Author's Notes:
This chapter will be focused on the romantic aspect of the story. Not a harem by the way.
Warning: Kind of corny
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"Thank you all for making an appearance for my youngest daughter's birthday ball. As your king I know firsthand how difficult the work assigned to you all can be, yet despite that you come here to show your respects, and give your wishes. So me and my daughter…" He put his hand on Estelle's shoulder.
In response Estelle raised her head, revealing her crimson red eyes that looked as if they were their own separate light. Her mask was a black domino mask, much like mine but instead of a dragon, it looked more like a bird. Her dark brown hair cascaded down her shoulders and back, and on her neck was a ruby necklace, with silver as the metal of choice, like her earrings.
As I looked at her eyes my heart stopped in it's track, and it was as if time had stopped. Whatever the king was saying had long since gone in one ear and out the other.
And then suddenly she turned her head slightly, so slightly it was barely noticeable, towards me.
Her eyes stared into mine, and mine into her's. It looked as if she were scrutinizing my entire being, down to my soul. Yet despite that I couldn't tear my eyes away, not for a single second. Our gazes did not leave each other's throughout the entirety of the speech.
Until the king voiced, "...Now lets celebrate. Everybody find a partner and dance."
Once he said that everybody, from nobles to their children began scouring for a partner.
The violinists and pianists began playing a melody, one that filled the entire room with a sense of awe.
As I took a step forward, my eyes still unmoving I could hear a familiar voice and a touch brush against my shoulder.
But it didn't register, not in the moment.
With each step I took it was as if the crowd purposefully cleared out of my way.
And from what it seemed, I wasn't the only one.
There she was walking towards me, as I walked towards her.
Finally I reached her, lowered my stature until my eyes were a little below hers and held out my hand.
"May I have this dance, your highness?"
Estella's pov-
My father began his introduction, as imposing as always. I didn't want to be here, I didn't want to have a party. I couldn't care less about these nobles and their respects or their wishes. They could go to hell for all I cared. I just wanted to get out of here.
Suddenly I felt the cold touch, the same one that I had long since hated press against my shoulder.
'Get your filthy hand off!'
I raised my head wanting to yell, or atleast shoot a glare.
But instead my eyes met another set of red eyes, he looked at me, not away, or in my general vicinity but right at me.
My trait had subconsciously activated as it showed a symbol above his head.
[Swordsmanship:?]
Not only that but his aura, it took the shape of a dragon, a prideful yet kind dragon. But not just a dragon, rather a dragon shrouded in mystery, almost translucent. The red and black dragon looked right at me.
My trait was called "The Prospective Eyes" . It allowed me to see the most prominent talent of the person I was looking at, and even the rating of their talent. 1 would be the worst while 10 would be the very best one could have. It even showed me the shape of their aura that embodied them.
My curiosity grew as I looked not only at the details shown by my trait but at him, the boy with the dragon mask.
As I looked at him my heart raced. I felt the same excitement I had when I was with a blade in hand. I could feel an indescribable greed as our gazes continued to be interlocked.
No longer did I take note of the judging stares of the nobles and their spawns.
No longer did I care for the people who called themselves my family, the wenches that called themselves my mothers, the swines that called themselves my siblings, or the beast that called himself my father.
I was only focused on him, the rose eyed boy.
As soon as my father's speech ended and people began walking around I took steps forward.
I could hear the king ask me where I was going but I did not care.
The people cleared the way for me as I moved.
And finally he was there, barely a full's arms reach from me.
He then lowered himself and reached out his hand towards me with a gentle grace.
"May I have this dance, your highness?"
His voice was as gentle and graceful as I had imagined, he had a slight northern accent which added to the elegance of his being.
I opened my mouth for the first time since this horrid ball.
"Of course." I held back the growing smile as I reached my hand out to his.
Even with the gloving that covered my hand I could feel his soft touch trying to be as slow as possible, probably to not hurt me.
As his hand cusped mine I forgot what I had been upset about before.
Third person pov-
As the black haired boy approached the girl of the night who everybody seemed to avoid, everybody even if unwillingly turned to the pair.
While each step sounded in the now voiceless ballroom leaving only the music, people exchanged glances.
Suddenly when the steps and gazes were too much to be coincidental people began whispering amongst themselves.
"What is he doing?"
"Does he know who that is?"
Questions upon questions popped up the crowd of nobles. But there was one question that they needed the answer to above all.
"Who is that boy?"
Suddenly somebody's murmur answered their question, though it was with a question of his own.
"What's Rohan doing?" The white haired boy asked the yellow haired girl to his left.
Once the fuel had been added a fire fiercer than the sun began spreading amongst the crowd.
"Rohan?"
"Isn't that the son of the Grand Duke?"
