Chapter 94
The music inside the palace had grown louder by the time they returned, the soft elegance of earlier now replaced with something more lively. Laughter echoed more freely, conversations less guarded, as though the night itself had loosened everyone's restraint.
Alvira stepped in first, her gaze sweeping across the hall.
Zack followed behind her—but something about him had shifted.
Subtle.
Quiet.
But there.
—
Hiccup's voice cut through the room.
Hiccup said, "There they are. The balcony philosophers have returned."
Lisa laughed softly beside him.
Lisa said, "Did you solve the mysteries of the world out there, or just create more of them."
Alvira shook her head.
Alvira said, "Mostly created more, I think."
Hiccup grinned.
Hiccup said, "That sounds about right."
Zack stepped forward, unusually relaxed.
Zack said, "You both talk too much."
Hiccup raised an eyebrow.
Hiccup said, "And you look… different."
Lisa leaned slightly closer to Alvira.
Lisa said, "He does."
Alvira glanced at Zack, noticing it too—but not fully understanding it yet.
Zack caught the look.
Zack said, "What."
Lisa said, "You are not scowling."
Hiccup added quickly—
Hiccup said, "That alone is worth celebrating."
Zack exhaled, almost amused.
Zack said, "You are both insufferable."
Hiccup said, "But correct."
—
Before Zack could respond, a servant passed by carrying a tray of drinks.
Zack reached out, taking one—then paused.
He glanced at Alvira.
Zack said, "You should try this."
Alvira blinked slightly.
Alvira said, "Since when do you recommend anything."
Zack said, "Since now."
He handed her the glass.
Their fingers brushed briefly.
Small.
Unintentional.
But neither of them ignored it.
Alvira took the drink.
Alvira said, "If it is terrible, I am blaming you."
Zack said, "That is fair."
She took a sip.
Paused.
Then—
Alvira said, "It is actually good."
Hiccup gasped dramatically.
Hiccup said, "Zack recommended something successfully. Write this down."
Lisa laughed.
Lisa said, "The night keeps getting more surprising."
Zack shook his head, but there was no irritation in it this time.
—
A group nearby began a lighthearted game—something simple, filled with teasing and small challenges.
Hiccup's eyes lit up.
Hiccup said, "We are joining."
Zack said immediately—
Zack said, "No."
Hiccup grabbed his arm.
Hiccup said, "Yes."
Lisa said, "Absolutely yes."
Alvira looked between them, amused.
Alvira said, "You can say no."
Zack met her gaze.
There was a pause.
Then—
Zack said, "Fine."
Hiccup froze.
Hiccup said, "Wait… that was too easy."
Zack said, "Do not make me change my mind."
Hiccup said, "No, no, you are coming."
—
The game was simple.
Questions.
Dares.
Laughter.
Nothing serious.
Which made it dangerous in a completely different way.
—
Lisa went first.
Lisa said, "Truth or dare, Alvira."
Alvira said, "Truth."
Lisa smiled knowingly.
Lisa said, "What is something you want, but have not said out loud."
The group quieted slightly.
Alvira hesitated—but only for a moment.
Her eyes flicked to Zack.
Then away.
Alvira said, "Something real."
The answer was simple.
But not small.
Zack did not look away this time.
—
Hiccup clapped once.
Hiccup said, "My turn. Zack."
Zack sighed.
Zack said, "What."
Hiccup grinned.
Hiccup said, "Dare."
Zack narrowed his eyes slightly.
Zack said, "You did not even give me a choice."
Hiccup said, "Correct."
Lisa laughed under her breath.
Hiccup leaned closer.
Hiccup said, "Make Alvira laugh. Properly. Not just a smile."
Zack went still.
Alvira blinked.
Alvira said, "That is not a fair dare."
Hiccup said, "It is perfect."
Lisa added—
Lisa said, "We have never seen him try."
All eyes turned to Zack.
For a moment, it looked like he might refuse.
But then—
Something shifted again.
