Chapter Text
The ballroom buzzed with lively energy that evening, as a renowned orchestra on the side enhanced the romantic ambiance in the grand space.
Numerous couples descended onto the dance floor of the ballroom, where ladies adorned in exquisite dresses and gentlemen clad in crisp suits gracefully intertwined. Unbeknownst to them, they became so enthralled by the romantic ambiance set by the renowned orchestra that they failed to notice a young man gazing at them with sparkling eyes.
Observing the noble couples from his kingdom on the dance floor, the young man noted their joyful expressions, which inexplicably brought him happiness as well.
Eager to join them, his enthusiasm waned instantly upon seeing his husband, who stood beside him radiating boredom, his fingers tapping impatiently on the grand chair, as though venting his dissatisfaction.
The young man, flashing a charming smile at his husband, extended an invitation, "Your Majesty, may we dance?"
His husband gasped momentarily, his forehead creasing with a faint frown, fortunately fleeting enough to escape the notice of the guests.
"Of course," the man replied firmly.
A wider smile graced the young man's face as he watched his husband rise from the throne. Instantly, silence descended, the music from the orchestra and the click of ladies' high heels in the ballroom vanishing.
The guests fell silent, their eyes fixed on their king as he stood up from his throne. Holding their breath, they speculated about his next move.
It was widely known that their king was ruthless and unforgiving, never overlooking anyone's errors. Yet, a sense of relief washed over the guests as they observed a young man, renowned for his generosity and kindness, standing beside the king. This young man happened to be the queen of the kingdom.
With a smile, the king extended his left hand toward Draco, his right hand concealed behind his back. "Would His Highness Draco want to dance with me?”
Draco's smile widened as he anticipated joining the king on the dance floor, eager to showcase their bond to another noble couple that had stirred a hint of envy in his heart.
"Of course, Your Majesty," Draco replied, placing his right hand gracefully atop his husband's open left palm.
With Draco by his side, King Harry James Potter strode confidently onto the dance floor, tightly grasping Draco's hand. Draco, mirroring Harry's gracefulness, walked with elegance, eliciting gasps of amazement from the guests.
As Harry halted at the center of the dance floor, a breathtaking melody enveloped the ballroom. He placed his hand on his wife's slender waist, while his other hand gently held Draco's. In turn, Draco rested one of his liberated hands on Harry's broad shoulders.
As soft music played, Harry and Draco gracefully danced alone on the floor, while the other nobles gathered at the ballroom's corner, captivated by the unfolding romantic spectacle, destined to become gossip fodder among them.
Draco sensed the admiration from the guests for their apparent intimacy, yet he also acknowledged it as mere facade. He couldn't ignore the absence of genuine love in his husband's eyes after five years of marriage.
With a deep breath, Draco recognized that this wasn't the marital bliss he desired. He longed for a husband who could wholeheartedly love him, unlike Harry. If not for his position as the queen of a vast empire, Draco would have sought an annulment long ago.
Carefully, Draco inquired, "Is Your Majesty thinking about that girl?"
"Yes," Harry replied.
He sadly noted Harry's honesty.
Curiously, Harry asked, "How is your relationship with her?" as he gracefully spun Draco on the dance floor.
"We’re fine. I feel like she's a little sister to me. She's very innocent and prone to tears," Draco responded lightly, eliciting a smile from the other man.
"Thank you for gracefully accepting it. I doubt any other noble would ever agree to have their husband's mistress reside in their own home.” said Harry sincerely.
"There's no need for me to object to Your Majesty having a mistress. I understand my place in your heart, and I have no right to feel jealous because I know you don't love me," Draco replied with a genuine smile.
"Are you mad because I don't love you?" Harry asked carefully.
"No," Draco replied curtly, which allowed Harry to breathe a sigh of relief. They danced again gracefully and elegantly.
As they danced, Draco spotted a young woman in a simple dress watching him and Harry with hopeful eyes. Despite her attempts to conceal herself in the corner of the ballroom, Draco recognized her due to her distinct attire.
He recognized the young woman—Harry's mistress. His gaze locked with her dark brown eyes, causing her to startle as she realized her hiding spot had been discovered by others.
Rather than shooting angry glares at Harry's mistress, Draco chuckled softly. He found her adorable and believed anyone would easily fall in love when encountering such a charming girl.
"What's going on?" Harry inquired, appearing somewhat perplexed by Draco's behavior.
"Your mistress is hiding behind the curtains, peeking at us. She's quite adorable," Draco explained with a shake of his head and a smile.