"Rohan Ruena?"
"So there's no reason for him not to know who that is."
Then a new question was brought to light.
"Then why?"
"Why would he.."
"Why is he approaching Estella?"
The one question permeated itself amongst the crowd, and only a few had been able to remain silent amidst it.
One of the most notable was one of the people who was by the white haired boy. Surprisingly she had looked the most shocked, as before Rohan started walking she had reached her hand out to him hoping for a dance.
But she had been flat out ignored, which the young girl wasn't used to. Despite being the shy type whenever she had reached for something or voiced her opinion she was never rejected.
A myriad of emotions had filled her heart until finally it settled to one. Acceptance.
She brushed it off and continued to take care of the child in her arms after all…
'I don't wanna anger that monster.' She thought of Princess Estella.
Suddenly under the eyes of the guests the boy reached his hand out asking for a dance.
Everybody had expected some spectacle with the princess refusing him or even demanding an execution.
But instead
"Of course."
The one thing they hadn't expected, her accepting.
Everybody, including the royal family was in shock as they witnessed what was happening.
Eventually the four dukes, and their partners made their way to the Royales, not having been there to see the view.
All of a sudden Duke Bruin asked the king.
"Whats got you looking so sho-" as he followed the king's eyes his face mirrored his.
One after the other, Gale, and Zemilan did the same, and had the same reaction.
Finally Duke Ruena and the duchess did the same.
"Is that…"
"Our son?" The duke finished the sentence for his wife.
"Looks like it." answered Zemilan.
"Quin..that's your son?" asked the first wife of the king who seemed to be the only verbal one amongst the royales.
"Mhm.." He nodded, barely able to process the scene in front of him.
And all at once their jaws dropped when Rohan had grabbed Estelle's hand.
"Is she actually going with this?" Quin had to ask.
He had visited the palace many times, especially since the tragedy that was the third wife. And ever since then Estelle had never been fond of anybody touching her, even her family. The gloves barely provided any comfort, but right now in front of him his son was holding her hand.
The final straw was when Rohan pulled her into his embrace with one of his hands under her arms and on her back, and the other hand was holding her hand high.
At the same time Estelle put her other hand on his shoulder, and they began dancing along to the music, even if everybody else had stopped to stare at them at this point.
Finally the king turned his head to Quin and Eleanor.
"What kind of mystical being is your son?"
"One beyond imagination clearly.." Seth, the first son, couldn't help but chuckle.
"I can't help but agree." Dorothy the firstborn agreed.
The other members of the family nodded.
"I guess so.." Eleanor put her hand in front of her mouth smiling.
"I haven't seen him this focused outside of training" Quin laughed.
"So not much different from you?" Duchess Gale commented.
"Like they say, the apple doesn't fall far from the tree." Zemilan rolled his eyes.
Duke Bruin's hearty laugh signaled the end of the tension built by the scene.
Rather, they each grabbed their partners.
Bruin grabbed his wife, Selene, Zemilan held his wife, Rowena, and Gale pulled her husband Lance, and they all began dancing alongside the two kids.
"Guess we gathered quite a lot of attention." Rohan smiled as he looked at Estelle.
"Guess so." She didn't quite smile but her eyes did have a glow.
"You dance quite well princess."
"Thank you, practice makes perfect after all. Also, call me Estelle. Not princess."
"That would be too casual would it not?"
"Oh? And embracing me like this isn't?"
"Fair point, Estelle."
"There we go, wonderful job…?"
"Rohan."
"Ahh Quin's new son?" She asked as Rohan spun her under his arm.
As they got back into their original places he answered,
"Surprised you heard of me already."
"Haven't you heard? You're all the talk amongst the nobles."
"Oh my? That famous?"
"I don't think there's any boy more famous than you right now." She mused.
"Well as famous as I may be, they're all here for you end of the day."
"Does that include you?"
"Why else would I be here?"
"Well you could've been dragged here."
"If so then I'm happy I was." He smiled.
"Really now? Happy you're dancing with the Slaughter Princess?"
"Is that really your nickname?"
"It's what all the noble children call me, even your friends over there." She tilted her chin to the children of the duchies.
"Well, I haven't been in noble society long enough to hear about the rumors. "
"Thats strange if you took even one look at your invitations since you were revealed to the public you'd have been fully booked."
"I barely have enough time to train as is, let alone attend the tea parties hosted every other day."
"Thank you!" She said with a release of frustration. "I've been trying to explain that to the king but he refuses to listen." She rolled her eyes.
"Being a princess is more laborious than I thought huh?"
"You've got no clue young duke, no clue." Her lips slightly curved up.
"Wait..is that a smile I see blooming?"
"What smile?" She suddenly forced a pout and looked away.
"Trying to hide it? Too late Estelle." He chuckled.
