“When did you say it was being held?”

“A month from now.”

“…do you know anyone that can dance?”

He thought for a moment. “Sentra and Evans.”

“Aren’t they really busy? Would they even be able to help?”

“…I don’t know, but even if they can’t, perhaps they know people who can… I guess if worse came to worse, we can hire someone.”

The next day at work he sent messages to them both. It took a few days before they got back to him, since they were both on missions.

To his relief, they both agreed they could help. They each had a week off coming up and offered to teach during that time. Since they got different parts of the month off, it meant two straight weeks of teaching.

Evans got his time off first. His only requirement was getting a free meal every time he came over. (Surprising no one.) He came over in the evening at Thio’s request, so they could both be taught at the same time.

Evans was pleasantly surprised at how much Caroline had improved, having been too busy with work to visit much, he’d not seen her recently. Her hair was below her chin, cutely wavy and pinned up, and her face had rounded slightly from good food and less exercise. Without her tan, her big golden brown eyes stood out on her face, making her look innocent and young. Her tall, slender frame had a feminine willow-like appearance that Evans quite liked.

Seeing Evans look of admiration at Caroline, Thio frowned. While Evans was not the sort to steal another man’s wife, he was absolutely the sort to flirt shamelessly regardless of marital status. It was widely believed he’d flirt with the Empress if given the chance.

“Alright!” Evans gave a single clap as if to get the attention of two students. “I really only know the male parts to these dances, but I can help a little with the female dancing. I’m going to do the simplest dance I know first, both of you watch.”

Evan stood in the center of their living room, bowed, then reached out his two hands to clasp an imaginary partner. He then very slowly stepped to the side, stepped the back, side, forward——

Two sets of eyes watched him like a hawk. When he was done, Evans repeated the steps again. He then turned to Caroline and smiled impishly.

“Would you like to try?”

“But I don’t know the women’s steps though…”

“It’s ok, I can lead—” When Evans reached out his hand, Thio’s thin bony fingers intercepted, grabbing the other man’s wrist firmly.

“Dance with me.”

“Eh?”

“If I know how to dance, then I can lead. There’s no reason for you to tou— to dance, with Caroline.”

Evans eyebrows rose slightly and then he gave a knowing smile. He hadn’t expected his friend to be the sort that got jealous so easily. But then, perhaps he was the type who, once thawed, blazed uncontrollably.

“Ah… alright, alright.” He backed away from Caroline, giving her a shameless wink as he did. “But if you think I’ll dance with you, Thio, you’re sadly mistaken. I don’t dance with men.”

He then pulled Thio so he was standing in front of Caroline.

“So, let’s just have you two dance together, shall we? I’ll stand over here and Thio, you can watch what I’m doing an imitate me. Ready?”

With that, Evans started teaching them both how to dance.

Or he tried.

Currently, he was rubbing the wrinkle between his eyebrows. Caroline had sat down and was rubbing the top of her feet.

“Thio…”

“Yes?”

“Is it possible you have no sense of rhythm?”

“…well…”

Evans gave his friend an exasperated look.

“Let’s hope practice makes perfect. At the rate you’re going, if we can get this one dance down, it’ll be a miracle.”

Evans came almost every night of his week off trying to teach Thio how to dance. By the forth night, both Evans and Caroline wanted to cry. Evans because he’d never met someone so catastrophically bad at dancing, and Caroline because it was her feet getting constantly steeped on. It was only getting home cooked meals that kept Evans from giving up.

When it was Sentra’s turn to teach, Evans was heartily relieved.

Sentra observed Thio and Caroline’s attempts at dancing with a frown. Finally, she separated them, looking thoroughly disgruntled.

“Caroline, come here.” She instructed the younger woman. When she’d come over, Sentra grabbed her hands and began counting and then gently leading her around in a dance. Despite Sentra being shorter, she elegantly lead Caroline in a dance.

When she was finished, Sentra stepped back, a smirk on her face.

“Wasn’t that fun?”

“Yes!” Caroline said, seriously relieved to dance without having her feet stepped on.

“Now you—” Sentra whipped around and pointed at Thio accusingly. “—what is that blessed brain for if it can’t figure out what the feet are doing?!”

Thio, who’d been standing out of the way and feeling pitiful, could only look down in shame.

