Heavenly Opposers

Chapter 215-The Ball[3]

As the hype of the announcement started to cool down, the music and dance started to get louder. The movements of the dancers got slower and slower until they stopped. The dancers in synchronized movements moved out of the room, the musicians being the only ones remaining as the tunes they played reached a lower phase, paving the way for a couples' dance.

And it was within this atmosphere an idiot suddenly took action. One of the princes, belonging to the younger age of 14, stood up from his seat. His presence and looks commanding as he walked up to Azrail. The kid's eyes shone as he looked at Valencia and asked, "My lady, will you be willing to give me this dance?"

His question caused a lot of people to frown, especially Azrail's mother, the Emperor, and the Empress. Asking a girl to a couple's dance when she is engaged is something not right, especially more when the girl's fiancée is sitting right beside her. But Azrail didn't feel the need to jump on this as Valencia spoke, "I have no desire to dance with anyone other than my intended."

Her words were still soft and nice, but the coldness and disgust within them were ever clear. Her eyes shone as the boy suddenly shrunk in the eyes of the world. He couldn't say anything back as he held his breaking smile and said, "I-I see, then forgive me for disturbing you."

Saying so, he scurried out of there to find another partner.

'Well, that's still not over.'

With such thoughts, Azrail stood up from where he sat, turning to face Valencia as he held his hand forward. He could feel the happiness in Valencia as she took his hand. He could also feel the jealousy of his sister Xuanyin as she sat beside him. But there's nothing Azrail could do. In this regard, there are some customs that have to be followed.

Thus, with light steps, Azrail guided Valencia to the center of the room. The two of them were like gods from high above as they stood in the center. The world itself seemed to move to guide them as a new tune began. Azrail placed his hand on Valencia's waist, the warmth of her body radiating through the thin fabric of her gown. She, in turn, rested her hand gently on his shoulder, their bodies naturally aligning as the music enveloped them.

The atmosphere in the room shifted, the focus of the gathering now honing in on the couple at the center. The grandeur of the moment wasn't lost on Azrail and Valencia. The dance was more than a mere physical movement, it was a display of unity, a proclamation of their connection in the face of the watchful eyes.

The dance floor seemed to stretch into eternity as Azrail guided Valencia with effortless grace. Their movements were like poetry in motion, a seamless fusion of strength and elegance. The fabric of Valencia's gown billowed and swirled around her, adding an ethereal touch to the spectacle.

As they glided across the floor, Azrail couldn't help but marvel at the beauty of his fiancée. The blooming cherry blossom gown subtly accentuated her budding curve, and her mesmerizing blend of pink and amethyst strands, now catching the subtle lights of the room, framed her face like a halo. Her enchanting pink eyes sparkled with a mix of joy and a hint of mischief, a playful dance mirroring the steps they took.

The onlookers were enchanted by the couple's dance. The younger generation, including the children and princes, watched in awe, while the older figures, fell to the same curse, the combined might of their charm being such that none can look away, no one can truly even begin to get in their way, their charm coming together in such a way that, everyone felt that they should keep watching forever.

The dance wasn't just about movement, it was a conversation, a silent exchange between Azrail and Valencia. In each step, in every twirl, there was a shared understanding, a connection that transcended the physical realm. Their bodies moved as one, a testament to the harmony they had found in each other.

Valencia now holds in her heart something she had lost and has now sworn to all that she would never lose again, a feeling of something that she will never give up and fight for, this extremely complex, obsessive, and maddening love of hers, being her drive.

The music itself seemed to respond to their presence, rising and falling in tandem with their steps. The melodies of the instruments painted an emotional backdrop, enhancing the depth of the moment. The room, once filled with chatter and whispers, fell into a hushed reverence as the dance unfolded.

Azrail and Valencia, lost in the dance, exchanged glances that spoke volumes. In those shared looks, they conveyed promises, whispered secrets, and the unspoken commitment they held for each other. The onlookers, out of the genuine charm oozing out and daze, remained silent, allowing the couple to take center stage in this grand ball.

