Chapter 98: Ask Her To Dance

Back at the gathering. Dawn, Ruthina, Liv, and Arielle sat in one table and had fun the entire night. The celebration had continued long after Qazaethel and Eiravelle had departed, the music swelled and faded in waves, the nobles dancing and laughing and drinking as though the night would never end.

The four of them had claimed a table near the edge of the dance floor, close enough to feel the energy of the crowd but far enough to have their own space. Candles flickered in the center of the table, their flames are casting warm shadows across the wine glasses and the half-eaten plates of delicacies that had been brought to them throughout the evening. The atmosphere was warm, comfortable, the kind of easy camaraderie that came from shared experiences and genuine affection.

"I honestly believe that tonight was one of the best gathering I have ever been." Arielle said, and sip a wine. The alpha leaned back in her chair, her posture was relaxed and her earlier worry about Eiravelle still present but pushed to the back of her mind.

She had done what she could for her sister—had hugged her, had kissed her forehead, had promised that Kariv would not touch her again—and now she had to trust that Qazaethel would take care of the rest. She had to trust that her sister was safe. And so she had allowed herself to enjoy the evening, to laugh and drink and forget the weight of her responsibilities, for just a few hours.

"How would you be able to distinguish the best gathering if you rarely attend one?" Liv asked, and they chuckled at it while Arielle showed a defensive demeanor. The general’s tone was teasing, light, but there was a fondness beneath it that softened the words.

She had known Arielle for years, had worked alongside her, had seen her dedication to her duty and her reluctance to engage in the social rituals of the court. Arielle was not a creature of parties and balls. She was a creature of quiet study and careful work, of books and scrolls and the quiet satisfaction of a job well done.

"I-I... I... Yeah!" Arielle was left with no choice but to just agree and pout. The pout was exaggerated, almost childish, and it made both Liv and Dawn laugh. Dawn, who had been quietly sipping her wine and watching the exchange with an amused smile, set her glass down and leaned forward.

"But why you don’t do that, Arielle?" Ruthina asked, she put her chin on her palm and was invested all of a sudden to whatever Arielle wanted to say. The rabbit spirit’s eyes were bright with curiosity, her head tilted slightly to the side, and there was something so earnest about her attention that Arielle felt her cheeks flush.

Ruthina was looking at her as though she was the most interesting person in the room, as though every word she spoke was worth hearing.

"Well... Uhm... I don’t like being with a lot of other people..." Arielle said, Dawn and Liv just listened. The alpha’s voice was quiet, almost hesitant, and she looked down at her wine glass as she spoke, her fingers were tracing the rim in a slow, absent circle.

"There are too many expectations. Too many eyes. When I’m alone, I can just... Be. I don’t have to perform. I don’t have to be the prime minister or the alpha who is supposed to have everything figured out. I can just be Arielle."

"Why?" Ruthina asked, and there was no judgment in her voice, only a genuine desire to understand. Ruthina was a being from another realm, a creature who had never had to navigate the complicated social hierarchies of the palace, and she did not understand why anyone would choose to be alone when they could be surrounded by people.

"Well, I prefer being alone and studying or work." Arielle said, and she shrugged as though it was the most obvious thing in the world. "Books don’t judge you. They don’t expect anything from you. They just... Are. And when I’m working, I feel useful. I feel like I’m contributing something, like I’m making a difference. I don’t get that feeling when I’m at parties, making small talk with people who only care about my family name."

"She’s the most workaholic bookworm I have ever known." Liv said, and drank her wine. The general’s tone was teasing, but there was a warmth beneath it that spoke of genuine affection. She had known Arielle since Arielle was just a child, had watched her grow from a quiet, studious girl into a capable, dedicated woman, and she admired her for it. Even if she did tease her about it mercilessly.

They chuckled again, and Arielle shook her head. "That’s funny, Liv... I remember that you used to stumble on feces." And they suddenly burst into laughter. The sound was loud, unrestrained, the kind of laughter that came from deep in the belly and left them gasping for air. Liv’s face turned red, her eyes are watering, and she clutched her wine glass as though it was the only thing keeping her upright.

"That was one time!" Liv protested, but her voice was shaking with laughter, and she could not keep the grin off her face. "One time! And I was distracted!"

"You were distracted by a pretty omega," Arielle said, wiping tears of mirth from her eyes. "I remember. She was walking by and you were so busy staring at her that you didn’t see the pile right in front of you."

