A new dance tune began.
Its lilting melody flowed through the resplendent banquet hall once more.
Smiling guests stepped back onto the dance floor.
That last dance had undoubtedly made Alice the undisputed center of attention.
At the same time, it had also brought Cui Ciyou, House Boreas's mysterious black-haired "retainer,"
under the scrutiny of countless eyes from every direction.
Soon, a finely dressed young noble with brown hair, who looked about Alice's age,
mustered all his courage with encouragement from his family behind him.
He approached Alice, who had just run back to Ghislaine and Roxy, and awkwardly bowed to invite her:
"L-Lady Alice, m-may I have the honor of asking you for the next dance?"
Alice had only just settled her excitement. Hearing his invitation, she froze for a moment.
Then her pretty, arched brows drew together.
Without hesitation, she waved him away, almost rudely, her tone leaving no room for argument:
"No! Today, I... only want to dance with Ciyou!"
"You, and everyone else, stay out of the way!"
Alice even cast a defiant glance toward Cui Ciyou, as though staking her claim.
Watching her act as if he were the only dance partner she would ever accept, Cui Ciyou did not know whether to laugh or be annoyed.
Meanwhile, a new bit of "trouble" had come his way.
Although Alice had been the star of their dance,
Cui Ciyou's unruffled composure as he led her, along with his smooth, graceful steps,
and, most importantly, his face-especially handsome by candlelight, with an exotic charm and an air of cool mystery-had clearly left a deep impression on quite a few noble young ladies present.
Good physical coordination made learning dance steps easy; someone like Alice, who was exceptional at swordsmanship but struggled to dance, was simply nervous.
Soon,