“Is something wrong?” Aether inquired, his eyes alight with curiosity as he gracefully moved to the rhythm of the music, his hand resting gently on the Maid’s supple hips while the other maintained a secure hold on her delicate shoulder.
‘You are wrong! Your whole family is wrong!!’ The maid’s inner turmoil screamed silently, though her outward demeanour remained serene, a forced smile gracing her lips amidst the chaos of her thoughts.
As she navigated the dance floor, a sense of unease settled within her, amplified by the occasional deathly glares she felt piercing through the festive air. While their origins remained a….. mystery, she couldn’t help but imagine if glare could kill someone… she would have died thousands of times by now.
Meanwhile, Aether’s mind raced with questions, ‘Is she somehow linked to my survival rate? Is she plotting against me?’ looking at his survival one last time, ‘Yeah, Let’s avoid her hereafter… She is death flag!!’
“Are you not familiar with the steps?” Aether’s voice broke her reverie as she stumbled once more.
“Well, I am not particularly adept at dancing,” the maid confessed, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment.
Aether chuckled softly, “hah No worries. Just follow my lead; I’ll guide you through it,” he reassured her with a confident grin, drawing upon his experiences from numerous extracurricular activities and his observations of his actress mother’s graceful dance routines at extravagant parties.
“O-Okay?” The Maid’s response was hesitant, her perplexity evident as she braced herself for yet another precarious misstep…
‘SHH!’
“HHIII!!”
In a swift, fluid motion, Aether adjusted his footing, deftly intercepting her impending fall with practised precision. With a deft flourish, he manoeuvred her body into a graceful arch, her feminine curves concealed beneath the folds of her maid’s attire.
“Hmm? Your flexibility is truly remarkable… Well then, shall we start the real?” Aether’s words were laced with a hint of confidence as he cast a meaningful glance towards the Princess, whose attention had finally been captivated by their impromptu performance. Not only her, but the sudden commotion had drawn the gaze of all in attendance.
Aether couldn’t help but smirk inwardly as he resolved, ‘Let’s catch the little fish’.
With a fluid motion, he hoisted the Maid to her feet, their movements synchronized in perfect harmony as they picked up the pace of their dance. His grip on her hips tightened, their fingers intertwining as they twirled and swayed to the enchanting melody, commanding the attention of all those present with their mesmerizing display.
“W-Wait!!” The Maid’s voice trembled with embarrassment, her cheeks flushing crimson as this was the first time she found herself in such close proximity with another man.
“What’s the matter?” Aether inquired, his attention split between their dance and the Maid’s sudden exclamation. He was determined to seduce…. not knowing who he was actually seducing.
“I-I’m sorry, it’s just… it’s too close,” the Maid stammered, her body reacting instinctively to the unfamiliar intimacy, causing her to lean back like a fragile leaf caught in a breeze, her movements no longer entirely her own as this young man seemed to have taken control of her every step.
“Hmm?” Aether tilted his head in understanding, recognizing her discomfort at the proximity. “Alright then, I’ll step back a bit. Don’t worry, just keep your focus on me, and let’s continue with the rotations,” he reassured her with a gentle smile.
“What?” Before she could fully process his words, Aether smoothly guided her into a spin, deftly supporting her as she twirled like a spinning top.
‘Clap’
The sound echoed through the air as Aether’s hands met in applause, his movements fluid and graceful as he circled around her, his presence akin to a dancer weaving around a blossoming flower.
The Maid’s cheeks burned brighter with each step, yet she complied with Aether’s guidance, her body slowly settling into the rhythmic rotations as he continued to clap in time with the music.
Aether’s performance drew the attention of all present, their eyes fixed on the duo as they moved in sync, creating an enchanting spectacle amidst the dance floor.
Even the Empress and Archpriestess, renowned for their composure, couldn’t help but be mesmerized by the unfolding elegance as if witnessing the delicate bloom of a flower at dawn.
