The whispers gradually faded into the background as Levi and Seraphina stepped onto the polished marble floor.
Around them, other couples moved gracefully to the gentle melody played by the orchestra.
Crystal chandeliers bathed the ballroom in a warm golden glow, their light reflecting across the polished floor beneath their feet.
Levi exhaled quietly.
"...It's been a while."
Seraphina tilted her head.
"Since we've danced?"
He nodded once.
"I was... twelve, I think."
She smiled.
"I remember."
Levi looked at her.
"You stepped on my foot."
"I did not."
"You absolutely did."
"I stepped near your foot."
"You apologized."
"I was being polite."
Levi couldn't help but chuckle.
"You nearly broke my toe."
Seraphina covered her mouth, trying to hide a laugh.
"I was still learning."
"And now?"
She gave a small curtsy.
"I'd like to think I've improved."
Levi glanced down at their joined hands.
"I certainly hope so."
She gasped in mock offense.
"Lord Ravenholt..."
"..."
"...That sounded like a challenge."
Levi's lips curled into a faint smile.
"Perhaps it was."
"Fine. I'll show you just how much I've improved... Levi."
A playful smile tugged at her lips.
"Or should I say... Lord Ravenholt?"
Before Levi could respond, Seraphina gently placed a finger against his lips.
"Shh..."
Her smile grew more mischievous.
"Be a good boy for me, would you?"
Levi clicked his tongue.
"...Tsk."
This girl...
'I never thought she'd have it in her to flirt like this' Levi thought to himself.
Seraphina couldn't help but smile at his rare moment of speechlessness.
"What's wrong?"
"...Nothing."
"I expected a clever comeback."
"I decided against it."
"How mature of you."
"...Don't get used to it."
A soft laugh escaped her lips.
Without another word, she stepped closer, gently guiding Levi into position.
One hand rested upon his shoulder.
The other remained intertwined with his.
With practiced grace, Seraphina took the first step.
The dance had begun.
Their feet glided across the polished marble in perfect rhythm.
One step.
Another.
A gentle turn.
The chandeliers overhead scattered warm light across the ballroom as the orchestra's melody filled the air.
To Levi's surprise...
She hadn't stepped on his foot.
Not even once.
"..."
"..."
Seraphina peeked up at him with a smug smile.
"I'm waiting."
Levi sighed.
"...For?"
"My compliment."
"You've gotten awfully confident."
"I've earned it."
Levi looked down at their synchronized steps.
Then back at her.
"...You've improved."
She beamed.
"See? That wasn't so hard."
"I didn't say you were perfect."
"I know."
She twirled gracefully beneath his raised arm before returning to him as though the movement had been effortless.
"I'll settle for 'improved.'"
A few nearby nobles watched in quiet admiration.
"They move well together."
"I thought Lord Ravenholt had no interest in dancing."
"Neither did I."
"Look at them."
"They don't look like beginners."
Levi caught snippets of the whispers and exhaled quietly.
"They're still watching."
"Let them."
Seraphina's voice softened.
"For once..."
She met his eyes.
"...Don't worry about everyone else."
Levi blinked.
The music continued.
The conversations around them slowly faded.
For a fleeting moment...
The crowded ballroom no longer felt crowded at all.
There was only the melody.
Their footsteps.
And the quiet smile Seraphina on her face as they danced.
Levi finally broke the silence.
"...You've changed."
Seraphina looked up at him.
"Oh?"
"You used to hide behind your father whenever guests visited."
She let out an embarrassed laugh.
"I was eight."
"You also cried because someone called your ribbon crooked."
"My maid tied it wrong."
"You blamed the ribbon."
"I stand by that."
Levi chuckled.
"I remember."
Seraphina smiled nostalgically.
"...I didn't think you would."
"You underestimate my memory."
"I suppose I do."
She tilted her head.
"But you've changed too."
Levi raised an eyebrow.
"Have I?"
"The Levi I knew would've complained the entire time he was dancing."
"I am complaining."
"No."
She smiled.
"You're enjoying yourself."
Levi instinctively opened his mouth to deny it.
"..."
He paused.
"...Maybe a little."
Her smile widened.
"I knew it."
Levi sighed.
"...Don't make this a habit."
"I'll think about it."
"You won't."
"I won't."
King Maverick and Duke Alaric along with their wives Aurelia and Celestine, watched the two carefully.
Maverick smiling like a fanboy meeting his idol.
"They dance better than most couples"
Alaric wiping happy tears with a napkin, Proud father mode.
"I'm so proud, all those talks, teaching her to be brave."
Aurelia looked at Maverick, like she couldn't believe he married such an idiot, but that was what made it more charming for her, and couldnt help but smile at the sight.
Celestine smiled proudly aswell, seeing her daughter be the one taking the lead, the Usually shy and timid Seraphina, being the flirty one taking all the chances she get.
"it did pay off truly, Darling"
she smiled at Duke Alaric.
He nodded with a grin.
"Our little Seraphina has grown."
Back on the dance floor...
The music carried them effortlessly from one step to the next.
Neither stumbled.
Neither hesitated.
It almost felt as though they had rehearsed together countless times.
Levi guided Seraphina into a slow turn before she returned gracefully to his side.
"Hm."
Seraphina noticed.
"What?"
"...Nothing."
She narrowed her eyes.
"That wasn't a 'nothing' hm."
Levi glanced at her for a brief moment.
"I was just surprised."
"By?"
"I expected you to step on my foot at least once."
Seraphina gasped dramatically.
"I've been dancing flawlessly for the past five minutes."
