Chapter 58. Dance, For Yourself

Author's Note:

I'm such a piece of trash lol

I CAN'T BELIEVE I WENT ON HIATUS FOR OVER TWO WEEKS WITHOUT NOTIFYING YOU GUYS! But I'm back 🤗 Enjoy the new chapter that I came up with on a whim— okay, it was not on a whim. I have been planning this chapter for a long time, but never felt the motivation to write it out. Heck, this is the rough draft.

Enjoy!

The information gained at the Royal Library was abundant.

Lucilline and his group left after the departure of Percival, still concerned at his earlier antic. What was that...? A nosebleed? Could it be that Percival hasn't been in good health? The black-haired nobleman couldn't help but worry over the past matter.

Meanwhile, Farrah shook her head blatantly. She could immediately read Lucilline's thoughts. It is not what you think it is.

*****

Heels clicked across the red mattress.

Scarletta couldn't help but pace around nervously. Ever since Lucilline came back with an invitation letter, she had torn it apart and read it. It is from the Delta House! THE DELTA HOUSE!!! Scarletta's eyes almost bulged out from her sockets, THEY ALMOST NEVER SEND OUT INVITATIONS!

She clutched her chest, a fist curling with the knuckles whitening.

Zephyratt merely clicked his tongue while watching his elder sister go on a frenzy. "This must be one of Duke Delta's crazy schemes... That man never ever interacts with anyone outside the Delta House. A celebration? A birthday banquet, my ass."

The two siblings couldn't help fretting over the invitation.

Even more alarming....

"Duke Delta and our father used to be the best of friends!" Scarletta tugged at her hair, almost tearing her scalp off. "However, our father is still sick in bed! Even if he is slowly recovering, he won't be able to leave the house! If our father doesn't go to the banquet, then that would be the worst scandal to hear!"

Zephyratt pressed his temples, about to faint.

Meanwhile... watching both of them, Lucilline sat in the background with a porcelain tea cup rested in the slender palm of his hands. He sipped from the tea, feeling the liquid warm his throat.

"...there is still a week until the banquet," Lucilline's lips curved upwards gently. "There is no need to rush preparations."

By his side, Farrah reluctantly stirred her cup of tea. She watched how the tea leaves sunk to the bottom of the cup, dissipating like fire into ash. It reminded her of her kin—the demons, and how they leave no traces behind after death; only a pile of ashes.

Augustine stood straight, his back like a pillar to lean on. Seeing that the black-haired nobleman's cup became empty, Augustine poured more inside the porcelain material.

Lucilline rowed the tea in his cup, watching ripples flutter past the viscous liquid.

His pair of golden eyes reflected in the surface. They were like droplets of evening dew, washed upon leafy greens and glistening in the moonlight's glum.

"What are your plans, Young Master?" Willow questioned, her face containing innocence.

Lucilline's lips pressed in a thin line, gently brushing past the cup's hem. "Well, it's not finalized yet, but I do have a few ideas in mind."

"What is it? What is it?" Willow gushed.

The black-haired nobleman brushed a few locks of hair behind an ear, his sharp and delicate chin resting upon his palm.

His eyes drooped, clearly not focused, "...there is the option to directly admit of Duke Rubius' illness." Lucilline huffed, disapproving of this option. "But that is not feasible. What about the countless questions asked later? Why did you hide this from the public for so long? How is Duke Rubius doing now? When will he recover? What does this mean for the future and prosperity of Lydia Kingdom... and etc."

His lips couldn't help but curve downwards in contemplation.

Besides... Lucilline's fingers subconsciously tightened around the porcelain cup, If the public knows about Duke Rubius' illness, they will dig into... mother's death. Then things will get messy.

Perhaps even too messy for the Royals to clean up after.

"Even worse!" A cry torn out of Scarletta's throat. She tugged at her scalp, "We have to dance at the banquet! I don't want to dance!" As the most powerful and fearful soldier in Lydia Kingdom, nobody would dare to dance with her, and the woman herself didn't dare to dance either.

Zephyratt did not mind her hysterical appearance.

He complained, "The dancing isn't even the difficult part! There will be so many business partners... I will faint before I even manage to begin discussing..."

Willow watched this from afar.

Her mouth twitched, "Young Master, shouldn't you go comfort your siblings?"