Harry's eyebrows arched with intrigue. He swiftly turned around to face the large red curtains at the far end of the ballroom. He grinned with amusement upon noticing his mistress attempting to conceal herself behind the curtains, but her feet remained visible due to the gap.
"It seems she's in need of you, Your Majesty," Draco remarked, giving Harry's shoulder a meaningful squeeze before withdrawing his hand. Harry nodded decisively, his eyes now gleaming with happiness.
"Thank you for your company," Harry said, bowing slightly as he took his hand and gently kissed it.
Draco responded with a smile.
Without hesitation, Harry strode purposefully into the royal garden, away from the crowd. Aware that his mistress had been spying on him, Harry anticipated her prompt pursuit.
As the king left him alone on the dance floor, Draco thankfully smiled with happiness, preventing any nosy inquiries from the gossip-loving royal guests.
"You and His Majesty make a splendid pair, Your Highness. I wish my daughter could find a match like His Majesty and live a life as happily married as yours," remarked a middle-aged noblewoman among the many surrounding him.
"Let's hope your daughter finds success this season," Draco responded kindly, offering his best smile.
The nobles chuckled with admiration upon seeing their queen's smile, lauding it as the most enchanting smile in the entire kingdom—a smile that concealed numerous secrets.
"Oh, Your Highness, you're simply stunning. This kingdom is truly fortunate to have a queen like you," exclaimed one of the nobles.
"Thank you. I'm equally fortunate to have people like you," He replied graciously.
The black-haired woman was stunned to see the man she had been focusing on suddenly vanish from the dance floor. Instead, she found Queen Draco, the man's wife, engaging in a brief conversation with the guests.
She felt a surge of emotion, almost wanting to cry. She had hoped the man would notice her and whisk her away from the crowded room of nobles. Unintentionally, her dark brown eyes met the queen’s silver ones.
She painstakingly lip-read the words spoken by the queen, whom she greatly admired. It took five repetitions from Draco before the girl finally deciphered the words that kept coming from the queen's lips, someone she considered akin to her own brother.
His Majesty is in the garden. Go meet him.
The woman's sadness dissipated instantly as she echoed those words in her mind. She grinned at Draco, feeling grateful for his guidance.
Without hesitation, she murmured a word of gratitude and mimicked the bowing gesture she had observed among the nobles in the palace. Draco responded with a nod and an elegant smile to her expression of thanks.
The young woman hurried towards the royal garden, certain that her man would be there behind the castle, away from the crowded palace. The garden, accessible only to the royal family, was undoubtedly quiet amidst the bustling festivities.
Her haste caused her to overlook a stone in her path, leading to a tumble onto the damp grass, still wet from recent rain. A pained groan escaped her lips as she felt the sting of the impact on her elbows and knees. Despite her efforts to rise, she found herself too weak and helpless to do so.
Soft sobs escaped her as tears welled up in her eyes.
"Are you attempting to entice other noblemen? Aren't you content with being with His Majesty alone?”
The cold and piercing voice prompted the girl to lift her head. Her dark brown eyes met the stern gaze of the man standing proudly before her, unwilling to offer assistance. She recognized him as Prince Cedric Diggory, the cousin of the man she sought.
Prince Cedric, one of the prominent members of the royal family, openly glared at the black-haired girl with contempt.
"Prince Cedric! What have you done to her?!" an angry shout diverted the girl's attention from Prince Cedric's hostile expression.
Cedric grimaced and casually averted his gaze to the other side of the garden as he noticed his brother kneeling to assist his attention-seeking mistress.
"It's alright, I'm here now," Harry reassured, gently drawing the girl into his arms.
Her cries intensified, prompting Harry to tenderly stroke her back as it trembled violently from her sobs, whispering soothing words into her ear.
Cedric rubbed his ear, irritated by the repulsive sobs emanating from his brother's mistress.
"Are you injured?" Harry asked with concern, his gaze fixed intensely on his mistress. Intense emerald eyes abruptly halted at the girl's elbow, where a slight bleeding was evident.
Not only her elbow but also her knee showed signs of bleeding.
The king's jaw clenched, his gaze turning sharply towards his cousin, who appeared indifferent to the unfolding events. "What have you done to Arabelle?!" Harry demanded with a furious growl.
Observing his brother fiercely defending his mistress, Cedric couldn't help but seethe with anger. He returned his brother's gaze with equal intensity. "I pushed her because she refused to show me respect. Just because she's the king's mistress doesn't mean she can act however she pleases," Cedric lied, his tone icy.
"Prince Cedric! You've crossed a line!" Harry exclaimed.
"Whatever," Cedric replied indifferently.