“I can’t help that I’m not good at dancing…” He muttered darkly.

“Ah? What’s that? Excuses?” Sentra cupped her hand around her ear. “You think I’m letting you get away with that attitude, do you? I’m going to that Imperial Party too, and I’ll drop dead before I allow you to walk out on the floor and do…. Whatever that is you’re doing with your feet. Evans was clearly too soft on you, don’t think you’ll get the same treatment from me.”

Before he could defend himself any further, she grabbed his hands and pulled. They were standing in the center of the living room again. She looked up at him, beautiful eyes narrowed.

“Now dance boy, dance.”

Dancing with Sentra was something like a kind of torture. If he did anything she deemed a “stupid mistake”, he got kicked in the shins. Then she’d ‘nicely’ heal him and force him to keep going. She didn’t give him short lessons either, they went on for well over two hours at a time. Though he really had no rhythm at all, it didn’t matter. Self-preservation kicked in. By the end of the fifth day, he was able to move his feet properly— though very rigidly.

When Sentra finally let Thio dance with Caroline and giving him a begrudging pass, he’d almost cried. While he’d always respected Sentra, he now feared her. And his shins would continue to ache at the sight of her for a long, long time.

Caroline held a candle out for Thio in her heart the entire week. She’d never be jealous of Sentra again. The look on Thio’s face after those tortu— dance lessons, proved he’d never ever be interested in Sentra. It was a testament to Thio’s character that he didn’t give up after the first lesson, but persisted and eventually came out with at least one dance under his belt.

As for Caroline, since she had a sense of rhythm, there was no shin kicking in her lessons. In fact, in the time it took Thio to learn to get down one dance, Sentra was able to teach her three.

Sentra also took Caroline and Thio to a tailor to get “proper outfits” for the dance. She knew the right place to go, and was apparently a return customer, for the shop they went to gave her a high degree of respect. Since neither Caroline nor Thio were well versed in modern Capital fashion, Sentra did the heavy lifting. As someone who adored beautiful clothes, she didn’t mind.

When they went to pick up their outfits (for the Matthews were cheap and didn’t want to pay for delivery), they took Sentra out for lunch and tea.

“Don’t worry too much about what to say to the Emperor.” Sentra was saying, giving her last bits of advice. “Military men aren’t expected to adhere strictly to Court protocol. As long as you wish him a long life and say he’s great and amazing or something along those line, it’ll work out fine. The major thing to remember is to never speak first. Wait for his Imperial Highness to speak to you, or for someone representing him to give you permission.”

“Ah, and Caroline, you just stand there next to Thio and look pretty when you two go to congratulate the Emperor, alright? You’re technically not ranked and a guest, so no one’s expecting anything from you. And once that’s done, stay with the other military wives until the dancing starts. They all huddle together out of self-preservation and their bearing is totally different from the Noble Ladies. They should be easy to spot.”

“What else? Oh! About the dancing… you’re only expected to dance together once. Even the elderly get out there, unless they’re sickly. After that, you can do whatever you like. But Caroline, just as a warning, you may be asked by other men to dance.”

A noticeable scowl played across Thio’s face a this, causing Sentra to laugh.

“What? It’d actually be a compliment if at least one or two men other than you asked her to dance. She’s allowed to turn them down, so you’ve got nothing to worry about.” When his expression relaxed, she rolled her eyes at him. “The only thing you’ve got to watch out for is if anyone from the Imperial family asks you.”

“Imperial family?”

“That’s right, if any of them ask you, you’ll have to say yes. If I recall, the former Emperor will be there, as will two Imperial Princes—ah, that’s brothers to the reigning Emperor if you’re wondering Caroline— and the Crown Prince. The Crown Prince isn’t even sixteen yet, so I’d be surprised if he asks you. But you never know, they’ve all got a mischievous streak and will ask random women to dance with them. Once, Prince Mathis danced with a ninety year old granny.”

Thio’s eyes narrowed. “You know a lot about these parties. And you said you’re going to this one too. How’d you get invited?”

“Hm? Well, I’m related.”

“Related? Related to who?”

“Travis.”

Thio almost spit out his drink while Caroline jumped up from her seat, asking excitedly, “Woah, you mean Emperor Travis?! Does that mean you’re a Princess???”

Sentra chuckled. “No, I’m not a Princess.”

