"So you're alive, Dante Scarlet," said Adam. He quickly recognized who was before him.
"Oh, that was rather quick. Well, am I back?" He laughed like a demon in front of an angel. Dante stood up and offered his hand to greet Adam, who only smirked and rose.
"Give the throne to Velryna and ensure Ethan's death, and I will allow your marriage to her," Adam offered.
They shook hands, and Dante commented, "We have a deal."
Dante lightly pondered that this was the first time he acted like a demon; in fact, he truly embraced his role.
"Yes, we have a deal," he nodded, and the two returned to the balcony of the venue. However, Dante couldn't help but comment, "I have nothing against you, nor your wife or your empire. It's just against your son; he's the cause of my death and is probably currently working with whoever attacked me that day." Dante remarked, and Adam nodded. "Don't worry, I understand perfectly...
Ethan isn't someone I really consider. He was a mistake from when I was younger, with a woman who caused me a lot of pain," Adam replied, and Dante became curious, but it wasn't the time for that.
"I will see Velryna," Dante said and moved forward.
"Start monitoring every move of that man, whether visible or invisible. He will know you're there, but don't show anything that might lead him to think of threats. Support him if necessary," the Emperor instructed his shadows, who watched the scene from afar.
Meanwhile, still in that hall, Aaralyn watched everything happen in silence, from the shadows of the treetops. "It seems you had a lot of help, Master," she said and vanished completely.
Heading towards his master, who descended the stairs and stood face to face with the Empress, bidding farewell to Velryna, he didn't hear what they said, but when she turned around, he felt a shiver down his spine at Aldria's gaze.
At the same time, their gazes met again, but Dante remained strong and ignored her, offering only a slight nod of his head and descending to meet Velryna, after all, it was time for the ball.
"He asked his assassins to keep an eye on you and help you if necessary," Aaralyn said as Dante approached Velryna. "Observe them and keep me informed of how many there are," he said and finally reached Velryna, who was alone with her back turned.
He appeared behind her, pressing his body against hers, intertwining his fingers around her neck. He says, "I hope no one has bothered my little princess," emphasizing "mine." Velryna's hands held his, and she turned around. "Humph, after what you guys did, nobody wants to talk to me," she pouted, grumpy about being excluded. Dante almost kissed her lips, but couldn't, so he just hugged her gently.
"I talked to your father and told him about me when I saw he wasn't hostile towards our relationship. I think he's desperate to erase Ethan from the Empire as much as we are," he whispered in her ear, and Velryna pushed him back with a surprised look. "What did you say?" Dante just smiled; now that the odds were in his favor, he couldn't waste it.
Soon, the sounds of piano and violin began to fill the entire venue, and he didn't want to talk about revenge now, just about one person, his little princess.
"Come, let's dance," he said, pulling her gently. He didn't even know how to dance, but still dragged her onto the gleaming, illuminated ballroom floor, as the music began to float in the air, soft and calm.
Velryna followed him, a little uncomfortable with so many looks, but ignored them. She soon realized something just by his movements before starting a dance.
"You have no idea, do you?" She questioned with a sweet and mischievous smile as Dante looked a little strange.
She approached him and took his hands, fitting herself between his arms.
"Darling, let me teach you the steps," she said, her voice as soft as a whisper. Dante took her hand, his eyes shining with admiration. "You're always so cute, Velryna. I'm afraid of ruining that cuteness."
Velryna giggled softly, her golden hair cascading over her shoulders. "Don't worry, my love. Even if you ruin me, you'll still love me, won't you?" she whispered.
"Of course," he replied.
With patience, Velryna began to lead Dante around the dance floor, their bodies moving in harmony with the music. She gently guided him through the steps, adjusting his posture, and showing him how to lead.
"So, Dante, stand firm and let me lead a bit," she murmured, her eyes fixed on his.
Dante nodded, focusing on following Velryna's steps. As the music continued to play, he began to relax, allowing the rhythm to envelop him.
"You learn fast, my dear," praised Velryna, with a proud smile on her lips. "Remember, dance is an expression of the heart." Dante smiled back, feeling more confident with each step. "I don't care about the dance, just about who I dance with, and that's how I'll express my heart," he commented, and she blushed again, feeling a little uncomfortable.
The sounds didn't even pass through their ears; in fact, they weren't even dancing anymore. They were so lost in each other that nothing but themselves was present. The dance was meaningless, the music was null. If any sound was heard, it was only the "Badumps" of their hearts, mostly Velryna's, which beat like a music box, so fast they were in that situation.
She was so happy. Despite what could happen, she was happy. Her days were lonely, her nights sad, her early mornings tiresome. She had been through so much, barely remembering what it was like to be truly happy.
In her head, maybe she had passed all the luck of life to have this moment, to have this person by her side. And did she care? Of course not. She put Dante on a pedestal above her for a few moments. The little time together already made her a happier person, and that was all she needed.
She felt that, for him, anything she wanted to do was possible, and she would live by that philosophy. After all, she belonged to Dante.
She decided to be his, and if she were to die one day, it would be by his side, living the happiest moments of their lives.
For a few seconds, Velryna went back in time.
She closed her eyes calmly and saw her past, when everything was simple and full of joy. She saw herself on that sunny afternoon, in her mother's flower-filled garden, when she was just a concubine of the Emperor.
Her mother, a kind and graceful woman, sat on a wooden bench, weaving a crown of flowers while humming a popular lullaby. She didn't know her father yet, Adam, who only appeared a few times on the property.
Velryna approached, her small steps echoing through the garden. Her mother looked up, a warm smile lighting up her face. "Hello
, my little princess," she said, reaching out to hug her.
Velryna ran into her mother's arms, feeling safe and loved. "Mommy, I brought flowers for you!" she exclaimed, displaying a handful of freshly picked daisies.
"What a beautiful gift, Velryna!" said her mother, taking the flowers and placing them in a crystal vase. "They will look perfect on the dining table."
Her feelings mixed with her memories. Dante calling her "princess" led her to a moment she had forgotten in her memories, the moment when her mother was still radiant, clear, and kind, before her illness and all of Velryna's life turned into chaos.
With all these feelings, she could only feel the comfort of her love, her love for her mother, her love for Dante, and the love she received from both, the familiarity, the affection, the feeling of being important consumed her for a few moments.
She shed small tears as she remembered her, her mother, her precious mommy.
Dante saw the little princess crying like a little girl and held her face while wiping away the small tears that fell with his thumb. He looked deeply into her blue pools, which had the most beautiful irises of the seas, and smiled at her.
"Are you okay?" He questioned, Velryna, who finally returned only nodded. "I remembered a happy moment." She said as she tried to hide her face in Dante's chest so he wouldn't see her tears.
However, he pulled her face holding her chin and planted a calm kiss on her. He felt that she was happy, and as most of the guests weren't looking, he took advantage.
"I'm glad I met you," Dante said, and she nodded. "I'm much more." Embarrassed, he put his thumb on her lip and said, "Because my wife is so cute?"