That brings us to today, the day where Ren is visiting to see perform a little dance based on what I’ve learnt and practiced so far.
Although it was just a mock performance in my own palace without any special clothes or anything, I was still very nervous to perform in front of Ren. Then again, why did I bother learning these dances if I wouldn’t show Ren?
“You don’t have to be so nervous,” Jeely teased with a small laugh.
We were waiting for Ren’s arrival which could be at any mont now.
“I wish I am as confident as you are,” I replied with a shaky laugh of my own.
A maid ca in to announce Ren’s arrival before Ren ca into the room. I prayed that he didn’t have such high expectations of because he would be sorely disappointed. Sohow, I had convinced Jeely to perform the dance along with . The idea that I had was that if I failed miserably then Ren could always look at Jeely and her beautiful dance instead. Then his trip here wouldn’t be totally wasted.
“Crown prince...” I said politely before bowing to him.
Ren smiled at before taking a seat on the wooden sofa. I could tell that he was in a good mood from his smile and that made a little bit more nervous.
“What dance are you going to show today?” Ren asked.
“Dance of the Fireflies...” I said, sounding a little more confidence than I felt inside.
“I look forward to it,” Ren said before he leaned back to enjoy the show.
Just like when we had our lessons, there were a few musicians to help play the song that went along with the dance. As I had just told Ren, the dance that Jeely and I will perform today is the Dance of the Fireflies. According to Jeely, it was a dance used to welco prestigious guests and is supposed to bring about good fortune to the viewer.
Jeely and I stood side by side in position as we both waited for the music to start playing. I had practiced this dance so many tis before and my body was supposed to know it by mory by now but I still felt very nervous to perform the dance in front of Ren. I could feel his eyes watching and that made feel uncomfortable inside.
Glancing over at Jeely, she had the most professional smile on her lips, and she didn’t seem nervous at all. Unlike , I felt like my legs were shaking and prayed that I wouldn’t faint from the pressure.
...
The music started and Rin and I started dancing to the music. I had to admit that Rin had progressed much faster than I had thought possible for soone like her. Although she was good, she was a far cry from being talented at the arts which was to be expected.
I felt highly amused when she had asked to dance along with her to show the crown prince. Dancing side by side would just make our difference in skill apparent; however, it seed that she did not consider this at all. She’s probably too scared to perform alone and I had willingly gone along with her wishes.
It has been so long since I’ve last perford for the crown prince. To be honest, I have never perford for him privately like this. All my performances had been for state affairs and etings where the crown prince was just one of the audiences. It made excited to be able to perform for him and have him close like this.
Rin could keep up with the dance and did not make any big mistake, fortunately. However, her dance was standard at best and still lacked the grace as expected of high-ranking concubines in the inner court. Despite that fact, I could tell that the crown prince only had his eyes on her. For so reason, he was very absorbed and taken by her dance. Not once did he glance my way.
After a while, I realized that I wasn’t dancing for the crown prince at all. I was rely dancing to keep Rin company and give her confidence to continue with her dance. It was only her dance that the crown prince was interested in, and it was only Rin that he saw. Halfway through the dance, I had lost all excitent in performing the dance and my mood had darkened considerably. While my body continued to move to the music, my mind had already drifted back in ti to the only ti that the crown prince ever noticed .
It was a very long ti ago, the only ti he ever noticed was when he told the eunuch that I was too young to be in his inner court and that I should be sent ho. It was on the first day that I had arrived in the capital of the empire after my town had been taken over and absorbed into the empire.
My father, as the ruler of our land, had decided to offer to the capital and send to live in the crown prince’s inner court as a representative of my town. As the princess of my town and as my father’s daughter, I had promised my father and my people that I would do my absolute best to earn the prince’s favor so that our town would be protected and rewarded.
...
“What is there to see here that you thought would interest ?” Ren asked passionlessly.
The lines of girls and won sent from foreign lands to join his inner court passed by before his disinterested eyes. Ren wondered why he had to be here when he would prefer to be strategizing with his generals or helping out on the battlefield where the action was.
Dealing with spoils of war wasn’t his idea of fun at all...
“Crown prince, these beautiful ladies are offerings for you...” the eunuch replied, unable to understand Ren’s displeasure.
“Who told you that I wanted them?” Ren asked bluntly.
“Well...it is customary...” the eunuch said as he bowed politely.
“Take that girl for example...” Ren said as he pointed his index finger at a small girl dressed in a colorful silk robe.
--To be continued...
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