Author's Note: Hello! I hope you're enjoying thus far.

I highly recommend that you listen to the waltz music referred to in this story as you read from this point. Just search "When I Dream of You" by Werner Tauber on Youtube or Youtube Music and play it in the background as you continue. It'll greatly help your reading experience!

Here's the link: https//watch?v=h1AOy7pwWAk

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Rich symphonic tones began to envelop the theater as the orchestra began playing the music.

"Ready?" Damian asked.

"Yes!" Anya beamed.

The Cecile Hall students started to dance.

Anya and Damian listened to the singing of Calliope Abrin whose enchanting voice, along with the stage lights, caused them to slip into their own little world. The two danced around to the music.

("When I Dream of You" by Werner Tauber lyrics)

Oh when I dream of you

I'm asking myself

If dreams can ever come true.

When I dream of you

I feel so alive

Cause you give me wings to fly.

When I look into your eyes

I know my dream come true

Cause I see me holding you.

I'm lying in your arms

and you're touching me

There's no place I'd rather be.

I don't need to fear

'cause I am living my dream

Every time when you are near.

Forever in the day

I always will stay

Cause nobody loves me like you do.

The audience watched with bated breath as the Cecile Hall students swayed on stage, swinging their hands in the air, and rising and falling on their toes as they moved around with their partners. They waltzed to a V-shape formation then to a W, then to a circle. The girls waltzed to the middle and posed, twirled, and waltzed back toward their partners on the sides. They waltzed around in a circle, exposing to the crowd every dance pair, until Damian and Anya were again front and center.

Anya's gown lightly bounced and followed her sway as she moved around the stage. The floating frills in her hair added to her already sweet smile; the flecked glitters in her dress made her look dreamy and princess-like. Damian looked polished and dashing in his tailcoat, flawlessly leading Anya and syncing their movements. Absorbed at the moment, he danced free of his worries; his heart fluttering by the second.

"Sy-on boy, I'm about to turn," Anya said excitedly.

"Ah," Damian replied. And so she did, a few counts after.

At the end of the twirl, Damian delicately caught her back with his right arm and her right hand with his left. She now faced him again.

"That was so good!" Anya exclaimed.

Damian smiled in admiration for his partner.

Mr. Henderson took his handkerchief and lightly wiped the tears that formed at the sides of his eyes.

I can't believe it, they moved perfectly. Even Desmond and Forger made such a connection on stage.

He took a fist to his chest.

This is beyond elegant!

Emile and Ewen couldn't help but glance at Damian who they saw were all smiles throughout.

"Bossman looks happy," Ewen, smiling, told his partner Becky.

"Yes!" Becky giddily replied. She has been observing Anya from the corner of her eyes.

Loid and Yor watched from their seats, proudly admiring their daughter who resembled a princess from a fairytale.

"Loid..." Yor whispered. Her breath was taken away she couldn't utter anything more.

"Ah," Loid replied. He, too, was captivated by the performance.

The Desmonds' rather stern and expressionless butler covered his mouth with his handkerchief in awe of his young master.

At the end of their dance, the student performers made a final twirl and pose with their partners. The orchestra music resolved and slowly faded into silence. One by one the audience caught their breaths, and the theater was soon filled with thundering applause and a standing ovation.

The Cecile Hall students did their bows and curtsies amidst the glittering confetti.

"As expected of Mr. Henderson's class. Elegant, fantastic, splendid!" an Eden alumnus spoke.

"Calliope Abrin never disappoints. Such an enchanting voice. A fine choice, Henry," one of the Eden teachers commented.

"I can't take my eyes off the pair in the middle. They looked perfect," the female VIP said as she lightly tapped her handkerchief to her cheek. She was referring to Damian and Anya.

"This magical presentation will forever be etched in our memories. Bravo, Cecile Hall!" one of the patrons said.

The clapping continued for a few seconds even after the stage has been emptied for the next performers.

"Marvelous job, Cecile Hall!" said the backstage manager as the students cheerfully passed by him.

Becky ran to Anya and hugged her.

"You were so wonderful up there, Anya!" Becky said joyfully. She then looked around.

"Where is Desmond?" Becky asked.

"His butler fetched him."

"I see. Let's go watch the next performers!"

The Cecile Hall students went back to their seats after their performance to watch the other presentations.

~~~~~

About an hour later, the event went to a close. Delighted spectators and students flooded the hallway as they left the Grand Theater. As she looked for her parents in the crowd, Anya was approached by Damian's butler.

"Ms. Forger, may I ask you to follow me? It will not take much of your time," he politely asked.

"Okay, kind sir."

Anya was led by the butler to the fountain in the middle of the garden where she saw Damian sitting.

Sy-on boy?

Damian turned in her direction. "Sorry for asking you to come over." His tone was unlike the usual demeaning manner and he was speaking rather kindly to her.

Damian stood up and fetched the small bouquet of flowers on his side before approaching Anya. He stopped just before her, shyly handing her the flowers.

"You did wonderful on stage. My father and brother spoke highly of our performance. Thank you, Anya," he said.

Anya examined Damian's face. He was red and a bit tearful but clearly overjoyed. She reached out to receive the beautifully-arranged concoction of flowers.

"I'm glad everything went well. Thank you for the flowers, Sy-on boy! They're so beautiful."

"Y-you're welcome."

The Desmond butler stood on the side quietly, pretending that he never existed at that very moment. Yet, despite his bland expression, his lips slightly quivered when he saw his young master react to the gratitude of the young girl.

"I need to find Papa and Mama now," Anya said. She was about to leave when Damian stopped her.

"Wait! Can we have a picture together?" Damian asked in a rather shy tone.

Anya smiled. "Of course!"

And so the butler took a picture of the two — his young master in a formal tailcoat and the young girl in her beautiful ball gown and bouquet — with the exquisite garden fountain and the tall green bushes as their background. The poor butler mustered every bit of his strength not to let a smile nor a tear escape as his heart secretly rejoiced for his young master.

Afterwards, the butler brought Anya back to the Grand Theater where her parents awaited.

Anya found her parents and told them about the bouquet. Loid rubbed his chin with his fingers as he felt a little bothered by his daughter receiving flowers from a boy, but eventually decided to ignore his budding fatherly instincts. It's natural to give flowers to excellent performers. I should have prepared one for her as her father, he justified.

Loid then borrowed the bouquet to check for any bugs. He sighed in relief upon clearing it.

The Forgers then treated Anya to her favorite restaurant as a reward for her effort. They also promised to buy her pet dog soon!

~~~~~