The aristocrat claps their hand as she and he come down the stairs in elegant clothes.
"It's great to see you two again and thank you because can come back safely. Let's enjoy the feast!"
The Emperor ed today's banquet and everyone continued to party. Vanessa and Victor are the centers of attention. A wide variety of praise, a question kept coming. Nevertheless, all of that stopped after a man hugged Vanessa from behind.
"Good job, my little butterfly!"
"The 3rd Prince?"
The person who hugs me suddenly is the 3rd Prince of the Empire, Theodore. One of my six uncles and Victor's half-brother.
"Hey, give Vanessa some space." Someone drew Theodore away from her.
Vanessa was surprised, "Uncle Sam?"
My uncle Sam, the Crown Prince.
"YES, Our Vanessa and Victor have come back!"
My other uncle is coming this way as well and as we thought. They still treated us like a child. My uncle immediately asked me if I want some gifts, seriously?
"Uncle Theodora, I'm not a little girl anymore."
He touched her hair until it was messy.
"You're still our beloved niece. Of course, you are still a little girl in our eyes. Also with Victor, to our beloved family, haha!"
Uncle Theodora's big words make me embarrassed in front of everyone.
"Please stop, Brother?"
Uncle Theodora is the 4th Prince and the twin brother of the 3rd Prince, Uncle Theodore. They both have the same expression or behavior and are the culprit of Victor's dragon gift.
To make this very clear. Let me introduce them again.
The Crown Prince Sam, the 3rd Prince Theodore, the 4th Prince Theodora. There is another one. Where are the 5th and 6th Prince? My Uncle Hussain and Abel? I didn't see them?
Sam said, "If you looking for Hussain and Abel. They have a duty outside vampire national."
"Duty? The work is still not done yet...Hm?"
Sam pinched her cheeks while answering the question. "It's not something important. They'll both be fine."
He continued to pinch her cheeks until red.
"Uncle Sam...Please...Stop."
"I can't believe Vanessa and Victor will soon get the mature age of a vampire. Time is running so fast."
Yes, yes I know. But can you let go your hand from my cheek first? It's hurt a lot, you know? All this Uncle is really made me feel weird.
"What about Victor?"
Vanessa glanced her eyes to see Victor. He also required the same treatment from his brothers. His face looks very resigned to accepting all kinds of expressions from his brothers.
"Haha."
"Look that, Vanessa. We prepare that for you two."
"Uncle Sam?"
Vanessa turns her head, at the big window, a firework is here accompanied
"Wow!"
Those fireworks continue to be launched into the night sky and Vanessa's eyes are focused on looking at the fireworks, her eyes shine bright. Those views make her unable to focus.
"Vanessa..."
Victor comes to her and holds her hand. Vanessa just fell silent, her mind went blank.
"May I have this dance?"
Pardon? He offered me to dance with him. I haven't said yes but my brother Theodora push me toward him. In the end, I have no choice and then dance with him.
"You still remember the step, right?"
Do you underestimate me?
"Of course, I remember," Vanessa answered curtly.
"That's good then because..."
Because...?
Dance melody is started to begin.
"Because of all the attention is on us."
His soft voice made me blush. I want to avoid the gaze of his eyes since earlier. Regardless he continued to smile and then the dance we go through is so perfectly. Our dance from side to side. Is oddly enough that his dances look different than before. It feels likes Victor looks so mature. Is there something in his mind?
Not only that, sometimes I glance around the hall. What? Why just us...? Why only us who dance here?
"Haha...don't you remember what I said before?"
About what...what words?
"You mean?"
The last round of dance and music is finally over. Victor grabbed my hand and kissed my hand with the utmost respect. My heart's pounding without stopping, not as usual.
He then spoke. "All attention is on us. Thank you for dancing with me. Your step is beautiful like a butterfly, My Lady."
Again! I feel something when seeing your face. This is the reason I can't stop looking at you.
I think...I have... fallen in.
"Vanessa, what are you doing?"
"Ah?"
Before he goes from the place where we dance. I think about something until doesn't realize Victor had left me alone.
He calls my name and my heart is still full of joy. "Yes, I'm coming!"
Maybe it's not the right time to say that. I still want this moment for a while.
Is that okay? Only for a moment. Please give me another chance later.
"That's the Emperor coming!"
Dance is over when we left and the Emperor of the vampire nation shows himself again in front of everyone. Meanwhile, the leaders of other countries are directly busy getting a chance to talk to him.
Vanessa and his uncle were sitting in a place that has been provided. The place where the imperial family was supposed to be.
In their presence, there's a lot of luxury food. Vanessa who was starving can't hold it anymore. Theodore sitting next to her and want Vanessa to open her mouth.
"I can eat by myself, Brother Theodore."
"No! You must eat what I give to you."
His face was like a little puppy. Vanessa looks a little bothered by it then slowly eats the food Theodore gives her.
She said, "Well, just this time," closed her eyes.
Her mouth eating the food makes Theodore feel happy and then pinch her cheeks.
"Bro..ther...Theodore...Please stop. It's...hurt."
"Okay!"
My cheek feels numb now. Their habit of holding my cheek had not changed. Speaking of which, where is my father? I don't see it everywhere?
"Uncle Sam, did you know where's my father?"
I asked my uncle, Sam.
"Your father, Raphael? He had some business. Don't worry. He'll be here soon."
My father, Is he okay? He didn't overwork, right? I always worried about his condition. I don't want something bad to happen to him.
"Raphael will be here. You should wait and...if you worried about him so much. I can accompany you to his way."
"....Alright, Thank you, Uncle Sam."
"Of course, my little niece." He strokes her hair.
"I'm not a little girl anymore. You know that?"
Everyone just laughed because of what I said. Originally I wanted to get angry but in the end. I laughed because carried away the situation. Maybe I should put away my anger from now on.
End Chapter 5