‘How does he know a beautiful dance?’ They wondered themself.
Kai was completely taken aback, watching in astonishment as his slave displayed an unexpected skill on the dance floor, far surpassing his own abilities. Determination ignited within him as he stole a glance at the Princess, only to find her fully engrossed in the art of dance.
‘Aether!’ Meanwhile, the Maid’s silent plea for respite was palpable as she felt the fatigue beginning to weigh her down, her momentum waning.
Sensing her unspoken request, Aether offered a reassuring smile. With a graceful leap, he swept her off her feet, lifting her right leg as she leaned back with supple ease, their movements harmonizing in a mesmerizing display of skill and agility.
‘-Ha-Ha-‘
‘-Ha-Ha-‘
As they both caught their breath, panting with exertion and drenched in perspiration, joyous smiles adorned their faces.
‘Clap, Clap’
The applause from the onlookers was thunderous, mingled with expressions of surprise and admiration. The unexpected spectacle of a servant’s dance outshining that of the nobility left the audience in awe.
Locking gazes with the Maid, Aether took note of her striking purple eyes peeking behind her glasses, a detail he hadn’t noticed before.
“What’s your name again?” Aether’s question was met with a sudden startled silence, the Maid’s face flushing beet red as she swiftly extricated herself from Aether’s embrace, retreating to the safety of the Empress’s side.
The Empress, amused by the Maid’s reaction, wore a playful smile as she observed her maid seeking refuge like a startled rabbit.
“Hahaha…”
“The Empress’s Maid’s dance performance was truly astounding!!”
“Who would have ever imagined that the Empress’s Maid possessed such an incredible skill in dance?”
“Well, that’s the Empress’s Maid for you! Always full of surprises!”
“Hahaha…”
“I would be honoured to share a dance with that exceptionally graceful lady!”
Laughter and admiration filled the air as the guests continued to discuss the Maid’s unexpected talent, their voices blending into a harmonious symphony of praise and awe.
Aether remained largely unnoticed. To the assembled guests, he was merely a slave, no more than that.
In their minds, it was the Empress’s Maid who orchestrated the entire performance… or rather, they convinced themselves to believe so.
A slave was just a slave nothing more!
Nevertheless, Aether paid little heed to their oversight; his concern lay solely with one person, and that person…
“Hehe…” A sly grin spread across Aether’s lips as he observed the Princess finally rising from her seat, ‘Yes!’
‘It’s fucking time to seduce her!’ Aether inwardly screamed with happiness.
Taking a moment to adjust his slightly dishevelled attire, Aether braced himself for what was to come.
But it seemed fate was not on his side yet again… before he could make his move, a sudden interruption caught him off guard.
“Young man, might I have the pleasure of a dance with you?”
“….” Aether blinked in surprise, his attention swiftly drawn to the unexpected presence before him.
It was the Archpriestess, her gaze fixed upon him with a curious intensity. The room fell silent as astonishment rippled through the crowd, Kai’s expression one of incredulity as if he ate something shit while poor Timmy had already succumbed to shock, fainting away in bewilderment.
An Archpriestess asked for a dance with a Slave!!
They wanted to stop her from touching a slave and yet no one dared to come. They glanced at Empress who was the only person to stop nonsense…. but it seemed she was just sitting blankly.
‘And who might she be again?’ Aether pondered briefly, his gaze lingering on her outstretched hand. Glancing momentarily at the Princess, who had resigned herself with a sigh and returned to her seat.
‘This Fucker!’ He thought and sighed inwardly. Aether accepted the offered hand with a courteous nod.
“Thank you, Madam, for deigning to dance with a humble servant such as myself,” he replied graciously as he prepared to accompany her onto the dance floor.
“Hehe…” The Archpriestess’s laughter rang out melodically, her smile hinting at a deeper understanding as she met Aether’s gaze with an enigmatic twinkle.
The sudden turn of events caught the Empress off guard, her mind racing with questions. ‘Does she know something?’