Rudeus Greyrat
After a long, grueling week of training between Daiki and Eris, she finally seemed ready to dance. Yet against all odds, when the moment to perform arrived, she looked shaky and seized by a shyness I never would have expected from her.
The party had begun. My brother was stationed at the head table surrounded by a seemingly endless parade of dishes, utterly ignoring the noise and the young noblewomen eyeing him as if he were a prince. Or perhaps an elegant villain. To be honest, I had a small following of my own. Young ladies invited me to dance, and to my own surprise, I accepted with an enthusiasm I didn't know I had.
I could also see how certain older nobles watched my brother the way one might inspect prize cattle, or at least something they couldn't quite figure out. I knew why. They likely thought him a demon due to his hair color, yet the matriarchs probably eyed him as a potential son-in-law. News of a prodigy swordsman travels fast.
In any case, my brother was unintentionally working the room. Would Paul be proud? I think he might.
-
Eris Boreas Greyrat
My palms were sweating. I hate it when that happens. I don't even know why I'm so nervous. It's just a dance full of stuck-up people staring at me like I'm a prize on display. I'm wearing the red dress Grandfather picked out. It's pretty, yeah, but it feels weird. Like it's squeezing me tighter than it needs to. I'm not used to this stuff.
A blond boy walked up, all fake smiles and pretense.
"My Lady, would you...?"
"No." I cut him off before he could finish.
He flinched as if I'd slapped him. I hadn't even raised a hand. Edna gave me a look that screamed "behave yourself" but I didn't care. I was already trying my best.
My eyes scanned the room for only one person, and I found him. Daiki was sitting at the head table dressed in black. I don't know who picked that suit, but it fit him well. Too well.
Of course, he was surrounded by girls clucking like hens. One of them even had the nerve to touch his arm.
A nasty knot tightened in my stomach. I didn't like it one bit. I don't even know why I should care, but I did. Get your hands off him, you idiot! I screamed inside. Maybe I actually said it. I'm not sure. All I know is my face was burning.
Who did they think they were? Why were they getting so close? Why did he let them?
But Daiki didn't even look at her. He simply set down his fork, cool as anything, and wiped his mouth with that maddening calm he always has when I can't read his mind.
Then he looked up and locked eyes with me. It was direct. No hesitation. Like he'd been looking for me the whole time.
He stood up without a word and started walking toward me. The crowd parted for him automatically. Not because he did anything, but because Daiki is Daiki. He has that presence that commands a room and makes people move without realizing it.
When he stopped in front of me, my legs felt like jelly. I forced myself to stand tall. I wasn't going to look like a kid in front of him. Suddenly, all the noise of the party seemed to die down. It was just the two of us.
He held out his hand.
"Young Eris. It's time."
He didn't ask. He just stated it. As if it were obvious. And for some reason, it didn't tick me off.
I placed my hand in his. It was large and warm, giving me a sense of safety I hate to admit I liked.
"Don't step on my feet," I told him, chin up.
He smirked. That little smile of his that seems to say "just try it."
"Follow my lead."
And he pulled me onto the floor.
The music started. Daiki didn't wait. He took the first step. My body reacted on instinct and I stepped back.
"Good," he murmured.
We weren't dancing. We were sparring. He advanced and I retreated. He turned and I followed to keep my balance. His hand on my waist wasn't soft. It was firm, guiding me with the same precision he used with a sword.
One, two, spin. He whirled me around. The world blurred. The only sharp thing was his red eyes locked on mine.
"Keep your center," he whispered. "Don't lean."
"I know!" I shot back, gripping his shoulder.
My feet moved on their own. Left, right, turn. It was like dodging his attacks in the courtyard, just without the fear of getting bruises.
The tempo picked up, and naturally, Daiki sped up to match. Any other partner would have lost me. Would have tripped over me or let me drop. But not Daiki. He anticipated every single move. If I went too fast, he checked my momentum just enough. If I hesitated, he pulled me forward without missing a beat.
It was perfect. I didn't want to admit it, but this didn't feel like dancing. It felt like training with someone who knows your body better than you do. Like we fit together without thinking. That raced my heart more than the music ever could.
One, two, lift. He hoisted me into the air. Literally. His hands held me by the waist as we spun. I felt like I was flying.
When my feet touched the ground again, we were already in the center of the floor. Everyone was watching us but I didn't care. My breathing was ragged but his was calm.
"Last move," he warned.
He dipped me back in a deep arc. I trusted him without thinking. I knew he wouldn't let me drop. I hung suspended, looking at the ceiling, held only by his arm.
The music ended with a final chord that went right through my chest, and then he lifted me. Not abruptly or clumsily, but as if it were the most normal thing in the world. A precise pull and I was standing again.
I was breathing fast. He was there, so close I could see every detail in those eyes. Even that strange glint he gets when he concentrates, or when something matters to him more than he lets on. I didn't let go. He didn't let go either. For a second, nothing else mattered.
I was inches from his face.
"Mission accomplished," he said with that half-smile that always throws me off but that I also love.
The room erupted in applause. I jumped a little since I didn't think people would get so excited.
And then I heard my grandfather.
"YEAH! THAT'S HOW YOU DO IT!" he roared from the back, sounding like he was cheering a cage fight instead of a dance.
Before I could react, he was already there. He grabbed us both as if we weighed nothing and hoisted us up. I didn't even have time to open my mouth to protest. One moment to the next, I was looking at the whole room from above while he ran back and forth, laughing like a madman.
I wanted to tell him to put us down. But seeing Daiki up there, so serious and uncomfortable while everyone clapped... well, I admit I found it funny. Really funny.
But my heart wouldn't calm down. It pounded inside my chest as if it wanted to escape.
I looked at him. I just looked at him without thinking too much about why.
And I smiled.
To my surprise, he smiled back. A warm, unexpected smile. Softer than anything he had ever shown before.