Chapter 36: Cool Kindness

Though she'd decided to trip Sion up, Mia had no intention of doing so physically. That would be much too obvious. While she certainly had the skills to pull it off — a quick kick to the shins could be easily disguised as a careless misstep — she wasn't wearing the right attire. Unlike a longer dress that hid the ankles, the one she currently wore had a much shorter skirt, making it far more difficult to hide a kick. In fact, she'd never planned to behave aggressively toward Sion to begin with. Outright hostility would obviously rouse his ire, and an angry Sion seemed like the exact kind of thing that would launch her straight onto the guillotine route.

Besides, I won't even need to. It's not as if he can keep up with me when I'm dancing at my highest skill level. If I don't hold back, he'll end up tripping all over his own two feet trying to keep up! she thought, figuring Sion couldn't hold a candle to her. Oh, I can see it now. Your futile attempt to keep up with me. Your spectacular fall. And the embarrassment of face-planting in front of everyone. Simply sublime!

It was the perfect plan.

She thought.

But, during the dance...

"Well, color me surprised. I was expecting to waltz with a fledgling, but I find myself tangoing with a swan," Sion said with a brisk smile as he glided across the floor with her, his steps smooth and confident.

H-H-How is this happening?!

One half of her brain was dedicated to maintaining the complicated footwork of their dance while the other half tried desperately to hold back a scream. Round and round she went, weaving and twirling like a fairy in a meadow. Every time she passed the window, moonlight bounced off her pearlescent skin, and she glowed with a celestial aura. The steps of her peers slowed to a halt. Before long, she and Sion were the only ones dancing.

In the beginning, the mocking continued. They credited Sion. They said it was because he was a good lead. Within seconds, the murmurs faded. Amongst the nobility, it was common knowledge that it took two to dance. A single brilliant dancer was a synonym for futility. Only when both dancers were exceptionally skilled could they put on the kind of mesmerizing performance being witnessed now.

Mia's body spun, graceful and weightless. She fell freely to one side, where Sion's arm was already lying in wait and felt a push on her back, gentle but firm. It placed her back onto her feet with just enough momentum to launch her into the next sequence of steps. His dancing was graceful and smooth. He led with a soft touch and an elegant posture. The way he caught her in his arms felt so much like a tender embrace that Mia couldn't help but feel a flutter in her heart.

Moons have mercy... How terribly dreamy— I mean, no! Not dreamy! This is the last person I should be dreaming about!

As Mia struggled to keep her inner fangirl in check, her wandering eyes found a familiar figure in a corner of the room.

My, isn't that Prince Abel?

She saw him walking toward the bar with two glasses in his hands. Noticing that the glasses were empty, she felt a wave of warmth in her heart.

What a kind soul he is.

Eventually, the music came to a stop, and the number ended. Mia gave her skirt a quick tug and performed an elegant curtsy.

"Well, now," Sion said to her. "If possible, I'd like to join you for another number. A quieter one this time. What do you say?"

"I'm terribly sorry, Prince Sion, but I must decline. Surely you're aware that there is someone else who would be a more suitable partner for you."

She meant it as a thinly veiled insult, Nice try, smart guy, but you aren't good enough for me, but it was really just her being a sore loser. Then, she gave a quick curtsey and walked away, leaving Sion blinking in stunned silence.

"Prince Abel!"

Looking up, Abel was surprised to find Mia approaching him. She and Sion had made such a perfect pair that he thought for sure they'd dance at least two or three more numbers together. Regardless, now that she was here, he picked up one of his two glasses — now filled — and handed it to her with a smile.

"Ah, Princess Mia. You were brilliant out on the floor."

"My, how flattering of you."

The sight of Mia giggling bashfully proved too much for him to handle, and he had to avert his eyes.

"Still, I have to say... I'm just no match, huh."

"No match?"

"For Prince Sion. It pains me to admit, but unfortunately, there's no way I could have drawn out that much of your true potential."

He'd felt the flood of passion. He'd sworn not to give up. But reality was a cruel mistress, and faced with the overwhelming difference in skill, his resolve began to falter. In response, Mia brought the glass of juice to her lips.

"I appreciate this drink very much. It's cool and quite refreshing," she said, making no mention of Sion. "You're a kind and wonderful person, Prince Abel."

"Hah, that's damning me with faint praise. Did you think I was the kind of man who'd show up with only a glass for himself?"

"You should take it to mean that I see that you were mindful of the physically taxing nature of dancing and went to refresh my drink. Thank you."

Abel's jaw dropped at this remark. He hadn't expected her to hit the nail right on the head. What she said was true; he'd gone to get warm drinks as soon as the music had started. However, after seeing the way Mia danced, he figured she'd feel hot afterwards and went to exchange the drinks for cold ones.

"Prince Abel, please do not disparage yourself. You are a wonderful person."

Mia's words were spoken with genuine kindness, unmarred by her usual pettiness and falsity. She truly meant what she'd said. It was the first time a boy her age had treated her so nicely. As a princess, she'd received plenty of courtesy from her subjects, but as a girl, she'd never felt so personally cared for. A little dazed from the experience, she'd ended up saying something that was arguably a little forward of her.

"Still... If at all possible, I'd rather not lose to Prince Sion on the floor, either."

"In that case, allow me to train you. I'd urge you to prepare yourself, though. I do not spoil my students."

Thus, on this evening, Mia managed for the first time in her life to dance to her heart's content, enjoying every gasp of the crowd and flutter of her heart.