"Thank you for the honour of dancing with me, Your High - Annie."
Nico let go of her hands and bowed.
"Oh, please. The honour was all mine since I got to see your flustered face," The princess stuck her tongue out a little.
Nico felt a blush creep up his neck.
How could he not get flustered? Did she not know how deadly her looks were?
The blue-haired girl laughed once more, witnessing his embarrassment. After it died down, she added, "Call me Ana. I'd rather you not copy that incorrigible fool, though I wouldn't mind if it came from you."
Realising his error, Nico nodded, resolved to avoid making the same mistake. He ignored the last part of her words, too worn out emotionally to try and decipher them.
Just as he was about to move away, Ana suddenly grabbed his arm. A new tune was beginning to play.
"Care for another dance?"
Although she tried to hide it, Nico noticed the growing panic in her gaze.
His mind instantly connected the dots.
"Is he coming our way?"
She nodded silently.
A surge of anger bubbled to life in Nico's chest, threatening to undo the concealment spell. He internally winced, suddenly reminded of his growing headache.
"Great…" he muttered. "What are my odds against him in battle?"
Nico was curious about what would happen to him if Helian suddenly decided to attack.
Ana's eyebrows inadvertently rose, "You want to fight him? I wouldn't recommend that. If he decides to shift, then you have absolutely no chance. Even without that, I think you stand to lose."
Clicking his tongue internally, he sighed.
'Looks like there's no helping it…'
"Fine, I'll dance, but please go a bit easier on me this time." He pleaded.
The pressure of not stepping on the princess's toes was a steep one. His body felt like it had already fought in three consecutive battles.
"I'll try, but no promises." She smiled, her gaze betraying her intent.
Gazing at the mischievous twinkle in her eyes, a bitter smile couldn't help but form on Nico's face.
They joined hands once more and slowly started moving through the crowd, trying to get as far away from Helian as possible. The brown-haired boy realised this song was even slower than the last.
He inwardly cursed. Who the hell decided to play such a song at an entrance ceremony for an Academy?
Focusing his attention back on the dance, he asked absently, "Why does that guy want to court you so badly, anyway?"
Ana's nose wrinkled in disgust, "Politics."
Nico blinked, a little surprised at her answer.
Observing the silent question in his eyes, the princess clarified. "My Father's control over our race is weakening. Ever since the Queen Consort died -" Nico thought he saw her trying to hide a wince, "he has stopped caring about the matters of our kingdom. This has led to the other Great Clan getting a little ambitious. Of course, they're guaranteed to lose if they try to go against the king directly. That's why they're using more indirect means."
He gritted his teeth, recalling the completely inappropriate way Helian was gazing at her. He cast his mind a few years back, right when the world first learned of the Queen Consort's death.
At that time, a cataclysmic storm had covered the whole of the Ethereal Sanctuary.
Nico could still vividly remember hearing the faint sound of thunder booming from his house. If he were that far away and could still hear it, then what about those who were in the Ethereal Sanctuary itself? What about those in the palace?
Nico shivered, trying to imagine the Dragon King's wrath. If it weren't for the efforts of Emperor Augustus, then the whole world would have been bathed in the fires of another Great War.
"I'm sorry for your loss," He said sincerely, meaning every single word from the bottom of his heart.
Nico could empathise. After all, grief was like his eternal best friend. It was always present in the back of his mind. Sometimes he forgot, other times he remembered. However, the cruel reality of his actions always remained.
He sensed Ana stiffen in his arms. She leaned closer, almost resting her head on his chest as she looked away.
"Me too."
Nico thought he heard her sniffle but didn't know if he was just imagining things.
Clearing his throat, he decided to change the subject. "So, what elements have you Awakened?"
Ana turned her gaze back on Nico, embers of gratitude sparking to life in her ocean-deep eyes. Nico pretended not to notice.
"My main affinities are Fire and Darkness, but I can use almost any element if I have enough pure mana around me."
An expression of wonder and amazement flickered across his face. Truly, dragons were on another level with mana manipulation. Only they could do something like break down the untainted energy into an Element of their choice.
No other race was blessed by mana to such a degree. From what he knew, the other Major Races had to settle for mastering an elemental constituent or drawing on the pure mana as a whole without access to all the elements inside.
The pair continued to dance, constantly changing positions and using their peers as a shield. Based on the disgruntled shouts coming from afar, the duo knew their strategy was working.
Returning to the previous conversation, with a brief pause, she said,
"I don't know why you're so amazed. You're a Heaven's Chosen for Transcendent's sake!"
The princess ignored her annoying bodyguard's attempts to dance with her and sent a strange glance towards the brown-haired boy. Why did it feel like he didn't truly realise how much of a boon that was?
Nico chuckled awkwardly, "It's just I've grown up hearing stories of how menacing and powerful dragons are. I can't help but feel inferior. Fates, I still can't quite believe I'm talking to one right now."
Ana rolled her eyes slightly, "Well, Mr. Knight in Shining Armour, I hope you can get past your amazement and not treat me like some sort of higher being who is forever out of reach."
A tolerant smile was his only response.
Even as she tried to bat her eyes at him cheekily, Nico remained strong of will…
…but only by a hair's breadth.
The conversation continued. Nico quickly found himself warming up to the princess. Her expressiveness and penchant for being a little mischievous made him forget that a literal princess was in his arms.
Nico had a constant smile on his face throughout their consecutive dances. Judging by the way the princess's eyes seemed to glow, he surmised she was also enjoying herself.
…Which was a relief.
He inwardly feared that she was just humouring him for helping her with Helian.
However, it seemed that couldn't have been further from the truth. The Dragon Princess truly was sincere when she declared that she wanted to become friends.
Ana was not at all what he imagined her to be.
He had expected her to be prim and proper, polite but distant, and most of all, he had thought that she wouldn't be paying an insignificant person like him any attention.
Yet, none of that happened… She was able to treat a commoner like him without the usual disdain most of her station held.
Nico could not delude himself any longer. As much as he fretted over the reactions of others, particularly those from her fellow dragons, Ana had a way of dispelling his fears and calming his doubts.
He truly was enjoying himself from the depths of his being.
…The first time he did so since Henry's death.
He relished the experience so much, that by the end of the fifth tune, a desire for them to say as they were - him holding her in his arms as they chatted about anything and everything - wormed its way into his heart.
Nico wanted to keep dancing the night away.
Alas, sadly that could never happen. The mismatch in status aside, the pair could not keep avoiding Helian forever. And so, when that contemptuous fool came with a charming smile plastered on his face, obviously seeking a dance with the princess, Nico did not refuse.
Ana herself knew that they couldn't keep dancing without creating an even bigger commotion than they already had. She could sense the murderous glares fixated on Nico's back, the biggest being from Helian himself, although the male dragon concealed it well behind a winsome facade.
The duo both sighed a little sadly as they extricated themselves from each other's arms.
…Just like that, Nico's time with the princess came to an abrupt end.