-Kashion-
Rein began telling Evlina a few stories from Kashion's childhood. None of them were truly embarrassing; they were mostly about small mishaps or moments when he had made a fool of himself in school.
For example, the time he had believed Saturn had its own sun, or the day he had fallen down the stairs because he had been watching a bird outside.
"You do realize I'm sitting right here among you while you laugh about me?" Kashion asked.
Rein laughed and clapped Kashion on the shoulder.
"To make a beautiful woman laugh, sacrifices must be made," Rein said, winking at Evlina.
"I really think it would be best if we switched seats," Kashion said, making a move to stand up.
At that moment he felt Evlina's hand on his arm.
"Please don't," she said. "It could send strange signals."
Kashion nodded. He understood the matter of signals all too well.
He glanced back at Prior, who was still deep in lively conversation.
"So what actually brings you here?" Kashion finally asked Rein. He didn't want to talk about himself anymore, but he did want a conversation that might distract him.
Rein raised his eyebrows.
"Kashion, I thought we were friends."
"We are," Kashion confirmed.
"You invite all the important people and leave me out." Rein shook his head.
"Rein, you know why."
"You think my country is that unimportant?"
"I wouldn't say that," Kashion replied, trying to calm the situation.
"We want a share too, Kashion. I'm sure you'll notice in the negotiations that we are not insignificant."
Kashion sighed. "I'm sorry I didn't invite you right away. It's good to see you again," he said—and he meant it. Rein was a daredevil and had sometimes helped Kashion remember that life wasn't only about duty.
"So how does the party continue?" Rein asked.
Kashion shook his head. "This is an official reception. We'll have dessert, and then the dancing will begin."
Rein lightly clapped his hands. "Dancing—that sounds good."
Turning to Evlina, he said, "You will grant me at least one dance, won't you?"
Evlina laughed. "If you behave well, I might even dance until the end."
Rein laughed.
Then the servants came and cleared away the dishes and plates. After that, they brought the desserts. Kashion had insisted there had to be something with strawberries, and the kitchen had suggested a strawberry cream cake.
There were also other pastries and fruit beside it.
Kashion watched as the dessert was placed on Prior's table as well. As expected, she immediately reached for the cake. She took a plate with a slice and looked at it with delight.
Then she looked at Kashion—and for a moment his breath caught. He almost felt as if he had been caught staring.
But she smiled at him and then glanced at the cake with raised eyebrows, as if she were trying to tell him something.
He suddenly felt much more relaxed. He started to smile and took a plate with a slice of cake as well.
-Prior-
Prior was glad that there was something with strawberries again. But that was understandable if Prince Kashion liked them so much. So she immediately thought of him when she saw the cake.
She was a little surprised that he had already been looking at her. But it didn't make her uncomfortable anymore, and when she saw him smile, she almost had to laugh.
She took the first bite, and the cake tasted incredibly good.
She smiled and gently rocked in her chair. The reception was going much better than she had expected. Interesting conversations and delicious food. It was almost enough.
Some time later, Kashion stood up and announced that the dancing would begin. Evlina naturally placed her hand in his, and they walked to the dance floor.
Applause filled the room, and Prior felt the atmosphere shift again. A ripple seemed to move through the hall, almost like a murmur.
This time she couldn't look. She didn't want to see the "perfect couple." It almost hurt, and she grew restless.
"I think I need some fresh air," she finally said.
"Are you not feeling well?" Talina asked. "You look very pale."
Prior shook her head. "I just need some fresh air. I'll go out to the balcony for a moment. Please excuse me."
She was about to leave when Nara said, "We'll come with you, right Tin?"
Tin nodded. "Fresh air is always good."
So they headed toward the balcony. Prior thought they probably wouldn't stand out anyway, because everyone's attention was focused on Kashion and Evlina, and besides, most people were already standing or walking around the hall.
-Kashion-
This time Kashion couldn't really enjoy the dance, even though Evlina looked so enchanting and was such an excellent dancer.
It felt so wrong when she held his hand. All he could think was: It's for the agreement. To show that Saturn and Tingdao are connected.
He let his gaze wander through the room and saw Prior walking toward the balcony with Tin and Nara.
He almost stopped breathing and made a wrong step. Evlina was such a good dancer that she corrected it immediately.
"My apologies," he said, looking at her.
"No problem," she replied, looking at him questioningly.
He simply looked away again, and they danced in silence until the music ended.
He escorted Evlina back to the table, and Rein immediately asked her for the next dance.
Kashion was about to head for the balcony when he suddenly felt a strong grip on his arm.
Kassia.
"Give me this dance," she said with a smile.
"I…" Kashion began.
"You owe your big sister that much," Kassia interrupted him.
He couldn't refuse her and went with her to the dance floor.
