Waltz Of Disaster

The once-in-a-twenty-year festival are now on it's beginning. It is planned to have a three-day welcoming ball to give familiarity to the nobles and Royal Children.

The final day came not as a simple elegant ball but a luxurious room exuding the prodigality of the Empire's Centre Kingdom. Looking at the nobles from the second floor of the ballroom, Caelum notice how everything are more sparkling than the other balls. He was not as excited as he thought because of the normal greetings, gossiping and compliments he was tired to hear over and over again.

When the orchestra and big horns are started to play the Song of Honour, he ready himself and look again at the mirror— afraid that he looks ordinary than he should be, especially this night is more important than his title as a prince. On the other chambers, the other Royal Children are preparing to present theirselves, not as the successor of their land, but an opponent to everyone they shouldn't take ridiculously.

A man, with round glasses on his left eye and precise way of looking combined by graceful and emotionless visage appeared at the floor where above the nobles—it is the imperial advisor, Ovi— the one who will lead the ceremony. When he finally took all their attentions, he started and call them randomly, afraid that nobles or anyone of the Kingdom's may have conclusions about calling them orderly and start a rumors that can destroy the trust of the Kingdoms.

As the celebration start, every prince are already surrounded by nobles, except Sidus, some are men and some are women— having a combined intention of knowing their opponents and admiring them for being a royal. Caelum on the other side, is enjoying the company of women. He was holding two lady by their waist and laughing like a fool that made ladies turned cheeks to red.

"It's ashame we need to be opponents.", a lady beside Caelum said, changing her voice to gentle tone. "But... I'm willing to be defeated in a way that is acceptable.", she smiled and run her fingers to Caelum's hand that is holding her waist.

He answered with a smirk. "I can't accept your offer, my lady, however... I can fight you if you can handle me.", he said whispering making the lady's knee's to get weak.

"Oh... my.", she blurted almost pass out. The others are also curious about what they are talking about. Making all of them devoured by jealousy and started to hate each other secretly.

The tournament will begin after the five days of Royal commencement. Three days for Royal Children and two days for waiting the seven kings and seven queens of the empire. Seventy nobles won the Golden Invitation and seven Royal Children are going to be the participants to be the next empress and emperor of the land. A once in a lifetime battle of honour will begin when they all set foot on the Castle.

Like every other night, people are still enjoying it and forming connections as they should be. The curiousness, cautiousness and their unacceptable attitude are still meddling the festive surroundings. Other maidens started to sit just to conserve passion for preparing to be dance by bachelors— hoping it would form a friendship or loyalty that they can use in the tournament.

Half an hour passed but not a single instrument play to start the romance melody, most of them notice the awry.

"Ehem.", the imperial advisor coughed as to catch everyone's attention. "I apologize for the inconveniences occured unexpectedly.", he bowed for a minute before continuing. "Another challengers came with the honour held by their hands. I now present you, the Empire's Prince, Diem Vita, the one and only son of our Imperial Majesties.", he said with such high manner.

A man with white hair and angelic face, wearing a black with a little bit of gold wearing a royal mantle with elegant embroidery, came out of the curtain that dividing the audience eyes from the royalty. The crowds are started to talk with such sensitive whispers but when the prince open his eyes, everyone was astonished because of his glamorous eyes. It was like a crystal glistening by the chandelier above him, reflecting from his yellow-blue-green eyes. It was divided by three, compress from his pupil and shining like a rare gem hidden from a thousand years ago.

As he started walking, everyone's eyes are on him, following every move he makes and startled whenever they realize the foolishness they are doing. He bowed and walk towards his chair, it's in different side of the other Royal Children, not so far yet not so close. His chair was made by every kingdom's gem to represent his title and the Empire's Centre. He sat like he's alone, not interested by his surroundings yet his actions are expressing his status in the land.

"There is a prince?"

"I thought it's just a rumor."

"I never heard anything about this."

"A mysterious child, again."

"They said the empress is infertile."

"What?"

"What a chaos."

The audacity of nobles are just high as their titles that bothers other Princesses and Princes. Like any other people, they are also confused by what is going on. Royal balls should be well organize but this festival are really getting out of hand.

"Ladies and gentlemen, a silence would be suffice to feed your hungry curiosity.", the Imperial Advisor said and hold his round glasses. He then take something from his pocket, it's a watch. He waited for a minute like there is no one important than the exact position of his golden watch hands. "From Scarlet Kingdom, Princess Leonthera Veslacia.", as he finished, the silence embrace the crowd, it's like waiting for the stars to fall and they all welcome it with the expectations they already believe.

The silence made Leonthera frowned. She doesn't like the feeling of everyone's craziness over her mysteriousness. Holding her breath to fix her posture, enduring the suffocating corset and cursing secretly her killing sandalion— she walked like not enduring anything and revealed herself to the hungry crowd.

Sidus was surprised by Leonthera's late arrival. He thought she wouldn't come and ran away again but seeing her here, differently, made him anxious, glad, and nervous— worrying about her carefree attitude. He was taken aback by her appearance as she came out from the curtain.

The white hair that bounce like clouds and the exuding serenity from it was now disappeared, replaced by the red flat hair with the length below her waist. She was also wearing a head veil with such elegant pattern reflecting the aggressive color of her hair and the fierceness of their Kingdom, that's hiding her half face and revealing her red scarlet eyes. Her presence might be here, in front of all the ignorant nobles, yet her mysteriousness never change the curiousity about her physical appearance.

As Leonthera walk and go down the stairs, she was welcome by twain nobles— smiling like they are the people needed to know. She doesn't care about their presence but the irritation lingered because her movements are watch by this two and doing what she really want would be impossible; like removing her sandalion and hide it from her heavy red gown. The two nobles wearing the color of red yet simpler than what Leonthera's wearing, halted when Leonthera left them like she never know them.