The same quiet change from the balcony.
Zack exhaled.
Zack said, "Fine."
—
He turned to Alvira.
There was no hesitation now.
Zack said, "Stay where you are."
Alvira raised an eyebrow.
Alvira said, "That sounds suspicious."
Zack said, "Just wait."
—
He stepped away briefly—then returned holding two small decorative ribbons from one of the nearby tables.
Hiccup whispered—
Hiccup said, "What is he doing."
Lisa whispered back—
Lisa said, "I have no idea."
—
Zack stood in front of Alvira.
Then, without warning, he tied one ribbon loosely around his own wrist… and the other around his other wrist.
Alvira frowned slightly.
Alvira said, "What is this."
Zack said, "An attempt."
—
Then he did something no one expected.
He tried to demonstrate a "perfectly coordinated noble greeting"… while both of his hands were restricted.
It went wrong immediately.
Completely.
He misstepped.
Nearly tripped.
Overcorrected.
And ended up giving an overly formal bow that almost sent him off balance again.
Hiccup burst out laughing first.
Lisa followed instantly.
But Alvira—
She tried to hold it in.
She really did.
—
Zack straightened, completely serious.
Zack said, "There is nothing amusing about this."
Alvira covered her mouth.
Zack continued—
Zack said, "This is a highly refined—"
He attempted the movement again.
Worse this time.
—
That was it.
Alvira laughed.
Not soft.
Not restrained.
A real, unguarded laugh.
The kind that escaped before she could stop it.
—
Everything stilled for a second.
Zack stopped moving.
He looked at her.
Really looked.
And something in his expression softened in a way no one there had ever seen before.
—
Hiccup pointed dramatically.
Hiccup said, "He did it."
Lisa said, "I cannot believe it."
—
Alvira tried to catch her breath.
Alvira said, "That was terrible."
Zack removed the ribbons calmly.
Zack said, "It worked."
Alvira shook her head, still smiling.
Alvira said, "Barely."
Zack said, "That still counts."
—
Their eyes met again.
But this time—
It was lighter.
Easier.
And yet somehow deeper than before.
—
Lisa leaned toward Hiccup.
Lisa whispered, "Something has changed."
Hiccup nodded slowly.
Hiccup said, "Yes."
—
Across the room, Ray watched quietly.
His expression unreadable.
But his gaze lingered longer than before.
—
Later, as the night settled again into softer conversations, Lisa clapped her hands once.
Lisa said, "We should finalize the wedding details tomorrow."
Hiccup groaned.
Hiccup said, "Already."
Lisa said, "It is approaching quickly."
She glanced between Zack and Alvira.
Lisa said, "And you two are helping."
Zack said, "No."
Alvira said at the same time—
Alvira said, "We are?"
Lisa smiled.
Lisa said, "Yes."
Hiccup added—
Hiccup said, "You owe us after tonight."
Zack exhaled.
Zack said, "This feels like a trap."
Lisa said, "It is."
—
Alvira laughed softly again.
Alvira said, "It might be interesting."
Zack looked at her.
There was that pause again.
Then—
Zack said, "Fine."
—
Hiccup clapped again.
Hiccup said, "Perfect. This wedding is going to be unforgettable."
Lisa smiled.
Lisa said, "It already is."
—
As the night slowly came to an end, and the music softened once more, Zack found himself standing beside Alvira again.
Not by accident.
Not entirely by choice either.
Just—
Naturally.
—
Alvira said quietly, "I did not know you could be like that."
Zack glanced at her.
Zack said, "Like what."
Alvira said, "That."
He was silent for a moment.
Zack said, "Most people do not."
Alvira said, "Maybe they should."
Zack looked ahead, then back at her.
Zack said, "Maybe."
—
And for the first time—
He did not pull that part of himself back completely.
—
Somewhere ahead—
A wedding was coming.
Choices were approaching.
And the fragile simplicity between them—
Would not stay untouched for long.