Hello, everybody! Sorry to be here so late, or early depending where you guys are reading from. I just finished my homework for tomorrow, painfully, and am really disappointed in myself because I didn't do any homework in advance because I am obviously a lazy ass. TˆT So I decided to redeem myself by publishing this chapter for you all! Please absolve me of my crimes! I feel like while rereading this chapter I could have written a little better. It seems a little rushed, but I didn't really know how to change it, so please give me some advice guys. I need some feedback to be able to better improve my writing so do not hesitate to comment and criticize helpfully. Anyway, without further ado, here is chapter 32!

            Lucy and Gray stepped out onto the dance floor. The crowd immediately parted to let them through, the guests respectfully inclining their heads as Lucy passed. The whole thing made her uncomfortable, but she smiled and waved anyway. As they got to the middle of the dance floor, the band started to play a waltz. Gray placed one hand on Lucy's waist and took her hand with the other while she placed her own hand on his shoulder. They danced without talking for a while, simply stepping along to the music, twirling when necessary. Gray was a very talented dancer and he knew it. He led her expertly, taking care to never step on her feet. She remembered the time when he had first arrived at the palace, and didn't know anything about royal etiquette. She had taken him after classes to the ballroom and they had danced for hours together until he got it right. He used to step on her feet all the time, and at the end of the day they would both collapse on the floor in a fit of laughter. Lucy smiled thinking about it, her eyes closed.

            "What are you smiling about, Your Highness?" Gray asked.

            Lucy opened her eyes and looked up into his icy blue ones.

            "Just remembering how terrible you used to be at dancing."

            Gray made an ugly face and shook his head.

            "Those were terrible times."

            "No, actually. Those were some of the best memories of my life. Remember when we'd sneak in here and dance to no music but our own humming?" Lucy asked, cocking her head.

            His eyes glinted and a grin crossed his face.

            "I used to step on your feet all the time, and to be honest, sometimes I did it on purpose."

            "Hey!" she said, lightly slapping his shoulder. "Seriously?"

            He wiggled his eyebrows making her laugh again. She twisted her head to take a look at the people around her. She caught a glimpse of blue and her head whipped around to see... only Aquarius dancing with Scorpio. She looked very flustered dancing, especially in the gorgeous blue dress she was wearing made up of swaths of fabric. She smiled and looked a little to her right to see Loke dancing with Aries. He had her flush against him and was leading her expertly while leaning down to her ear and whispering. She would laugh every now and then, and they looked so happy together that Lucy was sure there was more to their relationship than they were letting on. She watched the two until the song ended.

            "Ready for the next one?" asked Gray.

            "Just a sec," she said as she walked towards Loke. Gray trailed behind her as he was obliged to, being her guard and all.

            "Sorry to interrupt, but I was wondering if I may have this dance with you, Loke," she said, smiling.

            "Why of course, milady, anything for you," he said suavely, bending down and kissing the back of her hand before taking it and leading her to the dance floor.

            "Oh, Gray, dance with Aries," Lucy called back behind her shoulder.

            Loke led her over to the left side of the ballroom, whispers following them. They were quickly drowned out, however, by the commencement of the next song.

            "People are pretty nosy, aren't they?" Loke said to her as he started to lead her expertly into a fast song.

            "Yes, well I guess that's just human nature for you," Lucy replied as he spun her around.

            "So, is there a reason you asked me to dance so suddenly, Hime-sama," Loke asked, the light creating a reflection on his glasses so that Lucy couldn't see his expression.

            Well, he definitely got straight to the point, now didn't he?

            "I see that you weren't only named Prince because of your looks," Lucy replied as he held her in a dive momentarily.

            "You think I'm handsome?!" Loke exclaimed, all traces of seriousness gone.

            Lucy sweat dropped.

            "No, I think you're just pretty. Can we get back to the point please?"

            Loke looked disappointed, but quickly regained his composure.

            "Right. How may I help you, Lucy-hime?"

            "Firstly, please don't call me hime unless someone is listening," she said. "Second, do you really intend to marry me?"

            Loke didn't respond at first, he simply led her through the steps with practiced ease and twirled her around a few times before saying, "I fear I do not have that much of a choice."

