{.11} {Grace :ღ: King x Vivaldi}

The king was always rendered in such awe when the ball arrived. Vivaldi always prepared a splendid job, no matter how much she may despise the agonizing ordeal.

The Queen of Hearts simply hated ball preparations, that he knew. She always complained it was waste of her royal time and was far too much work. She still performed her duties because she refused to have him, god forbid, do any of the planning. She wouldn't allow his antiquated tastes sully her ball and her good name.

The king could still recall another reason why the raven-haired queen was she hated planning for the ball.

Watching the faceless servants of all three territories twirl around the floor, he could remember when the child Vivaldi was simply terrified of doing one thing - dancing.

{:ღ:}

The maids were complaining about their child mistress's obstinacy. No matter how hard they tried, they could not get the girl out of her room.

The king at first shrugged their complaints off, believing they would get the girl out eventually. He Vivaldi understood it was her special duty as the Queen of Hearts to supervise preparations for the ball. She simply had to do it whether she truly wanted to or not.

As time progressed and the time of the ball grew nearer, the king began to feel nervous. He lacked the creativity to design a genuinely good ball. It would shame him if the other role holders had to see his laughable excuse for the ball.

He needed her.

The King of Hearts then headed towards her quarters and knocked on her door. "Vivaldi?"

"Go away! We do not wish to see anyone!" the young girl's voice shouted.

"Vivaldi, it's me. Are you sure it's not okay for me to enter?"

There was no response. All remained in impeccable silence. Taking her lack of response as consent, the king opened the door and entered the young majesty's quarters.

To his surprise, the young royal was nowhere to be seen. All he saw was this little lump huddled underneath the thick comforter.

He quietly treaded towards the little lump and sat down beside her. "Vivaldi?"

The raven-haired girl shouted vehemently, "Go away!"

"My dear, could you please get out of blanket? I'd like to speak to you face to face."

Again, there was that prolonged silence. He sighed at the thought, realizing this time her silence wasn't consent. It was more like adamant protest.

"You really should get to preparing for the ball. The servants have been doing their best, but they require a definite vision of what the night is going to be. Can you please...?"

"There's no way We're going to have anything to do with that ball!" she suddenly shouted firmly. Such a sudden proclamation baffled him, leaving him unable to speak any further. Vivaldi then added, "Balls are so annoying, and I don't want to deal with it! Those stupid people flouncing and dancing about... so stupid..."

The King suddenly was struck by a sense of realization. "Is the reason why you want nothing to do with the ball is because of the dancing?" Silence. "... is it because you don't know how to dance?"

Silence settled over the room.

"There's no way I'm going to make a fool out of myself... That's why I won't have that ball. It's all dancing. I'll look silly..." she mumbled, her voice barely audible.

"Well, if that's all, then this all could easily be resolved! I'll teach you how to dance!" Embracing such a thought, the king leapt to his feet, stood in the open space, and said, "Perhaps once you learn to dance and practice then you won't feel any shame at the ball! It's not very hard. Will you please come out?"

There was a slight shudder of hesitancy before falling still. He watched in expectation as the blanket wiggled and moved, slowly expelling a small round head.

"C... Can you really teach me how to dance?" she squeaked out, her violet eyes hopeful and bright.

The king nodded his head. "Of course! It's all very simple. Can you come out here?"

The little girl watched as the king extended his hand out to her. She merely stared at the gesture, unsure what to do.

Then finally she lurched forward, revealing a pair of shoulders, arms and soon her whole body. She gradually reached her hand out before finally grabbing hold of his.

Smiling, he gently guided her towards him and began his lesson.

{:ღ:}

The king found himself smiling affectionately at the memory. When they began to practice, Vivaldi was so clumsy and awkward. It probably embarrassed her to be so close to him - probably near any man, he assumed. That certainly didn't lessen the pain he felt on his legs and feet.

Now? He certainly saw no one quite like that. She was the complete opposite of klutzy or awkward.

He looked beside him and regarded the Queen of Hearts. It never ceased to amaze him how she grew up to be so regal and grandiloquent, carrying herself with such grace and poise. Vivaldi sure grew up to quite the lovely woman.

"Ugh... This is all so troublesome. We don't even truly enjoy these balls." Suddenly hearing her voice, snapped him out of his deep reverie. He turned his head, watching as the noblewoman relaxed in her place as the festivities officially took off. "It's all so very boring watching all these silly people dance the entire night away... almost idiotic really."

He resisted the urge to laugh at such a comment. 'It's good to know some things don't change...'

Perhaps it was this sense of nostalgia, this sense of reminiscence, but he just couldn't help himself.

He found himself asking, "Vivaldi, would you care to dance?"

Such an abrupt inquiry surprised her. Her expression was blank, staring at him with astonishment in her amethyst eyes. All she could utter was a glib, "What?"

"I know it's all very strange and out of the blue. We don't dance with each other very often during these events, but I just thought it would be nice," he commiserated almost lamely, unable to provide a more reasonable explanation. "After all, I was the one who taught you long ago. I'd like to see how much you've improved. I hope you're not as klutzy as you were when you first started!"

"Tch. We are now are a far better dancer than We were in Our clumsier days!" she said defensively.

Her eyes suddenly widened when he offered her a gentlemanly hand. "Why not show me then?"

Vivaldi merely stared at his offer, her long lashes fluttering in surprise. For a moment, she merely stared, unsure what exactly she should do. In those fleeting moments of indecision, he thought he saw a shock of red coloring her pale cheeks.

Just as quickly it came, it had went as Vivaldi proudly harrumphed, primly placing her lithe hand into his.

He then placed his other hand on her waist; her hand fell gently against his shoulder.

Soon, they began to dance.

A sequel to my sequel (trequel, lol?) of For Your Smile. I guess it can kinda be one for Reminiscence as well if you squint really hard.

I actually found it sitting in my folder, asking me why the heck I haven't published it yet? …I honestly didn't know so I just put it out now. Heh, heh… :3

Thanks for the read!