I stood up with confidence from my previous bending down and looked back briefly to see the muffled laughter of my very kind friends... they weren't supportive at all. I have then a glare before having a moment to think to my self and turning out to the audience. Stage three of the night, bring it on I guess.
"I welcome all of our esteemed guests to this wonderful night. I thank you for attending this ball which is held by my colleagues and I. We also must give special thanks to our parents, the noble heads for raising us as well as helping us prepare this ball tonight. I hope you enjoy the rest of your night here at the castle and have a lovely time. Thank you!"
I finished it there, in payback I just made it harder for the next person to present their speech.
Applause broke out from the crowd and I grinned evilly at the group and kind of felt a little sorry for the next person who has to do their speech. They all glare back at me and I silently mouthed. You all deserved it. They understood it as each one of them had a different reaction. Eleanor pouted, Anastasia looked as if she was about to kill me and was thinking about how, the tiger twins narrowed their eyes and pouted, and Dominic pinned me with a glare.
I just smiled and took a seat.
...
The speeches finished and my stomach was aching a bit from watching the others struggle to find something to say. In the end all their speeches were great and when we all finished no one talked yet because after the speeches came the dance of the hosts. It was a partnered dance and the host usually picks someone beforehand to dance with them. Since we already have the numbers except for the twins we just paired up accordingly. Dominic with Fox, Anastasia with I. I wonder who the twins picked. We went down the stairs hand in hand with our partners. One by one. Anastasia and I came down first to start the dance in a series of steps and assists that compliment the music. After the first section, Dominic and Eleanor came down and joined up we dances on opposite side of the red carpet circling around simultaneously. No one went up to the gallery as the end of the second section came, I was very confused, unless... no they wouldn't do that.
The end of the second section and the twins came down hand in hand. They did...
They were going to partner, as people saw the twins going down hand in hand a wave of laughter came and the twins just smiled at it as the join the circle. Dominic and I moved the girls accordingly so that we'd be in a perfect equilateral triangle position around the red circle. The fourth section came and instead of another pair coming down the rule was to switch partners.
"Afternoon Fox,"
"Greetings Stallion,"
We greeted each other in words and dance as the fifth section came then once again swapped partners.
"Tiger, you crazy."
"So you expect me to dance with a stranger?,"
He smile at me with a knowing look. Sigh, can't argue with that.
The end of the fifth came and the sixth then came and we were back to the original positions.
This dance was one invented by the nobles, specifically used for noble balls. As you can tell, six goes into three two times and that was the point. Didn't fit as well this year but we made do.
As the sixth section ended we held out finishing positions for the applause before breaking it up and returning to the gallery to wait out the gossip. Under the cover of the railing I took my mask off. My peripheral vision was back as light blinded me temporarily. I rubbed my eyes before putting the mask back on and prepared for my trip back down. The others already went down to start mingling again as the public dances started.
This went on for another 2 or so hours before the end of the night approached.
Last and final stage of the ball, greet all the guests as they leave. The first guest leaving should be going in a few minutes so we all headed to the exit door. The Avon family were going to leave first. What a coincidence.
"Coltus Heir, will you not consider my daughter for marriage?"
"Unfortunately no, I have my own path in mind that path does not include your daughter. Farewell, Avon."
They left.
"What was that speech for, they are low high class you could of just outright rejected them,"
Dominic said.
"But that's not fun"
With a grin I left it at that.
The rest of the farewells were done in an hour. Why couldn't there just be a specific leaving time?
One thing I noticed was that the Higashi weren't here, or the Rushell. Everyone else in the crowd should've noticed as well, they are the top high class families. Is it to do with me? My parents wouldn't care though, so that's good, no beating for that. I wonder though.
We were lead back to the room where an additional bed lay and Anastasia accompanied us back this time.
We were back in our room when Eleanor pointed out something.
"We should give Dominic and Anna a name!"
"Yes we should,"
"Our sister would be..."
The tiger twins thought then said in unison.
"Lioness."
"Well that's decided then."
I said.
Dominic, what would Dominic be, well his fiancé is a fox the closely related are Wolves, coyotes and Jackals. Now with characteristics he's protective of his mate and would prefer solitude. That cuts out wolves. He's also not very keen on teamwork or coyotes are out which leaves one choice.
"Jackal,"
I said in the silence.
Eleanor then replied with the right as his fiancé
"Done,"