The grand palace was bathed in golden light, alive with the sound of music, laughter, and the gentle clinking of glasses. White and crimson banners fluttered in the warm evening breeze, and the garden beyond shimmered with enchanted lanterns that floated like stars.
Inside the ballroom, nobles and warriors from every corner of the allied kingdoms had gathered. The hall itself had been transformed — crystal chandeliers hung above polished marble floors, while enchanted roses bloomed along the pillars, changing color with the rhythm of the music.
William stood among the crowd, dressed in a deep sapphire-blue royal suit that matched his noble lineage. The outfit complimented his chiseled features and golden hair — he looked every bit the prince he was raised to be.
Boros, on the other hand, stood more stoic, wrapped in a black and gold-trimmed ceremonial coat. It suited his strength and calm presence, making him look like a general rather than a noble.
Away from the center of celebration, leaning slightly against a pillar, stood Kai.
He wore a custom royal outfit William had ordered for him — a deep charcoal coat with crimson embroidery tracing down the sleeves and collar, layered over a black inner tunic. His usually battle-worn appearance was replaced with quiet elegance and unspoken power. For many in the hall, he looked more like a lost prince than a feared warrior.
Boros stood silently beside him, arms crossed, sharing the same discomfort of being in the spotlight.
Then the music shifted.
All heads turned.
From the grand staircase at the far end of the hall, two figures descended — graceful, radiant, and unforgettable.
Emma led the way, her blond hair curled and flowing like golden silk. She wore a sky-blue gown that shimmered like a waterfall under moonlight, and every step she took drew gasps of admiration.
Beside her, Princess Yuhi walked with regal grace. Her gown blended pink and white in elegant waves, adorned with delicate silver embroidery. Her long silver hair cascaded down her back like moonlight, and her pale complexion glowed under the chandeliers.
For a brief moment, time seemed to stop.
All eyes were on them.
Even Kai — who rarely reacted to anything — felt something stir in his chest as he looked at Yuhi. She wasn't just beautiful tonight… she looked divine.
The hall buzzed with murmurs. Admiration. Awe. Some even whispered whether the silver-haired princess walking beside Emma was truly mortal.
Kai's fingers twitched slightly.
And for the first time since the war ended — he felt slightly nervous.
As the music played on and the hall basked in its own brilliance, a quiet voice cut through the hum of conversation.
From behind Boros, Lucious Fang approached with his usual confident stride. He wore a dark navy coat with a silver crest across his chest — the mark of Lumiya's elite warriors.
Stopping beside them, Lucious folded his arms and grinned.
"Prince Emma and Princess Yuhi… they look absolutely stunning tonight," he remarked, his eyes briefly following the two young women as they descended the final steps.
Boros chuckled and gave a hearty nod.
"You're not wrong," he said with a booming laugh. Then, turning to Kai with a mischievous smirk, he slapped him hard on the shoulder.
"What do you think, Kai? Knocked the breath out of you?"
Kai, caught off-guard and pulled from his silent observation of Yuhi, blinked once.
His expression remained unreadable, but the slight flicker in his eyes gave him away for the briefest moment.
"Nothing special," he said flatly, adjusting his coat and looking away as if uninterested.
Boros burst into another round of laughter.
"Right, 'nothing special.' You should work on your lying face, Dark Knight!"
Lucious smirked knowingly but didn't press further.
The music swelled again as more guests joined the dance floor. The tables lining the sides of the hall overflowed with exquisite dishes — roasted beast, enchanted fruit platters, golden wine, and warm spiced bread.
Crystal goblets clinked, and laughter filled the air.
The celebration had begun in full.
Knights danced with mages, nobles toasted with warriors, and for one night — the wounds of war were replaced with joy, color, and the rare gift of peace.
But even amid the joy…
Kai's eyes once again found Yuhi in the crowd.
And though he said nothing —
his heart quietly disagreed with his words.