“Aw….” Caroline sat back down. She’d almost been friends with a Princess!

“We’re cousins, you see. My Father was an Imperial Prince to the former Emperor, though of course he’s just a Duke now.”

“Just a Duke…” Thio couldn’t help muttering at her cavalier attitude. “Why haven’t I heard of this before?”

Sentra hummed a bit while sipping her tea. “It’s what I like to call a ‘well known secret’. I don’t hide it, but I don’t bring it up in casual conversation either. I entered the way you did, without using my family name. My first few years were like everyone else’s, so it wasn’t until later that anyone made the connection. Once they did, well, what could they do? Changed how they behaved? I knew them, they knew me, pretending to be polite and proper didn’t make sense. So unless there’s a reason to talk about it, no one does.”

“That, I suppose, is true…” Thio said slowly and nodded. How many times had she (angrily) saved his life? At this point, he’d always think of her first as a Holy Mage and only very distantly as a member of Royalty. If it entered his mind at all.

“Of course it’s true.” Sentra snorted. “What good would treating me differently do anyway? Grovelling doesn’t cure illness faster. And getting good with me has no influence at all on my family, much less the Imperial Family.”

“Are you not very close to them?” Caroline asked.

“Hm… I’m on good terms with the Imperial Family, but I don’t ask them for anything. People in power know that, so they don’t bother with me. I mean, if I did, would I still be ranked at Holy Mage after so many years?” She shrugged. “As for my parents… well… they’d have disowned me if they could have.”

“What, why?!”

“I believe I mentioned once… I ended up in the military as way to avoid getting married.”

Caroline’s eyebrows scrunched together. “I think I recall something like that.”

“Yes well, they use to forcibly take me to the Palace to play with the princes. I didn’t mind, Aunt Janice doted on me since she didn’t have any daughters. But my parent’s intention was to try to set me up with Travis or Mathis. When that didn’t work, they were going to marry me to some widowed old fart.”

“I-is marrying first cousins normal…?” Caroline was trying really hard to ask this without making a face, but failing spectacularly. The age difference she was less surprised by, as she’d already seen some examples of that in Hillsdale.

Sentra chuckled. “I take it they don’t do that where you’re from?”

“It’s… uh… kind of considered gross and weird.” Then realizing how rude that was, Caroline added. “No offense.”

“None taken. The Empire is not that different from your home country. The general population would never marry even a second cousin, much less a first. It’s viewed as extremely risky, as children of such parings may suffer deformities. But as is often the case, exceptions are made for Nobility. Keeping power becomes more important than the health risks, and if it comes down to it… they’ll just take a second a wife and nominate those children as the heirs.”

“Woah, woah… a what now?! What’s this about a second wife? I’m sure I heard that only one—”

“I told you, exceptions are made. The higher up the social ladder you go, the more deviant people become with their morality in the pursuit of power.” She tilted her head. “Though the Imperial Family is a bit of an abnormality in that sense.”

“Eh, they are?”

“Well, Nobles are traditionally pretty scummy.”

Thio glanced around with a slight nervous expression showing. “Please be careful what you say publicly Sentra.”

“It’s true though?”

“..such talk is borderline traitorous.”

“Oh please!” Sentra huffed in annoyance. “Is this city run by a Lord? No? Then why are you worrying?”

Thio set his cup down with force. “Sentra, it’s easy for you to say that. Even if you won’t claim your birthright, no Noble is stupid enough to mess with Royalty. The rest of us don’t have that kind of protection. My wife doesn’t have that kind of protection. What kind of behavior are you teaching her, talking that way? Nobles have beheaded people for less.”

“No one’s done any such thing in recent history.” She shot back.

“True. They just destroy a person’s reputation until they can’t get employed for even the most menial work. Until they lose their family name, their pride. Until their family is forced into the slums, treated no better than a dog.” He spoke bitterly, his face twisting in anger.

Caroline, who’d been watching them argue with wide eyes, stopped breathing for a moment. Thio had never liked talking about his family. Since it didn’t matter to her where he came from, the basics he’d told her had always been enough. But as he spoke, she recalled that Thio’s family had once been knights, and that’s why he’d wanted to be one too. She’d never thought to ask what had caused his family’s downfall.

Sentra raised an eyebrow, surprised at the amount of emotion her coworker was showing.

