"Miss Poinsettia.. It's too close." "It's a dance," I replied. "..It wasn't like this when Madame Isabelle taught me," Noah said. The practice room for me was located a little far from the Imperial Palace and only Noah's hard breathing, unfamiliar with dancing and the sound of my clacking shoes could be heard. "You have to put more soul in it and come closer," I ordered. "I dare not, Miss." I could heard his loud thumping heartbeat, Noah who wore the formal shoes instead of his usual military boots started taking anxious steps since a while ago.
"Uh uh.." The moment Noah was about to fall, I was able to grab his waist and pull him closer, thanks to his good motoric skills and his balancing. "Be careful," I said. Noah's lips was close enough to touch my lips, he looked flustered. "...Forgive me." He turned around quickly and looked down shyly. I touched my lips where I felt his warm breath, I thought that it was not bad if those lips really touched mine. I approached the record player and stopped the song. "Let's have some time to rest," I said.
About 3 hours ago, there was a dance class by Madame Jeanne for the noble ladies. Known for her popular teaching, if you had no money, you couldn't afford to hire her. Just like others, she had heard about the story of the imperial ghost who had learnt nothing, useless and even a timid person but suddenly became a violent maniac and that person was me. Madame Jeanne was nervous when she was summoned by that ghost, but she was more embarrassed by the appearance of a young knight who couldn't move his stiff body.
"Knight, didn't I tell you that you should put your hand on the Princess' waist?" Madame Jeanne looked a bit annoyed. "How dare I... Her Majesty... But..." Noah looked down like a lost sad puppy again. "Noah," I called his name. "Yes?" I could saw his folded puppy ear perked out to my calling. "Do you remember the first time we met?" I asked. "Of course," he answered. "To you, I wasn't a princess, I was just a rich rude lady," I said. "..." "Use that first meeting and think that I'm the person in front of you now is the rude lady and I'll treat you the same I treated you that time." But Noah still looked hesitate. "Then Noah, call me Poinsettia from now on." "Your Majesty..." "If you don't, I'll cut off your left leg and decorate it with the leg of my bed in my room," I threatened him. Noah gulped and looked me like a pitiful puppy, eventually he gave up. "Come on, grab my waist." "You mean like this?" Noah hesitantly placed his palm on the side of my waist. "No. Like this." I pulled him closer and placed his hand around my waist. After that, the class began only after an agreement was reached to call me "Miss Poinsettia".
"The knight definitely had some good motoric skills," Madame praised him in the end. Noah smiled shyly, "Thank you." "But it's also useless if you only have good some motoric skills." "Uh..." "I hope you will practice the main steps and etiquette we learned today," Madame Jeanne added. "Thank you for responding to the unannounced call, Madame Jeanne. Please take care on your way home," I said. "Yes, Your Majesty."
Only awkward silence flew between Noah and me in the quiet practice hall after Madame Jeanne left. "Noah." "Yes Your Majesty!" Noah startled by my calling. "What do you mean Your Majesty? And you have not done practicing the dance," I replied. "...Miss Poinsettia." "Go and start the dance move from the beginning," I ordered. Noah practiced for 3 hours even after Madame Jeanne left, and showed a better dance move. "The Princess doesn't have to dance for every songs. All she has to do is come and stand there beautifully," Noah said. "Is that so?" I asked but Noah went silent. "Do you know, Noah? Winter Blossom has a total 4 days. Excluding the last day of my coronation, I have to practice 2 songs a day, so 6 songs in total." Noah dropped his jaw open in shock, I chuckled at his cute reaction and patted his shoulder to cheer him up.
There'd be a long way to go, but the role of this young knight was very important to me, so I had to take good care of him until the day of the bloody battle. We ended the practice, he escorted me to my room before went straight to his assigned bedroom.
The next morning, the royal attendants were starting to get busy from the early. Designers who would prepared for the 1st Princess dresses have decided to set up hundred of dresses they brought. "How do you like this design?" A designer showed her design. "Show me a clean design with less frills. The color should be black and red. I'd like a little star like the Milky Way embroidered here," I replied. Designers who were said to be the ones that Empress Dowager called, arrived, showed off their best designs and tried their best to grab my attention as I sipped my champagne and walking among the mannequins they had set up. Among the 500 dresses, only 5 were my favorites. Even those needed some details fixed. "Could you embroider the hem of this dress?" I asked as I point to a dress. "Yes Your Majesty. Thank you for entrusting me. I will make Her Majesty Princess shine more than anyone else in the party." "I like that optimism," I said.
Few minutes later, Noah's sister Victoria visited the Imperial Palace for my dress. "You know how great it is to work under Madame Isabelle?" I asked her. "Yes!" She answered with a sparkling bright pair of eyes. "Then do it well. I'm pretty fond of ambitious women like you. I hope you'll grow up as someone who will help me in the future," I said again. "I'll do my best!" Victoria who responded energetically, ran to Madame Isabelle's side to received some instructions. "She resembles you so much that it's cute," I told Noah. "She is cute but I'm not cute," Noah responded to me but I saw his proud smile as he watched his sister. "Since you talk back, I'll increase today's dance practice by an hour." "...Forgive me, Your Majesty."
It was then. There was a loud bang of door opened, breaking the friendly quiet atmosphere, and the 2nd Princess Lobelia showed herself. "Wow! There are many beautiful dresses! I envy you so much!" "The 2nd Princess, what's the matter?" I asked in my most polite tone. "I come here because I heard my sister is choosing a dress," she answered cheerfully. Lobelia smiled and took her steps towards me, I hated that because she reminded me of the 2nd Prince. "It's the appearance of uninvited visitor," I muttered. Noah heard that and he stood in front of me, blocking Lobelia from coming closer. "You are not allowed to enter. Only those who have been authorized by Her Majesty the 1st Princess can enter," he proclaimed. "What!? Who are you, dare to block the princess of this empire?! Sister! Who is this person!" Lobelia yelled with unpleasant face. "He is Sir Noah," I spoke out. "He is so rude. Sister need to punish him later," Lobelia whined. "What to do? That's going to be difficult. You see, Sir Noah is my favorite escort. I'm afraid that he dares to block you because you came in without permission from me," I replied to her whine. Lobelia looked embarrassed after being told off by the fact that she was practically trespassing. Now she probably realized that the weak 1st Princess had finally became a very different person. Lobelia noticed some sketches on the table and approached it. "Oh sister! Are these sketches for your dresses later? They are very beautiful." "Yes. I've picked up all the dresses and I'm going to defeat those people with my gorgeous dresses," I said. "I see. I already see sister's face today so I'm happy. See you again next time." Lobelia hurriedly leaving the room while hiding her red embarrassed face from the humiliation.
Catherine, Bell and Emily who were looking for accessories to match my dresses, walked to me. "Keep your eyes on the 2nd Princess Lobelia," I told them. "Yes Your Majesty." Nothing big had yet to happened but what was this ominous feeling I got every time I saw her. Was it because her clear acting that pretended to care for me? Whatever it was, I couldn't put my guards down. The 2nd Princess must be planning on something.