Banquet (3)

"Now then. Let's take the banquet to the next stage." Everyone turned to king as he clapped his hands.

On his signal, the musicians started to play artistical musics.

𝘖𝘰𝘩, 𝘴𝘰 𝘪𝘵'𝘴 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩, 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘪𝘮𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘢𝘯𝘺 𝘧𝘶𝘯𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘰𝘳 𝘣𝘢𝘯𝘲𝘶𝘦𝘵𝘴... 𝘽𝙖𝙡𝙡.

"Please, go ahead everyone, enjoy the melody of music and don't hold yourself back."

As king said so, the everyone's face delighted. All the guys asked ladies, who they wanna dance with, for ball. Some were pretty pre embarrassed, some were too happy that can not be expressed in words and... some were, rejected... Those who got the partner danced so joyfully.

They were all nobles so they sure have experience of attending different parties and banquets since they all know how to dance very well... Even there were some kids who participated in ball with there partners.

𝘞𝘰𝘢𝘩, 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥𝘳𝘦𝘯 𝘰𝘧 𝘢𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 12 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘨𝘪𝘳𝘭𝘧𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘴! 𝘚𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘰𝘶𝘴𝘭𝘺 𝘬𝘪𝘥𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘴𝘦 𝘥𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘴𝘰...

Since they were all children from the noble or high profile families, it wouldn't be surprise if few of them who are around 15 to have a fiance or two so, I think it normal in this era.

At least, the faster they grow, the faster they can stand on their own feets.

"... Ahm, Nerisa, if you don't mind, w-will dance with me." Laren checks were slightly red as he asked Nerisa shyly while reaching his hand out as if asking for Nerisa's hand.

𝘏𝘦𝘩, 𝘺𝘢 𝘮𝘢𝘯, 𝘺𝘰𝘶'𝘳𝘦 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘺 𝘣𝘰𝘭𝘥. 𝘐 𝘥𝘪𝘥𝘯'𝘵 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘴𝘶𝘤𝘩 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘢𝘨𝘦. 𝘒𝘦𝘦𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘨𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘯𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳, 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘱, 𝘦𝘭𝘴𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥𝘯'𝘵 𝘨𝘦𝘵 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘪𝘴𝘩 𝘧𝘰𝘳...

"Y-Yess, it-it would be my pleasure to dance with you, P-Prince." Nerisa accepted Laren's offer. Her face was red, she was clearly blushing as she put one hand on the side of her face and give other to Laren.

King and Queen, were smiling as they looked at such a romantic sight and same goes for Leon and others... On the other,

""Huh, huh, huh, haah!""

Both, Lucia and Red hairs, were looking at Laren and Nerisa, back and forth as if they have no idea!

𝘞𝘢𝘪𝘵, 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘣𝘰𝘵𝘩 𝘥𝘪𝘥𝘯'𝘵 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘻𝘦 𝘪𝘵 𝘶𝘱 𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘭 𝘯𝘰𝘸! 𝘔𝘢𝘯, 𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘣𝘦 𝘴𝘶𝘤𝘩 𝘢 𝘣𝘪𝘨 𝘪𝘥𝘪𝘰𝘵?! 𝘚𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘰𝘶𝘴𝘭𝘺, 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘯𝘰 𝘤𝘭𝘶𝘦!

"Huh, Your Highness?! When...? How...?Wh- ouch!"

"Don't spoil the mood. Can't you read the atmosphere!" Red hairs tried to ask Laren but was karate chopped in between by Leon.

... 𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘨𝘶𝘺... 𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘯𝘰 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘩𝘪𝘮...

I thought.

"Princess, would lie to dance with me..." A guy approached Lucia from behind to ask for dance. He was a young boy around 20. He had blonde hairs..., a good height, slightly taller then Lucia..., surrounded by a proud, confident aura. Overall, he was quite good looking...

"I am William Gerynell, second hire of Greynell family." He introduced himself like a gentleman.

Red hairs was starring William with harsh, frustrated gaze.

𝘏𝘦𝘩𝘦𝘩𝘦, 𝘥𝘰𝘯'𝘵 𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘭 𝘮𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶'𝘳𝘦 𝘫𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘰𝘶𝘴... 𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘢 𝘱𝘪𝘵𝘺. 𝘐𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘭𝘪𝘦𝘳 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥𝘯'𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘧𝘢𝘤𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴...

It was quite an amusing sight to see Red hairs in frustration. He would definitely praying for Lucia to reject William... Me, one the other hand, wants Lucia to accept the offer cause I want to see Red hairs face. It's not like I hold any grudge against him, and even if you ask about the torture that day, I don't have a feeling of hatred towards him... It's just, when I saw him like this, it's pretty much fun so...

"My sincerely apologies, Mr. William, but I would likely refuse."

"!"

".....Heh"

Lucia refused to dance with William, his face was worth watching. Red hairs on the other side, couldn't hold back his laughter as we chuckled in the end.

William glared at him our a moment but quickly maintained his composure. Obviously, Red hairs also glared at him for that instant.

Well, even I was holding back my laughter. It was quite an awful scene... Lucia refused him in front of everyone when he asked her with such a proud attitude, and the way she rejected him with 𝙘𝙝𝙚𝙚𝙧𝙛𝙪𝙡 smile, so straightforwardly, it was so hilarious!

