Sidestory: Bel’s Small Slice of Happiness Part 3
The lamp flickered, and its weak light didn’t do much to stop the darkness from coming closer. Even though it was small and weak, Bel loved to watch the tiny flame dance as she lay in bed, the weight of the covers on her like sleep on her eyelids.
Some of her favourite times were when she had nothing to do, because that meant it was time for a story.
“…Mother Elise, could you tell me a story?” Bel asked, looking up at a face that even in the dim light seemed to glow with kindness.
She knew that Elise had one more thing to do, and that was to finish writing down what the Great Wisdom of the Empire, Mia Luna Tearmoon, had done so that people in the future could learn about her great deeds. Elise and Anne both thought it was the most important thing they had ever done. Bel was aware of this. When Elise was working, she knew she couldn’t bother her.
But this time right before bed was not the same. It was different. This was her favourite time, the time when she could be a little bit selfish.
“Hmm, let me think… What kind of story should I tell tonight…?”
As proof, Elise’s face showed no sign of displeasure. She smiled at Bel’s tired eyes and voice, then got up from her desk and walked over to lie down next to her. Right away, Bel got close to Elise and wrapped herself around her arm.
“Didn’t we just talk about Mia? Oh yeah, I told you what she was good at. She was a good swimmer and a good horse rider, so I have to tell you this story as well.”
She smiled at Bel like a child getting ready to tell a secret.
“Did you know that she could also dance like a pro?”
Bel’s small head moved back and forth.
“…Dancing? Really?”
Elise gave a firm nod and said, “Dancing.”
“You should remember this, so pay close attention. You are a princess because you have her blood in you. Ballroom dancing isn’t just a hobby for princesses; it’s also a tool and a weapon. Many lords and leaders gave Mia the upper hand in negotiations because of how good she was at dancing.”
Then she closed her eyes for a while and thought about the past.
“It was a beautiful thing to see Mia dance. It was mesmerising to watch her glide and spin. People said it was like watching the moon goddess come down from the sky. I was once invited to an imperial ball, and that’s where I saw her dance. She looked so beautiful when she was dancing. She lit up the room.”
Bel gasped in shock because she didn’t know how to tell the truth from a lie yet.
“Wow! I wish I had been there too.”
Elise’s sad-looking frown stood in stark contrast to her happy smile.
“I’m sure that if she were still alive, she would teach you how to dance too. If Anne or I only knew how…”
Elise was sad that neither she nor her sister knew enough about dancing to teach people how to dance at a formal event.
“But what about Ludwig? Maybe we can ask him. You’re an imperial princess, and you don’t even know how to dance! What in the moons am I doing…?”
“No, Mother Elise, don’t say that.”
She looked up, first shocked by how strong Bel’s voice was and then by how serious she looked.
“I’m glad to be here.”
The little girl had a huge smile on her face.
“Every day of my life is full of happiness. Mother Anne wakes me up, I eat good food, Mr. Ludwig teaches me, and Mr. Eugen takes me home…”
She made a list of all the small things that made her happy, one by one, on her fingers.
“Mother Elise, I love hearing your stories,” she said next.
“I love all of them, the ones about Grandma Mia and the ones you wrote yourself. I’m a little sad that Grandmother Mia didn’t teach me how to dance, and not being able to see my mother makes me feel lonely, but I’m still very happy, so please don’t be sad.”
Elise’s heart tightened when she heard what she said, out of both regret and pity.
She’s so young still… At her age, she should be asking for love and attention, but instead, she’s looking out for our feelings while going through all this trouble…
Elise closed her eyes tightly. After a few seconds, her smile came back.
“Let’s get back to the story. Where was I? Oh, yes, Mia’s dancing.”
She spoke clearly as she told the story. Bel didn’t have to worry because it was bright enough.
Soon, she could hear the slow, soft breathing of sleep. She stopped talking for a while and just looked at the peaceful face of the sleeping child.
Then, she put her hand on Bel’s cheek and whispered, “Good night, Bel. Sweet dreams.”
It was a quiet and simple part of her daily routine, but it was also a sincere and passionate prayer from the bottom of her heart.
“May you be truly happy at least in your dreams…”
Bel did dream that night, and in her dreams, her grandmother taught her how to dance. She gently told Bel what to do step by step as they turned and twirled together.
It was an amazing dream.
Bel had told the truth, but Elise would never know. The girl’s dreams and she herself were both happy. Bel was enjoying a small but undeniably true piece of happiness as he slept peacefully in Elise’s arms.
