CHAPTER 42: 39: ARIA VAELTHORN. [3]

The ball had properly begun after that.

And with it, the amount of people asking for Aria’s hand in a dance too had went up astronomically.

She let out a small sigh.

The main stage was still chockfull of couples dancing to the mellow music, and in the golden evening sun, it really did look rather enchanting as they all moved in perfect cohesion.

It would have been such a joy to dance with a loved one here.

But alas, all she got was greedy nobles wanting a get a piece of royalty.

Aria was politely declining everyone that approached her with a somewhat forced smile.

I should’ve found someone damnit...

It was starting to get a little frustrating.

She lamented the fact that she had not spent enough time socialising with people her age. It was always either old men with a stick glued to their backs, or eccentric mages who spoke in riddles so confusing that it made Aria’s head smoke.

Safe to say, the feeling of regret was a little too strong.

Then the idea struck her.

She perked up like someone had just plugged her into an electrical outlet.

"Edward."

Edward turned his gaze away from the stage.

"Yes?"

"Lets go for a dance."

He blinked for a couple of moments.

Then his pretty eyes widened as the words registered.

"But I came with Selene-"

"I don’t mind" Selene immediately shot him down, an amused smile stretched along her lips.

Aria let out a small chuckle as she stood up and extended a hand to him.

"Come."

He hesitated for a moment, but then reluctantly took her hand and stood up from his seat.

They both stepped into the stage.1

She let go of the tension in her body, and let it flow with the music.

Their first steps were clumsy. His grip was light, his rhythm unsure. But then, slowly—something changed. He adjusted. Learned. Within moments, their movements found the beat perfectly, as if his body remembered before his mind could catch up.

A wide step to the left, and Edward gently tugged at her waist, pulling her back in his embrace.

Aria had danced with princes, soldiers, and diplomats, but never like this. There was no posturing, no hidden meaning to decipher—no performance to maintain. He wasn’t dancing to impress, nor to gain favour. He simply was, moving with her as though the music itself guided them both.

It was disarming, if she had to be honest.

All the memories she had been holding back washed over her, and she found herself faltering for a moment.

"You okay?" His voice was soft, tender, so caring.

She gave him a small nod, then they fell back into the comforting rhythm of the dance once more.

It was only after a small while that Aria realised that she was studying his expression more than she should have.

As expected, there was no arrogance there, none of the self-assured smugness she had come to expect from noble sons. Instead, she saw quiet concentration, a hint of nervousness beneath his composure—yet he didn’t falter. His steps flowed naturally, unthinking, as if the rhythm was something he’d known long before tonight.

He still felt like the Edward she had known all that time ago.

The realization unsettled her.

For the briefest moment, it felt less like a dance and more like remembrance—two strangers rediscovering a forgotten language through motion. His hand was steady, his eyes met hers, and the distance between them seemed to shrink with each turn.

Around them, the world blurred into candlelight and colour. The orchestra faded, or maybe her thoughts simply grew louder than the music.

She drew a slow breath, exhaling through the count, and for a heartbeat, she swore she saw something in him—a flicker of sorrow, or maybe confusion, veiled behind that calm half-baked facade he wore. Whatever it was, it made her chest tighten unexpectedly.

Aria forced herself to look away, focusing on the steps, the pattern, anything to reclaim her composure. This wasn’t like her. She didn’t lose focus.

When the music drew to a close, she let her hand slip from his and stepped back with a polite curtsy.

She really didn’t want to let him go.

She wanted to dance more, until the sun set and darkness took over the world.

She exhaled.

"Thank you for the dance, Lord Myrvale," she said, her tone as even as ever, though her pulse had yet to slow.

He looked momentarily dazed, then returned the bow. "The pleasure was mine."

The next song began almost immediately, louder and faster, but Aria remained still.

She exhaled softly, almost imperceptibly. Then let her lips curl upwards in a sombre smile.

What was I even thinking.

She felt all her worries she had felt for the Edward she knew melt away with the music, like it had all found a conclusion, somehow.

"Shall we head back?" She asked with a genuine smile.

Edward just gave her a simple nod.

No one had bothered to ask her hand for a dance after that.

Which she thought was great, internally thanking Edward for being such an attention magnet.

Aria could occasionally see a girl two eyeing Edward from a distance. And obviously, the oblivious fool noticed none of that, instead keeping to himself as he most likely tried to survive the pressure in the room.

It was rather cute, now that she thought about it.

Honestly, she preferred him more than the arrogant princes her father always talked about.

She took a sip from her glass, and looked at Selene.

"Aren’t you going to dance."

Selene just gave her a small shrug, and pointed to her left with her chin.

"Those guys staring holes into him over there will drop dead from the envy."

Aria chuckled.

"Just go." She shook her head in disbelief.

Selene let out a sigh and smiled too.

"Come on Edward."

"Again?" He protested.

"Yes, you came to the ball with me, we have to dance no matter what."

And they both walked into the stage, ready to enchant the room one more time.

just so that anyone doesn’t get confused. Stage doesn’t refer to an actual stage here, but the empty space that people are dancing in, away from everything.