He watches as she walks towards him, her black hair adorned with pearls, golden gown glittering with the weight of a thousand diamonds. Her steps echo against the white marble of the Great Hall, heels clicking closer to him. She glances up and smiles, starlight radiance glowing from her unblemished visage.

"You look ravishing, my dear," he whispers as she takes his arm.

She doesn't speak, choosing instead to look away shyly as a blush graces her pale cheeks. Her hand rests gently on his arm and he places his hand on hers, listening as her breath catches ever so slightly. They had known each other not long, but he could tell that she was utterly and irreversibly transfixed.

The doors to the ballroom are flung open and the crier announces them to the court gathered below.

"The King and his Queen!"

Applause rises from below as they descend the grand staircase, and he watches the jealous gazes of the women in the crowd. His Queen was lovelier than anyone here, and more beautiful than all of them put together. He releases her arm and watches as she steps back and turns towards him, diamonds sparkling in the candlelight.

"May I have the honor of a first dance?" he asks, extending his hand to his Queen.

Her eyes glitter as she takes his hands, lush lips forming a dazzling smile as the music begins. She dances and twirls around him, a perfect marionette, as they lilt around the grand ballroom in synchronization.

He can feel her erratic heartbeat under his hand as it snakes around her lower back, pulling her close. Her muscles ripple under her flawless skin and he imagines what it would feel like to pierce that milky surface, imagines what she would look like under him as he slides a knife down her body to leave that thin line of blood in its wake. He gazes into her eyes, devoid of that spark which only pain can bring, and imagines about how much more perfect she would look with it.

Their duet ends and she curtsies deeply as the rest of the party-goers take their places and the ballroom erupts into a blooming flurry of vibrant color.

On the balcony sits Daiyu, alone and obscured by her black veil, as she watches a man she once loved dance with a girl doomed to die.