Chapter 224: Dance (II)

Giliath demands your power stones! Let's try to get over 500!

*

Inside Esmelas Garden.

A violet haired boy and a golden-blonde haired girl, hands clasped together and poised in a particular, but striking pose, started to take step by step once the music that emanated from the hidden orbal machines began to play across the entire garden. Time seemed to have slowed down to match each step Princess Alfin and Naoto took. Naoto was grateful for the etiquette courses he took since he made his return to Grancel Castle from the caves. It's not like he wasn't idle during all of his free time in the last few years.

Thanks to receiving noble etiquette courses from Hilda, Naoto was confident to take the lead in tonight's dance. Princess Alfin responded in kind, and she matched her step with every step Naoto took. In one moment the two would be in the center of the stage, while in the next one or two moments, the two would be in one of the corners. Some steps would be rapid, while others would be slow, all flowing along with the smooth music echoing around them.

If there was one thing to get used to as I continued my dancing with my now fiance, Princess Alfin, it was the many eyes that were currently observing us. From the sides and behind were several influential nobles that made up most of Erebonia's top brass, excluding the Great Houses. in front of us was Princess Alfin's immediate family, which meant His Majesty and Her Majesty, as well as the two Princes. The group we both came with were also present with them but more off to the side. And there were also those reporters who stuck around, proceeding to flash their cameras without a care for the world. I got used to cameras being flashed at me back when I made my return as Liberl's Crown Prince, but it is still an uncomfortable feeling.

"Those etiquette courses really did wonders on you. You aren't a noble who slacks off. You will definitely make a good impression on those nobles.", Princess Alfin uttered softly as she continued to look into my eyes as she smiled at me.

"I think I share the same opinion as you, Alfin. You are no slouch either. It looks like your courses at St. Astraia has been going well. You've been matching my pace quite splendidly.", I responded back with a smile of my own.

"Teehee. I feel as if the dance just started though, even though so much time has passed already. It's a shame the song is reaching its final chorus already. Father wanted us two to have the first dance tonight be a practice dance, but it will serve as a real dance for others to follow as the event goes on. Do not be surprised if others approach you for a dance tonight, Big Brother.", Princess Alfin continued to utter in a more serious tone.

"Of course. Being invited to dance is seen as honorable among the nobles, so I won't turn one down if I'm asked. Does it work the same way for noble girls like you, Alfin?", I decided to ask. One wouldn't enter high noble society until one turned fifteen or sixteen years of age. That was soon approaching my way, but it was still five years or so off for Princess Alfin. I saw Princess Alfin gently nod her head.

"Yes. Nobles take dancing very seriously here. It's equivalent to courting girls and seeing if they're worthy to enter their pearage for the time to come. This first dance holds significance to every single noble present here, including Father and Mother. With you taking the lead like this, I'm sure the engagement declared between us will even see approval in their eyes.", Princess Alfin explained in a more serious tone.

"Is that so? Then we should finish off strong since our song is about to end. I could add some flare to it, but I think I'll save that for when you truly enter high society later.", I responded, revealing a playful grin.

"Oh my. Perhaps that would be something to look forward to.", Princess Alfin responded back at me with a smile.

The two of us continued to talk for a bit while I let my feet work their magic. Princess Alfin was able to follow along with every step that I took. The particular flare I was thinking of adding at a later time was the Waltz. That has some pretty skillful moves in it that require some preparation before the dance, not something easy that can be done on a whim. It would not fit Princess Alfin now to do it, so we just kept our current rhythm, step by step until the final chorus ended.

Before the two of us realized it, both Princess Alfin and I found ourselves right where we started, in the center of the stage.

To everyone's surprise, the dance between us two was done splendidly. His Majesty was the first one to start clapping his hand, which drew everyone's attention. The Empress soon followed, being the second person to clap, and before long, the rest of the group in front began to clap their hands. Seeing the royal family start clapping their hands before them, Rufus was the first one to clap his hand, which ignited the rest of the nobles to clap their hands.

Seeing everyone so in unison together with their clapping stunned the reporters who were off to the side, but they quickly started to clap and flash their cameras.

The first dance of the night was a resounding success. To my surprise I could see a few drops of sweat trickle down from my head, feeling the adrenaline start coursing through my body. After everyone applauded us, Princess Alfin took one of my hands and lifted up into the air. I went on, and the two of us bowed to the nobles. Many began to nod their head in acknowledgement to us, seeing how successful it was.

This also was the signal for the nobles to start intermingling with each other, so I bid Princess Alfin farewell for now. She retreated to the side to where her parents and brothers were while I remained off to the side to catch my breath. It didn't take long for the other nobles to take up multiple platforms, beginning dances of their own. As for the two groups we arrived with, they were offered hands as a formal gesture to partake in the fun.

I, of course, didn't slack off after taking a moment by myself, as I had explained to Princess Alfin that I had interest in dancing with Aurelia tonight as well. She was happy to see me decide on such a thing, and as she went to her parents, my eyes quickly found the silver-haired beauty off to the side. I saw her turn down a couple nobles before I took the time to approach her. Seeing Princess Alfin's new fiance approach Aurelia caused those nobles some surprise and even a few looked our way.

Using the current flow, I asked Aurelia's hand for a dance, and she in return, accepted. It didn't take long before a lot of us began dancing at tonight's event inside the Esmelas Garden. I could see Aurelia was happy to see me and invited her to partake in it, and we chatted for a bit while we danced, catching up on things the two of us have missed during the last couple years.