Lucilline dismissed that with a gentle wave of the hand. His curtain of eyelashes fluttered like delicate petals to the nature's flowing breeze.

His slender fingers ran through his hair, "It will be fine. They can resolve it themselves."

All of a sudden, a cold hand grabbed onto his shoulder. In an instant, the black-haired nobleman froze on the spot. He rigidly turned to look back, meeting a pair of devoid-looking silver eyes. Locks of mahogany red hair brushed past his sight.

Scarletta smiled, "It has been a long time since Lucy has practised his dancing, right? Why don't Lucy and I practise together?"

Lucilline did not even have a chance to react before he was pulled away.

*****

Scarletta had changed into a suit, her figure enunciated from the tight and black fabric. Her mahogany red hair was tied high up into a ponytail, swaying behind her back like a tail. Her black thigh-high boots were leather, shining of reflections.

"...what is this about, Miss Scarletta?" Farrah shrank in the back, feeling an urge of unease crawl over her back.

"Hmm? Oh, Miss Nineteen doesn't know." Scarletta shook her head, "Although I suck at dancing, I am pretty good at the male's part of the ballroom dance." She wore a prideful smile, "After all, there is nothing that I cannot do!"

Zephyratt arched an eyebrow in the back.

He wore a smirk, "Then why can't you dance the female's part?"

"Shut up!" Scarletta screeched. "I am better at dancing the male's part than you! Because of this, I even have the opportunity to dance with Lucy. I bet that Lucy would rather dance with someone as competent as me, than you—someone who doesn't even dance!" Her eyebrows danced in amusement.

In an instant, Zephyratt's smirk faded.

Although Scarletta sucked at dancing the female part, she danced the male part better than himself! This—Zephyratt was unable to deny.

But... saying that Lucy would rather dance with her than him.... Zephyratt could not accept this!

"That isn't true," Zephyratt stepped forwards, "I am pretty confident that Lucy would rather dance with his brother than a sister."

Meanwhile, Augustine felt himself become dizzy. The butler could not comprehend the two siblings' arguments. Do they mean that Lucilline will be dancing the female part?

All of a sudden, the sound of heels resounded past the cobblestone.

Lucilline frowned, "What are you two talking about?"

Both the two elder Rubius siblings froze in place, their eyes lighting up as bright as the sun. Willow's face broke out into a smile, as if a rose bloomed. Even Augustine, whose face always remained cold-hearted and indifferent... had revealed tints of blush.

Only Farrah remained unmoved.

Willow silently noted this in her heart. As expected of a Royal Demon. She is strong enough to remain neutral in front of Young Master's beauty!

The black-haired nobleman was dressed in a velvet red gown, the silky smooth fabric thin and delicate to the touch. The colour matched Scarletta's mahogany red hair, darker than a bleeding sunset's sky. It contrasted Lucilline's pale skin, like splattered rose petals over a blanket of snow. The dress reached to his fair calves, leaving behind his ankles to be bare to the air.

The sleeves hung off of his shoulders, revealing his collarbones and lean neck.

"My dance partner has arrived!" Scarletta had proudly declared.

Zephyratt shot her a dark gaze, "You mean my dance partner."

"What are you implying here." Scarletta's gaze had also darkened.

The two siblings had glared at one another, as if sparks of heat ignited between them. They both outstretched a hand towards their younger brother, intending for the black-haired nobleman to only choose one of them.

Lucilline was stunned at their enthusiasm. What is going on here?

He did not have any time to contemplate, as a cold hand grabbed onto his slender wrist, pulling him forwards and to fall down the stairs.

Instead of collapsing, the black-haired nobleman had fallen in a cool embrace.

"Dance with me first, Lucy?" Scarletta smirked.

The younger brother did not have the chance to respond, as he was swept to the dance floor. All the furnitures, bookshelves, and tables were moved to a side. Only a bare polished cobblestone floor stood before the living room. The ceiling lights flickered to the swaying of fabrics, as soft clicks of heels against the floor had flourished across.

Two pairs of similar slender hands enclasped one another. Scarletta and Lucilline held hands, one arm circled around the black-haired nobleman's waist.

They danced across the floor, their heels striding in soft steps.

