A Dove's Tale

Chapter 107

If I'd had more time to think, I would have been a nervous wreck. I'd already been nervous about dancing with Chevalier for the first time in front of all these people, and I hadn't known there was any special meaning to the first dance. The visiting royalty hadn't known either, if Arianna's reaction was anything to go by. It was a good thing everybody else held their tongues, because if I'd known ahead of time, I'm not sure that I could have held my ground after Nokto spun me to face the ballroom doors. Or even made it to the ballroom at all. Maybe I would have just hidden in my room, too overwhelmed at the prospect of a very public proposal from the king when I wasn't even comfortable being a princess yet.

But I hadn't known ahead of time, and I didn't have time to think about it now, either. The guards were already opening the doors and announcing Chevalier's arrival: "King Chevalier Michel."

The crowd fell silent. Only the strains of the orchestra continued, barely audible over my heart, hammering in my chest. I'd heard his title and full name before, more often than I'd heard mine, but hearing it now, seeing him step into the room in his midnight blue and black ceremonial clothing that contrasted so sharply with his fair features, knowing what was about to happen, sent the butterflies into a flurry in my stomach. He wasn't wearing the crown anymore. His face was smooth, impassive, his stride the same long, purposeful steps as always, and his pale blue eyes, a few shades lighter than the sky blue crystals mounted on each shoulder of his coat, were on me.

It wouldn't have mattered if I'd had more time to think. Nothing else mattered when he was looking at me and only me. He'd said that he wanted me by his side, and all he asked was for me to hold my head up. I could do that.

I could do better than that.

I stepped toward him and took his arm, and he led me to the center of the room, slowing his steps as he always did when we walked together. The cloth of his midnight blue coat was coarse and heavy under my hand, not at all like the soft, light fabric he normally wore. I wanted to let my fingers run across it, test how it felt when I curled my fingers into it, but now was not the time for that. Now was the time to smile, keep my eyes on Chevalier, and ignore the people clearing a path for us to reach the dark brown outline of the rose in the center of the floor.

That was easy enough. I didn't want to look at anybody except him.

We stopped over the rose and turned toward each other. He took my right hand in his left and settled his right hand on my waist, and I placed my left hand on his shoulder, locking eyes with him as he led me in the dance. It felt so natural. As natural and easy as dancing with Nokto - maybe more so. I wondered briefly if he'd been practicing, or if he'd just read a book about dancing. It didn't matter either way. The warmth in his eyes had melted the icy facade he'd maintained from the moment he walked into the ballroom until the moment his hand took mine, and the smile playing across his lips was for me alone.

"When were you going to tell me?" I asked, my flushed cheeks hurting from how widely I was smiling.

"After this," he replied.

"You mean after I unknowingly accepted your proposal in front of hundreds of witnesses?"

He just smiled, and I couldn't find it in my heart to be mad at him. It wasn't as if I'd ever say no. We'd never discussed marriage, but I'd known it was coming, and the answer was always going to be yes.

I felt like I was flying.

The song ended too soon, along with the illusion that we were in our own little world as the open space surrounding us filled with more pairs of dancers. Chevalier tugged at my hand, leading me off the dance floor and away from the crowd, and I followed with a giddy excitement. I didn't even care when he pulled me into a kiss the moment we stepped out onto an empty balcony.