“You sound like you speak from experience.”

“I do.” He breathed deeply and on the exhale, his anger left him. “Which is why I’m saying to be more cautious. At least one person at this table doesn’t understand the finer points of our society. As her friend, it’s important that you don’t mislead her in a direction that could ruin her future.”

Sentra pursed her lips and then sighed, giving in.

“Fine. You make a valid argument.” She tapped the side of her chin before continuing to her explanation. “The point remains, Nobility has always… had more moral freedom, I suppose you could say, than the Imperial Family. And that’s because, to rule the Empire, you must have Celestial Skills.”

“That’s a magic thing isn’t it?” Caroline commented somewhat glumly. She was always the last to know about magic-related anything.

“That’s right, very powerful, special magic.” Sentra chuckled at Caroline’s reaction. “Only those in the Imperial Lineage have it. But it’s not guaranteed. It can be lost. And all it takes is going against God’s Will. My Father, for instance, lost his Celestial Skill in his early teenage years.”

“…is that something you should be saying in public, to us…?” Thio’s eyebrows rose in alarm.

“Hm? It’s old gossip, probably over fifty years at this point. So I’m not saying anything people haven’t been theorizing about for years.” She smiled innocently.

“Right…”

Caroline inched closer to Sentra, hand over her mouth to shield onlookers.

“How did he lose it?” She whispered.

“Caroline!”

“What?! I’m curious! Don’t pretend like you aren’t too!”

Thio could only flatten his lips. He was a little curious despite himself.

“Well…” Sentra twirled the tea in her cup. “…basically, he was a little man whore.”

“Sentra, phrasing!” Thio gritted his teeth.

“Bah, fine! He…” She thought for a moment. “…was overzealous in his love for the citizens of the empire. Noble to commoner, male or female, he loved them all. A little too much.”

Thio grimaced and Caroline went “oooh”.

“He was the eldest son, set to inherit the throne, but he lost his Celestial Skill for a moment of passion. Or perhaps it’s better to say several moments of passion, ahem. Not only did he lose his inheritance, he lost the title of Imperial Prince and was demoted to a Duke. He’s no better than a Noble now, not just in status but in behavior too… ah, so the rumors go.” She winked mischievously. “Anyway, if whor—— sowing one’s seed too liberally is enough to lose a Celestial Skill, you can imagine how strict the Imperial Family is about their morality.”

Caroline nodded, a serious look on her face. “But if the Imperial Family has to be so strict, and the Nobles don’t, doesn’t that mean Nobles have the advantage? I mean, a cheater will always win against someone who plays by the rules, right?”

“Hm… yes and no. If you want to talk about cheating… the Celestial Skill is a God level cheat. So no matter how conniving and underhanded Nobles may be, they all eventually have to bow their heads to the Emperor. Because it turns out God’s Will has no problem with…” She made a slicing motion across her neck, “…extreme forms of justice.”

“O-oh.”

“As long as the punishment fits the crime.” Thio added evenly.

Sentra gave a very dark smile. “And you’d be surprised what punishments ‘fit’.”

Caroline held both her cheeks. “That’s… really disconcerting.”

“Why? Have you been breaking any laws the Emperor needs to know about?”

“Of course not!” Her mind flittered to her rather sketchy beginnings in this world.

“Then don’t worry about it! Unless you’re going around behaving like a scum— uh, morally liberated Noble, you’ve got nothing to worry about. The Imperial Family doesn’t care about little people like us.”

“Us?” Thio raised a brow.

“Oh, alright, just Caroline.”

“Why don’t I count?”

“Eh… you got a personal invitation didn’t you? Since you’ve been noticed, you’re in the same boat as me.”

“Speaking of that, were you the one?”

“The one what?”

“That got me noticed.”

“Didn’t I say I don’t make requests to the Imperial Family? And anyway, having you at a party is like inviting a rock. You just stand around and do nothing! And now I know you can’t dance. I like to enjoy myself when I go partying, thank you very much. I’d never invite you to a party if I could help it.”

“Ah, I appreciate that. Maybe you could tell the Emperor it’s not worth having me come…?” Thio asked hopefully, not at all upset by her insults.

“If I could have done that and it would have worked, don’t you think I would have already?”

“Fair enough.”

Thio stared into his tea cup and wished it was beer.