Chapter 7

It was, perhaps, not her brightest idea, Shirayuki mused as she traversed the ballroom on Izana's arm. The last time she had properly danced was with Prince Raj, so what had compelled her to try for a waltz with Izana, she had no idea. It was one thing to be a gauche mess with Obi on the edge of the dance floor, quite another to make a clumsy fool of herself in the arms of the king whilst the entire room looked on. Shirayuki could already feel the sheer murder in the eyes of every young debutante they passed by.

Izana leaned down to whisper in her ear. "They've been angling for a dance all night, flapping their skirts like peacocks to get my attention."

Shirayuki put a hand on her mouth to suppress a surprised bark of laughter. "And here I am ruining their competition within seconds of walking up to you." They stopped in the center of the floor as the other dancers took position. She swallowed the thundering of her heart as his hand settled on her waist, and it was a wonder her own hands remained steady as she grasped his shoulder and palm. Her stomach fluttered with nerves as the opening notes of the waltz sounded.

"There was never any competition to begin with," he muttered softly, the naked affection in his eyes nearly stealing her breath away. Before she could even begin to form a response to such a brazen statement, the waltz began, and they were whirling around the ballroom. As it turned out, she needn't have worried about embarrassing herself. He proved to be a masterful dancer, leading her in a way that fairly made her glide across the floor.

"You're very good at this," she said as he guided them through another effortless turn.

His lips quirked. "I know."

"Arrogant," she muttered with a scowl. Even now he couldn't seem to help but tease her.

"Always so candid." His hand tightened on her waist, pulling her as close as propriety would allow. "It's one of the many reasons I love you."

Her heart nearly stopped, and she would have tumbled to the floor had Izana not expertly corrected her. She glanced about to see if anyone else overheard the whispered statement, but the couples seemed unchanged. Kihal and Zen swooped by, and her former lover glanced at her a moment before narrowing his eyes on the king, a dangerous glint in his gaze. Unsurprising, considering that anyone who knew Shirayuki well would realize she was on the verge of tears. Kihal lightly smacked his shoulder as they passed, forcing Zen to look back at his fiancée before the couple disappeared amongst the whirl.

There was a tense moment of silence before Izana spoke. "I've panicked and blurted something at the worst moment again, haven't I?"

She shot her gaze back to his face and let out a watery giggle at the unruffled smile he wore. "You look far from panicked."

The smile widened. "I'm utterly terrified, I assure you. Thank goodness for these gloves of yours, else I might embarrass myself with my clammy hands."

The closer she looked, the more she could see the anxiety glimmering in his eyes. She took a gulping breath. If he wanted to have this discussion in the middle of a waltz then so be it. "I won't be your mistress." The words were harder to say than anticipated, and she fought hard to keep the tears pooling in her eyes at bay.

"This is a bad place to discuss this, I think."

"Really now?" she replied sarcastically. "I think you confessing your love to me in the middle of a ballroom is more than appropriate, Your Majesty."

"Please, don't call me that."

"I don't have a choice in the matter." Her breath hitched, and she slammed her lips together to keep from crying.

"Yes, you do." He glanced around furtively as the dance drew to a close and leaned down as if about to whisper into her ear.

"Ah, there you are, Elder Highness."

Izana lifted his head with a frown as Obi stopped before them, and Shirayuki backed out of his arms as fast as she could without drawing attention.

"You really must stop calling me that, Sir Obi."

"I'm too used to it by now," her best friend replied with a playful shrug. He observed her for a moment before smacking a bland smile onto his face. "Anyways, Elder Highness," he said, voice loud enough for heads to turn in their direction. "There is an urgent matter I must discuss with you. If you would do me the honor of a private audience, I would be much relieved."

Izana looked at her a moment and then back at Obi.

Please, go with him. Please. Any longer in his presence, and she might break down entirely. There were already eyes on her, and the thought of the entire court witnessing such a humiliating episode was almost too much to bear.

Izana opened his mouth. "I—"

"Attention! Everyone!" The loud, almost obnoxious clanging of a fork against a champagne glass drew everyone's focus. Kihal stood on the raised platform reserved for the musicians, Zen looking on in bewilderment to her left. She leaned down to push the glass to her confused fiancée and looked at the now quiet crowd with a smile. "I have some words I would like to say."

Shirayuki felt a hand slowly creep around her wrist and looked to see Obi gently tugging her, his other hand pulling on Izana's shoulder.

"I would just like to thank everyone for being here."

She looked back to Kihal and only barely noticed her hand lightly pulling on her skirts. There was a flutter of movement beneath the hem, a clawed toe briefly peeking out from the silken fabric. Obi began to walk backwards, trying to pull Shirayuki along.

"What in the world are you doing?" She heard Izana mutter to Obi.

"And, of course, my betrothed." A blue head popped out from the skirt.

"Time to go," Obi murmured, pulling her and Izana along more insistently.

KAW!

Popo flew from Kihal's feet in a flurry of angry feathers, barreling right into the crowd. He clawed the hair of a shrieking woman, who promptly backed up, arms flailing, into the refreshment table. Food went flying, and the ballroom descended into chaos. The last thing she saw before Obi shoved them through one of the back doors was Kihal making a halfhearted show of chasing her errant bird around amongst a cacophony of terrified screams and angry shouts.

"Alrighty then," Obi closed the door with a quiet click, muffling the noise of the ballroom. The three of them stood in an empty hall.

Izana raised an eyebrow. "This is yet another hairbrained scheme, I assume?"

"Mostly Lady Kihal's, but I had some input."

So this had been the plan? Shirayuki wanted to smack a hand to her forehead. And here she thought the pharmacy's plot was outlandish.

Izana sighed. "I suppose I should thank you for giving me the opportunity for some privacy."

"No thanks necessary," Obi grinned. "So long as you clear up this idiotic misunderstanding." He smacked Shirayuki on her back, and she stepped towards Izana with a yelp. "Alright lovebirds, I'm off."

Panic lodged in her throat. "Obi…"

He winked. "Don't worry, I've escorted you home after my meeting with the king."

She blushed to her toes. "That's not—"

He turned around and strode off with a casual wave. "Good luck, Mistress. Don't fuck things up again, Elder Highness."

"Noted," Izana replied dryly as Obi rounded a corner, leaving Shirayuki alone.

The jerk.

She looked at Izana warily, their earlier conversation echoing in her mind as the excitement of Kihal's stunt wore off. "I've already given you my answer."

"When you don't even know the question?"

"Stop speaking in riddles. You know I hate it." She couldn't handle his evasiveness, not now, not when her heart hinged on his every word, hoping for the impossible.

"I'd like to speak where no one will disturb us." He held out a hand. "Will you come with me?"

For a split moment the scene transformed, and they were in Lyrias again, him holding his hand out to take her down from the horse, a similar softness in his gaze as the snow fell around them. She sucked in a breath. Had his feelings begun that long ago?

She hesitated, for just a moment, before grasping his warm fingers. "Ok."