Most of the new students attending the Welcome Party must have already flocked into the crystal-lit Party Hall.
However, it was different for me. This evening, Seraphina specifically asked me to wait for her at the gazebo so we could enter the party together.
I stood alone under the gazebo roof, wearing the outfit the Winters family had sent me yesterday. A clean white shirt that fit perfectly, covered by a formal black suit with a perfect slim-fit cut.
The night breeze blew gently, carrying the scent of expensive perfume from the main hall.
Even though I tried to stand quietly in the shadows, my new status as "Leon the Dragon Slayer" made it difficult for me to go unnoticed. Several students passing by on the path stopped, whispered, then greeted me respectfully.
"Mr. Leon? Why aren't you going in?" asked one student nervously.
"I'm waiting for someone," I replied briefly but politely.
In fact, several noble ladies who had not yet entered the party dared to approach me. They looked at me with sparkling eyes and ignored my status.
"Mr. Leon," greeted one of the blonde girls with a feather fan in her hand. "If you have some free time later... would you dance one song with me?"
I just smiled slightly—a practiced smile I had learned at The Numbers. "It would be my honor, Lady. If fate and time allow, I would be happy to grant your request."
My diplomatic answer made them giggle happily before they finally withdrew.
I breathed a sigh of relief when they left. Being popular is exhausting, I thought to myself.
Soon after, the sound of light but hurried footsteps echoed on the rocky path.
I turned my head. And instantly, my breath caught.
From behind the thin garden, Seraphina appeared.
She wasn't wearing a brightly colored dress like most noble ladies her age. No, she chose a color that defined her.
Midnight Black.
She wore an off-shoulder evening gown that showed off her smooth shoulders and beautiful collarbone. The top of the dress was a corset with black straps that accentuated her slim waist, while the bottom was a magnificent skirt with layers of ruffles and black lace, giving a dramatic yet elegant impression.
On the left side of her beautifully flowing silver hair was a large black ribbon that served as a headdress, replacing a stiff noble hat. Her slender neck was adorned with a simple black ribbon choker that added to her allure.
She looked like a living gothic doll. Beautiful, mysterious, and dangerous.
"Sorry to keep you waiting, Leon!"
Seraphina ran towards me, her hands slightly lifting the heavy sides of her dress so she wouldn't trip. Her high heels clicked rhythmically on the gazebo floor.
She stopped right in front of me, slightly out of breath, her cheeks flushed red—either from running or from embarrassment.
"How..." She looked down slightly, nervously adjusting the hem of her skirt. "Does this outfit look strange? My maid said black was too somber for a new student welcome party, but I insisted on wearing it."
I looked at her from the ribbon on her head to the tips of her black shoes.
"Weird?" I repeated softly. I stepped forward, extending my right hand to her.
"You're wrong, Lady. In my opinion, you're already beautiful," I stared into her red eyes. "You look amazing, Lady Seraphina. I'm sure every man at the party would want to dance with you."
Seraphina's eyes widened. The redness on her cheeks deepened. She turned her face away for a moment.
"Hmph. Of course," she muttered, trying to return to her haughty mode, though unsuccessfully. "I accept your compliment. You don't look bad either, Partner."
Seraphina took my hand. Her cold skin touched my warm hand.
"Ready to go to the party?" I asked.
She took a deep breath, straightened her back, and her Villainess aura reignited.
"Let's make sure they can't take their eyes off us, Leon."
We both walked through the wide-open mahogany double doors, holding hands like a noble couple destined to be together.
Instantly, a wave of sound and light hit us.
The Grand Ballroom of the Royal Celestia Academy was far more magnificent than I had imagined. Thousands of giant crystals on the ceiling refracted golden light throughout the room. The polished marble floor reflected the shadows of hundreds of new students dressed in their finest gowns and suits.
However, as soon as we stepped onto the red carpet, the noise suddenly subsided.
One by one, people began to turn their heads. Whispers spread like wildfire across a dry grassland.
"It's Leon."
"He came with Lady Seraphina?"
"Look at that bold black dress."
"The Dragon Slayer and the Princess of the Northern Duke—what a terrifying combination."
The stares came from all directions—curiosity, admiration, envy, even hidden hatred. Considering that this party was held for all new students from all departments, I felt that this giant hall suddenly felt too small and suffocating.
Seraphina squeezed my arm a little harder. Her hand was cold.
"Ignore them," I whispered softly without turning my head, keeping my gaze straight ahead with my chin raised. "They're just extras in your story."
Seraphina took a breath, then her haughty smile returned. "Of course."
We took our places at the edge of the hall, near the dessert table, while the formalities began.
It didn't take long for the Head of Each Department to take the podium to deliver their formal speeches.
Those were the most boring thirty minutes of my life.
The Professor of Pure Magic spoke about "The Responsibility of Power," while the Professor of Magic Swords shouted about "Honor and Muscle." Most of the students listened with sleepy faces, while some students in the back quietly began to eat fruit tartlets so they wouldn't faint from hunger.
"And with that, the 305th Royal Celestia Academy freshman reception party is officially open!"
The classical orchestra music began to play softly. Waltz No. 2 in C minor.
It was time. The crowd began to part, creating an empty space in the middle of the hall. Usually, the couples with the highest social status would open the first dance. Several princes and princesses began to step forward confidently.
