A/N: I'm quite pleased with the progress I've made this month. (edited 1/3/20: that's a lie, I've procrastinated for too long and I know I could've done much better) This chapter is inspired by "Cinderella", by Steven Curtis (my cousin got married over the spring and this played, and I spent two days trying to find the name of the song).

Thank you for your continuous support and feedback, thanks to SquidBaggerOfWoomyNygeness for your constant and helpful advice with my writing. I can't believe I didn't put this sooner, but special thanks to Harukagi of Deviantart for their wonderful masterpiece. I have no ownership on it, I just used it. Sorry for not asking sooner.

Anyways, enjoy!

One more paper down, I sighed as I turned to the stack on my desk. Being a king could be difficult, especially when laws needed revision and letters that needed careful inspection. Sometimes it makes me wonder if all this hassle was worth running a kingdom.

I took a quick glance at the small flame dancing on the tip of the candle, the wax slowly creeping down the sides to pool in the small dish. The tiny fire served as my only companion in the looming study, shelves stacked with books and scrolls. Meanwhile, music drifted through the open windows, the faint sounds of stringed instruments nothing more than whispers to my ears.

Of all the time for work, it had to be during the new year celebrations. The time when joy flows through the kingdom to the point of near tangibility, smiles and happy chatter echoing across the land. I would have liked to indulge myself in the happiness, but the workload seems to have been especially hefty this year and I assumed that it would be over with quickly.

Unfortunately, I thought wrong, and I have a tendency to not stop working until I'm finished. It's one of my flaws, I suppose.

Sighing to myself I grabbed another paper and started reading through it. I massaged my forehead to assuage the oncoming migraine, pointless words and terms filling through my mind. Leeways, tariffs, reduction rates, more overcomplicated words and garbage-

Someone knocked at my door, and they creaked open.

"Father?"

My daughter's voice somehow reduced the headache I was feeling and I allowed myself a small smile. I nodded to her; "You can come in, Kana."

She stepped inside, and I took note of the kimono she wore. The dress was a deep shade of purple, dotted with the occasional silver to resemble the night sky. It seemed to ripple with the slightest movements and made her figure stand out, causing my eyebrows to crease ever so slightly. It went well past her knees, yet the subtle allure was strong enough to make her stand out in the crowd.

"Something wrong, Little Dragon?" I asked.

She shook her head, and only then did I realize that her hair was undone, falling past her shoulders and almost reaching her waist, a waterfall of lilac beauty reminiscent of her mother. I rose up, concerned at the lack of response.

"What happened? Did one of the young men touch you wrong? I promise that I'll find them and rip their hands off for thinking-"

"No, Dad, nothing like that happened!" she exclaimed, cheeks darkening in the candlelight. "It's.. I wanted to ask you for a favor."

I nodded, urging her to go on.

"I… well, so many people are at the castle tonight, having fun and enjoying themselves. My cousins are good company, but even then they take a break to dance. And, well… I don't know how to dance.

"It's not your fault," she quickly cut me off before I could voice my apology. "I know that you're busy and Mom's responsible for meeting with the other ambassadors. I didn't anticipate wanting to learn or practice dancing. But seeing the other people tonight, looking so happy and enjoying themselves… it piqued my interest."

"So you'd like to learn for yourself?" She nodded, and I breathed a sigh of relief. I immediately set about to resume working on the papers, silently vowing to outlaw all pointless words, when I heard a soft, awkward cough. I looked up to see Kana looking at me expectantly. Why was she giving me that look? Was there something I missed?

"Aren't you going to teach me?"

My eyes widened. Me? She was asking ME? Could she have missed the small mountain of papers on my desk, or the bags beneath my eyes? I was in no condition to teach her, let alone step outside to enjoy the party. My clothes were caked with ink and dust, my hair hung out in large disheveled clumps, I'm pretty sure I had the start of a beard or some form of facial hair on my chin. Where's a mirror when you need one?

"I'm not sure I'm in a condition to go out," I argued, but that sounded weak even in my head. Kana smiled goodnaturedly; "I'm sure that we can go find a secluded area to practice," she said.

"Isn't there someone better suited than me to help you?"

She frowned, making me internally cringe. "Do you… not want to dance with me?"

"Nonono! That's not the problem; it's just- I have a lot of work to do; and if it's not done, I… that is to say…" I couldn't find the right words and finished, in my opinion, in a totally and utterly pathetic shoulder shrug. I heard her sigh and turned away, not before I caught a glimpse of her crestfallen face.

"You're right," she said, rather quietly. "I shouldn't have bothered you. I'll just find someone to talk to while everyone's having fun."