The music shifted —
The upbeat tunes faded, replaced by a soft, elegant romantic melody.
The grand hall's lights dimmed slightly, casting a golden glow over the marble floor.
Couples began stepping onto the dance floor —
Knights and noblewomen, scholars and mages, even some Lumiya warriors — all moved in harmony, their movements graceful and filled with laughter.
At the center, King Advert White extended his hand to his beloved wife, Queen Rose White. With poise and pride, the royal couple began to dance, drawing everyone's admiration as they led the moment.
On opposite sides of the ballroom, Kai and Yuhi stood apart — yet tethered by an invisible thread.
Yuhi's silver hair shimmered beneath the chandelier light.
She stood with quiet elegance, her pink and white gown swaying gently as she watched from across the floor.
Her eyes were fixed on Kai —
Not obviously. Not in a way anyone else might notice.
But she looked. Truly looked.
She watched him the way someone looks at a fading star — unsure if it would shine again… but secretly hoping.
Kai, meanwhile, remained motionless. Arms crossed. Eyes distant.
But something in him shifted the moment the melody began.
He hadn't realized he was watching her too.
Until —
Emma, ever the observer, caught the quiet tension between them.
A playful glint sparked in her sky-blue eyes.
Standing beside William, she subtly tapped her fingers against her arm in a rhythm — a secret signal only William would understand.
William glanced once at her, then at Kai, then grinned.
Without hesitation, he walked behind Kai and, with a sudden, forceful shove—
"Get moving, prince charming."
Kai stumbled onto the dance floor, eyes wide in surprise.
Across the room, Yuhi blinked as Emma spun around and pushed her forward with equal enthusiasm.
"Oops," Emma said with a smirk.
Yuhi gasped softly, stumbling a step — only to find herself face to face with Kai, right in the center of the ballroom.
The music swelled.
Eyes turned.
But in that moment…
Everything else faded.
Just Kai.
Just Yuhi.
And the space between them.
As Kai and Yuhi stood frozen at the center of the ballroom, unsure of what to do next, a familiar voice suddenly echoed across the hall —
"Come on, Kai!"
Boros grinned wide from the sidelines, raising his glass.
"Ask the princess for a dance already! Everyone's watching!"
Laughter and curious murmurs spread through the crowd.
Kai's sharp senses noticed it instantly —
All eyes were now on him and Yuhi.
Nobles. Warriors. Even the King.
If he walked away now…
It wouldn't just be rude.
It would bring shame — to her.
He turned his gaze toward Yuhi.
Her cheeks were already flushed, eyes a mix of shock and hope.
Kai took a small breath. Then, in a calm, quiet voice that carried through the silence:
"Princess Yuhi…"
He extended his hand slightly, his expression unreadable but his tone respectful.
"Will you dance with me?"
A breathless pause followed.
Yuhi blinked once.
Then, with a gentle smile and a graceful nod, she placed her hand into his.
The crowd softly exhaled in approval.
As the music rose again, the two stepped into position.
Kai's hand lightly rested on Yuhi's waist. Yuhi's other hand found his shoulder.
Then —
They began to move.
And it was effortless.
Kai — silent and elegant — moved like a shadow that had spent centuries learning rhythm.
Yuhi — graceful and fluid — matched every step, her silver hair trailing like moonlight.
Their bodies flowed together — perfectly timed, in perfect harmony.
Each twirl, each turn, each rise and fall of movement painted a story no words could match.
The grand hall fell into a hushed awe.
Whispers drifted like wind:
"They move like they've danced forever…"
"Are they even human?"
"They look like two angels…"
The chandeliers above shimmered, casting golden light over them.
It wasn't just a dance.
It was a silent confession.
One no lips dared to speak, but every heartbeat screamed.
And in that moment —
The Dark Knight and the Silver Princess danced not just for the crowd…
But for the one person who had unknowingly held a piece of their heart all along.