"Your majesty! I want to toast to you and Lady Ria. Congratulations for her second life after you saved her, your majesty."
Glancing at Ria, King Derian smiled and raise his glasses too. All raised theirs too, though they were too curious of what will happen next. Though the king didn't sense it, they can sense the tension coming from Lady Hailey as she looked at the couple on the stage.
"Well then. A toast for Lady Ria!" Derian said before drinking their cups of liquor.
"Your majesty, I had prepared a dance for you. would you like to watch it?" she added when everyone thought that she'll be back on her seat.
"Since you prepared it, Lady Hailey, then let's watch it all together."
"Yes, Your majesty."
"She's trying to compete with Lady Ria… isn't it obvious?" the people buzzed again as the lady went to the center.
Long silk fabrics fell from the hall's ceiling, indicating the dance she was about to perform. Ethereal Silk Dance which was known in the kingdom of Rian.
The soft and slow music started and Hailey begun to dance. However, the king was too distracted that he never even looked at her for once. Though Lady Ria was watching the dance, the king on the other hand was watching her every subtle reaction on the dance.
He was just drunk enough to think for his action anymore.
And this made Hailey even more furious that she didn't finish the dance.
"Your majesty. I had finished my performance. For a woman, it was not undeniable that they should be good at arts like music and dance. Lady Ria just became part of our kingdom. Why don't we let her perform a dance too?"
"Hmm… that a good idea," King Derian said without thinking which made Ria rise from her seat in surprise.
'What?! I mean, I wasn't sure if I know how to dance…" she uttered, making Hailey laugh mockingly.
"You weren't sure? Or you really don't know? Well… that's quite understandable for a woman emerging out of nowhere…"
Hearing her tone, Derian's brow knotted and looked at her. "Lady Hailey," he warned, his voice was firm and displeased.
In her thoughts, Ria was sure that the woman was mocking at her. and this feeling was something she couldn't endure. Without much thinking, she blurted out.
"I'll do it. I'll dance," she announced, making the audience surprised. Even Derian wasn't prepared.
"Are you sure? You don't need to feel pressured," he reminded her but she just smiled.
She walked towards the center and touched the silk fabrics. Somehow, it felt familiar to her. maybe, she really had danced many times in her past life.
With a grim face, Lady Hailey went back to her seat. Her eyes searched throughout the crowd until she found Anne who's also looking at her. nodding at her, her servant immediately knew what she should do.
Before the dance started, a dart was thrown at the fabric's upper end, piercing through it. Lady Hailey smiled victoriously. "Let's see whether you can still earn his majesty's favor after you embarrass yourself…"
***
Everyone was mesmerized. Even Derian's drunkenness faded the moment he saw her dance. Through the silk fabrics, she swirls around, like an angel flying through the skies.
Her hair was even more magical. Though it wasn't intended, when she's up the air, the hair piece she's wearing fell and the tie was unknotted; revealing her silky ash hair. It danced through the silk fabrics as she moved that earned a gasp from the crowd.
The music was coming into an end and Ria went down to the floor. While holding the fabric, she run in circles until the silk fabric just took her in the air and she's like flying I circular motions. It was majestic and beautiful. It was a spectacular dance that no one ever had seen before. Yet, as the dance was also coming to an end, the fabric couldn't hold on any longer.
Ria felt that something was wrong when she felt she's no being tied with the fabric. Her eyes widened as she looked up and saw the fabric's end falling. She's falling. No. she will be thrown. Real hard.
All the audience gasped and stood up, realizing what was happening. And only Hailey could smile secretly.
Knowing she couldn't stop herself from being thrown off, Ria closed her eyes as she prepared herself to the pain. Yet, all of the sudden, she heard gasped and when she opened her eyes, she saw Derian jumping towards her. it was only in a second when he was already holding her in his arms. He grabbed one of the silk fabrics which was only used as a decoration and using it, they both twirled and descended to the floor.
No one was able to speak after. They were too stunned to process what just happened. Even Ria was just looking at the serious face of Derian who was obviously angry.
"The feast shall end now. Please return to your chambers. And remember, I won't tolerate anyone who will attempt to hurt Ria." With that, he left the hall while still holding her. Sigmund was behind them with a stoic face. Though he never liked the woman, what he hated the most was people who play dirty tricks to hurt someone. It's what he couldn't tolerate.