Posted: Tue Dec 23, 2003 8:25 pm
OOC: Just an early Christmas present from me! Merry Christmas! Sorry I took so bloody long.
Part 4
The Welcoming feast went better than I had imagined, which meant Prince Yuy did NOT announce to my father, the Sanq court, his own minions and to all and sundry that I, the Princess Relena Peacecraft of Sanq, danced in a notorious bordello at night–an exotic dancer at that! However, that did not mean that the feast went without complications. Prince Yuy kept on looking at me during the whole course every now and then, his stormy blue eyes revealing nothing of his feelings, but seeing everything.
To my credit, I managed to calmly meet his gaze and give him a small challenging smile from time to time. I knew I was inviting trouble with such actions, but I could not help it. It was never my nature to back down from any challenge or trouble. I fought back.
Sometime during that feast, I also felt like he expected me to leap onto the table any minute, rip off my prim and proper gown to reveal the skimpy clothes I wore at the bordello and dance before everyone. I was probably exaggerating that last bit, but the way he stares at me across the table! <i>Really!</i> There was also a look of self-righteousness in his blue eyes that I did not like. It was as if he were judging my whole character from that little dance I did in the bordello.
After the feast was over, my father rose and clapped his hands…and called for the musicians to play. Then he invited everyone for a 'little' dancing.
Lady Hilde and I exchanged worried glances. I inwardly groaned. I should have anticipated this. What was a welcoming feast without any <i>dancing</i>? I sighed as I rose from my seat. This was going to be a long, long night.
Of course, as expected, my partner was none other than Prince Yuy. I must admit, as he bowed elegantly when he claimed my hand for the dance, that he had impeccable manners. He placed one slightly callused hand on my waist, the other clasping my hand. When he drew me to him, our bodies almost touching, I felt a strange thrill at being this close to him. He smelled…good–of sweat and something else, manly perfume perhaps. As he swept me into dance floor for a stately and proper waltz, I braced myself for the interesting conversation that would surely accompany this dance.
I didn't wait long for our conversation to begin. He started almost immediately. "I did not think the waltz would be to your tastes, Princess," he remarked as he twirled me around.
I gave him a polite smile. "Indeed, Prince Yuy? And what do you suppose would be more to my taste?"
His stormy blue eyes suddenly focused on me, sharp and penetrating. "Perhaps some exotic dance from the East, with less clothing," he answered in a low, toneless whisper.
I looked at him straight in the eye and smiled, a little slyly, I must admit. "Is that what you prefer, Prince Yuy? I noticed exotic dances like that are much more to your taste as well. After all, aren't you known as the Wild Boy Prince?"
His grip on my waist tightened, and he pulled me closer to him, molding our bodies together, our faces just mere centimeters away from touching. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Lord Falkner whisper something to my father. No doubt he was saying how <i>well</i> the Prince and I were getting along.
When I turned to face the prince, there was an angry, dangerous look in his eyes. Apparently, my reply touched some sort of raw nerve in him. I looked around for Hilde to 'rescue' me from the prince, but when I spotted her, she was busy dancing with someone from the Prince's entourage.
I decided to change the subject. "What do you think my father and Lord Falkner are discussing right now?" I asked, glancing over to my father and Lord Falkner, who were discussing something I could not hear.
His grip relaxed, and the angry look in his eyes disappeared. I dared not breathe a sigh of relief. "The proposed treaty between our kingdoms," he replied. There was a note of scorn in his voice as he spoke–scorn that I suspected was directed at me.
I found myself staring into his eyes. "Whatever you may think of me, Prince Yuy, I do love my country and my people. I am not some mindless blonde princess who cares for nothing except for her own pleasures. I am very much concerned with my country's welfare and safety. I want to know what your kingdom offers mine and what do you want in exchange." I smiled bitterly. "You do realize what this treaty may mean for us, do you not?"
I could feel his dark blue eyes boring into mine. "Aye, I do. And I pray it will not come to that."
"So do I. But what if there will be no choice but to thread that path?"
I was suddenly aware that the music had stopped and that we were still standing in the middle of the dance floor. Prince Yuy released his hold on me and took a step back. He bowed, and I curtsied back. Amidst the clapping, I could clearly hear him answer, "Then we shall see, Princess. Then we shall see what will happen next."