Growing weary of the tumultuous scene before him, Cedric briskly strode towards the royal ballroom, ignoring his brother's angry shouts. Despite Harry's efforts to suppress his anger, he focused on comforting the still sobbing girl.
"Shh... Don't worry, everything will be okay," Harry whispered softly as he gently caressed the top of Arabelle's head.
The girl, Arabelle Ansbach's sobs gradually subsided.
She gasped, suddenly realizing that her cries might attract the attention of the nobles. If those gossip-hungry nobles arrived, Arabelle was certain that it would tarnish the reputations of King Harry and Queen Draco.
Determined not to allow that to happen, Arabelle refused to let her own troubles jeopardize the people she cared about.
"Are you able to stand?" Harry inquired as he stood up and offered his hand to assist her.
"Y-yes, I am," Arabelle responded softly, reaching out to grasp the man's outstretched hand.
Arabelle's small hand tightly grasped Harry's large palm as she attempted to rise, but her legs trembled violently, unable to support her weight.
Sensing the unusual movements, Harry reacted quickly, swiftly catching Arabelle's back before she could fall onto the damp grass.
"Watch out!" Harry exclaimed, taken aback by the sudden movement.
"I'm sorry... I'm sorry..." Arabelle's voice trembled, on the verge of tears once again.
Without a word, Harry slid his hand between Arabelle's thigh and back, lifting her effortlessly in a bridal carry.
"Uh... Harry... Everyone can see us!" whispered Arabelle frantically with her eyes moving around to make sure that there really wasn't anyone else in the garden.
"I am the king, and this is my palace. I have the freedom to act as I please here," Harry responded casually. He guided them back into the palace through a secluded path, away from the prying eyes of the nobles.
"They might not think much of it, but your reputation and that of His Majesty Draco could suffer," Arabelle said, her gaze filled with worry as she looked into Harry's eyes.
"If our reputation suffers, so be it. Your safety is more important than any status," Harry asserted firmly.
After enduring the continuous conversations of the nobles at the party, Draco finally extricated himself from the crowd. Despite wanting to engage with them a bit longer, Draco couldn't suppress an eye roll of annoyance when the topic of wealth arose in their conversation.
The ostentatious displays of wealth during informal events like this had become an undeniable open secret. The nobles would flaunt the latest luxury clothing from renowned fashion designers and gather to form their own association to showcase their affluence.
Truth be told, Draco disliked it.
Amidst the lively sounds of the orchestra, Draco's shoe tapping echoed distinctly as he strode steadily and elegantly towards his designated seat.
As Draco sank into the plush, luxurious chair, he let out a sigh of relief. Leaning back into the majestic throne, he grasped its elbows with his slender hands.
Glancing at the empty throne beside him, intended for the king, Draco felt no concern. If Harry was enjoying himself with his mistress, then Draco was content with his current position.
"Good evening, Your Majesty. May blessings always be upon you and this kingdom," greeted one of Draco's guests, bowing before him.
With a dazzling smile, Draco responded, "Thank you, Duke Richmond. I hope you thoroughly enjoy the remainder of this party," causing Duke Richmond, Charles Richmond, to straighten up.
For a moment, Charles couldn't tear his admiring gaze away from Draco's beautiful and understated face. He couldn't help but envy Harry for having such a stunning spouse. If Charles had sent his proposal letter to the Malfoy patriarch a month earlier, Draco would be by his side now.
"If Your Majesty doesn't object, may I have the honor of a dance?" Charles asked with adoration in his eyes.
Though Draco wanted to decline, he couldn't refuse considering Charles Richmond's status as one of the influential dukes contributing to the kingdom's prosperity. Reluctantly, Draco accepted the dance from the man who seemed to hold him in high regard.
"Of course, Duke Richmond," Draco smiled as he stood up from his seat and took Charles's outstretched hand. He couldn't help but notice how cold it felt.
With pride, Charles escorted Draco to the center of the dance floor, eager to showcase his triumph in securing the company of the kingdom's foremost figure and sharing a dance with Draco.
As the orchestra played, Charles and Draco began dancing in the midst of the floor.
"Tonight, Your Majesty, you look exceptionally beautiful," Charles complimented with admiration.
"Thank you, Duke Richmond. You look quite handsome tonight as well," Draco responded sincerely.
Charles's smile widened upon hearing Draco's praise. While he had received compliments about his appearance from many people before, hearing them from Draco's alluring lips filled him with an unparalleled sense of joy.
"Ah yes, sorry in advance if this question sounds rude. But... Are you sick? Your hands feel so cold. I can even feel it even though I'm wearing gloves," Draco looked at the man worriedly.