She exited before I could make a rebuttal, leaving me alone in the dark with the pile of papers and books. I had half a mind to go after her and apologize profusely, while the other part of me sighed in relief and urged me to return to my work. And yet I returned to my desk and, to my horror, resumed reading through the text in my hand.

What situations are so imperative that the King and Queen, while in the chambers of court-

"I shouldn't have bothered you."

Kana's dejected face floated into my mind, distracting me from the form in my hand. I shook it out of my mind and tried to resume attempting to understand the question.

-the chambers of court, permit them to leave the area-

She stood there, surrounded by family and friends, who were enjoying themselves and were oblivious to her presence, even as the tears started to escape the corners of her eyes-

By the Divine Dragons, what was I doing?!

I slammed the paper down on the desk, upsetting the ink bottle and spilling its contents over the paper- honestly I didn't care very much now- and shot to my feet. After making a feeble attempt to make my hair presentable I raced for the door, and after wrenching it open, caught sight of Kana sitting on a bench in the hallway. She jumped at the sound of the door being nearly thrown off its hinges, then her eyes went wide at the sight of me. I know I must've looked horrid- inky splotches across my tunic and arms, dust in my hair, but I had only one thing on my mind.

"So where are we going to practice?"

"Thanks so much for this, Papa! I knew you wouldn't let me down!"

The beaming grin on her face was more than worth ditching work as I nodded back to her, the two of us strolling through the courtyard while it sounded like the party was in full swing. My focus was on my daughter, who seemed to be practically skipping as we wandered, the moon bathing the world with its gentle rays. Despite the nagging urge to return to work and throw myself back to reading, I was feeling at total peace. I could be exiled from the kingdom from all I cared, but as long as I had my family, I wouldn't mind.

I was so absorbed in contentment that I almost missed her asking me the question.
"Is Mother not coming to the dance?"

I blinked before understanding the question, and replied, "I believe she's still negotiating with the last of the ambassadors. Shouldn't take too long though, as long as their discussions are agreeable."

The fact that the visitors appeared at the beginning of the festive season was unfortunate, but Camilla wasn't too put out. Her family would always be ready for her and the Ylisseans apologized for their untimely arrival. I just hoped she wasn't upset enough to bring out her axe.

"Well, as long as I'm here, I might as well ask why you chose me to tutor you," I said, trying to make conversation. I wondered why she didn't go to Soleil or Siegbert for assistance, since they were more knowing in the choreographic department.

"Siegbert's with Sophie. She told me that he's helping her with her dancing. Personally, I think he fancies her, since he's so willing to spend time with her and that galloping nightmare."

I snorted softly. Avel was a terror on four legs, I had firsthand experience. Why the Crown Prince of Nohr would go anywhere near that creature was beyond me, but I suppose love does certain things to you.

"Soleil's flirting with Forrest, I'm fairly sure. They get along rather well, and Forrest enjoys her company."

The young tailor did appear to be more comfortable when in Soleil's presence, returning her quips with a smile or a laugh, his cheeks darkening just a shade. I imagined that either he was dragged by her to the event, considering he wasn't a social butterfly and she was, even if she struggled against the opposite gender.

My eyebrows creased at the wilting expression that flashed across Kana's features for just a second, and the realization came quicker than I expected. Forrest's simple yet humble charms made him appealing to many young women, and if I had to guess, my daughter was one of those admirers.

"Are you… okay with him and her together?" I tentatively asked. She looked up at me, and I saw the mixed emotions in her eyes, envy and disappointment clashing against selfless happiness and knowledge that they were cousins.

"If I were younger and more selfish," she finally said, "I would probably do my best to make her look bad, but I would either have little success, or end up making myself look unappealing in the process. I was one of the first who talked with Forrest, and he was the one who taught me to let go of my worries of being alone. I thought we shared something… I dunno, special.

"But as time wore on, I could see that he felt obligated to spread happiness with those around him, and I was merely wishing on false hopes. I am his cousin and close friend, and that is the most I'll ever be. Besides," she gave a small smile despite herself, much to my surprise, "she's a good match for him. And he does look a little girly for my preferences."

I stood speechless at the response. I was under the assumption that she would remain naive and carefree for a long while. Here she was, solving an issue that she had just told me about, without consulting me or everyone else, with rational deductions and adult-level knowledge.

"I… I don't know what to say." She giggled at my dumbfounded look, then wrapped her arms around my torso, resting her face against my chest and filling me with the familiar warmth and contentment that I felt when I held her in my arms.

"I had hoped for something along the lines of 'Wow, Kana, you're so grown-up and smart sounding', or some praise for my rational thinking and deducing."

