More of the Ball.

WARNING - This chapter contains sexual content. Reader discretion is advised.

Chapter 86 – The Ball, Part 2 (Ethereal Moon)

Byleth couldn't tell which was making her blush more: the numerous gazes of boys and girls ogling her in her revealing dress, or the voice of Sothis making fun of her over it.

"I dare say this is something you are never going to be able to forget," said Sothis. "I am certain these children will never forget it."

Byleth struggled not to reply to Sothis' words as she danced with Edelgard. The princess had been among the first to request a dance with her, a request Byleth was happy to oblige.

"I have to say, I never would have imagined Rhea would have such a… peculiar wardrobe," said Edelgard. She too was blushing a bit at how much skin Byleth was revealing. "How did she manage to get you to wear this?"

"She said it was a traditional garb," Byleth said with uncertainty.

"Did she? Why do I suspect she only said that to get you to wear it?"

"W-Well, it would've been rude to turn it down…"

"A fair point, Professor. But still, she could've at least let you wear some more to cover yourself up."

Byleth continued to blush for a moment, something which Dorothea watched with a giggle. The singer presently was taking a rest from her own dancing, having been at it for an hour straight.

As she sipped on some water, she looked around at the others as they continued to enjoy themselves.

…

Marianne moved slowly with Dimitri in a gentle waltz. The heiress of House Edmund was dressed in a conservative gown of ocean blue, one that made her look pristine and serene. Dimitri, on the other hand, wore a regal ensemble that truly befit his royal status.

But the two had been dancing for some time now, and Marianne hadn't spoken a word. She was doing her best to avoid eye contact with Dimitri.

"Marianne, is something wrong?" Dimitri finally asked. "You've been silent ever since we started. And your eyes continue to avoid my gaze."

"I… I'm sorry," said Marianne.

"What is the matter? Are you perhaps dissatisfied with my own abilities as a dancer? I cannot say that I am much of one."

"N-No, it's not that… It's just…" Marianne's cheeks began to turn pink as she couldn't bring herself to say what she was thinking.

"Tell me what is on your mind, Marianne."

"I… umm… I r-really appreciate you a-accepting to be my date this evening. It's just…" Marianne turned her head to stare into Dimitri's eyes as she said, "When I look at you like this, I can't help but think about what happened at… at the Battle of the Eagle and Lion."

It took Dimitri a moment to recall this, and now he began to blush.

"Oh… Yes, that… That was…"

"The thing is…" Marianne paused for a moment, and then took a deep breath. "You've saved my life so many times over this year. I just… I wanted to r-repay you somehow…"

"Is that so? How were you planning to repay… me…?"

Dimitri was left stunned as Marianne began to lean toward him, raising her lips to his own for a kiss. Before they could connect, however, the crowd surrounding them noticed and their comments of awe and surprise startled the willowy healer.

Realizing what she was just about to do, Marianne quickly backed away.

"I'm sorry!" she said as her face went red. "I don't know what came over me! I just–"

Finally losing her nerve, Marianne turned and ran from Dimitri as the prince said, "Wait! Marianne!"

As Marianne fled the hall, Dimitri was left utterly dumbfounded at what had almost transpired.

…

Hilda made a short hiss as she narrowly avoided having Caspar step on her toes. It was the fourth time it had almost happened, and clearly showed the boy's lack of dancing ability. Then again, it might have been due to him being distracted by Hilda's pink dress, one that hugged her curves yet had a deep, plunging neckline that ended just below her breasts. It almost looked like it was one deep breath away from falling off her body.

Seeing his own mistake, Caspar said, "Sorry, Hilda. I really suck at this."

"It's okay, Caspar," Hilda said sweetly. "I've known worse dancers. You should see my brother."

"Hehe, yeah, Holst's got two left feet on him," said Balthus as he and Hapi waltzed nearby.

"Baltie? What's Hapi doing here?"

"B dragged me here," said Hapi. "Kinda sweet of him, actually."

"Wasn't about to let you just mope to yourself out in the cold," said Balthus.

"So, are you enjoying yourself, Hapi?" asked Hilda.

"Yeah. This is actually kinda fun," Hapi replied with a smile.

