ARTHUR
“OH MY GOSH! I never imagined we’d all be invited to join them on the dance floor.”
Vice Captain Eric smiled from ear to ear. The rest of us knights nodded.
I was just as shocked as everyone else. As the event wrapped up, I stared at the dance floor I’d stood on a little earlier. I expected Her Majesty would give a speech once the festivities died down, and Princess Pride would make her announcement to close out the evening.
“Pride is always telling me how deeply she trusts her knights,” Prince Leon said. “If anyone was undeserving of being her partner, it was me.”
“Not at all, Prince Leon,” Captain Callum said with a smile. “You’re Her Highness’s sworn friend. It was only natural she would select you, her closest relation among all of Freesia’s allies.”
I wasn’t sure when those two had gotten close, but it wasn’t a huge surprise, considering how Captain Callum was. Of course he could befriend royalty and not just other knights.
“You all danced wonderfully,” Prince Leon went on. “I couldn’t look away from the commander and vice commander in particular.”
They bowed to the prince even as they batted away his praise. Honestly, I agreed with him. I’d had no clue Dad could dance like that.
“We never saw them dance before either,” Captain Alan said, shooting Dad a curious glance.
Clark was stifling his laughter as he slapped Dad on the back.
“Well, it’s only natural that knights have such skills,” Dad said, scratching his head and casting his eyes down.
“You…were quite brilliant too, Arthur.” Prince Leon’s voice quieted as he praised me. As soon as he flashed that charming smile, the other knights all turned toward me, eyes shining with some mixture of pity and amusement.
“No, not at all!” I replied, flustered. My face flushed just thinking about it. I was the only one who couldn’t do more than the basic steps!
Everyone around me, from the knights to the nobles and royals, was a way better dancer than I was. I was the only one who’d embarrassed himself out there. I glanced at Dad, wondering if I should ask him to teach me to dance, but he turned his head away.
Clark smiled like he understood my intention. “Want me to teach you sometime, Arthur?”
“No! I wouldn’t want to bother you, Vice Commander.”
You’re the last person I’d let teach me how to dance! I know you’d just laugh at me!
I glared at him, but Clark seemed to find all this hilarious. “I see. That’s too bad.” He punctuated his reply with a sip of his drink.
“You never know if they’re gonna do another event like this at the next party,” Captain Alan said, elbowing me. “Wouldn’t it be better to practice before then? We should know how to dance, just to be safe.”
Heat rushed back into my face. Next time might be just as humiliating! My heart raced at the thought. But what if I manage to dance better next time?
I recalled the dreamlike moments I’d shared with Princess Pride on the dance floor. Her heat lingered on my skin everywhere she’d touched, assuring me that dance wasn’t just in my head.
“You’re a good dancer too, Captain Alan…though it surprised me a little. When did you learn such a thing?” Vice Captain Eric asked with a chuckle.
Captain Alan simply grinned, but the vice captain had a point—I could’ve pictured Vice Captain Eric and Captain Callum dancing before this, but Captain Alan seemed too singularly dedicated to his knight training to have bothered learning to dance.
“At first, I stopped around the same level Arthur did.” Raising his glass aloft, Captain Alan proudly puffed out his chest. “But I hoped I’d get the chance to dance with Princess Pride someday, so I started practicing really hard!”
How does he say stuff like that so casually?! I almost spit out my drink. I managed to choke it down, then started coughing from the effort. Captain Callum and Vice Captain Eric were sputtering just like me.
“Wow, that’s amazing. But aren’t you a little disappointed that you danced with Tiara instead?” Vice Captain Eric asked.
“Not a bit!” Captain Alan said without the slightest shred of shame. “It was a huge honor to dance with Princess Tiara. I’m really glad I practiced as much as I did.”
Dad and Clark massaged their brows. The captain truly had no fears at all.
“It’s too bad about Harrison,” Captain Callum said once he got his coughing under control. “He might’ve gotten to dance as well if he was invited to the party.”
Not every imperial knight had received an invitation, since it was Tiara’s birthday this time. Vice Captain Eric and I were invited to represent the imperial knights, just like we had at Stale’s birthday party. Captain Callum, the highest achiever in the royal order, had been invited as a nobleman. Thus, Captain Alan had received an invitation as the second-highest achieving member of the royal order. The four of us weren’t usually allowed to attend events together outside of Princess Pride’s birthdays, but the circumstances were different this time.
Curious, Prince Leon echoed, “Harrison?”
It seemed the prince had never been introduced to Vice Captain Harrison. Clark explained who he was, and Prince Leon’s eyes lit up.
“Can he dance too?”
“Well…” Clark offered a strained smile, then pointed at me. “I’d guess he’s at roughly the same level as Arthur.”
Doesn’t that just mean we both know the bare minimum? Actually, I almost can’t believe Harrison knows how to dance at all.
Prince Leon nodded, fixing us each with a sharp look. “In that case…I’ll have to be sure none of you surpass me, including this ‘Vice Captain Harrison.’”
I cocked my head. The other knights didn’t know what to make of it either, but Prince Leon’s charming smile never faltered.
“As Captain Alan said,” the prince went on in hushed tones, “it’s quite possible they will hold this event again someday. Pride seems to think this was a one-off occasion, but if it happens again, I’m sure she’ll want to dance with the knights she skipped this time. After this one was such a success, they’re bound to host more dance parties in the future.”
Captain Callum and I nodded in agreement. Dad and Clark seemed to have already reached the same conclusion. I could definitely see Princess Pride feeling that way. She would probably choose Harrison as her partner for the next dance party, or maybe it would be…
“Whoa!”
I recoiled at the sight of Captain Alan and Vice Captain Eric. The two of them were so red, their heads were practically boiling.
I get how they feel, but Captain Alan was so calm just a minute ago! That’s what got him all embarrassed?!
Vice Captain Eric was covering his mouth, but Captain Alan’s jaw hung open. I shook his shoulder, concerned, and the limp knight swayed.
“Not again…” Captain Callum muttered.
Prince Leon chuckled at our reactions. “I look forward to that day, don’t you?”
We all nodded in response; it was an easy answer. I downed the rest of my drink, thinking I’d have to tell Harrison about this tomorrow.
He’ll definitely be here next time.
Harrison would surely receive an invitation to Princess Pride’s birthday as one of her imperial knights. Truth be told, he still freaked me out a little. I didn’t understand him very well, but I was glad Princess Pride had gained another person capable of protecting her no matter what.
I truly wanted to keep Her Highness safe for the rest of my life.