He suddenly spun her around, making her look at him in the eyes.
This time she couldn't help but let out a giggle making her head fly forward onto his chest.
The moment that the giggle left her lips the King turned to Quin.
"Your son might genuinely be a god.."
Quin laughed. "You haven't changed at all Mikael."
"I changed to the point where I can't even be a proper father.."
"You've tried your best."
"My best isn't enough..did you know this is the first time I've seen that child, my own daughter let out even the tiniest laugh in the last decade..ever since-"
"Nobody could control what happened, her death was inevitable." Chimed in the first wife.
The second wife nodded in agreement.
"Plus..isn't she smiling rather gently right now father?" Expressed Dorothy.
"Yeah she is…" The king could feel a weight lifted off his chest as he saw his daughter's smile.
He turned to Quin and Eleanor.
"We should talk soon."
"About this?" Asked Eleanor.
He nodded.
"Of course." She smiled while glancing at her husband.
"Now if you'll excuse us." Eleanor grabbed her husband's hand and walked to the dance floor in a hurry.
Now in the center of the room stood 4 Duchies, and the princess with the Grand Duke's son.
Now almost feeling like it would be a sin not to join the rest of the guests filled up the dance floor.
Miller held out his hand to Sera and they made their way.
Meanwhile the golden haired fightaholic simply took care of the two kids that they had left with her.
Slowly the rest of the royal family besides the king and his wives joined in, each finding partners of their own.
"Starting to feel a little more lively isn't it?"
"Mhm.." Estelle nodded, looking visibly uncomfortable.
Rohan looked around before grabbing her hand and pulling her along.
At this point the guests have decided to stop looking in their direction for the sake of their sanity.
He stood in front of the king with a question in mind.
"Your majesty." He said bowed with his right hand over his heart, and his left hand holding Estelle's right.
"No need for formalities boy. Our families go back millenia." He said, glancing at the boy's hand.
Estelle looked visibly confused and uncomfortable being near the king.
"Do you mind if I take her for a little adventure? I wanted a tour of the palace since I was here."
The king looked stunned before a knowing smile appeared on his face.
"Of course not. Just don't do anything unfitting of your statuses and be back in half an hour."
Estelle's eyes slightly widened as Rohan dragged her up the stairs.
'If I'm remembering right..'
He pulled her along a hallway and finally made his way to a balcony.
Outside of the balcony was a garden with long lush trees that had white leaves that glowed with the moonlight.
"How did you?" Estelle questioned.
"My maid informed me of the palace's structure in advance." Rohan lied.
"Ah~" She nodded while approaching the guard rail of the balcony.
She leaned on it while looking at the garden.
Outside of the trees that were right in front of the balcony was a field of white flowers, and even a little pond outlined with rocks.
Rohan's pov-
I walked forward until I stood next to her and leaned forward against the rail too.
I took in the scenery and fresh air slowly closing my eyes and calming myself down.
Suddenly I heard a comforting voice as the wind gently brushed against my ears and hair.
"Thank you."
I looked at her with my eyes open wide.
"For?"
She turned her head to me and brushed her hair out of her view before continuing.
"For treating me like a human."
"?"
"The others treat me like a tool. The king, his wives, and even those wretched fools that call themselves my siblings, all of them do. The only thing that crowned swine did right was give me a chance to grow stronger."
"You mean the executions?"
She flinched before looking into my eyes.
"So you did hear.."
I let out a sigh.
"Estelle I don't expect you to believe me but I don't think your family sees you as a tool." I blurted out.
"No you don't understa-!" She turned her entire body to me with only one hand on the railing.
"Listen..that look in your father's eyes, that regret. You don't feel that way towards a tool. Even the two wives looked at you with pity."
"I didn't ask for pity!" She yelled out.
"I know you didn't. But you get it because you suffered. You're not getting it because you're pitiable or weak. You're getting it because you've been dealt a bad hand and everybody acknowledges that."
"I-" her voice was quiet, and soft unlike her usual bold and slightly arrogant tone.
"You're strong Estelle, the strongest of anybody our age. But strength comes at a cost, a reason for that strength." I walked towards her leaving only an arm's length of distance between us. "So, you're allowed to lean on others, you're allowed to be pitied. You've worked hard enough."
"What do you know! This is the first time you've even met me!"
"You're right I don't know but I can guess." I added "Do you want me to ?"
I took her silence as a yes and continued.
"You went through a tragedy. Because of that tragedy you closed yourself off, even going as far as to ask your father to let you practice killing people. Your father who saw nothing wrong with it let you, but because of that something in you tore. Your innocence. You lost it at a young age. You didn't let yourself process the tragedy, or even live a childhood afterwards. Most likely you confined yourself into the walls of this palace, your only leisure outside of being a princess was training, and maybe a trip to this garden. You probably even protested against this party saying it was a waste of the time you could've spent training, time you could've spent getting stronger."