"Well, maybe you'd like to trade dance partners for a moment?"

"Uh, sure," Balthus said with sudden nervousness. "I mean, if you're up for that, Hilda."

As Hilda and Caspar moved toward Balthus and Hapi, however, Caspar accidentally stepped on the long skirt of Hilda's dress. The pinkette made a startled gasp as she was suddenly tripped, and with a series of yelps from both Caspar and Hilda, the two crashed to the floor in a heap, with Caspar somehow on top of Hilda.

"Ow…" Hilda moaned as she lay on the floor. "Sorry about that, Casp– AAH?"

Caspar, dizzy from his landing, had instinctively put his hands forward as he pushed himself up and, much to the amusement of everyone who was watching, he once again had Hilda's huge breasts in his hands. His clumsiness had even caused her left breast to pop out of her dress, and if one looked close enough they could've seen a rosy nipple between his fingers.

"C-C-C-CASPAR!" Hilda shrieked. "NOT AGAIN!"

Caspar instantly realized he had once again groped the pinkette, and he quickly removed his hands from her breasts as Hilda scrambled to cover herself.

"Hilda, I'm so sorry!" stammered Caspar. "I didn't mean to do that!"

Caspar quickly moved to try and get off her, but in doing so he accidentally pressed his knee right between Hilda's legs. This made the pinkette elicit a very noticeable moan, one that left her blushing even redder when she realized just how many people heard it.

There were already comments coming from some second-year students about Hilda, with one that caught Balthus' attention. All he had to hear were the words "Goneril tramp" and Balthus was storming toward the one who had uttered them, issuing them a challenge for a fight.

Sitting on the ground as her eyes welled up with tears of embarrassment, Hilda said in a fit of pique, "Why are your hands so attracted to my boobs?!"

…

Lysithea, having just witnessed Hilda's humiliating ordeal, let out her own sigh of jealousy. She hadn't ended up padding her chest for the dance, so she looked down at herself and sighed at her lack of a noticeable bustline. Attempting to console herself, the white-haired girl chomped down on a sweet roll that had been part of her large plate of sweets.

"My, my, how embarrassing," said Linhardt as he walked over to Lysithea, who knew he was referring to Hilda's accident. "Didn't that happen before at the Battle of the Eagle and Lion?"

"Yes, it did," Lysithea said sourly. "Only that time Hilda knocked Caspar unconscious for it."

With a chuckle, Linhardt said, "A shame I missed that." Then, looking down at her plate, Linhardt asked, "Do you mind if I have that one?" He then pointed at a particular chocolate on her plate.

"Why not go get your own?"

"Because that'd take more effort."

"Well, boo-hoo, Linhardt. Sorry, but these are mine."

"You're awfully protective of something you could just get more of."

"Well, I like my sweets, okay?!"

"I have to wonder why it is you have such a sweet tooth. It could just be simple preference, but I can't help thinking it may have something to do with your–"

With a mortified hiss, Lysithea said, "Shut up! You can have one, okay?!"

"Gladly. Thank you, Lysithea."

Lysithea couldn't help but growl at Linhardt as he took a fancy chocolate from her plate.

"Blackmailing me for some chocolate?" Lysithea snarled. "You're worse than I thought, Linhardt."

"My apologies," said Linhardt. "But I'm rather fond of these ones."

…

Mercedes stopped dead in her tracks as she saw Annette stumbling toward her with tears in her eyes.

"Annie? What's wrong?" Mercedes asked as she stopped dancing with Ashe.

"I-It's Felix…" Annette said with a sniffle. "I finally got him to come with me to the ball, but he won't dance with me."

"I'd be more than willing to dance with you, Annette," said Ashe.

"T-Thanks Ashe, but I r-really want to dance with Felix… He's just so… he's such a jerk!"

As Annette looked like she was about to start bawling, Mercedes made an uncharacteristic frown upon seeing Felix brooding in a corner. Then, to the alarm of those around them, Mercedes stormed her way angrily toward the swordsman.

"Felix!" Mercedes said sternly as she reached him.

"What do you want, Mercedes?" Felix asked dismissively.

"Annie went to so much trouble to ask you out to the ball and now you won't dance with her?"

