The fair-skinned noblewoman's cheeks flushed, but her words were anything but a refusal:
"It would be my honor, but..." A blush spread across Sylvie's face. "If you really like me, why did you turn down our invitation?"
"The Wonderful Magic Research Society?" Annan thought of the invitation tucked into his door. "Because I didn't know you were a member, my lady. Is it too late to dig out the invitation now?"
Sylvie covered her mouth and laughed softly. Her gaze slid from Annan's cheek to his chest like an invisible caress. "You're awfully practiced at this. How many girls have you fooled?"
Annan suddenly came to his senses a little, but then slipped back into a state that felt like being controlled by puppet magic. He kept up their flirtatious conversation.
This woman knew how to charm a boy. She always reacted enthusiastically to Annan's words, keeping him in the palm of her hand. It was like a conversation between a Legendary Mage and a Mage Apprentice: whatever the Legendary Mage said, she could easily win the apprentice's admiration.
They drew closer and closer. Then, at one point, a sharp argument cut through the noisy crowd from a corner of the banquet hall.
Sylvie, elegantly holding her wineglass, looked over with the surrounding guests. "Those look like your friends," she said with amusement.
It had started when Sienna saw her aunt, Olin Montreal, laughing and chatting with a man. Her admiration for Annan, and her indignation on his behalf, drove her to confront Olin.
"This has nothing to do with you," Olin said, still speaking with her friend.
"Am I in the way?" her friend asked.
"No. Let's continue," Olin said, shaking her head.
Sienna had calmed down and was about to leave, but she suddenly stopped. Her emotions