"Oh, all right. Go on."
The Kagamine children had been waiting for their father to utter those words for nearly an hour, watching as the crowds in front of them dispersed from the tables and onto the dancefloor. As soon as they were given permission, they flew from the table like a flock of birds scared by a passing carriage. All but baby Alexandria abandoned their seats.
"Watch your younger sisters, Galaco!" Kaori called after them as the disappeared into the crowd. She watched them go with a frown, praying to the gods that all of them would return when the party was over.
Rin was not yet dismissed, however, still picking at her food, playing her argument with Miku over and over again in her head. She watched the girls all flee from the table jealously, only sitting up straighter in her chair when she noticed the prince flash her a brief glance before descending into the crowd with them.
"May I go too, father?" Rin asked, looking towards the king. Even Kokone had abandoned their pleasant conversation for the dance.
"You've barely eaten," he pointed out, looking at her plate. "Are you feeling okay?"
"I'm fine," she insisted. "I've just been so excited today, it's hard to have an appetite."
He let out a deep breath. Rin had kept track of how many glasses of wine he had finished since she had sat down. They were nearing eight. "All right," he grumbled, still shoveling food into his mouth. "But stay near the guards."
Rin's bored frown flipped in an instant and she stood from the table, gliding down the steps into the crowd.
So many people crowded the room that Rin was unable to walk towards the mess tables without constantly bumping shoulders with the other nobles. Each one sent her an annoyed glance, then, realizing who they were addressing, smiled and bowed to her. She smiled back at all of them, only wishing to make it to the mess tables, where there were certainly sweets waiting for her.
She made it to the table just in time to see Len, along with Galaco and Lenka crowding around a dish of sweetcakes.
"I want more!" The little girl yelled, shoving the sticky treats into her mouth.
"Don't eat so many," Galaco giggled at her sister's full mouth. "You'll choke. They aren't going anywhere, you beast."
They had yet to notice the princess approaching.
"Can we take some to our room?" Lenka asked her brother, who hovered over her, leaning against the table. Her words were nearly incomprehensible and each movement of her mouth sent crumbs flying all over the place.
Len laughed along. "We can come back for some later. Listen to your sister-" He cut himself off as Galaco looked up, catching sight of the princess and freezing. He looked over his shoulder to see what she was looking at and stiffened as well.
"Rinny!" Lenka yelled, running towards the princess while still spewing crumbs everywhere.
"Lenka, no!" Galaco shouted, horrified at the thought of her baby sister ruining Rin's dress with her sticky hands. She snatched the girl from the ground just before she reached Rin, grabbing a handkerchief and taking it to the toddler's hands.
"Are they good?" Rin asked Lenka was a grin.
Lenka nodded furiously. "So, so good."
Galaco looked back and forth between her brother and princess as Lenka raved about the sweetcakes, understanding immediately the situation.
"Lenka," she interrupted, casting a knowing glance at her brother. "Why don't we go dance?"
The girl lit up. "I want to dance! Let's go dance!"
With that, she pulled her older sister into the crowd of citizens.
Rin beamed after them. "She's so excited," she noticed.
"She's been talking about it all day," Len admitted. "It's her first royal ball."
"I hope she likes it."
"She will."
Rin flushed a bit in his presence, sitting down on the empty bench of the mess table and plucking a sweetcake from the platter. "Have you tried them?" She asked him.
"Not yet," he answered, sitting beside her. His eyes watched the dancing couples, trying not to stare at her.
She took a bite of the cake, relishing it's sugary taste. "Are you sneaking out tonight?" She asked with a sly smile.
He grinned as well. "I'm not sure yet," he answered. "I haven't gotten bored of the ball quite yet."
"You've just been set free," she pointed out. "You have plenty of time to get bored."
"Do you want me to sneak out?" He raised an eyebrow, daring to look in her direction.
"That is not what I said," she retorted, finally able to meet his eyes for more than a few seconds.
Back at the head table, the king laughed loudly with Ken, sharing stories of when they were just boys, headed to war together, when Lily tapped him on the arm.
"What is it?" He asked, drunkenly.
"Look at your daughter," Lily whispered, soft enough so Ken and Kaori could not hear her. "Sitting at the long table. On the right."
It did not take long for him to find her, smiling and laughing with none other than that Kagamine boy. His joyous mood turned to one of mild rage.
"More wine," he demanded, banging his empty chalice on the table.
"And then," Rin continued, sipping at her own cup of wine. "I was so angry with how the book ended that I threw it at her," she told the prince, covering her mouth to hide a laugh.