"Look—Oren and Lina," Kassia said with a wink, and Kashion nodded when he saw the two dancing. But his thoughts were elsewhere.
While they danced, Kassia said, "I know, little brother. You would have preferred to go straight to the balcony."
He looked at her in surprise. "How do you…?"
Kassia smiled. "I know my brother, and I see more than you think."
He raised his eyebrows at her.
"Have a little patience. Finish this dance, and then you can go outside."
He nodded as they turned in the dance.
"You know," she continued, "not everyone enjoys watching the perfect couple dance."
He inhaled sharply, and suddenly the meaning of her words became completely clear.
"Do you think she…?"
But he didn't dare finish the sentence.
Kassia laughed softly. "I would be happy," was all she said.
And that gave Kashion hope. He exhaled deeply and smiled the whole time.
The music ended again, and he brought Kassia back to her seat.
Suddenly he felt a hand on the back of his neck. It was Rein, laughing. Evlina stood beside him.
"What an excellent dancer," Rein said.
Kashion nodded. "I'm going outside for a moment."
"Good idea," Rein replied. "We'll come with you, won't we, Princess?"
Evlina nodded with a smile, and the three of them headed toward the balcony.
It was a very large balcony. Kashion walked through the door Prior had used and saw her small group standing to the right near the railing.
-Prior-
Prior was telling the others about her trip to Gelserkh and why everything there had felt so different from Saturn.
From time to time she also looked up at the evening sky, where a few stars were already visible.
She was so absorbed in the conversation and the beauty of nature that she didn't notice others—among them Kashion—had also come out onto the balcony.
-Kashion-
Rein walked ahead and stopped farther to the right, about in the middle of the balcony. It wasn't really close to Prior's group, but not very far away either.
Rein and Evlina talked while Kashion tried to listen to the other group's conversation. But Rein and Evlina were often too loud, so he could only catch fragments.
He moved almost imperceptibly a step to the side, then another, until he could hear what Prior was saying.
She laughed.
"When I was younger, I felt sorry for Earth because it only has one moon. I thought that was sad, or lonely. But now when I see your moon, I realize how beautiful it is. And it's unique. You have a single moon—and that makes it very special."
Kashion looked at her while her gaze remained fixed on the sky. The moonlight shone softly on her face, and her words were filled with so much enthusiasm and feeling.
-Prior-
Suddenly Prior saw tiny points of light moving through the air.
She stretched out her hand and tried to catch one.
"What is that?" she asked in amazement.
Then she suddenly heard a very gentle voice to her left, almost whispering:
"Fireflies."
Prior turned her head and looked into Prince Kashion's eyes. He was standing very close beside her, holding her gaze.
"Fireflies?" she asked.
Kashion nodded. "Don't you have them?"
Prior shook her head.
Kashion smiled softly. "Small beetles that produce light through bioluminescence," he explained.
"How…," Prior said softly. "How beautiful. Our ancestors couldn't take every animal with them."
Kashion nodded. "They say that long ago, some people collected fireflies in jars so they could use their light."
"Oh, how sad!" Prior said.
Kashion looked at her questioningly.
"Well, then they're trapped and can't show their light anywhere else."
-Kashion-
Kashion understood what she meant.
"And if you release them afterward?" he asked.
Prior looked at him thoughtfully. "Then it's alright."
"And if they come back voluntarily?" Kashion continued.
Prior thought for a moment and smiled. "Then it's their choice."
Kashion smiled too.
What he wanted most right now was to ask her if she would dance with him. He wanted so badly to touch her and know what it felt like to dance with her.
But that would surely break every rule of etiquette—that a ruler danced with a servant. It would certainly start conversations.
But then he thought: He was the ruler. Couldn't he decide what was acceptable? And if he wanted to dance with Prior, who could object?
He tried to gather his courage when suddenly Tin spoke to Prior.
"Prior, would you like to dance? Shall we?"
Kashion clenched both hands into fists. How dare he!
But Prior shook her head. "Thank you, Tin, but I don't want to dance."
Tin nodded and said with a wink, "Then I'll go with Nara. Excuse us."
But Kashion didn't even have a few seconds alone with Prior before Rein and Evlina approached.
"Let's go back inside!" Rein said, putting an arm around Kashion.
Kashion managed to glance at Prior and make a brief apologetic face, but Rein was already pulling him away.
-Prior-
Evlina glanced at Prior suspiciously for a moment and then walked past her, following Kashion and Rein.
Prior was standing there alone now. Suddenly she felt sad.
So many times it had felt like this—that she had been left behind or left alone. And Kashion had simply gone with the others. That hurt the most.
But why would he have stayed?
She walked to the railing and placed her hands on it. She took a deep breath and looked up at the starry sky.
She pushed back a few tears and thought:
At least I still have the stars. And the moon. And the fireflies.
She began to smile a little again.