On the Dance Floor

A new day.

Dugu Qing proceeded with the lessons the butler had arranged for him.

Riding, rhetoric, the art of command, noble etiquette... and court dancing.

Fern followed Dugu Qing like a little bell, never leaving his side.

With her notebook in hand, Fern also wrote down most of what Dugu Qing learned.

In the hall, during a dance lesson.

A retired pianist from the New Moon Symphony Orchestra played a stirring piece.

The seven-year-old son of a renowned violin master stood with his violin, his bow settling lightly on the strings as a lilting melody flowed from the instrument.

Elegant music filled and dominated the hall, turning the magnificent space stirring and impassioned.

Dugu Qing looked at the butler's deeply lined, aged face, his mouth twitching, but endured his physical discomfort and accepted the old butler's instruction in ballroom dancing.

Under the guidance of the well-traveled butler, who was familiar with upper-class etiquette, Dugu Qing's dancing improved rapidly.

The way he raised and extended his arms grew lighter and more graceful, and his steps, rising and falling, advancing and retreating, grew more rhythmic.

Every frown and smile came naturally, with peerless grace.

Having learned the steps to a dance, Dugu Qing switched from following to leading. He gripped the old butler's wrist and raced and leaped across the dance floor, displaying all the vigor of youth.

His movements grew broader and broader.

When the piece ended, Dugu Qing spun with its lingering notes, wrapped an arm around the butler's waist, and drew him into his embrace.

The old butler was slightly startled, and a faint blush appeared on his aged face.

"You learned quickly. You've passed this dance."

Dugu Qing nodded confidently.

Amid this harmonious scene.

Fern rushed forward anxiously, overcome with jealousy, and reversed her earlier decision.

"Dugu Qing, you're learning court dances. How can your dance partner be an old man?"

The old butler looked at Fern and gritted his teeth slightly.

An old man? What's wrong with an old man? Men grow gentler with age. If you youngsters don't understand, don't talk nonsense!

He pursed his lips slightly and reminded Dugu Qing:

"We didn't provide a female dance partner in order to maintain secrecy. However, since Miss Fern has spoken up, we can also provide you with a young female partner, young master."

Orden came downstairs, and the sight of the vast mana surrounding Dugu Qing suddenly reminded him of something. He hurried over.

Fern gave an awkward smile, her face slightly red, and raised her hand in refusal.

"No, I mean, I don't have anything to do in the hall anyway, so I can be his dance partner."

Dancing is good! I have to learn it.

Although Dugu Qing wore an unfamiliar face, which was a little unsettling, it was still a hundred times better than watching him dance with someone else!

I'll just pretend... Dugu Qing is wearing a mask.

But the sight, sound, smell, taste, touch, and feeling must still be Dugu Qing's.

"I support Fern."

Dugu Qing's gaze drifted between Fern and the old butler, and he chose the familiar pretty girl without hesitation.

Orden passed the old butler and felt deeply helpless when he heard Fern's words.

He was a lofty noble whose word was law in his territory.

He hadn't expected to run into obstacles with Dugu Qing and Fern in succession in less than a day.

Adventurers... what kind of people are they?

Outside the system, impossible to restrain or control, settling favors and grudges as they please, wandering everywhere as free spirits... they're the people noble officials hate most!

Now that he thought about it, the red-haired boy named Stark was much better.

He was slow-witted and well-behaved... at a glance, he looked very obedient.

"Great! Let's take lessons together from now on!"

Fern promptly went a step further, cementing her position as Dugu Qing's female companion rather than merely his dance partner.

Rounding things up, she, Fern, could probably count as Dugu Qing's girlfriend for this month.

"All right, we'll take lessons together from now on. If we come across anything we don't understand, we can discuss it too."

Dugu Qing patted Fern's hair, just as he had when they first met years ago.

Childhood companions, innocent and carefree.

"If Welt were still alive, he'd surely be old enough to fall in love by now!"

Orden's expression grew gloomy, and he sighed.

In Dugu Qing, he saw his son's unfinished undertaking: meeting a beautiful woman, falling in love, getting married, having children...

All of it could have happened naturally!

It was all the fault of those hateful demons...

"Master, there are many people watching!"

The old butler loyally reminded him.

Orden nodded, approached Dugu Qing, and said quietly,

"Welt had very little mana. Please suppress yours as well!"

Dugu Qing raised his eyes and glanced at the vast mana swirling around him. He shrugged helplessly and used concealment magic to hide most of it, making himself appear like an ordinary person.

"That's good. No one will be able to tell you've transformed."

Orden strode away to the military camp to prepare his troops for battle.

A month later.

A grand summer celebration ball was held at Oelden Castle.

The city bishop of Friedrich presided over the ball.

The musicians of the New Moon Symphony Orchestra arrived one after another and began playing beautiful symphonic music before the celebration had even started.

Nearby earls, city lords, nobles, officials, senior military officers, wealthy merchants, venerable monks, mages, and warriors all brought female companions to the ball that evening.

Dugu Qing took on Welt's appearance and led two rows of maids in welcoming the guests at the entrance.

He completely suppressed the rumors that Welt had died in battle.

This solidified the family's prestige, steadied restless hearts, and greatly enhanced the Orden family's standing.

The officers under Welt's command all pledged their loyalty and denounced the rumors.

The family of Welt's fiancée expressed its full support for the Orden family, contributing to the defensive effort.

Taking advantage of the favorable situation, Orden arranged an engagement between his youngest son, Mute, and the youngest daughter of the Sternberg Family, gaining a powerful ally whose army he could call upon when fighting the demons.

At seven thirty that evening, the ball began.

Fern wore an exquisite, luxurious violet-blue gown, its layered skirts cascading down and scattering glimmers of light as she walked.

Her shapely figure was breathtaking.

Her fair, delicate face was gentle and lovely.

Her deep purple eyes shone as she looked around.

The symphony orchestra's conductor waved his baton, and a soothing, beautiful romantic dance tune with a lingering rhythm began to play.

Dugu Qing extended his hand and naturally took Fern's delicate one. Turning together, they entered the dance floor and began to dance gently.

Fern's silky, waterfall-like purple hair fluttered gracefully with their movements.

The purple pendants hanging from her earlobes framed the soft contours of her face.

Looking at Fern, Dugu Qing was surprised to discover that the little girl who had once followed at his heels and fought him for snacks had, before he knew it, grown into a ravishing beauty. It was truly unexpected!

Noticing Dugu Qing looking at her, Fern felt her pretty face grow warm, and the color of her cherry lips grew even more vivid.

Dugu Qing held Fern as they danced gracefully through the brilliantly lit hall.

The crystal chandelier on the domed ceiling poured down silvery light.

The guests took one another's hands and entered the dance floor one after another, dancing elegantly.

Orden stood in the middle of the hall, looking at the harmonious scene before him, filled with honored guests, and a gratified smile appeared on his face.

It was as though the Orden family still had its gifted heir as it had in the past, invincible and beyond provocation, standing high above all like the blazing sun, enchanting to behold.