The national celebration continued long after the parade ended. Music floated through the capital streets, lanterns glowed warmly above the crowds, and stalls lined the roads with food Akira wished he could taste without a dozen guards trailing him.
But as the sun dipped behind the rooftops, the festivities gradually shifted back toward the palace. The Yamatozia royal family returned through the gates with a calm dignity, greeted by long rows of bowing attendants.
It was only the beginning of the second half of the day.
Tonight would be the Royal Autumn Ball, a formal gathering for aristocrats, dukes, marquises, foreign nobles, influential families, and honored guests from neighboring kingdoms.
For the Yagami family, it was one of the most important social nights of the year.
Inside the palace, the grand ballroom was already filling with music and soft chatter. Crystal chandeliers glittered overhead, and attendants moved gracefully across the polished floors, guiding guests to their respective places.
King Masadora and Queen Reika stood at the front, welcoming each newly arrived family with warm smiles and practiced elegance.
Ryouma stood tall and regal at their side, offering polite nods. Akira... did his best.
He straightened his royal jacket for the tenth time, quietly reminding himself to keep his shoulders back and his expression calm. He preferred idol stages to political ones, but he had a role to play tonight.
A herald's voice echoed through the marble hall:
"Announcing the royal family of Meribella."
The crowd subtly shifted, curious. Meribella was known for its strong cultural influence, refined arts, and, most famously, its princesses.
Stepping forward was King Roland and Queen Genevieve, graceful in their formal attire.
And beside them wearing a shimmering pastel gown, her hair elegantly curled was Princess Victoria of Meribella.
She moved with a natural brightness, her smile warm yet confident. She looked exactly like the popstar princess persona she was known for if slightly more royal and less stage-like here.
Queen Reika stepped forward first.
"Your Majesties, Princess Victoria," she greeted beautifully. "It's a pleasure to host Meribella once again."
Queen Genevieve curtsied, her eyes sparkling. "The pleasure is ours. Yamatozia's celebrations are always breathtaking."
Victoria's eyes land on Akira. For a moment, she simply studied him with interest, as if trying to place a familiar face. Was it curiosity? Recognition? Amusement?
Akira couldn't tell but he felt his heart skip in a way that annoyed him.
She smiled first.
"Prince Akira, isn't it? I've heard many things about you."
Akira blinked. "Good things, I hope."
"Mostly," she replied playfully.
King Masadora stepped forward to resume the greetings, but Queen Reika's glance toward Akira carried a silent message:
Behave and try not to run away.
Akira sighed internally, Ryouma shifted beside him, shoulders shaking ever so slightly.
Akira narrowed his eyes. 'What is he laughing at?'
Victoria tilted her head. "I'm surprised you don't remember me, Prince Akira."
Akira blinked. "Ha…? I—Is this our first time meeting…?"
Ryouma finally burst with a soft snort, quickly turning away as if inspecting a flower pot.
Queen Reika sighed discreetly. King Masadora's mouth twitched like he was fighting a smile.
Victoria chuckled— light, melodic, and so casual it made Akira even more confused.
"We met during the International Royal Assembly ten years ago," she said. "You were… hm, how do I say this…"
Akira braced himself.
"…the boy who hid under the table because you didn't want to greet the ambassador's daughter."
Ryouma lost it. His laugh slipped, subtle but definitely audible. Akira elbowed him sharply.
"I—I was nine!" Akira protested.
Victoria only smiled wider.
"And you stole all the honey pastries from the dessert table."
"That was never proven," Akira muttered, mortified.
"But the crumbs on your face were," she teased.
Queen Reika stepped in smoothly with a diplomatic smile before Akira could collapse into the floor.
"We are grateful to Meribella for attending tonight's ball. Please, enjoy yourselves. Akira, why don't you accompany Princess Victoria while we greet the remaining guests?"
Akira froze.
Victoria brightened.
While Victoria and Akira exchanged painfully formal greetings, her sisters approached Yuna.
Princess Merideth, tall and graceful, clasped Yuna's hands. "Princess Yuna! You've grown so much!"