"You have."
"And that's your conclusion?"
"It means you've improved."
She pouted.
"I was hoping for 'You're breathtaking tonight.'"
Levi met her gaze with a perfectly straight face.
"I was trying to remain honest."
"...Ouch."
A soft laugh escaped Levi before he could stop it.
Seraphina blinked.
"...You laughed."
"I did."
"I won."
"You won nothing."
"I made Lord Ravenholt laugh during a royal banquet."
She smiled triumphantly.
"That's a victory I'll gladly accept."
Levi shook his head, unable to suppress the
faint smile tugging at the corner of his lips.
"...You're insufferable."
"And yet..."
She squeezed his hand ever so slightly.
"...You're still smiling."
"It's cause... nevermind."
"Cause what?"
Seraphina teased, freeing her hand for a second to poke Levi's chest, then going back to tsngle her hand with Levi.
"You were going to compliment me didn't you, go on, call me 'beautiful'"
she smirked like a sly fox.
'T-this girl, i was going easy on her, fine, dont blame me for teasing back.'
Levi thought to himself angrily.
"fine, it's cause you looked... Beautiful, thats all."
He looked away, flustered, to think a girl, especially the usually tomboyish Seraphina to pierce his porcelain heart.
Seraphina's ears turned pink, even though she expected for him to say a compliment, but it felt different when it's said than thought.
"I-is that so"
She smiled, not to tease, but rather out of joy.
Levi smiled back, happy aswell,
maybe it's not so bad to fall in love. he thought to himself.
Levi twirled her under his arm, then pulling her closer, his left arm around Seraphina's waist.
He leaned in close to Seraphina's ear, close enough for his breath to graze her.
"Two can play at that game."
"You tease."
Her face turning more red.
"I see... you also got a sly tongue."
"Always have been, My Lady."
Seraphina looked as if she's going to faint.
Levi pulled her closer.
"I cant have you fainting on me now, Dear."
"Y-you, have been holding back on me haven't you?"
"Maybe..."
Levi's answer was accompanied by the faintest smirk.
Seraphina narrowed her eyes.
"...You planned that."
"I have no idea what you're talking about."
"Liar."
She lightly nudged his shoulder.
"You've been acting all composed this entire evening."
"And you've been trying to make me lose my composure."
"...Did it work?"
Levi remained silent for a moment.
"...A little."
Her smile brightened.
"I knew it."
The orchestra carried them into another slow turn.
Their steps remained perfectly in sync, almost effortless.
Levi glanced down for a brief moment before looking back into her eyes.
"You've really improved."
"This time you actually mean it."
"I do."
She chuckled.
"I practiced."
"I can tell."
Her expression softened.
"...I wanted to make sure that if we ever danced again..."
She hesitated, her confidence wavering for just a heartbeat.
"...I wouldn't step on your feet."
Levi couldn't help but laugh.
"So that's what you've been worried about all this time?"
"I still remember how much you complained."
"You bruised my foot."
"It wasn't that bad."
"I limped for an entire afternoon."
"You are unbelievably dramatic."
"So I've been told."
They shared another laugh.
Around them, the whispers of the nobles seemed to fade into the background.
"They're really suited for eachother"
"I know right, they're so compatible with eachother."
a young noble, one who liked Seraphina scoffed
'i hate to admit it, they're really like two peas in a pod, and I hate it more that I cant help but cheer.'
For a few moments, neither cared who was watching.
It was simply the two of them, moving to the rhythm of the music.
Seraphina tilted her head ever so slightly.
"So..."
"Hm?"
"When this dance is over..."
"What about it?"
"...Would you save me another one?"
Levi met her hopeful gaze.
A faint smile returned to his face.
"I think..."
He paused just long enough to make her wonder.
"...that can be arranged."
Seraphina rolled her eyes with an amused laugh.
"You really do enjoy making me wait."
"Only a little."
"There it is."
"What?"
"The teasing."
Levi shrugged innocently.
"You started it."
"...Fair enough."
Seraphina looked up at him.
"...You know."
"Hm?"
"I almost didn't believe you'd come."
Levi raised an eyebrow.
"You invited me yourself."
"I know."
She smiled sheepishly.
"But knowing you..."
"You thought I'd find an excuse."
"A very convincing one."
Levi chuckled.
"I considered it."
"I knew it."
"But..."
His gaze drifted across the ballroom before returning to her.
"...You went through the trouble of inviting me personally."
"I did."
"It would've been rude to decline."
A warmth spread across Seraphina's face.
"...You always were like that."
"Like what?"
"You act like it's just manners."
She looked away for a moment.
"But you always end up doing more than people expect."
Levi remained silent.
She wasn't entirely wrong.
"I suppose."
The melody slowed, prompting the dancers into gentler, smaller steps.
For a while, neither of them spoke.
The silence wasn't uncomfortable.
It was peaceful.
Seraphina eventually broke it.
"...Thank you."
Levi blinked.
"For what?"
"For coming."
"..."
She laughed softly.
"And for the compliment."
Levi rubbed the back of his neck.
"I only said what I thought."
"I know."
"..."
"..."
Levi cleared his throat.
"You're smiling again."
"I can't help it."
"Is it that amusing?"
"No."
She looked straight into his eyes.
"It just makes me happy."
For the first time that evening...
Levi found himself at a loss for words.
Seraphina giggled.
"I finally won."
Levi exhaled through his nose.
"...Enjoy your victory."
"Oh, I intend to."
She couldn't stop smiling.
Neither, to his own surprise... Could he.