Dawn was laughing so hard that she had to set her wine glass down, her shoulders are shaking and her face was buried in her hands. "I had forgotten about that," she gasped. "I had forgotten. Oh, that was the best day of my life."

"It was not funny," Liv grumbled, but she was smiling despite herself, the memory clearly as amusing to her as it was to the others. "It was humiliating. I had to walk around in soiled boots for the rest of the day."

"That’s a good one, Arielle." Liv said, and poured wine on Arielle’s glass. The gesture was an acknowledgment, a white flag, a way of saying that Arielle had won this round of their friendly sparring.

Then the musicians started playing a classical song and the other guests started dancing with their partners. The music was slow and elegant, a waltz that had been popular in the court for centuries, and the nobles moved across the dance floor in graceful, synchronized steps.

"Dawn, may I invite you to dance?" Liv asked, and Dawn’s cheeks suddenly blushed deeply. The Phoenix Empress had been watching the dancers with a distant expression, her thoughts were clearly elsewhere, and Liv’s question caught her off guard.

She turned to look at the general, her eyes were wide, and she felt a dread wash over her at the thought others will think they’re having an affair. Her reputation as the Phoenix empress is always scrutinized by the public, but when Liv smiled and took her hand, Dawn calmed down and felt a sudden peace washed over her. Liv’s hand was warm, her grip was gentle but firm, and she looked at Dawn with an expression that was both reassuring and affectionate.

"I promise you, it’s just dance." Liv said, and she kept smiling. The words were simple, but they carried a weight of understanding. Liv knew what Dawn was afraid of. She knew that the court was always watching, always whispering, always ready to turn a simple moment into a scandal. But she also knew that Dawn deserved to be happy, deserved to enjoy herself, deserved to dance with the person she loved without fear.

Dawn finally smiled and happily said, "okay!" Then they excitedly went to the dance floor. The two of them moved through the crowd, Liv’s hand still wrapped around Dawn’s, and they found a space among the other dancers.

Liv placed her hand on Dawn’s waist, Dawn placed her hand on Liv’s shoulder, and they began to move in time with the music. They were good together. They had always been good together. Their steps were synchronized, their bodies close, and the smile on Dawn’s face was genuine, radiant, the smile of a woman who was finally allowing herself to be happy.

Arielle then looked at Ruthina and smiled, "may I invite you to dance?" Arielle asked for her hand and Ruthina immediately nodded and took Arielle’s hand. The alpha’s heart was pounding in her chest, her palms were slightly sweaty, and she hoped Ruthina could not feel her trembling.

She had never been good at dancing. She had never been good at anything that required her to be graceful or social or charming. But she wanted to dance with Ruthina. She wanted to hold her hand, to feel her close, to share this moment with her.

"I would love to." Ruthina immediately agreed and Arielle’s cheek turned to red that she looked like a boiled tomato. The rabbit spirit’s smile was bright, her eyes sparkling with excitement, and she placed her hand in Arielle’s as though it was the most natural thing in the world.

Then they followed Liv and Dawn to the dance floor and started dancing. The music swelled around them, and Arielle placed her hand on Ruthina’s waist with trembling fingers. She could feel the warmth of Ruthina’s body through the fabric of her gown, could smell the sweet scent of her pheromones, and she felt as though she was going to faint.

Everyone who saw them murmured at each other, clearly envious of the genuine smile etched on their faces while others are genuinely happy to see them dancing. The nobles watched as the Prime Minister of Solkanaia, the stern workaholic alpha who had never shown interest in anyone, danced with the Golden Rabbit from the heavens.

The sight was unexpected, almost jarring, and yet there was something beautiful about it. Something pure. The way Arielle looked at Ruthina, the way Ruthina smiled back at her, the way their bodies moved together—it was a reminder that love, real love, could happen anywhere, to anyone.

Arielle stumbled on Ruthina’s feet but the rabbit didn’t got mad and made Arielle calm down. The alpha’s cheeks burned with embarrassment, and she opened her mouth to apologize, but Ruthina simply smiled and shook her head. "Calm down, don’t rush it." Ruthina said, and guided Arielle to dance.

The rabbit spirit was patient, gentle, and she moved with a grace that Arielle had not expected. She did not know the steps well—she was a being from another realm, after all—but she had been watching the others, and she had learned enough to follow the rhythm.

