King Leopold holds a Christmas ball.
The decorations inside of the castle were breathtaking. Regina couldn't help but want to reach out and touch everything; though she refrained from doing so due to it being unseemly for a Queen to take such liberties when such would make her seem more like a curious child instead of the wife to a beloved monarch.
"Lord and Lady Milford." The squire belted out above the music as guests slowly began to filter into the great hall.
The King and Queen were seated against ornate chairs, with backs as tall as half of the wall that lead up to arched ceilings. They both awaited each guest, allowing all to greet them one by one personally. Regina tired of this nonsense, the things her Mother would surely be loving if she were here and her daughter hadn't pushed her through the mirror. A smile tugged at her lips, genuine, as opposed to the one that had been plastered on her features for the past two hours they had spent greeting these stuck up people who thought titles meant everything when in fact, it did not.
"Might I say, what a lovely dress my Queen." Lady Milford seemed to have rehearsed the line numerous times, for the way the compliment spilled from her lips caused Regina's stomach to jolt. No one, not one person thus far had given her such a compliment, nor seemed as though they cared she were there. Apart from the normal kiss to the top of her hand and a bow or curtsy; The Queen did not compare to that of Snow White.
Yet Regina swallowed the urge to scowl and instead opted for a, very practiced, look of humble stature. "When our King says that he will throw a ball to outshine all before it; one must employ the best seamstress in all the lands." A compliment towards the creator of her assemble without seeming shy, ungrateful or completely dull. And with that the lady moved onto the King, where she presented him with a playful, flirt of a giggle. It wouldn't have grated on Regina's nerves if the King hadn't given the woman more attention than he had his wife. The dress alone had been meant to send his head turning towards Regina; but what did it get? Lovely dress dear. Oh! Look at Snow, how she shimmers and sparkles. The fairest of the ball; that she will be.
Groaning, she adjusted her posture, trying hard not to pay attention to the ache occurring in her back and rump, how she wished to dance or find a place where she could sneak away and drink some cider – like she had done when she were younger.
They spent another hour in the uncomfortable thrones before the last of the guests had poured through the doors and greeted them. As soon as the coast was clear, Regina pushed herself up onto her very uncomfortable shoes and turned towards her husband. "I believe it is the waltz." She motioned towards the sea of dancers on the floor. To that the king gave a nod, held up his glass and brought it to his lips.
"That it is, my Queen."
Cocking a brow, she turned on her heels and sauntered off towards the buffet table, eyeing the immense amounts of lavish goods decorating the table as if they intended on feeding the entire kingdom. She couldn't help but wonder if they were to waste so much food, why not invite everyone regardless of title?
"A bit much, isn't it?" The tone could not have caused any other reaction in the young Queen, other than excitement.
"Rum-"
"At your service." He took an extravagant bow, but never took his eyes off of her.
"Your name was not called. How did you-"
"Tsk. Tsk. Tsk." He wagged a long gold flecked finger in her direction, a sly playful smile plastered on his lips. "You should know me by now, dearie."
In truth they had only been training for a few fortnights and yet he never failed to make any moment one that she wished would last longer than the next. "I agree, however. It is way too much. I believe we could feed the entirety of the village."
"With the lack of goods lately, it would be of no protest. You would be correct." He slipped a little closer to her, his leg brushing against her skirts and causing the cage to sway, almost making Regina lose her balance, but she was quick to correct her footing to accommodate the new stance.
"Why are you here?" She asked, hoping it wouldn't seem ungrateful or unwanted. More than anything, she was happy to see him here tonight regardless of why he had come or the means of which he would no doubt conduct during the ball. "Do you have business to attend to? Some ancient relic in need of collecting?"
"My my my, very nosy, are we not?" Once again, he dared to teeter on the edge of boundaries known among the higher class, his body curling inward just a hair, fingers dancing dangerously close to hers.
"Very." The word was airy, breathless as it left her lips and she couldn't help the heat that caused pink to form along the apples of her cheeks. "Oh, Happy Christmas."
A giggle bubbled from within him, lifting his hand up he held it out, stepping one foot towards the dance floor while the toe of his shoe pointed upward; "May I have this dance?"
Her heart sprang up into her throat, her head felt light; she accepted his hand and allowed her mentor to lead her out onto the dance floor regardless of him not having asked her husband's permission first. "I thought you would never ask." he pulled her as close to him as the dance would allow and began to waltz along with the rest of the party. Yet Regina felt that as soon as he held her, the entire world had melted away. What once had been a dull and dreary evening, now shone as if the sun had been lassoed into the very room.
The moment felt as if it lasted only but a few seconds, the music slowly dying away as the dance slowed down to an end, but before Regina could curtsy; he had whirled her behind a large statue of the King, out of view of the entirety of the well-to-do in the Kingdom. "What-"
His finger shot up to her lips as he watched her with curiosity. Eyes washing along her frame from head to toe, drinking in the exquisite gown that clung to her frame, the fabric cascading like an ocean of silk down to the floor and the bust of the attire that was taut, pulled against a straining corset that pushed her bosom up into impossible form. The finger against her lip slipped down her chin, then against her throat and the minute it reached her chest - his other hand joined and cupped her in a way that was very unlike a gentleman.
Regina's breath hitched in her throat at the gesture, the act itself had never been done to her. Though she allowed him his liberties and couldn't help but blush at the knowledge that she would have allowed him anything had he asked. But he didn't, he did not ask. Instead, he leaned in and gave her a sniff, fingers still as statues against her trussed up bosom.
"I-Rumple-" She wanted to urge him to do something; anything. And so she said the only thing that would come out - "I rather enjoy it when you place your hands on me."
"Do you, dearie?" With the slightest amount of effort, he had her against the statue in seconds, hands sliding down to grip at her cinched waist as his lips claimed her throat in a way very unfitting to do to someone betrothed to a king, and yet Rumplestiltskin knew no fear of monarchs nor men who thought themselves worthy of any title that could insist they had power - when he in fact - they had none.
Regina bit down hard on her lower lip to try and keep herself from emitting any noise that should never come from a Queen, and yet her fingers sought his soft curls. "Rumplestiltskin..I-Thank you.."
And just like that he backed away, hands coming to clasp behind himself as he eyed her. The color of his irises were brighter somehow, as if emotions could change them depending on how immense he felt such. "Know that no matter how long you are married to that King, he will never show you anything like I have tonight. That passion, that desire... it only works with your simmering rage that mirrors my own. Keep that in mind, Regina. You will do well to accept your King and Kingdom as they are; flawed and unwilling to see the woman I do. The Queen that I do."
With that, he flicked his arms up, a twitch of his wrist and a plume of purple smoke engulfed him. When it cleared, he was gone and Regina slowly pondered on his words, wondering if indeed her efforts to try and sway the kingdom were for not.