"I never agreed to making myself look like a fool in front of everyone. Besides, she can find someone else to dance with."

"Of all the… Felix Hugo Fraldarius, you are going to walk out there, take Annette's hand, and dance with her right now!"

Felix was surprised to hear Mercedes make such a demand. He turned and said tersely, "No."

Mercedes glared at him in tranquil fury as Annette and Ashe watched with concern. The blonde usually never got this mad, so they worried she might do something rash.

As Felix took a step to walk away from Mercedes, the blonde quickly reached up and grabbed Felix by his ear.

"AGH! M-Mercedes!" Felix yelped. "What are you doing?!"

Mercedes said nothing as she gave a smile that masked her ire. She then began leading Felix by the ear toward Annette as the swordsman protested.

Upon reaching Annette, the blonde said, "Here you go, Annie."

"M-Mercie…" Annette said in a mix of amazement and shock.

"L-Let go already, Mercedes!" Felix hissed.

"Will you agree to dance with Annette, Felix?" Mercedes asked sweetly as she pinched harder on his ear.

"A-AAH! A-Alright! Alright, I'll do it!"

"Thank you, Felix."

Mercedes released Felix's ear as he scowled loudly and rubbed it.

"Oh, thank you, Mercie!" Annette said jubilantly as she grabbed Felix by the arm and pulled him to the dance floor.

As the two started to dance, Ashe said to Mercedes, "Was she… faking those tears?"

"Now, now, Ashe," said Mercedes. "Best not to question that."

Ashe couldn't help but chuckle nervously as Mercedes giggled.

…

Drinking down another glass of champagne, Manuela groaned as she watched the students enjoy themselves. All around she could see boys and girls having a good time, and romance was everywhere she looked. It left her feeling miserable, knowing she was without anyone to share such a special evening with.

"Manuela, may I have the honor of this dance?" said Hanneman as he approached her.

In a slightly tipsy voice, Manuela said, "W-What? Oh, it's you, Hanneman. I must be already drunk, because I just thought I heard you asking me for a dance."

"You heard me correctly, Manuela. And I know you would not become so inebriated by a few glasses of champagne."

"W-Wait, what? You're really asking me for a dance?" As Hanneman nodded to this, Manuela's expression soured as she asked, "You're just doing it out of pity, aren't you?"

"You may see it that way. But as we are both professors here, does it not fall to us to set an example for the students, even in matters such as this?"

Manuela was silent for a moment, and then she made a hearty laugh at Hanneman. This left the Crest scholar with a perturbed look as the former diva stumbled to her feet.

"Is that it, Hanneman? Just so we can set an example for the kids?" Manuela then straightened her dress as she said, "Oh, what the hell. I doubt I'll get any better offers tonight anyway."

The senior songstress then reached out toward Hanneman with surprising grace despite being slightly drunk. Hanneman took her hand and, in a manner befitting a gentleman, led her to the dance floor to begin a slow waltz. Students all around them watched with interest as the two professors moved gracefully through the hall.

After about a minute of dancing with the grey-haired scholar, Manuela said, "Hey, you're actually pretty good at this."

"One of the requirements of my upbringing at House Essar," said Hanneman.

Manuela couldn't help but smile at this as she decided to increase their tempo a bit.

…

Shamir let out a groan as she carried a drunken Catherine back to her quarters. It was something the Dagdan woman had gotten used to, as much as it annoyed her. Catherine had challenged Jeralt to a drinking contest and, as Shamir had predicted, the Crusader had lost horribly to the Blade Breaker.

"I-I'm telling you, Shamir, P-Professor Eisner's got a big rack, for sure," Catherine stammered as Shamir rolled her eyes. "B-But Lady Rhea's so big, s-she's g-got knockers as big as your head!"

Catherine then made a wheezing laugh as Shamir opened the door to her room and led the Crusader in.

"B-B-But your… your boobs are, pfft, they're j-just right, Sh-Shamir~"

Shamir was about to make some derisive comment toward Catherine when the Crusader suddenly threw her weight onto the sniper. Surprised, Shamir's eyes went wide as saucers as Catherine pinned her to the floor.

"C-Catherine! What are you– H-Hey!" Shamir hissed.

