Ao No Waltz Novels & Stories

Valentina whispers in the other ear. “Girls!” I yell. “Shut the fuck up!” They start to chuckle as we continue walking through the crowd. We make our way to the center of the ballroom, surrounded by light, music, and too many eyes. A slow, haunting waltz begins, and before I can say a word, Nico turns to me and extends his hand. “Dance with me.” It’s not a request. The moment my fingers slip into his, the world fades. His hand rests firmly on my waist, guiding me through the rhythm. Each step is slow, deliberate…our bodies moving in perfect sync. The room could collapse around us, and I wouldn’t notice.

My words hit Carlo so hard that he staggered backward, unable to mutter another word. That was right. What had he ever done? Scenes from the past played repeatedly in his mind. I didn't give him another look. Instead, I turned to face the guests. "If I may, I would like to take this opportunity to make an announcement tonight. From this moment on, I, Rosa Shaw, officially accept the Perez Family's invitation. I'll be serving as Luca's personal Consigliere. My past may be tied to the Gutierrez Family, but my future belongs to myself and the Perez Family."

Urrgh, even after being hugged by Delldora many times, Hana still couldn't act normally. Waltz music began to play, echoing through the hall which was starting to fill with people dancing. As carefully as possible, Hana tried to watch her steps so as not to be careless and step on Delldora's feet. Hana could picture Delldora's angry pose in her head if she made a mistake. "What were you two talking about?" Delldora asked suddenly, making Hana who was watching her steps confused "Huh? What do you mean?" "What were you two talking about?"

The waltz music started and we began to sway to its rhythm. “Yes, too extravagant for your taste?” she looked up at me in wonder. I shook my head. “No, it doesn’t. Nothing is too extravagant when it comes to you, Serena, and also,” Dipping half of her body towards the floor in time with the music, I then muttered against her neck, “I like the idea of anonymity.” She took a cleansing breath, by which time I also pulled her back up. “That’s good to hear,” she said, smiling again.

Their party. On the dance floor, under the soft glow of a thousand tiny lights strung from the ancient beams, they moved. Anton, who had taken waltz lessons for this moment with the same focus he applied to mergers, found he didn’t need the steps. Sabatine, who had threatened to lead, simply let him guide her, her body a fluid, trusting weight against his. The string quartet had swapped Elgar for Gershwin, and the music was all swing and smile. “You’re actually a decent dancer,” she murmured into his ear, her breath warm against his skin.

“I was born with two left feet.” “I can tell.” She almost smiled, but the rhythm forced her focus back. His hand pressed gently against her back, putting just enough amount of pressure to make her move with him. Ruth clapped once.“Better! Now you feel it, oui? A waltz lives only when two hearts pretend they have known each other forever.” Lena’s breath caught at the phrasing while her eyes met with Damon’s “I’m not pretending that well,” she murmured. His lips curved faintly. “There’s an improvement.”

Anya felt excitement bubble in her chest, tempting her to join the revelry like one of the twelve dancing princesses betrothed to a demon below the palace gardens. Like a child drawn to the Pied Piper, she followed the music's orders, joining the dance. Anya kicked the air and took dainty steps, the skirt of her poppy red dress belling out. A vodyanoi handed her off to a leshy lord, who twirled her round and round as the polonaise shifted into a waltz. Someone beside Anya cleared their throat. She looked to see Morozko waiting, a grin on his face. The leshy handed Anya off to Morozko who held her close in frame, gently guiding her in a box step and out into a princess turn.

"Get me another shirt… the gray one." With practiced ease, he stripped off the white shirt he had just put on and raised his hand toward me, waiting, as he always did, for me to hand him the freshly pressed one. The phone screen still glowed. I caught sight of Janine’s message: "Mr. Quinn, tonight’s event requires a gray suit." The professional tone was undercut by a playful cat emoji that followed right after. "What are you staring at? Where’s the shirt?" When I didn’t respond, irritation hardened his features.

" Elijah's voice fades slowly as the room around me starts to morph into the Alpha's Mansion Ballroom. The giant knowledge keepers are replaced with people dancing to Dmitri Shostakovich - The Second Waltz, unfazed by my presence in the center of the dance floor. Zigzagging my way to the edge of the room, I do my best to avoid the waltzing couples. The band changes to a musical piece by Johann Strauss II - Voices of Spring and with it the dancing pattern. Suddenly, I am in the trajectory of a waltzing couple. I expected the impact to push me aside, but instead, they went right through me as if I was a ghost. No, no, heck no! Did I faint, and I am dreaming again? For the Moon Goddess, what'

His dark hair catches the light as he watches me, a mysterious smile tugging at the corner of his lips. As I take a silly bow and move closer, I feel the magic of the night weaving around me, guiding my steps. His hand reaches out, and I place my fingers in his, the connection sending a shiver down my spine. We sway and spin in a delicate waltz, the music guiding us like a gentle breeze.