The dance reached its crescendo, the final notes of the music echoing through the room. Azrail gently spun Valencia one last time before bringing her to a graceful halt. The people were still in a daze, unable to get the charm out of their heads.

'Guess we went a bit overboard'

Azrail communicated to Valencia in a silent mode.

'It's their fault for having a low level'

Azrail just smiled at it, he looking towards his family, they being the only ones not affected by this released charm, Yun smiling at him with a proud face, Raena still as ever mixed looked at happiness yet a hint of melancholy, Xuanyin being Xuanyin, as she jealously observed everything.

"Beautiful"

Yun spoke and it's those words that quickly brought the rest out of their own daze and the older ones quickly understood what happened, a situation causing pure fear to pass through their entire beings, Azrail could see the same complex fear in the heart of the Emperor but such a steady man didn't lose himself as he started to clap.

Clap!....Clap!.....Clap!

"A marvelous performance"

He spoke. his actions leading to the rest of the ones in the ball to take the lead and start clapping, even with confusion in their minds they still have to keep going. The applause echoed through the grand hall, a mixture of genuine admiration, lingering enchantment, and forced acknowledgment. Azrail and Valencia, still standing at the center, gracefully acknowledged the applause

The Empress Aihan, her expression inscrutable, clapped as well, her eyes shifting between Azrail and Valencia. The courtly figures, each with their own motives and suspicions, contributed to the ovation.

As the applause gradually subsided, Azrail escorted Valencia back to their seats. Seated once again, Valencia exchanged a knowing glance with Azrail. The dance had served its purpose, a subtle display of their unity and prowess. It had also subtly shifted the dynamics in the room, causing ripples of curiosity and speculation.

'I guess it's time to settle the jealousy of my sister'

With such thought, Azrail turned to Xuanyin, his hands ging out in a gentleman-like posture as he asked.

"May I have this dance?"

A subtle smile filled Xuanyin's face as she accepted it, a small smile on such an ice-cold face being enough to get some other boys' attention but Azrail paid no mind to it as he took his little sister of 8 to the center of the stage, this time being surrounded with different dancers as he, the 11-year-old boy took the lead.

The change in atmosphere was palpable as Azrail led Xuanyin to the center of the dance floor. The musicians, ever adaptable, shifted the melody to a livelier tune suitable for the younger dancers. Azrail, with a playful glint in his eyes, began a dance that was both charming and endearing. Xuanyin, in her delicate gown, looked like a miniature fairy as she twirled and skipped alongside her elder brother.

Their dance was a celebration of youth, a stark contrast to the subtle intensity of the previous performance. Xuanyin, despite her usually stoic demeanor, couldn't suppress the gleeful smile that graced her face.

As they danced, the onlookers couldn't help but be enchanted by the sibling duo. The children in the room, previously captivated by the grandeur of the ball, now found a new source of fascination in the lively steps of Azrail and Xuanyin.

Yun, watching from her seat, chuckled at the unexpected turn of events. "Azrail certainly knows how to steal the spotlight, even in the most diplomatic gatherings." n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

Raena caught between amusement and melancholy, nodded in agreement. "His ability to navigate both power dynamics and familial bonds is truly remarkable."

As the dance reached its peak, Azrail and Xuanyin executed a final twirl before coming to a graceful stop. The room erupted into applause once again.

Emperor Liang, 'moved' by the innocence of the moment, stood and offered a hearty applause. "Well done, Azrail! It seems your talents extend beyond the realms of politics and power."

Azrail, still holding Xuanyin's hand, bowed in acknowledgment. "Thank you, Emperor Liang. Sometimes, a simple dance can bring more joy than the most intricate political maneuvers."

As the applause faded, Azrail escorted Xuanyin back to their seats. The grand ball, now a tapestry woven with various dances, resumed its lively tempo. The musicians, attuned to the ebb and flow of the gathering, transitioned seamlessly to a more mature melody.

Yun, Azrail's mother, leaned in and whispered, 'You have a unique way of turning every situation to your advantage.'

Azrail, acknowledging the unspoken compliment, replied, 'I have learned from the best, Mother.'