"I didn't think such a fine young woman would need praise from her father."

She giggled again, then lifted her head up to gaze around. "Think that this spot looks good?"

The gazebo we had entered was completely deserted, I would guess that no one remembered it. The wooden fences and pillars were weathered and the paint peeled off in clumps, littering the floor with curled shavings. The ring of trees circling us appeared overgrown, branches looming over the shoddy roof and creating a natural shade. A place of peace and quiet, where couples could break away from the chaos of the evening parties and rest themselves.

"I think this is as good as we're going to get," I said, then turned to Kana. "So, what sort of dance are we practicing tonight? Just a simple waltz, or something more complex and elaborate?"

"I think a simple ballroom dance will suffice," she said. I nodded, remembering the first time I had to learn the same steps. This time though, there would be a lot less errors. I placed a hand on her waist, while my other hand clasped hers gently. I took a gentle step backwards, and though she initially stumbled she was quick to follow in my footsteps, adapting to the pattern and following my lead.

The two of us danced around the gazebo in utter silence, Kana frowning as she concentrated on her steps, focusing on her feet. The expression on her face was utterly adorable, still so youthful despite being a near adult. The look reminded me of when she was little, diverting all of her attention to the task at hand, narrow determined eyes quickly blooming into a victorious grin when she finished.

I wasn't around for much of her childhood- something I still deeply regret today- and my memories of her childhood are somewhat lacking, but I still cherish them deeply.

Oh, how time flies when life happens around you.

"Papa?"

Hmm? I blinked at her owlish gaze, concern etched on and marring her natural beauty. I just registered the wetness on my face, tracing down my eyes and to the bottom of my face.

"You're crying, is something wrong?"

"...not exactly, Little Dragon. I'm just wondering where the time's gone. It seems like yesterday you were a child learning to walk."

She smiled, sharing in my reminiscent wistfulness. Her memories were bound to be more bittersweet, due to our almost total absence. I wonder if things would be different if we raised her properly, present for all of her childhood years.
"So this is where you two have been."

I perked up at the newcomer's voice, Kana's face brightening as she peeked over my shoulder. "Mama!"

I turned and, naturally, had to resist the urge to stare, slack-jawed and drooling like mad. Her figure was confined in a very snug dress that might have been hidden, if the violet cloak resting on her shoulders wasn't a scarf, which I suspected she wore on purpose to get a reaction solely from me. The skirt, dyed deep sea blue, trailed down and came close to but didn't reach the floor. I was sure that the male ambassadors struggled to not stare at her.

Kana leapt at her mother and wrapped her arms around her, giggling as the two of them spun around, hair flying outwards like a violet halo.

"Goodness, Kana," Camilla giggled, "when have you gotten so tall? I remember when you were still no bigger than my leg."

"Papa says that my body is finally catching up with my parents. Soon I'll be as tall as you both!"

"Indeed. You've always been a little bamboo shoot."

Kana sighed in exasperation. "I don't want to be like a tall skinny plant, Mama. I'm like a big ferocious dragon!" She raised her arms for emphasis, trying and failing to sound as imposing as she could. "Rawr!"

"Aww, you're more like an itsy bitsy hatchling. It's better to be compared to the humble bamboo, sweetie. Tell me, how long would it take a dragon to reach its full size?"

"Umm… a few years?"

Camilla playfully poked her nose, earning a giggle from our daughter. "Several decades, perhaps centuries at least. And even then, they don't always stay sane, as we've seen with the former tyrant of Valla."

"I guess so, but-"

"Did you know that there's types of bamboo that can reach a few feet in less than a day?"

Kana's eyes widened at the knowledge. Personally I wasn't aware of this, but then again I wasn't learning to be a botanist or some gardener.

"So let me tell you, daughter: it's not terrible to be compared to a plant. Much like how our hair is the shade of lilac petals, or has the fragrance of their blossoms."

She nodded, and I found myself smiling in appreciation for her sage advice.

"Now tell me, how long have you and your father been dancing in the dark?"

"Ohh, I don't know. We got here around…" she frowned and turned her head towards me. "When did we get here?"

I shrugged helplessly, completely at a loss myself. I didn't have a clock on me, or some way to tell the time. Camilla sighed, sounding unconcerned despite the narrowed eyes trained on me, then fixed her attention on Kana. "I've watched you two dancing for some time," she said, and I wondered how long she was watching us, off in the trees or just resting against the fence without me noticing. "Your rhythm and footwork are slightly offset, but we can fix that."

