#danra

The annual Grand Ball was so mundane the demon was forced to stifle a yawn.

The magnificent dance hall, made of marble walls and floors, was so polished that the girl could see her own reflection below her shoes. Dressed in one of her best clothes, the Demon Prince politely bowed to all the guests that came to greet her, while being bored out of her mind.

One of her escorts, a knight chosen specifically by Cyra- her trusted friend and advisor Musashi, stood close to her as guard and company, to whom she would occasionally throw a small remark as to not fall asleep.

This knight, while not a demon herself, knew of the true nature of her kingdom and her friend's true form, a secret known by few.

This dance was hosted by the grand Mage and his children, of which they cordially invited her and a few select hosts of her own choosing, to show the great relationship of her kingdom with this one.

The grand Mage, near royalty in this world, had ties to specific demons, unbeknownst to the masses. While Cyra nor her family she represents were the -same- kind of demons, they had more to gain than to lose were they not under the protection of this Mage.

The true reason Cyra came to this place was a simple one. To become the proper figurehead of her kingdom, the Prince needed a Princess to soon marry. While Cyra in her condition of Demon -Prince- would allow her to simply be a King- it would come harder than if she had a partner in romantic advances.

Granted, the idea would be to find someone she likes- worse case scenario she returns empty handed, perhaps proposes to her knight- it couldn't possibly be *that* different from their normal fare, right?

Of course, Musashi would accept and marry Cyra in a platonic way ("As long as I get to eat Udon!"). So would it go, but by her being a demon, and Musashi being a human, even if a very powerful one, would earn her beloved knight scorn and disdain were she to move from her place.

The other option would be for the knight to be turned into a demon, but...

Cyra would much rather prefer to let Musashi go than to subject her to that. So her plan is to find a scapegoat- someone who harbors enough rage and thirst for vengeance that she could easily have them on her side as they transform into a demon, it would be easy, they would be a nice face to have next to her as Cyra sits on the throne, and if they get out of line she can discard them.

That is how demons work.

However........This place was dull.

She wanted to find someone who might at least catch her interest, and who could hold a conversation on a less-than-superficial level, and would be fun to keep around.

In short, she wanted a pet.

But, the demon thought as she bowed to another elite who introduced themselves, she might ditch this place and answer a summon for the fun of it. Messing around with children's summons was an activity of hers, whenever she was bored to such extremes that whatever a child might say would be more appealing.

In her defense, having Cyra answer their summons instead of something else was the better option.

Then, a man strode forward.

Amidst the people with pastels dressed and white shirts, on the shining dancehall, he stood out like an ink stain on a marble floor, Cyra couldn't help but look at him.

Cloak as dark and striking like poison itself, contrasted with long silver hair tied back with a silk ribbon. Every step he took felt grandiose, deliberate and calculated, even when the act itself was as simple as walking in a straight line.

The crowd seemed to move out of his way as he walked towards her, paying no mind to the glances cast their way nor the whispers that rose when he stood in front of her.

"If this place is such a bore to her Majesty," his voice melodious and dark, the mysterious man asked. "May I be granted the honor of a dance?" He bowed and extended his hand as an offer.

Perhaps less of an invitation, and more of a challenge.

There was something different about the way he moved that demanded all of her attention. A harshness none here possessed surrounded by a charismatic aura. An interesting human amidst a sea of faceless aristocracy.

Cyra was not one to back down from a challenge.

"The pleasure will be all mine then, lest I caught your name?"

"Hardly one of importance if we were to compare titles. I am but another count in this place."

"Yet, it was only you who was bold enough to ask me for a dance."

Placing her hand on his, something catches her attention. How different it felt from the rest of the attendees, even if they all wore gloves. A very small detail.

Right before another music piece was played by the orchestra, they moved towards the center of the room, the crowd following suit.

As the music rose and the Prince followed the Count's lead, she chose to indulge in talk as they moved along the swing of the song. A dance is a place to meet people after all.

"Do you happen to enjoy the sea, nameless count?"