Silver beams of moonlight shone through the large, ornate windows of Valflame Palace. A cacophony of music and conversation filtered out across the hall, sprouting from each group of invitees.

A certain Ashen Chevalier was not among them, at least not right now. Instead, he was content to soak in the atmosphere. He had just finished his first few dances with his sister and the princess, as well as a whirlwind of different conversations with all his friends, classmates and allies he has made throughout his adventures.

...and of course, his closest friend of all, who was currently catching up with Angelica nearby. He couldn't quite catch their conversation, but given Towa's sigh and facepalm (and it being Angelica) it wasn't hard to guess.

Call him sappy, but he couldn't help just admire her from a distance. He took a sip of his fruity punch, thinking back to earlier in the day. He finally met her aunt and uncle for the first time, wanting to rip that bandaid off now while he was in the area.

He expected some caution from the two, he had to admit. Despite his prior pep talk to Towa during her own visit to Ymir about how his parents would adore her and not to worry, he wasn't the best at taking his own advice. Thankfully, Towa was adept at MAKING him take it, letting him march confidently inside with Class VII in tow.

Though, to say he was overwhelmed with their... reaction to their continued relationship would be the understatement of the century.

"I know how tempting it is, you better make sure you two don't just elope! Make sure she gets the biggest, best wedding you can organize!"

"Now now, Martha... These days, it's popular to host a small, quick wedding with just close friends and family. No need to make a big deal."

"Yeah, but the ceremony is just as important as the vows! You don't want to wake up exhausted after taking care of your kids, and out of nowhere regret not having memories of the ceremony!"

A small thud was heard as face met table. "Aunt! Uncle! Stooooopppppp!!!"

...he was so embarrassed on her behalf he forgot that HE should've been just as embarrassed. His students will never let them live it down.

Still, he couldn't help but chuckle now, well after the fact. Despite their... Extreme enthusiasm, he could tell Fred and Martha loved Towa, and thought he was a good fit for her. It lifted a weight he never even realized existed.

Must be what she felt, last year.

As he finished the last of his drink, he heard the band pick up speed, signalling a change in song and a new dance. His eyes drifted back to Towa, watching her giggle happily, glee shining in her emerald eyes.

Would it be too forward to...?

The two had spent the better part of the school year trying to hide their relationship from their students and fellow faculty. And time and time again, their efforts proved less than successful. His class had found out not very far into the school year, and from the cheeky grins Randy sent his way when passing the two walking down the hall together, he must at least suspect something too.

(Or probably ran into the two of them napping together sometime, knowing his luck.)

Still, he was sure at least SOME students still didn't know. They figured out how to keep PDAs to a minimum in the main building after many, many close calls. And now everyone they taught was as insanely perceptive as his own students. Still, he figured it was a bit of an open secret to much of the school body.

(There were only so many times he would ask for "clarification" from students about rumors that the two instructors "sordid love affair" before he seemed like he was protesting too much.)

Publicly asking for a dance from her in front of the whole party would just be fuel for the fire. Plus it would undoubtedly be front-page news in the Imperial Times. Aidios knows his two prior dances with Elise and Alfin would spawn enough unwanted rumors, no matter how obligatory or generous it was. But dancing with his coworker, without a familial bond or needing to worry about slighting the Imperial family? Practically an orbal furnace.

...but at this point, was there even a point to being so secretive? Obviously their professional responsibilities meant that openly kissing during class was a no-go regardless... But pretending was getting exhausting. Ever since their date to Heimdallr, it was just more and more tiring to have to sneak out after class, or settle for mutual grading sessions to have alone time. He wanted to be honest to the world. To say he wasn't ashamed of dating Towa. Far from it: he was proud to call her his girlfriend. Proud to want nothing more then spend as much time as he could together... For the rest of their lives.

And what better way there was to show the world that then a fancy, once-in-a-lifetime ballroom dance?

To hell with subtly. The country's spiralling out of control. We need this one last moment of levity. Setting his cup down, he fixed his hair, then started stepping towards the brunette.

"May I have this dance, Lady Herschel?" He stretches a hand towards her.

She turns and gazes into his fuchsia eyes. Her own eyes are both flattered and confused, asking if he's sure about this. With a slight nod, and his smile widening even more, she finally returns with her own gleeful grin.

"I would love to, Sir Schwarzer."

They ignore the grin on Angelica's face, wide as a highway as she slipped into the crowd with a laugh. They ignored the gawking onlookers, the winks from their friends, the jealous looks from some strangers (and maybe even his classmates.)

The crowd faded away as they stepped onto the dance floor, hand in hand. The stresses of their mission in Heimdallr, worries of what the Chancellor is planning, all of that fades as they wrap themselves up in each other, swaying and stepping to the music.

Even the music is barely white noise, just something to get the two moving. In this last moment of calm, all they notice is each other, their loving gazes, soft touches, the way their bodies snuggly match each other like a hand fits a glove.

That suits them just fine.