I felt my eye twitch as Ana held up three drawings of what was presumably designs for the dance outfit that will be prepared for me in time for the Imperare’s celebration of his tenth year on the throne. Each dress had varying colours of blue and varying degrees of… Puffiness? As someone who has mentally grown past such childish designs, the experience really disturbed me for a moment. Just a moment. Maybe I’ll come to like them again… I tried convincing myself. In any case, I hinted to Ana that perhaps a less extravagant outfit would look better
“Now that we have that sorted, it is time for your dance lessons, Young Miss.” Ana stated.
I perked up to those words. “Could I please practice with Brother?!” I implored.
With a helpless sigh, Ana knelt in front of me as she changed my shoes to black heeled ones. “We shall see if the Young Master is available… However, we must still proceed with the lesson should he not be as such.”
I beamed. “Yaaay!”
Before I could even have a chance to enjoy the sound of my heels on the stone open-air hallways, Ana reminded me of the proper mannerisms when walking with heeled shoes. I frowned slightly but nonetheless complied. ‘Proper’? More like sad… Who doesn’t enjoy the tapping of heels on smooth stone floors!
As we made our way to the library, where Brother was presumably at, the sound of a violin being played could be heard. It didn’t take long for me to figure out who the person could be, for in the first place no person who lives in the Imitheos Palace knows how to expertly play the violin. Opening the doors to the music room that we almost walked past, I caught the sight of Virgil standing by the piano, and Cain, who was playing a traditional waltz song on his violin.
Catching the sight of me, Cain stopped playing to greet me with his arms wide open. “Good afternoon, Velloa.”
Without any hesitation, I, of course, ran into his embrace, giggling as he lifted me up to his eye level. “Cain! You’re early! I was just about to do my dance lessons. Do you want to join us?”
Cain gave me a natural smile and replied, “Your Father and I were able to finish the training mission much earlier than expected, and of course I would like to join you, Velloa.”
“Great! You and Ana can play the music, while Brother and I practice our dancing!” I smiled back.
Cain turned his gaze to Virgil and mine unconsciously followed suit. “Why what a wonderful idea, Velloa.”
Looking at Virgil’s expression, I couldn’t help but feel a bit concerned. Why does Virgil look a bit uncomfortable?
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Butterfly Waltz
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Sensing Cain’s teasing gaze, Virgil narrowed his eyes at him.
“Do you not want to dance with me, Brother?” Velloa voiced.
Startled, Virgil looked towards Velloa’s limpid eyes. “No! Of course I want to dance with you, Vell!” It’s just that I thought you would have preferred Cain as your partner instead… Virgil kept that thought to himself. Resisting the urge to further reveal his irritation, Virgil continued as he tried to cover up his feelings of annoyance. “I had just finished my music lessons right before you and Cain appeared, so it would be my pleasure to help you learn.”
Velloa let out a small shout of delight, also giggling as she did so.
Readying themselves to practice, the two siblings stood in front of each other. Looking up at her Brother with glistening sapphire eyes, Velloa chirpily commented on the nearly two feet difference in height. Virgil could only smile helplessly as he tried to maintain a comfortable stance for the sake of Velloa. Meanwhile, a knowing grin passed between Cain and Ana just before they began to play the waltz music that Cain had been performing earlier.
With Virgil’s guidance, the siblings were able to properly match the music’s tempo. Thoroughly enjoying the dance, Velloa couldn’t help but giggle for almost the entirety of the dance. Both Cain and Ana’s gazes softened at the sight of the two siblings dancing.
“You’re doing quite well, Vell.” Virgil complimented.
Letting out another burst of laughter after being spun, Velloa returned the compliment. “Only because Brother is a great partner!” With her sky-blue hair almost encircling her and eyes sparkling with childish amusement, Velloa’s gleeful expression at that moment was a sight to behold.
Virgil, unbeknownst to his own partner, blushed.
When Virgil was born having not inherited the Imitheos family’s mark, there was an unspeakable sense of disappointment in the family. His parents did not hold it against him, nor did he to them. However, once Velloa was born, that disappointment disappeared, and Virgil was glad about that. But why was he glad? Was it because of the birth of Velloa? Or the fact that he didn’t have to live with that unspoken disappointment anymore? Either way, he was not interested in continuing the Imitheos family’s noble prestige. But now, he couldn’t help but realize that, previously, he didn’t think much about Velloa before. That wasn’t to say that he didn’t care about her, but that didn’t mean he went out of his way for her either; neither loving nor hating her, he was instead rather indifferent towards her. As compared to the present, he would be able to firmly say with quiet fondness that Velloa was indeed his dear family. Safe to say, Virgil had treated his younger sibling as a responsibility, and not much else.
Velloa had been born into the role of carrying on the family’s prestige, and he couldn’t believe that, all this time, he had left her alone with that burden. This moment was both a moment of disconcertion and happiness. Disconcertion, because he finally realized that he had never properly appreciated his younger sibling until now and happiness because now he had recognised his mistake as an older brother. Virgil promised to Velloa in his heart, that from now on, he would do his best to ease whatever burden she had and would have for as long as it was within his power to do so. Velloa was a person, just like him, but not just any person – she was his family, and he would be damned if he would disappoint her like this again.
And so, as the music was nearing its end, both siblings couldn’t help but share the same thought:
This is quite fun…
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