask.
"Then... Could it be that you're blaming my Father for the unknown disappearance of your Father 8 years ago, right?"
"...!"
Those words startled Edle and loses his footing, making their dance look unbalanced and not matching everyone's movements.
"Edle...?"
Atalante, noticed Edle and his movements that doesn't match Celestine's and even the others. But he kept moving as he tries to catch up with the others. However...
"King Castile was the last person who saw the late King of Reilaea before he completely vanished, the King who started the war 17 years ago. And now that same King went to Reilaea to take the Queen's hand."
"That's enough..."
Instead of catching up to the flow of the dance, his balance loses more and more due to what Celestine continues to say.
"Then your Mother humbly and eagerly accepts him to be her new King as if the late King did not exist even before he disappeared. You felt that you and your Father were betrayed by your own Mother for doing that. And so that anger and frustation you felt led you to believing that everything was my Father's plan to take over Reilaea...-"
After Celestine's endless yapping about Edle's Father, his Mother, and about how Castile took Elena from him. Eventually, Edle's fuse burned out and couldn't handle it anymore.
Edle forcefully clouted Celestine's arms away from him as he furiously shouted:
"That's enough!!"
His voice rang through the entire banquet hall. The flock of people as well as the rulers of Meleia and Loisiln were left confused as they wordlessly stare at Edle. Pina was caught by surprise as she looks at Edle in shock, while Atalante, Aura and queen Elena looked worried at Edle who's still standing and won't say a word in front of Celestine.
He stood there, with his fist shaking in anger. But eventually he turns around to walk away from the mob of people and everyone else.
"This celebration is over."
Edle said his last words before eventually leaving the banquet hall. Everyone watched him as he disappears from the door, including Atalante who felt nothing but worry for the prince.
"Edle..."
Atalante turned and frowned as she glared Celestine. The two meet each other in the eye, but Celestine simply walks away as if nothing happened.
As she gets away from the crowd, she smirked scornfully.
"This is a lot easier than what I expected."
Some time after what happened, Queen Elena
.
.
.
After heading out from the banquet hall, Prince Edle went to one of the balconies on the eastern side of the castle. There, he has a clear view of the stars glittering overhead, houses that are lighting up the scenery underneath. And right below his left side is the castle grounds where a dragon landed not long ago, along with a woman who keeps reminding him on what she said to him in the hall.
What Celestine told him is true. He blames Castile for his Father's disappearance not because he's completely certain that he is at fault. But because he felt betrayed by his Mother who married the King of Kruule rather easily.
8 years since then, everyday, Edle would be reminded of the bittersweet memories he had with his Father in his younger days. Until now, he still couldn't help but feel down and wretched every time the image of his Father comes to his mind.
But unlike him, Elena seemed to have forgotten his late husband rather easily. Back then, after they received the news of the King of Reilaea's sudden disappearance, the one who were affected the most is not Edle, but his Mother, Elena.
She would always passed out everytime she was reminded that her husband disappeared out of nowhere. Sometimes, she wouldn't even touch the meal served to her for more than a week. She would cage herself inside her room, not even Edle could enter. Edle couldn't do nothing but lay his back on the door of his Mother's room and listen to her mournful cry everyday.
Edle thought his Mother was the one who were suffering the most. But 3 years after, the King who were claimed to be the last person who saw Edle's Father before he disappeared had come to visit Reilaea. That man came to Reilaea with a single purpose. To ask Queen Elena to marry him.
"Join me as we rule and bring peace to Kruule and Reilaea both as their new King and Queen. Be my Queen, Elena."
Out of King Castile's mouth came an unexpected proposal. It was so blatantly said and was so uncalled for that rendered Edle and the other Reilaean Knights speechless. But, despite that it was said in a way that it just suddenly came out of his mouth, Elena gave an answer that made Edle into what he is now.
"I'll become your Queen."