"Princess, will you dance with me?" Red hairs come forward, to ask Lucia for dance with his chest pumped in confidence. He looked at William from the corner of his eyes while smiling as if saying, "Just wait, and watch. I'll show you how to ask a girl for a dance, you 𝘽𝙖𝙖𝙡𝙖𝙠."-

"Sorry Neulon, I think I would refuse again..."-Only to be rejected coldly with that same innocent, cheerful smile...

"!"

"Pupupu..." William tried his best to control his laughter as he watched Red hairs while leaving as if saying, "You deserve that, 𝘽𝙖𝙖𝙡𝙖𝙠."

𝘔𝘢𝘯 𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘰𝘶𝘴𝘭𝘺. 𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝙞𝙨 𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘰𝘶𝘴!

"fufufufuu" Even King chuckled as he gave red hairs a sympathetic look. Other were also holding themselves back...

"Dear, you should not act like this." Queen scolded King as she looked at him in embarrassment.

"Oh ho, my bad, my bad. I can't hold back myself there anymore." He apologised, which doesn't looked like one, smilingly.

Red hairs, who was shocked realized that everyone was laughing at him, looked down in embarrassment.

I patted his shoulder.

"It's alright, it happens, it happens Red hairs... It's okay, don't feel so down... But, if you do want, I can help you to dug a hole so that you can hide in it."

"Allannn!! You really are such a nice guy! You're the only one who cares about me here but... I'm not 𝙍𝙚𝙙 𝙃𝙖𝙞𝙧𝙨."

"Thank you." I accepted his praise, completely ignoring the last part which he said with a serious face...

--------------------------

"Hmm, this wine is good..." I said as I took the sip of the wine from the glass I was holding. I was with King wasting our time on chatting about useless things...

"Sir Allan, aren't you going to participate in the ball?" King asked me as took a sip of the wine.

"Well, I can't dance... And above all, I even don't know anyone here so I don't think I can find any partner anyway..." I replied.

I still remember the time when I danced last time. The last time I dance with someone, was with her... That memory is still clear in my mind. That, I really enjoyed that moment from the bottom of my heart. I don't think I can feel the same way ever again... 𝘕𝘰, 𝘐 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭! 𝘐'𝘮 𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘪𝘵. 𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦'𝘴 𝘯𝘰 𝘸𝘢𝘺 𝘐 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘨𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘶𝘱 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴. 𝘏𝘦𝘭𝘭, 𝘐 𝘯𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘨𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘶𝘱 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘪𝘳𝘴𝘵 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘦 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳... 𝘐 𝘴𝘢𝘪𝘥 𝘪𝘵 𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘴𝘢𝘺 𝘪𝘵 𝘢𝘨𝘢𝘪𝘯... 𝘼𝙡𝙡𝙖𝙣, 𝙣𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧, 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧, 𝙜𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙪𝙥... 𝘕𝘰 𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵, 𝘐 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘴𝘶𝘤𝘤𝘦𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘯𝘰 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘱 𝘮𝘦. 𝘌𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘪𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘎𝘰𝘥𝘴, 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘤𝘢𝘯'𝘵 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘱... 𝘕𝘰𝘣𝘰𝘥𝘺 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘱 𝘮𝘦! 𝘐𝘧 𝘢𝘯𝘺𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘨𝘦𝘵 𝘪𝘯 𝘮𝘺 𝘸𝘢𝘺, 𝘐'𝘭𝘭 𝘬𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮. 𝘐𝘵 𝘥𝘰𝘦𝘴𝘯'𝘵 𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘪𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘮𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘢𝘭𝘴 𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘭𝘮𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘺 𝙂𝙤𝙙𝙨...

"...Sir Allan...?"

"Ah, my bad. I lost in thoughts." I smiled wryly.

Crap, I almost forgot that I'm in the middle of a banquet and let myself flow with emotions...

"You see, you're quite a handsome guy! I don't think any girl will refuse if you ask her for dance."

"I told you, I don't know how to dance. I will only embarrass myself if I participated in a ball." I tried to brush away with a smile.

"Well you don't have to worry about that. As long as your partner can dance well, you can follow their lead."

I don't know why, but king was smiling at me since the beginning of this conversation...

𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵'𝘴 𝘸𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘩𝘪𝘮?! 𝘋𝘰𝘯'𝘵 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘮𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵, 𝘨𝘳𝘰𝘴𝘴...

"... Gay." I murmured.

"Hmm, what? Did you said something?"

"N-No, nothing. Nothing at all."

Watching me flustered, King titled his head in confusion.

"Whew..." 𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘢 𝘤𝘭𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘰𝘯𝘦... 𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘬 𝘐 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘬𝘦𝘦𝘱 𝘮𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘮𝘺𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧.

Then I felt someone pulling the corner of my sleeve so I turned back. It was Lucia. Her checks were red as she said while looking away.

"Allan... W-Would you like to dance with me...?"

"Huh?"

"... fufufu" I saw King controlling his laughter at the corner of my sight...

𝘞𝘢𝘪𝘵. 𝘋𝘰𝘯'𝘵 𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘭 𝘮𝘦... 𝘚𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘰𝘯 𝘸𝘩𝘺 𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵... 𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘣𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘥! 𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘴𝘦𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘶𝘱 𝘣𝘦𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘥!

. . . . .