Chapter 118: Dance session (3)

"Wow! That’s my sister and Prince Nolan!"

From the left side of the hall, a little red-haired girl pointed excitedly at Nolan and Rafine.

She was short and petite, with a round, chubby face—her cheeks looked as if they were made of soft bread dough.

Her long red hair flowed down in waves, adorned with a red ribbon at the center, making her look even more adorable.

She wore a red gown with a wide skirt that perfectly matched the color of her hair.

The little girl was Masha, Rafine’s younger sister and the second daughter of the Duke of Austin.

Standing beside her were two other equally adorable girls. If Nolan were here, he would have been stunned—they were Eliza and Alicia.

The two girls followed Masha’s finger and instantly widened their eyes.

"Huh? That’s Brother Leon!" They exclaimed in unison, their eyes sparkling.

But then, both girls suddenly gasped and quickly turned to Masha.

"You just said Lady Rafine is your sister, but didn’t you say you were from a baron’s family in the eastern region?" Eliza asked, her voice hesitant.

"Hehehe..." Masha let out an embarrassed laugh. "Sorry, Eliza, Alicia. I actually lied to you. My real name is Masha Austin. I’m from the Duke of Austin’s house. You’re not mad, are you?"

Masha looked at them with a sad, guilty expression. Come to think of it, what she had done was rude—she had lied to her two new friends.

Thankfully, Eliza and Alicia didn’t look angry. Instead, they glanced at each other and shook their heads gently.

"It’s okay, Masha. We’re not mad," Alicia said with a warm smile.

"Yeah! I’m not upset either," Eliza added softly.

"Thank goodness..." Masha let out a sigh of relief and patted her chest. "Thank you, both of you."

Meanwhile, the couples had fully gathered at the center of the hall. Unlike before, there were now more young couples than older ones.

Among them was Adalen, standing beside a beautiful young woman with short brown hair. Her gaze never left the man in front of her.

"Prince, I hope I haven’t disappointed you," she said shyly.

"Don’t worry, Young Lady Mary. Let’s do our best," Adalen replied with a gentle smile.

The woman was Mary Lotus, from the Viscount Lotus family in the northern region. In truth, Adalen had no intention of dancing with her, but she had been persistent and pushy.

Given the Lotus family’s support in the succession, he had no choice but to accept.

Not far from them—just about five meters away—Nolan and Rafine stood facing each other, both looking awkward.

Why did it come to this...

Rafine muttered helplessly.

Her original goal had been to get Zarak and the other young nobles to stop pestering her for a dance.

What she hadn’t expected was for Nolan to actually drag her to the center of the hall—to dance with him. That was never part of her plan.

"Get ready, Rafine. Let’s begin the dance."

Nolan’s calm voice pulled her out of her thoughts. Rafine shot him an irritated glance.

And yet, deep down, there was a faint feeling of anticipation. It made her wonder—was she actually looking forward to this dance?

Before long, the melodic strains of dance music filled the air.

The musicians began to play, and the atmosphere in the hall returned to a calm, peaceful state as soft melodies drifted through the room.

Nolan placed his right hand on Rafine’s waist, while his left hand gently took her right.

Rafine, in turn, placed her left hand on his shoulder and gently held his left hand with her right.

Together, they began to move in time with the gentle rhythm of the music.

At first, Rafine had little expectation—she assumed she would be the one leading the dance.

After all, Nolan didn’t seem like someone skilled in dancing. But to her surprise, the rhythm she thought she controlled suddenly shifted.

Before she knew it, Nolan had taken the lead—and he did it so smoothly and quickly that she was left momentarily frozen.

Fortunately, he pulled her closer just in time, guiding her back into the flow.

Rafine stepped forward, and Nolan moved back with effortless grace.

Their fingers intertwined as they glided sideways in perfect synchrony.

The sight immediately drew the attention of everyone watching—including Rudy, Orlan, Elina, Evalyn, and even Roswell.

Their movements were so perfectly synchronized, it was as if they were a single unit. In dance, after all, it’s not just about one person standing out—both partners must shine together.

No matter how skilled one dancer is, if the other can’t keep up, the result will appear stiff and unbalanced.

True dancing requires harmony—something usually achieved only by couples who understand and know each other well.

And yet, what unfolded at the center of the hall was nothing short of astonishing. Their performance was flawless, as if they had been dancing together for years.

Even couples who had known each other for years wouldn’t necessarily be able to achieve such harmony.

With all eyes fixed on them, the other couples faded into the background.

Adalen, noticing the shift, frowned. He glanced toward the center of attention—Nolan and Rafine, dancing in near-perfect sync.

Damn... What the hell is that? How can they be that good?

He muttered in disbelief.

As far as he knew, Nolan had never attended a single dance lesson at the palace. Even when they were scheduled, he always skipped them or ran off.

It was a familiar scene in the palace—often the subject of gossip among the servants and guards.

And yet now, Nolan was effortlessly displaying exceptional skill on the dance floor, leaving Adalen stunned and speechless.

Then suddenly, he tripped over Marry’s foot, nearly losing his balance.

Fortunately, he recovered just in time, slipping in an extra step to cover the mistake.

Even so, their rhythm was already broken—and it would be hard to get it back on track.

After about ten minutes, the music began to slow, eventually drawing to a close. But at the last moment, Nolan placed his hand on Rafine’s waist and suddenly lifted her into the air.

Rafine gasped in surprise, and before she could react, she felt herself sliding downward.

Just when she thought she might hit the floor, Nolan caught her securely, his lips curling into a teasing, seductive smile.

"How was that, Young Lady Rafine? Surprised?"

Rafine opened her eyes and glared at his annoying expression.

"You’re absolutely infuriating," she said with a pout.

But the blush on her face was impossible to hide.

Nolan let out a quiet chuckle. He hadn’t expected that the most beautiful woman in the empire could look so flustered.

As he gently set her down, Rafine was about to speak—but before she could, Nolan turned and walked away.

"Don’t forget the debt you owe me. And... please, stop getting so close to me. It’s really annoying."

Rafine: "..."

"This guy..." she muttered softly, more embarrassed than angry.

Who would have imagined that dancing with someone could be so delightful—and surprisingly exhilarating?

Of course, that was only because her partner was Nolan. If it had been anyone else, she wouldn’t have even given it a thought.

Without realizing it, her feelings toward him had begun to change. She felt herself drawn to him in a way she couldn’t quite explain.

Her eyes lingered on his retreating figure as she murmured softly,

Nolan Lorian... What kind of man are you, really?

***

Nolan made his way to the left side of the hall, a satisfied smile tugging at his lips. At last, he could enjoy a moment of peace.

But just then, a familiar voice called out from behind.

"Heh... My dear Nolan, I didn’t expect you to be so close with the young lady from the Austin family. Tell me... What’s going on between you two?"