Her words stuck in her throat made their way out.
"How did yo-"
"Am I right?"
She didn't answer.
"Well Estelle?"
"You're right..Okay? So just shutup about it..please." She looked like she was on the verge of tears.
The Estelle in front of me was a clear contrast to the one Aureus had faced nearly a hundred times, the one that had brought upon the death of millions. That Estelle wasn't just arrogant, she was broken, she was unfixable.
But it wasn't always like that, she only became a villain after the first month of the academy. Still, despite that you couldn't save her with Aureus, because her hate for his magic talents ran deep. But me? I'm in the perfect position to help her.
I want a perfect ending, and the only way to do that was to have her survive. Otherwise, it just wouldn't feel right.
I took off my mask slowly and let it fade away to nothing in my hand.
Her eyes widened.
"I may not understand you Estelle, but by now I have a general idea of you. And from that idea alone I know one thing."
Her brow raised as her lower back pressed against the railing and both of her hands gripped it behind her while she stared at me.
"I find you interesting. Interesting enough to ask you this…"
Her eyes piqued with curiosity.
"Do you wanna be friends?"
Her eyes froze before they softened.
All of a sudden a genuine, heartfelt laugh left her mouth as she had to lean her head back.
Suddenly she started tipping over the railing.
In an instant I moved forward and grabbed her waist stopping her before she fell.
With only a small distance between us I could feel her hands on my chest.
Her eyes looked at mine, and mine at hers.
Suddenly her arms wrapped around the back of my neck as she smiled.
"Friends you say?"
I could feel the heat rushing to my face as the mesh on her forearm made contact with the back of my neck.
As soon as I made sure she wouldn't fall I let go of her and backed up, increasing the distance between us.
"Running away after all that big talk?" She raised a brow with a smirk.
'She was on the verge of tears not even a full minute ago.' I processed the emotional shift of the princess.
"Sorry..I'm just not used to the sudden contact."
She let out a laugh into the back of her hand before she used it to grab her mask.
She pulled off her mask and revealed a clear portrait of her face.
Her brown hair reaching down to her waist with slight waves, her blemishless porcelain skin that shined in the moonlight, and her ruby red eyes that peered into the depths of my soul, all of it left me speechless.
She put both her hands behind her back and stood tall.
"Sure Rohan. Let's be friends."
She held out her hand with the glove off this time.
I grabbed it, feeling the proof of her effort. The calluses, the rough patches, all of it showed her dedication.
"Nice calluses" she commented.
"You too." I smiled.
We made our way back to pressing against the railing and facing the bright moon.
"Wanna tell me how you got them?" She asked.
"Sure." I started telling her about about how I had swung my sword till the sun set, and then rose.
"You're a maniac." She said with her eyes glistening with a childlike joy.
"You haven't even heard the worst of it…" I continued talking about my spar against Zefferey, and then my first time in the forest fighting that wolf.
"You can use sword aura?"
"Yeah, it's a result of my trait I guess."
"Lucky~." She sulked resting her chin on her knuckles. " I have wait till my 3rd rune."
"I mean from the looks of it you're not that far."
She grinned, "Impressive right?"
With both her hands on her hips she pointed her nose to the sky.
"Very impressive your highness"
She suddenly shot me a glare.
"Estelle" I corrected myself.
She let out a giggle before looking back out at the garden.
"Beautiful isn't it?" She asked.
"Bordering on the divine." I said in response.
"Yknow my mother planted the trees, and even the flowers were her favorites."
"Oh yeah.." Realizing she was talking about the garden I coughed into my fist. "She did a wonderful job."
"Mhm.."
Her shoulders slumped ever so slightly making me want to reach out.
But before I could my father appeared through the balcony's entrance.
"It's time to go back"
The princess turned around with her mask already back on. And looked at my father.
"Understood." Her voice was cold and borderline emotionless.
She put her gloves back on and looked back at my father.
"Lead the way Grand Duke."
I could see a tinge of pain in my father's eyes before he began
walking down the hall in front of us.
I put my mask on and followed along, noting Estelle's personality change.
'This is more like her game personality.'
I lost myself in my comparisons until the moment we reached the ball room.
As we walked down the stairs I could see the king and the rest of the royales stranding at the bottom.
My father and I walked over to my mother and the rest of the high nobles.
My mother leaned in whispering into my ear.
"We'll be talking about what just happened."
I nodded feeling a chill creep down my spine.
Ignoring the gazes from the guests around me, including the dukes and their children, I focused on the king and Estelle who stood in the center of the room.
The king coughed into his hand and then began speaking