"And you look adorable as ever!" Princess Trevi chimed in, energetically circling Yuna like she was inspecting a new toy she loved.
Yuna blinked, overwhelmed. "Uh—thank you?"
Trevi leaned in, whispering loudly, "Your hair is shinier than the chandeliers. How?"
Yuna whispered back, "I slept…?"
Trevi gasped. "Miracle."
Merideth facepalmed gently.
And just like that, Akira found himself walking beside the princess, weaving through the elegantly decorated hall.
By the time the official greetings concluded, the orchestra began tuning for the first formal dance.
Couples paired off, nobles murmured with excitement, and the ballroom lights dimmed to a soft, golden glow.
The herald announced,
"The First Dance shall begin!"
Ryouma nudged Akira. "Your turn, little brother."
Akira shot him a sidelong look. "Do you want to switch roles?"
"No," Ryouma replied instantly, stepping back with suspicious speed. "Go forth, noble prince."
Victoria stepped forward gracefully. "Prince Akira, shall we?"
Akira offered his hand, calm and confident.
The two moved to the center of the ballroom. As the music swelled, they began the dance, smooth, fluid, and perfectly synchronized. Akira's footwork was sharp yet elegant, his movements polished from both royal upbringing and memories of dance training in his previous life.
Their spins created a stir among the nobles, whispers spreading at how effortlessly they matched.
Trevi tugged Merideth excitedly.
"Kyaaa! Look at them! They look like a romance painting!"
Merideth chuckled gently. "Trevi, you're too loud."
Ryouma crossed his arms, leaning against a pillar with a smirk. "Well, at least he didn't trip this time," he muttered, amused.
King Masatora heard him and sighed. "He has never tripped, Ryouma."
"Still fun to imagine," Ryouma whispered.
The song ended with a clean, elegant dip. Applause burst across the hall. Victoria straightened with a faint smile poised but with a spark of amusement in her eyes.
"You still dance just as well as before," she remarked.
Akira returned a modest nod. "And you're as graceful as always."
As the crowd mingled and conversations reignited, the celebration continued deep into the night laughter, music, political greetings, and the occasional dramatic outburst from Trevi. Nothing unusual happened on the surface…
Late into the evening, the ball softened into a warm, relaxed glow.
Akira quietly slipped onto a side balcony for a moment of air. The night was cool, the breeze carrying faint traces of flowers from the palace gardens. Beyond the balustrade, Yamatozia's capital shimmered under lantern-lit streets like a sea of stars.
He rested his hands on the railing, letting the calm wash over him.
A soft rustle of silk came from behind.
"Escaping already?" a gentle voice asked.
Akira turned to see Victoria stepping onto the balcony, her expression warm but teasing. Her tiara caught the moonlight, giving her a soft glow that made her look almost unreal.
"Just taking a break," Akira said lightly. "There are… a lot of people inside."
"A prince bothered by attention?" she teased.
He huffed a faint laugh. "I grew up with it. Doesn't mean I enjoy it."
Victoria moved to stand beside him, leaving just enough space to be polite yet close enough to be familiar.
For a moment, they just stood there, breathing the same quiet air while the music dimly echoed from the ballroom.
"I'm glad we met again today," Victoria admitted softly. "It feels like… it's been forever."
Akira glanced at her.
"It does," he agreed. "But it's strangely easy to talk to you again."
She smiled a small, genuine, and a little relieved. "That's good to know."
Before anything more could be said, a servant appeared at the balcony door and bowed deeply.
"Your Highnesses, the final toast is about to begin. His Majesty requests your presence."
Akira straightened and nodded.
"Thank you. We'll be there shortly."
He turned to Victoria, offering his arm politely.
"Shall we?"
Victoria hesitated for only half a second before hooking her arm through his, her movements natural as if this wasn't the first time they had stood like this.
"Yes," she said softly. "Let's go."
Together, they stepped back into the warm glow of the ballroom, where the last cheers and clinking glasses of the night awaited.
The celebration ended smoothly.