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"Heyyy! Onet! What are you reading?" I shouted a friendly greeting when I saw her sitting alone in the front temple garden as I walked back from the prison tower.

"One of the new books the servants brought from the market." Her resting hazel eyes met mine for a brief moment before returning to the pages.

"Nice. Do you want to go to our new private dancing hall?" 

There was a ball for Ezion's coming-of-age ceremony and it was maybe one of the few times I managed to endure being surrounded by so many annoying people. The grand hall sparkled with crystal chandeliers, the air filled with the soft hum of music, laughter, and the gentle rustle of silk gowns. The scent of fresh flowers mingled with the faint aroma of fine perfumes and the air was warm, it didn't feel stifling, but…. it pulsed with energy. Since then, for the past two years, I have been asking Onet to accompany me to the ballroom to dance together, but she has always turned me down. Erzion knew that and still gave me hopes that maybe Onet would say yes this time, giving me a private room for just the two of us.

"Sit down and read with me." Onet answered me with another invitation instead.

"But it's too cold here!"

She was stubborn. Onet had a unique aura unlike anyone else I had ever met. Even though I liked that she didn’t ask me questions or act annoyingly around me, I still wanted to talk to her. Yet, when it came to communication in general, she seemed surprisingly dull. Even now, I found her alone. Her golden hair, darker and shorter than mine, was tied as usual in a low ponytail at the side, draped over her shoulder in a simple, effortless way. I didn’t see it as ugly, like her older sister claimed. To me, it was refreshing instead. Imperfect perfect.

Onet was reading, or at least pretending to, her fingers lazily tracing the edges of the book. Then she looked up at me, her eyes slightly unfocused, as if silently begging for help. I sighed.

"Do you want me to read to you for a while?"

Her lips twitched, the faintest hint of a smile appearing. She didn't answer, but simply nodded, turning the book slightly so I could see the page. I took a deep breath and began, letting the words fill the quiet space between us.

For a moment, she seemed to relax. The cold bit at my fingers, but I could endure it a little longer for her. I stayed, drawn to those rare moments of her vulnerability, moments when, as a God, I felt compelled to offer her comfort.

Ah yes. I forgot to tell you.

Onet can not read.

She was fated to die young from a terrible disease, her fragile body confined to bed. Her father, some prestigious lord whose name I don’t even know, never paid much attention to her beyond covering her medical expenses. At the age of fifteen, she was magically healed overnight and sent to the imperial palace to serve me an year later, since her sister, the lord’s second child, was already a lady-in-waiting here.

I, on the other hand, was personally taught to read and write by the late queen during my first year here.

After a few minutes and four pages, the cold was completely unbearable. I couldn't stay that long outside, I felt like I would freeze and I was shivering. Onet felt my body rapid movements as she was leaning on my shoulder the whole time and grabbed the book out of my hands. 

She signed. "Let's go to this dancing hall for a while."

Was I imagining it? Did she just say that?! You guys heard it too, right?! My heart skipped a beat, disbelief and excitement twisting together in my chest. Onet, you are a blessing!

"Come on." She stood, her hand brushing mine as she gently tugged me towards the main palace building. My mind raced and for the first time I was about to have a fun time with Onet doing something I had suggested!

As I expected, Erzion had told the palace guards to call the servants and guide us to the hall once we arrived. Sometimes it felt like he could see the future, though maybe he was just ready for anything that could happen.

The hall stretched out before us like something out of a dream. It was different than the ballroom I was used to. It was similar to the dining hall, but far more expansive, and every large window on all three sides gleamed with colorful stained glass. The polished marble floor beneath my feet was reflecting the glow and making it feel like I was stepping onto a pool of liquid gold. I got reminded of the sweet fluid I tried earlier today and I couldn't help but smile.

"What's so funny?" Onet asked, frowning slightly.

"Nothing! I am just happy that we are going to dance together!" I answered, keeping the same broad smile. Nothing, just me thinking of my special meal serving in a week.

Every corner seemed alive, as if the hall itself was breathing, waiting, inviting us to move around its air. There was no ball tonight, no heavy gowns covered in unnecessary decorations, no elaborate hairstyles, just us, two girls standing in the middle of the dance floor. I slipped off my shoes, Onet had already done the same, leaving hers neatly by one of the forgotten tables to the left. I dashed over to place mine next to hers.

"So, do we have music?" Onet asked.

"I don't think so..."

Looks like he didn't plan for everything after all. Erzion, you piece of-

"What do you mean no?"

"Well, I didn't ask anyone from the royal orchestra to come play and probably Erzion didn't too." I felt a little ashamed for relying on him, but I also hadn't expected her to say 'yes' right away.

"You have been asking me to come dance with you for years, and now you are telling me you are not prepared?" Onet blurted, her voice a mix of frustration and embarrassment.

She froze for a moment, twisting a strand of hair between her fingers. Her eyes darted to the polished floor beneath our feet, then back to me. "I… I just…" she stammered. "I didn't think… I mean… I'm not sure I can—"

"It's alright! We are here to have fun!" I said, smiling at her.

I thought I heard her murmuring something like, "This isn't what he told me…" but I wasn't sure, so I just ignored it.

It was the first time I had seen Onet crack like that anyways, her usual calm, composed self replaced by something vulnerable, uncertain, and utterly human. After all, she was human, but most of the time I’ve known her, her behavior reminded me of how I used to be before the incident. Rigid, silent, and merely following orders without a word or reaction.

"I’ll guide you then! I can hear a distant melody, and I can recreate it so you can enjoy it too!" I said, laughing as I raised my voice. Around us, a faint, otherworldly melody seemed to shimmer in the air, as if the Stars themselves were singing from afar.

The notes twisted and floated, weaving through the space between us like threads of light I could only sense. I closed my eyes for a moment, feeling every vibration deep in my chest. And as we began to move, the silent air started filling with a rhythm only I could hear. Onet was unsure at the beginning, but after hearing my soft humming, she became more aware of the soft cadence and let herself sink into the embrace of the melody.