"You threw a book at your nanny?" He asked with raised eyebrows. "That's the worst thing you've ever done?"
"It was a big book," she insisted, knowing full well that her tale of momentary childish defiance was nothing compared to setting the village stables on fire. "Luckily, I missed."
"It sounds to me that you've never known the thrill of being a disappointment to your parents," Len joked.
"That's awful! Don't say that!" She swatted him playfully on the arm as he laughed. "You are not."
He shrugged, raising his cup to his lips for another drink. "Not entirely."
It was then, while she was smiling up at him, that she noticed her father glaring at the two of them from the head table over his shoulder. Her mother was watching them as well, displeased but not nearly as angry as the king.
Perhaps this is the worst thing I have ever done, she thought. The realization gave her an alien feeling of satisfaction. She chose to ignore her parents. Besides, they could not leave the head table with guests present.
"How is your book?" She asked, focusing her eyes once more on the prince in front of her.
"The hunting book? It's very interesting." He swirled his wine around in his cup.
"Are you having any problems reading it?"
He shook his head. "A couple of longer words here and there, but other than that, no."
She was pleased. "I told you it wouldn't take long. Only a few weeks and here you are. A literate man."
"Thanks to you," he answered before he could catch himself, still not allowing glances that lasted too long in her direction.
"Oh please," she took another bite of her sweetcake, chewing and swallowing before speaking again. "I did not do all of that constant studying as you have."
"Yes you did," he retorted with a chuckle. "You did it when you were a child."
"Give yourself more credit, Len. Be proud."
He took a deep breath. "I am," he admitted. "It's a huge weight off my chest."
"Good."
She took a few more bites of her dessert, tapping her fingers to the tune of the musicians across the room. There were more of them, now. Enough to fill the entire hall with the sharp trills of the violins and the deep bows of the cellos. The beautiful waltz music made her want to return to her room and practice.
Once she was done, she turned on the bench, facing the crowd just like the prince. With the passing couples, she could not help but notice each pair of eyes linger on her for a few seconds. The brazen nature of her dress was almost completely forgotten by her, but now it came back to her with full force, the exposed skin of her shoulders and collarbone feeling cold under the air of the room. She remembered why she did not like wearing these sorts of dresses.
"It feels like everyone is staring at me," she said aloud, catching their eyes even as she spoke.
Len thought for a moment. "That's because they are," he pointed out with a grin. "Isn't that what you wanted?"
She ran her thumbs over the intricate patterns carved into her chalice. "I suppose it is."
"I don't blame them," he continued, earning a curious look from Rin. "It is hard not to."
She blushed bright red, her eyes flicking back down to her cup and an involuntary smile creeping on her face. "Maybe you're not as much of an ass as I thought before."
He chuckled. "I hope not."
She was very aware of her father still watching them with the eyes of a hawk. "...Including my father," she added.
"Hm?" Len asked, deciding to finally abandon his manners and turning to her.
"My father is staring at us. Furiously." She never looked the king directly in his eye, but he was a constant shadow over Len's shoulder.
Len nodded, not daring to see for himself.
"It makes me angry," she admitted. "That he's so reluctant to let us simply spend time together."
Neither of them spoke of Rin's upcoming marriage, but both of them were thinking of it.
"Everyone in this kingdom does everything they do for the sole purpose of making you happy," Len revealed. "Every nobleman and woman, the villagers, the servants in the palace, my sisters, my parents. And your parents."
Rin listened intently, unsure what he was getting at.
"They all only wish to make you happy. Even if they have an odd way of showing it." Len looked towards the table, stopping at his father talking drunkenly to the king, who paid him no mind. "Especially your parents," he continued, turning his gaze back to her. "They love you and they only want to see you happy. Even if they have… unique ways of showing it."
Rin took another sip of her wine, surprised at his wise words. "What about you?" She asked, her anger temporarily calmed.
"What about me?"
"Do you do everything you do solely to make me happy?" She teased.
He smirked. "Why? What do you want me to do?"
"I want you to dance with me," she answered immediately. Then, after a stunned pause. "Unless you're bored already. Or..." She glanced at her father one last time. "Or unless the king frightens you."
Len looked at her for a moment before standing, offering her his hand. Both of them were fully aware of Brighton watching their every move.
"Fuck the king," Len grinned as Rin took his hand, guiding her to the dancefloor.
That last line might be one of the most satisfying things I have ever written.
Thanks for reading! :)