The Smile That Shook a Princess
"Oh? So, this is where everyone has gathered."
They all turned together at the melodic sound of the voice.
At the periphery of their circle—glinting under the candlelight in a golden thread-laced white gown—stood none other than—
Princess Lira Moonlight.
Her silver-white locks spilled like spun moonlight down her back, glowing faintly with the golden light of the early evening. Her soft blue eyes, with their luminosity and the color of the twilight skies—twin moons shining with the quiet, otherworldly light.
With one hand, she held a dainty wine glass. Unfilled. Her slender fingers wrapped graciously around the crystal stem. A bright smile curved her mouth... but behind it, a spark danced—playful, inscrutable. As if she held a secret the stars had shared with her alone.
The candlelight caressed her skin, rounding out the harsh lines of her loveliness, but it could not extinguish the still fire burning in her eyes.
The group stilled—just for an instant.
Nova tightened, the tension in the air pulling her shoulders back.
Rias raised an eyebrow, red lips curling into a curious smile.
Aria cocked her head, a playful glint in her eyes as a faint smile danced across her lips.
Cynthia, as always, tipped her glass to her lips with practiced ease, her eyes watching with calm interest.
Syra released a low, pleased hum, her gaze holding veiled amusement.
Kyra didn’t say anything—still, pointedly, her eyes fixed on Lira.
And Mia... sweet innocent Mia glanced from Leon to Nova, and back again at Lira—her face breaking into a warm, guileless smile.
Leon’s eyelids blinked—surprise, but just a fleeting moment. A smile crawled up the edge of his mouth.
And Lira, under all their stares, stumbled—something odd flickering in her composure.
Her eyes swept over the gathered circle of beautiful, confident women. and then settled on Leon’s golden gaze.
She shifted her weight awkwardly, suddenly unsure, and let out a quiet, almost stammered—
"W-What? What happened? And what’s with those looks?" she asked, blinking rapidly.
Her voice broke the tension like a glass chime against still air.
The group stirred. Leon’s wives exchanged looks, then chuckled softly.
Rias inclined toward her, taunting, a spark of mischief lighting her eyes.
"Oh, nothing whatever. Only enjoying how the actual center stage of the evening felt compelled to walk on over to us."
Lira sighed. "Stop teasing, Rias... I’m already tired of all the gawking. You know I don’t like being in the spotlight."
Rias raised a brow, voice laced with naive sarcasm. "Oh yeah? Do I?"
She spun dramatically in Mia’s direction, hand to her heart.
"Hey Mia, recall that someone declared they wanted to shine brighter than the moon in the sky?"
Mia’s lips twisted into a knowing smile, a chuckle escaping her throat.
"Yes... I recall. Hm, I’m forgetting the name though. Wait... who was he again?"
Lira scoffed. "Alright, alright! It was me. I said it. But I meant metaphorically, okay? Not this. This is just... too much."
She huffed and pulled a long swallow from her untouched glass, deliberately sidestepping Leon’s eyes.
The wine gave no defense. Rias and Mia shared knowing glances, a small giggle sparkling between them.
They relaxed as a group, laughter giving way to smiles, their friendship easy.
Leon, keeping himself just outside, watched in silence—until his golden eyes met Lira’s once more.
To his side, Duchess Nova stood tall, her serene green eyes locking with Lira’s unjudging, uninvitingly—simply present.
Lira stood up straight immediately.
Her breath caught in surprise, recalling why she was there. Regaining her composure, she moved forward with that familiar regal elegance and spoke in the same clear voice:
"Welcome once more, Duke Leon. Duchess Nova."
Leon dipped his head, the smile on his lips warm but inscrutable.
"Being this close to you is a privilege, Princess."
Nova added her own elegant bobbing motion. Her voice, like calm water.
"Welcoming once more, Princess."
Lira gave no answer at first—only a quiet nod, a hesitant smile that relaxed her face. She reached up, pushing a stray lock of silver hair behind her ear. Her voice, when she spoke, was much gentler.