Seraphina stood frozen beside me. Her body was tense.
"Leon," she whispered softly. "My legs feel stiff again."
I turned to face her, blocking her view of the crowd. I bowed slightly, extending my right hand in a gesture like a perfect knight.
"Lady Seraphina Vox Winters," I said in a voice loud enough for those around us to hear. "Would you do me the honor of this first dance?"
Seraphina looked into my eyes. The memory of our practice that morning in the gazebo came back to her.
"Don't think too much. Just feel it."
She sighed, then placed her hand on mine. "With pleasure, Mr. Leon."
We walked onto the dance floor.
As we took our positions, hundreds of eyes were on us. The music began to rise.
"One, two, three..." I whispered as the tempo.
We began to move. And it wasn't just dancing. It was control to make Seraphina look perfect.
I led her with complete but gentle dominance. My right hand on her back served as a steering wheel, signaling when to step back or turn.
Seraphina's usually aggressive and stiff steps now looked fluid. Every time she almost stepped wrong, I quickly turned my body, turning her mistake into a variation of movements that looked complex and artistic.
"Look!" whispered a student at the edge of the dance floor. "They're so in sync."
"I didn't know Lady Seraphina could dance like that."
I looked into Seraphina's eyes, locking her focus so she wouldn't lose her concentration. "You're doing great, Lady. Keep it up."
"You're doing all the hard work," she replied, her cheeks flushed, but her smile beginning to look sincere. "You make me look like a professional."
I lifted her hand. Seraphina spun under my arm. The voluminous skirt of her black dress flared perfectly like a black rose in bloom, creating a dramatic visual effect under the lights.
The ribbon in her hair fluttered gently as she returned to my embrace with a smooth landing.
People were mesmerized.
They all seemed to see a couple moving in perfect harmony. The visual contrast between the black suit and the magnificent black dress made us look like the King and Queen of the Night, ruling the dance floor.
As the music reached its climax, I tilted her body back in a deep dip. Seraphina arched her back confidently, looking up at me with a challenging smile.
"Not bad for your first dance, Leon," she whispered.
I straightened her up just as the music stopped.
"Thank you, Partner."
A moment of silence.
Then, applause erupted in the hall.
The applause gradually died down as the first song ended.
I breathed a sigh of relief. My task was complete. According to aristocratic dance etiquette, dance partners must switch after one song ends. This is an unwritten rule to ensure everyone has a chance to socialize.
I could see out of the corner of my eye that several ladies, including the blonde who had greeted me outside earlier, were already preparing to step forward.
"Thank you for your time, Lady," I said politely, preparing to release her hand and take a step back to bid her farewell.
However, my hand wouldn't let go.
Seraphina didn't want to let go. Instead, her slender fingers tightened their grip on my palm.
"Lady Seraphina?" I whispered, confused. "The song is over. We have to—"
"Be quiet," she interrupted softly.
The orchestra music began to play again. This time the tempo was slower, more sensual.
Without giving me a chance to protest, Seraphina pulled me closer to her. She placed her hand on my shoulder again, this time with a much more possessive gesture.
The crowd, which had just been about to disperse, fell silent again.
The blonde girl who had stepped forward earlier stopped abruptly, her face pale as she saw the cold stare Seraphina threw at her.
"Dancing twice in a row with the same partner?" whispered someone in the crowd. "Isn't that a declaration?"
"Isn't she violating aristocratic etiquette?"
I swallowed hard. In the aristocratic world, dancing twice in a row had an implicit meaning.
"Lady," I whispered, trying to keep my voice from sounding panicked as I began to move my feet to the new rhythm. "Everyone is watching us. This is against etiquette. The other ladies want to dance with me, and I'm sure there are men who would like to dance with you, Lady."
Seraphina looked up, staring straight into my eyes. The sweet smile on her face didn't reach her eyes.
"Let them see, Leon," she whispered softly, "Let them know their place."
She leaned her head slightly against my chest, narrowing the distance between us until there was no room for air to pass.
"You are my partner tonight," she continued.
We spun again.
If the first dance was about harmony and beauty, this second dance was about territorial dominance. Seraphina deliberately spun me past the crowd of girls who had been trying to approach me earlier.
I could feel the jealous stares on Seraphina. But she ignored it all and continued to dance gracefully.
"You're really scary, Lady Seraphina," I muttered resignedly, letting her lead a little.
"I take that as a compliment," she replied smugly.
The second song slowly came to an end. The last notes of the violin hung in the air.
Before the applause could be heard, and before anyone dared to approach for a third session, Seraphina took action.
She broke out of her dance position. Her right hand immediately grabbed my wrist.
Without warning, Seraphina turned and pulled me out of the middle of the dance floor.
She dragged me through the crowd of surprised guests. Her black dress fluttered behind her as she walked quickly toward the large glass doors at the side of the hall.
"Lady Seraphina? Mr. Leon? Where are you going?" someone called out.
Seraphina didn't turn around. She kept pulling me, taking me away from the dazzling crystal chandelier lights, away from people's stares, toward the darkness of the quiet balcony.
"Come on, Leon," she called without looking back, her grip on my hand warm and urgent. "I need some fresh air."
*****
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