Damn it, Charles cursed his nerves, feeling anxious while dancing, a first for him. Take notes, dancing. They didn’t even hug, oh god!
"If you're unwell, there's no need to push yourself to be here. Just send a letter, and I'll understand," Draco assured sincerely, his words tinged with concern.
The duke felt his heart race as he sensed the genuine worry in Draco's voice. Was this what it felt like to be cared for by someone you deeply admired?
"I don't want to disappoint Your Majesty," He replied.
"But you're ill! There's no need to exert yourself like this," Draco insisted stubbornly, prompting a chuckle from the duke.
Charles found Draco incredibly endearing, and his jealousy towards Harry intensified. It seemed unfair that not only did Harry possess a vast and prosperous kingdom, but he also had someone as perfect as Draco by his side.
"I appreciate Your Majesty's concern. But there's no need to worry. After this dance, I'll head straight back to the Manor," Charles assured, receiving a slight nod from Draco in response.
They danced together to the orchestra's music, their movements synchronized until Charles reluctantly had to release Draco's hand as they prepared to change partners.
“Got you!”
Draco gasped as he felt a pair of sturdy hands grab his waist tightly, violating dancing etiquette. He lifted his head to confront the owner of the impolite gesture, but upon seeing the face, he halted his disapproving remark.
"Prince Cedric, do you realize that your actions are impolite?!" Draco expressed disbelief, shaking his head.
"Really? I wasn't aware," Prince Cedric replied nonchalantly, shrugging his shoulders.
Draco sighed, gently moving Cedric's firm grip from his waist. "Prince Cedric, continuing this behavior will lead to negative perceptions," He cautioned, glancing around discreetly. Thankfully, none of the guests had noticed their interaction.
"Draco, are you aware that I'm quite irritated at the moment? That self-conscious girl has spoiled my night. I'm at a loss as to what I did to encounter such ignorance," the prince grumbled without paying attention to the sentence that had previously been saying.
Choosing not to engage with the man’s disrespectful behavior, Draco frowned slightly and asked, “You mean Arabelle?”
"Of course! Who else but that ignorant girl in the kingdom?" Cedric retorted with a huff.
Draco took a deep breath, perplexed by Cedric's intense dislike towards Harry's mistress. In fact, Arabelle never disturbed Cedric's composure. "She has a name. You shouldn't just call her that," He chided and shook his head.
Cedric grunted and grimaced, clearly feeling quite frustrated. If he hadn't found Draco on the dance floor, he might have taken out his annoyance on his innocent subordinates.
Noticing the prince's distress, Draco scrambled to find a way to ease his irritation. "Wouldn't you rather leave this place? I'm already bored," He suggested, looking at him expectantly.
As anticipated, Cedric gazed at him eagerly. The chance to whisk Draco away from a formal party like this was a rare opportunity for him, knowing how comfortable the queen always felt sitting in his throne from the arrival of the first guest to the departure of the last one.
"Of course!" said Cedric excitedly.
In a rush, Cedric seized Draco's hand and pulled it somewhat forcefully, but Draco made no objection. He understood that someone like Cedric likely possessed great energy and didn't mean to grab his hand so vigorously.
Cedric tightly gripped Draco's hand, which felt warm and prompted Draco to reciprocate by tightening his grip on the prince’s. Suddenly, Cedric came to a halt, causing a frown to crease Draco's face as he observed the spot where they had stopped.
"What are we doing here?" Draco asked, perplexed as Cedric halted right in front of the entrance to the royal labyrinth garden.
The prince chuckled at Draco's puzzled expression as the young man's eyes gazed at the lonely labyrinth garden ahead.
"We overlooked that, but let's focus on this instead," Cedric released Draco's hand and gently lifted his chin, redirecting his gaze from the labyrinth garden to the night sky adorned with twinkling stars.
"Isn't it beautiful, Your Majesty?" Cedric inquired, noticing his captivated gaze.
"Yeah..." Draco responded softly, his words seeming to be carried away by the night breeze.
"It would be more beautiful if we spend it the right way," Cedric's words prompted him to turn his gaze towards the beaming man. "Will you spend your last dance with me, Your Majesty?" the prince asked formally, extending his hand towards him.
He smiled and gently placed his hand atop Cedric's without hesitation. They danced with joyful smiles adorning their faces, accompanied by the faint sound of the orchestra echoing from the royal hall.
This time, Draco found himself dancing in the open air, his dress brushing against the damp grass below. They moved to the faint melodies of the orchestra and the chirping of the small insects residing in the garden.
"Are you happy?" Cedric asked, his movements gentle as if he wished to prolong their time together tonight.
"I've never been happier," Draco replied warmly.