44 Chapter 44 - Dancing with Death

"Is this necessary?" I stared at the silver-haired man who stood before; hands stretched as his amethyst eyes bore into me.

"You will have to dance at the ceremony, princess. Nobody can dance until you've finished your first" his hand didn't budge an inch.

"What if I ask father?" I groaned, and I noticed the smile on Edmunds's face.

"I don't mind, princess, but it may taint your name and… your fiancé's", he added the last bit annoyedly.

"What if Raphael brings another woman?"

"Then your father will serve his head on a spear as the appetiser" he smiled widely, stepping closer as he caught sight of my breath of exasperation.

I took his gloved hand, noticing how his finger gripped mine tightly and how he had such a broad smile I wanted to smack it off him. I couldn't look up at him. It was strange knowing that this kid was all grown up now. His shoulders were broad, and he was much taller than me. Not that he wasn't taller than me before.

"So…" I awkwardly began, but then my heel caught on his foot, and I looked down in terror, "oh my god… I'm so sorry!" I cried as I looked up only to see him smirking at me in amusement.

"I expected this much. You're a terrible dancer, and it shows" he clicked his tongue in a teasing way.

"Well, where did you learn how to dance with all that swords training? Don't tell me it's part of your training…?"

"Don't be insane!" His cheeks tinted the familiar pink as he snarled.

I laughed, realising he was still the same old tsundere after all.

"Dancing is such a silly thing. I don't believe anyone should struggle with it" the smugness in his voice was starting to piss me off.

"Alright, Mr perfect" I rolled my eyes at the typical ML talents.

Dancing isn't easy.

"Perfect? Do you truly think that?" His eyes looked at me, and he was almost embarrassed.

"You are the best swordsman, and you can dance. It doesn't help that you happen to have both beauty and status," I muttered, unable to help thinking about Emilia. Her first debut would be at my ceremony…

"It's nothing special", he replied much too demurely for his character.

"You've… You've been spending time at home more often," I began I surely, finding the whole situation still a but strange.

"I've been out quite often, though?" He replied, confused.

"But I heard you've been visiting your father more often…."

"Oh… you meant that home".

My eyes shot up, and we locked eyes for a moment. Did he consider this place home?

Somehow the revelation was so shocking I lost my footing for a moment and slipped. Edmund naturally grabbed me, but as he did, I felt a gust of wind as another pair of arms wrapped around me.

I blinked.

"Ruby?" I turned to the man who looked like the epitome of the prince of darkness. Hair silken and long, passed his shoulders and his cobalt blue eyes less childlike and more narrow.

"Apologies, princess" he stepped back as Edmund awkwardly let go of me. "I thought it was better if a member of your guard was to help you over an unmarried bachelor". His voice was neutral, with no hint of aggression or warmth, but somehow I knew his words were intended to taunt.

"Who are you?" Edmund asked in apprehension, hand reaching for me in caution, but before I could even explain, Ruby grabbed his wrist and pushed him away.

"Do not think you can touch the princess at your leisure, Arian", he warned.

"Ruby, what are you doing?"-

"You haven't answered my question?" Edmund glared at him.

"I don't answer to you," Ruby spat out.

"You must be a terrible guard not to know, but I've known the princess longer than you could've ever, and I was promised the position of her guard".

No. No, you weren't.

"Oh, a promise? It didn't happen when you were a child, did it? Oh, my still hung up on a promise from your father?" Ruby dropped all neutrality.

"Ruby, stand away!" I demanded, but he didn't budge.

"You… bastard…" the rage was evident in Edmunds's face, but he didn't rush to pull out a sword as he would've in the original. Instead, he took a deep breath and turned to me. "This must be the guard you were talking about" the hostility in his body was gone, but he wasn't done.

Ruby would have usually left after saving me, but he continued to stand. His eyes stared down Edmund with a conflicted expression, and then he took a deep breath.

"Princess, let me dance with you".