We? I assume that she meant me and her, but then I noticed her turn and call out, "Now where are you hiding, darling? No need to hide, it's just your family watching." When several seconds passed by she let out a low growl. "If you don't come out this instant your privileges to the library will be revoked!"

I caught the faint sounds of mumbling before Carmen emerged from the bushes. His robes were exquisite, much like the rest of the royal family, outlined in violet and shimmering silver. His normally tidy hair was dotted with leaves, which told me that he was either camped out in the leaves for some time, or trying to sneak away through the bushes. His disappointed expression pointed towards the latter.

"Do I have to, Mother?" he whined, shoulders slouching. I was caught off guard by his reluctance to learn dancing, blinking at his blunt honesty. Wonder what caused him to act like this. Camilla stared him down, her eyes suddenly cold, not saying anything or moving until Carmen shrunk under her gaze and relented. "Fine, okay. Just don't make fun of me because of my two left feet." Kana blinked at him before peering at his legs.

"I thought you had one left and one right-?"

"It's an expression," he groaned. "Don't take everything so seriously."

I was concerned at the subtle venom in Carmen's voice, but Kana simply shrugged off his words, opting to take his hand and put hers on his waist. His cheeks pinkened just a touch, likely embarrassed by the close proximity of his sibling, but my thoughts on the matter started to stray at the finger placed under my chin, gently guiding me to look at Camilla. Her face reflected comfort and soothed my worries, allowing me to focus on her and take the proper stance, as if I was to take both of us onto the dance floor. But before I could start, Camilla glanced over at our children. "Your father and I have some business to attend to this evening, much to our displeasure. I expect that you two will have perfected, perhaps mastered, the simple ballroom waltz, before the following morning?"

"Wha, Mom!"

"I'll do my best, Mama!"

The difference between Carmen's protest and Kana's willing voice was stark for such siblings. I was more perplexed by Camilla's announcement, unaware that we had urgent business to visit. I opened my mouth to ask, but she leaned in, her whisper sending shivers through me, "Not here. I'll tell you later."

She took my hand and led me rather hurriedly off the gazebo and through the crowd of trees, disappearing into the green. Her plan was becoming more and more apparent to me as we emerged into a small clearing, trees forming a moderately sized circle, forming a natural circle for us to dance. I made to mimic the posture I had shown Kana- hand on her hip, gently grabbing the other hand- but she seized me by the shoulders and forced me against a tree, cutting off my reply as she pressed her lips against me. My arms snaked round her upper torso, crushing her against me and making her hum in approval. This was an unexpected turn of events, but I wasn't about to complain. At least, very much. There was still a question I needed an answer for. As loathe as I was to do it, I pulled myself out of her grasp, raising a hand to brush away the strands of lavender hair separating our faces.

"Did you bring Carmen here to distract Kana and take me for yourself?" I murmured to her. I would assume that the ploy was orchestrated by her, in one of her numerous attempts to claim me all for herself for as long as she could. Other examples include feigning illness and sending a messenger to me while I was in a meeting, only for me to find her waiting to participate in a cuddle session or some other form of amorous activity. The way she placed her hand over her heart and put on a "Who, me?" expression was rather incriminating.

"I would never do such a thing!" she exclaimed. "Am I not the face of an innocent, caring mother?"

"Yeah, that image was kinda lost when you beheaded that one wyvern to impress me."

She snorted at that, the memory was pretty gruesome but still earned some laughs between us. It was the thought that counts, though the way she planned it was rather… entertaining.

"I should've realized back then that the quickest way to a man's heart is through his stomach. Perhaps I should've learned to cook, I might've found success quicker!"

"As long as I didn't find any remains from any girl who flirted with me, I would've appreciated it."

"Oh, don't worry," she purred, leaning in to kiss me, and then some. The way her lips trailed along the edge of my chin sent shivers running up my spine and through my frame.

"You wouldn't find anyone. I'd make sure of that."

A/N: And we get a little hint of Camilla's obsessiveness, along with some long-awaited family fluff. Hope that this was okay, and I'm so sorry for the long wait. If I wasn't so distracted with the new games I got on Steam (Subnautica, Slime Rancher, Monster Hunter: World- I spent nearly $100 for the game and Iceborne before I realized that I needed an actual gaming PC and not a laptop, ;[ ) but my muse is giving me ideas for future chapters and with almost twenty chapters down, I'm gonna be picking up the pace. Up next is Mawwiage. Twue wove, is what bwings us togeffa- you get the idea; it's Marriage.

Thank you for reading; if you enjoyed this, how about a like and/or follow, maybe check out my other works? Didn't like it, you can tell me what I can do better. Reviews are always appreciated; from constructive criticism to expressing simple appreciation.

Write on!