Part 4
The Welcoming feast went better than I had imagined, which meant Prince Yuy did NOT announce to my father, the Sanq court, his own minions and to all and sundry that I, the Princess Relena Peacecraft of Sanq, danced in a notorious bordello at night–an exotic dancer at that! However, that did not mean that the feast went without complications. Prince Yuy kept on looking at me during the whole course every now and then, his stormy blue eyes revealing nothing of his feelings, but seeing everything.
To my credit, I managed to calmly meet his gaze and give him a small challenging smile from time to time. I knew I was inviting trouble with such actions, but I could not help it. It was never my nature to back down from any challenge or trouble. I fought back.
Sometime during that feast, I also felt like he expected me to leap onto the table any minute, rip off my prim and proper gown to reveal the skimpy clothes I wore at the bordello and dance before everyone. I was probably exaggerating that last bit, but the way he stares at me across the table! <i>Really!</i> There was also a look of self-righteousness in his blue eyes that I did not like. It was as if he were judging my whole character from that little dance I did in the bordello.
After the feast was over, my father rose and clapped his hands…and called for the musicians to play. Then he invited everyone for a 'little' dancing.
Lady Hilde and I exchanged worried glances. I inwardly groaned. I should have anticipated this. What was a welcoming feast without any <i>dancing</i>? I sighed as I rose from my seat. This was going to be a long, long night.
Of course, as expected, my partner was none other than Prince Yuy. I must admit, as he bowed elegantly when he claimed my hand for the dance, that he had impeccable manners. He placed one slightly callused hand on my waist, the other clasping my hand. When he drew me to him, our bodies almost touching, I felt a strange thrill at being this close to him. He smelled…good–of sweat and something else, manly perfume perhaps. As he swept me into dance floor for a stately and proper waltz, I braced myself for the interesting conversation that would surely accompany this dance.
I didn't wait long for our conversation to begin. He started almost immediately. "I did not think the waltz would be to your tastes, Princess," he remarked as he twirled me around.
I gave him a polite smile. "Indeed, Prince Yuy? And what do you suppose would be more to my taste?"
His stormy blue eyes suddenly focused on me, sharp and penetrating. "Perhaps some exotic dance from the East, with less clothing," he answered in a low, toneless whisper.
I looked at him straight in the eye and smiled, a little slyly, I must admit. "Is that what you prefer, Prince Yuy? I noticed exotic dances like that are much more to your taste as well. After all, aren't you known as the Wild Boy Prince?"
His grip on my waist tightened, and he pulled me closer to him, molding our bodies together, our faces just mere centimeters away from touching. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Lord Falkner whisper something to my father. No doubt he was saying how <i>well</i> the Prince and I were getting along.
When I turned to face the prince, there was an angry, dangerous look in his eyes. Apparently, my reply touched some sort of raw nerve in him. I looked around for Hilde to 'rescue' me from the prince, but when I spotted her, she was busy dancing with someone from the Prince's entourage.
I decided to change the subject. "What do you think my father and Lord Falkner are discussing right now?" I asked, glancing over to my father and Lord Falkner, who were discussing something I could not hear.
His grip relaxed, and the angry look in his eyes disappeared. I dared not breathe a sigh of relief. "The proposed treaty between our kingdoms," he replied. There was a note of scorn in his voice as he spoke–scorn that I suspected was directed at me.
I found myself staring into his eyes. "Whatever you may think of me, Prince Yuy, I do love my country and my people. I am not some mindless blonde princess who cares for nothing except for her own pleasures. I am very much concerned with my country's welfare and safety. I want to know what your kingdom offers mine and what do you want in exchange." I smiled bitterly. "You do realize what this treaty may mean for us, do you not?"
I could feel his dark blue eyes boring into mine. "Aye, I do. And I pray it will not come to that."
"So do I. But what if there will be no choice but to thread that path?"
I was suddenly aware that the music had stopped and that we were still standing in the middle of the dance floor. Prince Yuy released his hold on me and took a step back. He bowed, and I curtsied back. Amidst the clapping, I could clearly hear him answer, "Then we shall see, Princess. Then we shall see what will happen next."
to you, Heero. You ENJOYED it, and the thing that pisses you off is, you enjoyed it, you WANT to enjoy her, despite the fact you were resolved to hate this marriage, and thus you are annoyed for wanting what you swore you wouldn't.
You're all doing a wonderful job, and I love how Heero and Relena's relationship is developing. I LOVE it! I can't wait for more!!!