"By the way... would it be all right if I sat with your group for a little bit? I mean, if you don’t mind."
There was no order, no royal voice—only a girl requesting. Her blue eyes quivered she could not quite suppress.
Leon’s smile altered—effortless charm. The sort of smile that had undone more powerful women.
"I don’t know why it should bother me, Princess. You’re more than welcome to the party. Stay as long as you like, Princess."
For an instant, the world was reduced to only that smile.
Lira’s heart pounded—too loudly, too abruptly. Her hand wrapped around her wineglass, its stem quivering slightly as if recovering its breath for her. She could not look away.
That smile. Gods, that smile.
Golden eyes—kind, wry, impossibly enthralling—met hers. And in their calm sparkle, something glimmered: a silent strength wrapped in gentleness.
In the warmth curled behind his irresistible smile, in the way he kept her in his eyes like he’d known her all her life and still. was still finding her.
He leaned slightly forward, his smile growing wider, more wry now—like a man well privy to the enchantment he’d spun, and yet still too damn polite to protest it.
His whisper, low and taunting, caressed the air. "Guess my charm hasn’t left even the most recently acquired heart unscathed."
Behind them, between them, and in front of them, the women exchanged sly looks.
Rias grinned wickedly. Aria arched a brow. Cynthia sparkled. Kyra suppressed a smile. Mia quietly sighed in amusement. Even Nova, stern and demure, let the shadow of a grin dance on her lips.
They’d experienced it before—oh, so many times. They knew this very moment too well. That golden haze, the tug of his eyes, the infernal smile that made the world seem tighter and more secure all at once.
They’d once fallen under its spell too. And though years had immunized them against its shock... they were never completely immune to Leon.
New to this heaviness.
And it drew her in wholly.
Rias raised an eyebrow, mischief dancing.
Before Lira could blink once more, a light, measured "Cough, cough~!" disturbed the air.
She stepped forward with a teasing glint to her eyes, clearing her throat with all the over-the-top grace of a stage actress. "Ahem~ Sister Lira," she said in a sugary voice, "where on earth did you go astray just now? Or better yet... how long were you going to enjoy getting lost in our darling’s charm?"
Heat crept up her neck.
"I—I wasn’t lost!" she blurted, much too hastily. "Tsk. Tsk. Dammit."
Her cheeks burned as she let her eyes fall to the untouched wine in her hand.
Ugh, she let out a sigh inwardly, I really was.
Her pride let out a small little whimper of hurt.
Just the day before, Rias had pulled her aside—introduced her to all of Leon’s wives in a quiet, private tea. They’d chatted together, discussed many things... but most of all, they’d spoken of him. Of Leon.
Lira still recalled how Rias had opened up—warm, protective, proud—and shared Lira’s increasing feelings with the group. She hadn’t intended to confess. It just happened.
The women had been gracious. Kind. Welcoming even.
But their smiles, when they talked about Leon, had been laced with meaning.
Their warnings had been explicit.
"Leon’s smile is more deadly than any sword. You won’t even realize you’re bleeding until you’re already in love."
She had laughed on their warning. Scoffed, even.
Chin lifted in playful defiance, she’d declared:
"Hmph. I’m not the one getting lost. I’ll make him get lost in my charm."
The wives had only smiled—knowingly. Pityingly.
She’d lost round one. Completely.
Still, she wouldn’t let it show. Not in front of them.
With practiced elegance, she sipped her wine, pretending the burn in her chest was from the drink.
Across the banquet hall, Leon observed her in silent amusement.
The quiver of her lips. The subtle evasion of his eyes.
The woefully slow sip of her wine, as if that could stabilize the tempest she refused to show.
She’s upset—and struggling with it.
And Leon saw everything.
He examined her like a puzzle.
There’s certainly something there... he thought.
Intrigued, he spoke silently.