The Story of Dhanvanthri

twenty-three

The Debutante Ball

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"What are you doing, walking behind us?" His father asked. Dhanvanthri paused, looking up at his sister who was being escorted by their father, a curious gaze in her eyes, and their father who looked behind with a dismissive glance that was disguising the fond look in his eyes.

"It's not like I can walk in front of you, now can I?" Dhanvanthri asked. "Athanasia is being escorted by you so she'll walk in beside you, who is the Emperor. What's wrong with me walking in from behind?"

"It pisses me off," His father deadpanned. "Walk in alongside me."

"Yes, yes," Dhanvanthri agreed, stepping forward to taking the other side of his father. The man looked slightly satisfied before the door before was pushed open. The attendant instantly announced their arrival as blinding gold lights invaded their sight.

"Make way for His Majesty, Emperor Claude de Alger Obelia!" He announced, before glancing at the twins by the Emperor's side. "Along with His Highness, Dhanvanthri de Alger Obelia and Her Highness, Athanasia de Alger Obelia!"

Eyes were fixed on them the moment they walked into view of the people gathering in the ballroom. Dhanvanthri looked unbothered, so did their father but Athanasia was a whole other story. She was slightly pale despite the blush makeup on her cheeks, not to mention she was practically frozen.

"Are you scared, little sister?" Dhanvanthri asked. Their father was instantly concerned, asking "What's the matter?"

"I, uhm," Athanasia hesitated. Dhanvanthri looked at the crowd, was it because of their judgemental looks? His expression grew cold, the smile on his lips sharp as always but the promise of murder dancing above his head. Their father glared alongside, making the already shivering crowd shudder in pure horror, feeling the chill that was washing down their spine to be even colder as the time went by.

Everyone instantly bowed.

"I can make their heads bowed the whole time until the ceremony is over, if you want," Their father proposed. Dhanvanthri considered that, wouldn't that be something completely in his favour? If everyone was busy bowing down and maintaining their posture, no one would bother seeking him out or bothering him with whatever they liked to talk about.

"No, thank you," Athanasia rejected hastily. She looked at Dhanvanthri for support only for him to turn away, making her grit her teeth. She turned back to their father and smiled, "It's okay, papa. Because I'll have you by my side."

"What I am, chopped liver?" Dhanvanthri asked sarcastically.

Athanasia smiled at him as if silently saying 'Yes, you are.'

Dhanvanthri ignored her as the three of them descended down the stairs. Athanasia still looked nervous but she was already significantly more composed than before. Dhanvanthri would be slightly nervous if it weren't for the complete lack of interest he had in the ball and looking presentable in front of the other nobles. Who cared about them, anyway?

"Don't be nervous," Dhanvanthri said. "Nobody will laugh at you when you fail."

"Hey, you mean IF I fail, right?" Athanasia protested. Dhanvanthri spared her a glance, "I didn't stutter."

"Shut up," Athanasia said. Dhanvanthri smiled at her relaxed tone, "I'm leaving, you have a dance to attend. Have fun with Athanasia, Father."

His father glanced at them before making their way to the middle of the area. Dhanvanthri walked into the crowd only to hide his grimace when they parted for him. Slightly put out, he stood in his place to look at his father and sister entering their dance. They exchanged words briefly before entering their dance.

Dhanvanthri avoided contact with anyone, not that there was someone stupid enough to try something when the Emperor himself was dancing. He stared at the dancing duo, paying attention to their expression. Even after so many years, it was difficult for Dhanvanthri to truly accept that Claude was a changed man. He still remembered the night he was born, after all, in vivid detail.

His thought was interrupted when he caught Athanasia stepping on their father's feet, covering his mouth to hide an amused smile, he watched as the man picked her up to hide the fact and twirled her midair. The gesture and action cause the crowd to go into awe, whispering their excitement.

And then Athanasia stepped on their father's feet again, this time, Dhanvanthri couldn't help the escape of something sounding like a laugh. He smiled at the scene in amusement, watching as their father whisper something to Athanasia who looked as if she wanted to crawl into a hole and die to relieve herself from reality. Soon, they were finished and the crowd clapped.

Dhanvanthri walked over just in time to hear their father tell Athanasia that she did well, getting a sulking promise that she would do better next time. He leaned over to her and teased, "So much for being good at dancing, right?"

"Shut up, big brother," Athanasia hissed, her face flushed completely red. Then, she glanced around, "By the way, did you do something weird? Why is everyone staring at us?"

"Hah? I didn't do anything." Dhanvanthri frowned. "Maybe it's because you stepped on Father's feet."

"Don't worry," Their father interjected. "Both of you look as good looking as you did when you first walked in. Don't concern yourself with other people."

Dhanvanthri and Athanasia stared at the man in equal incredulity. They soon dissolved into the corner, as after the first dance for the princess, it was the other fourteen-year-olds that will be dancing. Dhanvanthri looked at Athanasia who had been distancing herself slightly from their father and clinging closer towards him.

"What is it?" he asked. Athanasia looked at him, startled out of her internal musings. "Uhm, big brother, what if you had another sister apart from me?"

"Impossible," Dhanvanthri shot her down. "Don't think about stupid things. Mother only gave birth to two of us."

"But what if she's born from a different mother than us?" Athanasia asked. Dhanvanthri looked at her, "What do you think in that head of yours all day? It doesn't matter who she is born from, in the end, you're the only one I recognise as my sister and I will never recognise someone other than you."

"I see," Athanasia smiled sadly. Dhanvanthri turned to his father the moment the second song ended, "I'm heading out for fresh air if it's alright?"

"Do as you wish," his father replied. Dhanvanthri left them behind without second thoughts, he didn't want to stay in this place any longer. The feeling of being in a crowded area that was small and constricting was nothing less than suffocating.

.

"My Prince," the soft whisper from his lips and his hands tightened.

The grip loosened slightly so that two hands were entwined, fingers linked as if nothing could separate them. Dhanvanthri should be in pain right now but the moment was still too far away for the consequences to truly sink in. All he knew was that there was a choice, a choice that was not his right to make but it needed to be done at this very moment.

"I will not blame you, my prince," the words penetrated his ears. Dhanvanthri clutched the hands in his grip tightly and asked, "Is this your final choice?"

"Yes."

- Lonely Emperor, Chapter ???

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Oh look, I wonder if that's the ML or if Dhanvanthri loved differently in both lives :p