Lone Maachen.
I was one of the Hausmädchen, house-maids, handmaidens or whatever you want to call it, of Schloss Zyng and I had not only the great pleasure of wearing the black bow of Schloss Zyng over my collarbone, but also of being there for the ball, as one of the Hausmädchen.
Spirits above and below, the dresses were so beautiful and some of the men were quite dashing. Of course, the most dashing of them all were Fürst Alrich and Prince Damir, but Constantino Innocente had this youthful charme, that would make many-a-girl week in her knees in due time... of course, not me, because I was a professional.
And he stood before me, with another man, and asked in quite a good German, where the bar was.
I smiled and replied in the same language, bowing my head lightly: "The Refreshments Tables are to either side of the ballroom." I motioned in their directions, where my colleagues were currently bringing out bottles of wines, brandies and other very delicious alcoholic drinks. "Alternatively, I can bring something to the Highnesses?"
Aaltje Schreyg.
Time for a little change in point of view, don't you think?
Here I am, Aaltje Schreyg, on the dance floor with a colleague from far away, dancing a Polonaise. He was not bad, but maybe it was just the style of dancing.
In any case, I have been called many things already, but 'bonnie' had never been among them. I was sure, that it was something positive, but I had no idea as to how... his accent was quite interesting, though, it reminded me a bit of the Selkie, yet not quite.
Actually, absolutely not. There were some similarities, but not many.
Anyway, we danced and it was fine.
As the dance ended, I offered him my hand and jerked my head into the direction of the closest pair of dancers (by coincidence Prince Vin and one of the Princesses from Shikonjima, the Prince bowing down to softly kiss the Princess' hand in a gesture of appreciation).
It were manners around these parts and I was not sure, if he was familiar with them.
Heda, Prinzessin von Dorch.
I was quite sure, that the lenses of the photographers were smiling in delight at some of the couples they caught, among them of course Mister Piteog and his date, who danced without a care in the world. It was a thing of beauty.
Maybe they also smiled at the sight of my dance partner and me, who left leadership to me. A Polonaise was not an overly complicated dance, but it was still a dance and messing it up could be quite bad in public. Vin managed just fine with his fellow speed-demon, slowing for the Polonaise, while Keoke and I finished our dance fine as well.
No toes broken.
I smiled at Keoke as the remainder of the ballroom applauded the orchestra for their performance.
"You're a good dancer.", I said and offered him my hand - manners needed to be observed, after all.
Princess Fara bint-Dardan.
I nodded, smiled.
It was a bit hollow, but it worked. Luckily, the photographers had other things to do, observing the dance about to unfold. I would offer the dance to Benedict-Khan, but I thought, it would be a bit unfitting... not only did I make his wife run away in tears, the dancing had also already begun.
"I hope, that I can apologize to her in person.", I said.
Kiah Findehoof.
I watched the two of them dance and it was... beautiful.
A Polonaise was a very formal, stuffy dance, yet the two of them made it look like the most natural thing in the world. Their conversation eluded me, mainly because of the distance, but that was not the point.
I applauded when the Orchestra had finished and then flagged down a waitress with a few glasses of lemonade. It was a bitter drink, no sugar, but really only the lemon and water, which was far healthier then the sugar-water sold in the Free Lands...
Anyway, I waited with my three glasses and the Hausmädchen for the triumphant return, smiling widely. The cameras had caught their dance as well, making them the second same-gendered couple on the floor tonight. Regardless of that, they looked both cute and pretty together!
Lykke Blon.
I was one of the Hausmädchen, just like Lone, and as such, it was the duty of mine to wait to the guests of the Prince. Of course, I shared Lone's sentiments about the dresses of the ladies, but the men present...
Eh.
Men do not hold much interest to me, if you catch my drift.
So, while the dancing went on, I was 'patrolling' the crowd of non-dancers, a tray with drinks on my hand, and spotted someone wanting a drink. Jolene Gudfrey, if I was not mistaken, spotted talking with Gerulf von Sykane, who was now on the dance floor with his wife.
I approached her and offered her the tray: Six glasses, two water, two lemonade, one white wine, one red wine. Free pick for her.
Of course, I bowed my head as I offered her the tray.