Despite being drunk, Catherine was too strong for Shamir to throw off. Shamir then made a loud moan of surprise as Catherine pressed her face into Shamir's bosom and pulled at the sniper's bustier. Shamir's ample right breast came out of its confines, and Catherine was quick to engulf the Dagdan woman's nipple in her mouth.

"C-Catherine…! H-Hold on a s-sec– NNGH!"

Shamir bit her lip as Catherine's teeth clenched down on her nipple, sending spikes of pleasure through her. The Dagdan woman hated how sensitive her breasts were and hated even more that Catherine never wasted an opportunity to toy with them when they were alone. She let out a loud moan as Catherine's tongue slathered her chest with saliva.

The sniper blushed as she thought of how things had ended up like this. She had known Catherine for years, and it only took her a few weeks to learn the swordswoman was a lesbian. It made sense, given how much she revered Rhea. One evening had seen Catherine unleash her urges upon Shamir when they were out on a mission, something which had taken Shamir completely by surprise. But Catherine knew how to please a woman, and Shamir couldn't deny her own urges forever. The two weren't in a romantic relationship but more of one built on satisfying their own bodily needs.

"C-Catherine…" Shamir moaned as the swordswoman continued to caress her curvy body.

As Catherine moved up and planted a wet kiss on Shamir's lips, the sniper knew deep down the blonde was going to be at it for a while.

She just wished the Crusader could've had the patience to reach her bed first.

…

Anna and Jeralt sat together at the Ragged Flagon, a tavern in town, each with a tall flagon of beer before them. Even after his drinking contest with Catherine, the Blade Breaker was only just barely starting to look tipsy.

"I never get tired of seeing you able to take so much booze, Jeralt," Anna said cheekily.

"Really? You find it amusing?" asked Jeralt.

"Well, yeah. I don't think I've met anyone else out there who could handle more than you can. Heh, come to think of it, Leonie was saying she wanted to learn how to drink as much as you can."

"I hope you told her I wouldn't want her following that example."

"Yeah, I did. That girl really idolizes you, ya know?"

"It's funny, all I did was help out her village and teach her a few tricks on tactics. Not nearly as much as I did with Byleth. And yet Leonie still sees herself as my best apprentice."

"Not like you've had many, have you?"

"Nope."

The two were silent for a moment as others in the tavern continued their own chatter.

Then, Anna said in a more subdued tone, "Hey, Jeralt? How are you holding up?"

"I could easily go for another few pints."

"No, that's not what I meant. I meant about… about what happened with Aelfric… and Sitri."

"Oh." Jeralt paused for a moment and said, "I'll be alright."

"You sure? I mean, it's gotta be pretty hard seeing that happen to your wife, even if she's been gone for so long."

Now puzzled, Jeralt asked, "What's on your mind, Anna?"

"It's just, well…" Taking a deep breath, Anna continued, "Feel free to say 'no', but… have you thought about… moving on?"

"What?"

"I mean, you've been single for about twenty years now, and I…" Anna started blushing as she said, "I just thought maybe you might… Oh, gods, I am so screwing this up."

Realizing what Anna was getting at, Jeralt said, "Annabelle…"

"Hey, what've I said about using my full name in public?"

"Sorry." Jeralt took a long pause, and then said, "I appreciate the gesture, Anna, but I can't say I'm all that ready to move on yet. Seeing her again, it really hit home how much I miss her."

"I thought so. Well, I just wanted to tell you that if you're ever ready to move on, I'll be there for you, okay?"

"Thank you, Anna."

With a smile, Anna raised her flagon and said, "To Sitri, then."

In a toast, Jeralt replied, "To Sitri."

Tell me, does this whole "Anna likes Jeralt" thing feel too forced? I won't deny that it sounds awkward, but given Anna's history in my story, it'd make sense that she'd seek companionship with Jeralt since he's also long-lived.

Also, just so you are all clear, that sex scene with Catherine and Shamir is NOT what I'd classify as rape. Shamir was consenting to Catherine ravishing her. It's just that Catherine was a little brutish at the start. In my book, rape requires a total lack of consent. While you might see some of my previous groping scenes as that, it's a blurry line.

The Goddess Tower is the next chapter, so I hope you're all ready for that.