Walking like a princess, posture like a queen and as fierce as the color of her eye, she ignore the world and sat beside the chair where the Empire's prince is sitting.

"A great night to meet the nameless princess.", Diem Vita said with playfulness, not minding their titles. Not scared of the crowd staring at them.

Leonthera didn't respond for a minute, thinking a good way to introduce herself indirectly. "Should I leave some impression? Being nameless is too old-fashioned.", unbelievably said with such grace, leaving the prince surprise by how it contradict her dialogue.

He smiled because he was amuse by meeting the unknown with such attitude no one expect her to become. It makes the crowd confuse by their situation. Still looking straight, he make sure his words will be heard by her. "And it's lame. Did you make it?"

Leonthera laughed a little— controlling her emotion because she really wanted to burst. "No. I prefer to be known than to be called such name. It's better to be feared with identity rather than being a center of attention without doing anything.", she answered. Just like him, she is also looking straight. Confusing people if whether she's answering or condescending.

Diem nod a little. " Princess Leonthera.", he said with a teasing tone.

"Don't ask me for a dance, Prince Diem.", she said that made the prince guilty. He thought she was hurt by his actions. "Sidus— I mean Prince Sidus will be my first and last dance. I'm planning to just seat here and watch this ridiculous occasion because this sandalion is killing me and this corset is squeezing all my inside. I think if I dance more than three times, it will be my end.", she explained and breathe deeply while cursing her whole life.

The prince couldn't stop himself from his bursting laughter, making the nobles watching them startled by his actions. They doesn't know what is going on because Leonthera never move an inch. Even the Royal Children are curious about what the two are talking about, or rather some aren't that curious but, disgust and ashame for them. Like Stapelia who felt so sick about how he laughed and Folia who evaluate the situation by what the books says about etiquette that makes her felt ashame— because she thinks that is the appropriate emotions she should express. Viola, on the left side of Stapelia, felt a great curiousity because in her eyes, they are having fun.

On the other hand, Sidus who knows Leonthera's true nature, doesn't even bother about her situation but more worried about how he could ask her without attracting the attentions of these people. And in his right side, Sal is planning his ways to asked the other Princesses beside Viola who he dance for the last two nights. The man beside him was irritated by the throng of nobles blocking his view to see the two Royal Children's situation. The crowds are still gossiping, acting like the one they are talking about aren't there.

A romantic melody they are all waiting for, played that caught everyone's eye. Bachelor's are started to ask the maiden's hand and dance like nothing happens, but what their dialogue's about was noticable. Half of the crowd started to dance, making Sal stand and fix his attire.

"Caelum. Ask for Princess Leonthera's hand.", he said before going to Princess Folia, leaving his friend taken aback by his suggestion.

He first take a deep breath before making his way to Leonthera. Sidus wanted to stop him and say that he was Leonthera's partner but he can't— afraid that people will heard him or Caelum will get mad. He just stayed there then wait to see Leonthera's decision.

"As far as I can remember, he's not Prince Sidus of Golden Kingdom.", Diem said while watching Caelum walking towards them.

When Leonthera realize that Caelum will ask her, she felt distress. "What the—! Oi, ask me for a dance! Hurry!", even she's in panic, she posture remain the same.

"I already have someone in mind to dance with.", he said smiling, ignoring Leonthera's situation.

She prefer not to talk more when she saw that Caelum is already in front of her. "Prince Caelum of Sapphire Kingdom, asking you for a dance, Princess Leonthera.", he bowed before offering his hand.

'This man doesn't even ask if it's okay for me to dance. Tsk!', Leonthera complain and then gulp, praying that her body will not betray her because of this foolish attire. She accept his hand and follow him as he guide her at the dance floor.

Diem laughed. "Look at her, fighting for her life."

When they started dancing, Caelum remembered Thera in her. He stop thinking for a moment, "Thera and...", he stared at the princess he was dancing with. 'But she has white hair, and this girl has too... composted manure.', forgetting the girl he met at the town, he focus himself on the dance. Feeling the princess hand and waist, he could say she's a lady, compared to Thera. It might be a coincidence. He notice that Leonthera is staring somewhere behind his back, and when he turn to look at it, the princess swayed in opposite directions, making him surprised. She's still staring at it, but it's now in a closer look.

Caelum doesn't want to be rude and do something before he knows it. Knowing the situation is the best option. "Is there something wrong, Princess Leonthera?", he asked that takes the princess attention.

"N-Nothing.", she change her voice as gentler as she doesn't expect it to be just to avoid Caelum recognize her. She focus herself on Caelum's chest but Sidus, who is dancing with Princess Stapelia, was catching her attentions— because she has a bad feeling about it. As she watch them dancing, the crowds are staring at them with unacceptable gaze and Princess Stapelia acts like she was disgusted, leaving the audience make fun of Sidus.

Caelum doesn't talk nor start anything because he can feel that the Princess holding her hand is focus on something— forgetting his whole existence. He could also feel that Leonthera is the one who's leading their waltz, and felt like she's really planning to get near on specific partners. He just let her do what she want.

A loud thud became the audience center of attention. People stop dancing and stare at the direction where a footman is almost kissing the shiny floor. Wine and juices are spilled on the floor but the attentions aren't from what happened nor what are destroyed.

They are all staring to Leonthera, who's holding Sidus waist embrace by her left arm while the other is holding Caelum's shoulder, and Stapelia who was sitting on the floor— still surprised by what happened.

"Great reflexes.", someone said above the stairs while clapping his hands.

It was the emperor.