            "Likewise," Lucy said, recognizing how he was feeling. "But the way you spoke of your king made it seem that the issue would at least be up for discussion."

            "My father is indeed a good king and a good man, as I'm sure yours is."

            Lucy cringed.

            "Ah, I am sorry for making assumptions," Loke said immediately upon noticing her expression.

            "No, it's fine."

            "As I was saying, he is a good man, and sometimes too good of a man. I fear that if I broached the subject, he would agree without hesitation simply to please me, and I don't want that. I owe him my life, and I would at least want to comply with one of his wishes," he said, and his expression showed his sincerity.

            "Even at the cost of your own happiness?" Lucy asked.

            "Yes," he replied without hesitation.

            Lucy hesitated a second before responding, knowing that she was taking a risk with her next question.

            "...What about at the cost of Aries' happiness?" she asked, her expression unreadable.

             Loke flinched and missed a step. It seemed that Lucy had hit the nail right on head.

             "I'm afraid that I don't know what you're talking about," he responded, his voice as smooth as silver, but Lucy was now certain that her assumptions were correct and pursued the matter.

            "Do not play coy with me, Loke. You were rather obvious about it, and I've suspected it ever since I met you and Aries.

            Loke had the eyes of a cornered deer for a moment before sighing.

            "Was it really that obvious?" he asked, not meeting her eyes.

            "To me, yes. I'm sure Gray and the others haven't noticed though since they were too preoccupied with seeing you again."

            "I knew that I would someday be married off, but I felt it was my duty. I never intended to get into a relationship, well a serious one at least, until marriage, but then Aries was appointed at the castle. And well, that changed everything. I tried my best to stay away from her once I realized my feelings, but when she came to me and confessed, I'm afraid my self restraint somehow left me."

            Lucy looked at him sadly. She could identify a little with how he was feeling, except that she had been adamant from the beginning that she would not get married to someone she didn't love.

            "Loke, I understand that you feel it your duty to repay your father for all that he has done for you, but if he is great as you say he is, then I'm sure that all he really wants is for you to be happy," she said gently.

            Loke snapped his head up to look at her.

            "Because you've accepted being married off so obstinately until now, maybe your father thought that that was what you truly wanted, and for that reason is sending you off to marry me. Have you ever thought about that?"

            Since Loke did not answer, Lucy took the opportunity to continue.

            "Trust me, Loke, when I say this: not everybody has a father as good as yours who wants your happiness," she said bitterly. "So I suggest that you ask to renegotiate before it's too late, and I'm not just saying this for my own sake. I truly think that you and Aries deserve to be happy together. The way you two look at each other, that's true love if it does indeed exist."

              Her last words had seemed to break Loke's remains of resolve, and as the song ended and their dancing came to a stop, he said, "You have effectively convinced me, Lucy. I'm sure you will make a fine queen some day, and who knows, maybe you will change the way we all think? I will try my best."

            He smiled at her and surprising hugged her briefly. As he let her go, she though about his words: "I'm sure you will make a fine queen some day, and who knows, maybe you will change the way we all think?" Maybe she really could...?

            "Attention!" a voice rang out through the ballroom. Loke and Lucy turned to look for the source of the voice which was apparently coming from atop the golden dais. Lucy's heart turned to ice as she laid eyes on the person standing magnificently atop it.

            "All esteemed guests, his Majesty Jude Heartfilia, King of Fiore, has arrived!" 

Hope you guys enjoyed that even though I don't quite know how to feel about this chapter. Again, please provide me with feedback and any kind of constructive criticism so I can better the quality of my writing for all you lovely people. And for you Sasusaku fans out there, I've recently published a fanfiction called Torn  so please go check it out. It has three chapters as of today out. Updates for both my stories are every week, either Saturday or Sunday, depending on what I have going on. Oh, and on a side note, go read The Mortal Instruments series by Cassandra Clare!! Not here one Wattpad obviously, but OMG that series is amazing!!! I wanted to reread it as soon as I finished the last book. I had to stop myself though and remind myself that I actually have other things in my agenda this year, so it can wait until summer... unless my resolve runs out before then. Anyone who's read it, please leave comments about your favorite character, favorite moment, and whatnot. Anway, vote, comment, and share, and I will see you next week for chapter 33. Ja ne!