"Madeleine Jenkins!"
The stage curtain slowly lifted like the wings of a living butterfly, but no one stood onstage.
Soon, someone in the audience looked up and cried out in surprise. Madeleine was sitting on a swing more than ten meters above the floor.
She wore an opulent crimson gown, its long train falling like a phoenix's tail feathers, bright as fire.
Her delicate collarbones were bare, lending her lofty figure a striking, regal air.
Before the audience could marvel at her entrance, a soft hum floated down.
No matter how much Silver City despised Madeleine and called her a betrayer, its people had to admit she was the finest singer the city had produced in nearly a century.
Music gradually rose, but Madeleine only sang along. She did not play.
Those familiar with her recognized it at once: "Moonlit Dance Steps," the song that had made her famous.
But since she had left Silver City, the song had been put away and never sung again.
Because it was a duet.
Madeleine lifted her head slightly, her gaze seeming to pass through the crystal chandelier and ceiling toward the distant night sky.
Bailey, you'd choose this one too, wouldn't you?
"Bailey... Bailey! Stop sleeping!"
A girl with amber eyes shook the sleeping girl.
The girl slowly woke from her dream and sat up. "Mm... I think I had a dream."
"What kind of dream?"
"I dreamed we were singing Moonlit Dance Steps, and lots of people were listening."
"Of course they were! We're going to be great singers one day!" The lively girl put her hands on her hips. "But why don't you look happy?"
"Because we weren't together..."
"As if that could happen." The amber-eyed girl wrapped an arm around her groggy friend and declared, "We're best friends—the