"How did you learn the steps?" Arielle asked, and she kept looking at the floor where their feet are dragging them gracefully. She was too nervous to look at Ruthina’s face, too afraid that she would see amusement or pity, and so she focused on their feet, on the way they moved together, on the way Ruthina guided her without making her feel foolish.

"I’m just copying Dawn and Liv, they looked like they’re very good at it." Ruthina answered, and Arielle chuckled and can’t help but find Ruthina adorable. Of course Ruthina had learned by watching.

Of course she had simply observed the others and imitated their movements. She was so innocent, so pure, so utterly without guile. She did not care about the proper steps or the correct form. She only cared about the joy of dancing, the joy of being held, the joy of being with Arielle.

"Good heavens, you’re so beautiful." Arielle murmured, and Ruthina smile widely that she showed her teeth to Arielle, it was a genuine smile that made Arielle’s heart beat in peace. The words had slipped out before Arielle could stop them, a truth that she had been holding inside for too long, and she felt a moment of panic.

But Ruthina did not seem startled or offended. She simply smiled, a smile that lit up her entire face, and Arielle felt her heart stutter in her chest. She was beautiful. She was the most beautiful person Arielle had ever seen. And Arielle was holding her in her arms, dancing with her, making her smile.

It was a miracle.

And it was a dream.

Arthion and Elaria saw their daughter, Arielle, finally socializing. The Lord and Lady Arthion stood at the edge of the dance floor, watching the scene before them with expressions of quiet wonder.

They had seen Arielle at the palace, had watched her work and study, had observed her dedication to her duties. But they had never seen her like this—laughing, dancing, looking at someone with such obvious love in her eyes.

"Your daughter is finally learning how to love." Arthion said, and gently pull his wife against him. The gesture was familiar, intimate, a reminder of the love that had once existed between them before it had been shattered by betrayal.

Arthion’s arm wrapped around Elaria’s waist, and he pulled her close, her body was fitting against his as though it was the most natural thing in the world.

"I know. I was worried before that she won’t find any interest in love since she was always focus on work." Elaria said, and Arthion looked at Elaria and kissed her head. The kiss was soft, gentle, a gesture of affection that Elaria had not felt in years. She closed her eyes, letting herself lean into the warmth of her husband’s embrace, and she felt tears prick at the corners of her eyes.

"Dance with me, sweetheart." Arthion said, and Elaria gasp. The words were simple, but they carried a weight of meaning that made her heart stop.

"This... Was the first time you asked me again..." She said, and she was clearly trying to stop her tears from falling. Because after Elaria’s infidelity, Arthion became cold. Elaria knew she deserves that treatment but she hoped Arthion would fully forgive her one day.

She had waited for years, had watched her husband retreat from her, had felt the distance between them grow wider and colder with each passing day. She had accepted that she had ruined everything, had accepted that she would live the rest of her life in the shadow of her mistake.

But now, hearing those words, feeling his arm around her waist, she felt something she had not felt in a long time.

Hope.

"I also made a mistake that day... I’m sorry... Can we start again?" Arthion asked, and Elaria fully cried now. The tears spilled over, tracing hot paths down her cheeks, and she did not try to stop them.

It was no longer an invitation to dance but an invitation to start all over again after years of giving each other cold shoulders. Arthion was not just asking her to dance. He was asking for forgiveness. He was asking for a second chance. He was asking to rebuild what they had lost.

Elaria hugged her husband and nodded as she buried her face on his shoulder, "yes! Yes, I would love that!" Elaria said, and Arthion hugged her tight against his body that he can feel her shaking.

The sobs wracked her entire frame, and Arthion held her through it, his hand are rubbing soothing circles on her back. He did not speak. There were no words that could undo the years of silence, no words that could erase the pain. But he could hold her. He could be there. And for now, that was enough.

Arisia and Ariphale just watched and clearly happy for their parents. The younger siblings stood a few feet away, watching the scene with expressions of quiet joy. They had seen their parents struggle, had felt the tension that had hung over their family for years, and they had worried that it would never heal.

But now, watching their father hold their mother, watching their mother cry tears of relief and happiness, they knew that everything was going to be alright.

The music continued, the dancers continued, and the night stretched on. The celebration for the Golden Rabbit had been a success, a night of joy and laughter and love.

And for the Arthion family, for Eiravelle and Arielle and Arthion and Elaria, it was the beginning of something new. Something beautiful. Something that had been a long time coming.

But...

Is it really?