All of a sudden, the sound of music poured in the living room. Farrah whipped her head back, surprised at the abrupt sound. Her widened chestnut brown eyes softened, when she noticed that it was Willow, who pulled out a violin, playing it in a heartfelt manner.

Her fingers ran down the strings, playing a classic ballroom piece to dance to.

Although there was only one instrument playing, it was enough to fill the hollow and empty manor of House Rubius.

"Isn't this fun, Lucy?" Scarletta gently broke out in laughter.

Lucilline felt his mood lighten, every strand of tension snapping in half. He laughed and was about to reply—when a sudden force pried them apart.

Zephyratt caressed the black-haired nobleman's waist, sweeping him away from the strongest soldier in Lydia Kingdom. Despite just switching partners, the two dancers were able to adapt to one another. They were in sync in movements, their attire plastering shadows across the walls.

The Rubius heir stuck a tongue at Scarletta, who pouted at the sudden abruption.

"You...!" Scarletta was about to flare up. She leaped forwards, snatching Lucilline away from the Rubius heir's embrace.

Zephyratt was speechless. How did I lose Lucy to her so fast?

Thus began a never-ending session of tug-of-war. The two siblings fought continuously, their strides and spins becoming faster, as if it was a competition of speed.

Lucilline became dizzy gradually, his dress enveloping a large radius of the floor, its soft and silky fabric fluttering in the air, as if they were petals blanketing over the atmosphere. The silky velvet red spreading out was like a blood red rose blossoming, its layers folding outwards like the straight bows of stewards, outstretching their hands to a lady for a dance.

The candlelights twinkled to every spin, every stride, leap, and laugh.

Even Augustine couldn't help but subconsciously smile at this spectacle.

This— was the true form of the villain, an innocent young man twirling with the spotlight beaming unto his blood-shaded dress. True beauty.

The butler stiffened.

He recalled his latest thoughts, True beauty... true beauty... true beauty...

He stumbled on the spot despite not walking. How did I come to that conclusion! It makes me sound like an indecent pervert!

Augustine quickly wiped off the blush from his face. He returned back to his original indifferent and thick skin, not a single hint of emotion derived.

Coldly, he thought, But even if I were a pervert... I wouldn't be perverse for anyone but Lucilline Rubius.

Meanwhile, Farrah noticed every change in his emotions.

The Demon Princess coldly scoffed. However, her heart twinged in excitement. She knew that this drama would be exciting to watch and spectate on the sidelines.

All of a sudden, a hand outstretched before her eyes.

Farrah was stunned, looking upwards to meet a pair of golden eyes. They resembled the purest golden coins of all created, shining brighter than the minerals mined from the mountains.

Lucilline smiled, "Care to join?"

The Demon Princess subconsciously lent her hand to the black-haired nobleman. She was swept to the dance floor, then her other hand was taken by Scarletta, whose side was Zephyratt.

They formed a circle, spinning constantly in the centre.

Gradually, they separated.

Lucilline pulled the Demon Princess along, afraid that she'd get lonely—

"What is the meaning of this!" A startled cough broke the happiness instantly. Everyone was alert. Willow stopped playing the violin, her sharp purple eyes thinning, her head whipping at the staircase to look at the noise.

Everyone came to a stop.

On the staircase stood a mighty man, though pale and skin wrinkled, the structure of his face was handsome through bone and the rough edges. His mahogany red hair had whitened, some streaks of silver white pelting past the strands. The pale man was dressed in a long cloak, his black suit pinned with a medal—stamped with the golden letter of "R".

"...father..." Lucilline's smile fell.

Grand Duke Rubius did not care of the sudden stop.

Rather, his heart was about to stop.

His haggard silver eyes flickered to the black-haired nobleman's hands—which held onto the... unknown brown-haired woman's...

Could it be that... after all these years, his youngest son had found a partner...!

Anderson Rubius clenched his heart, then fainted.

"AHHH!!! FATHER!!! HOLD ON!"

*****

Grand Duke Rubius' condition was stable.

He merely suffered a shock and was unprepared, thus resulting in that sudden faint. The pale man had been tucked securely back in his bed chamber, drawing the curtains shut, and having darkness permeate the hollow and empty room once again.

"That scared me." Lucilline gasped to himself.

He had changed out of his earlier gown, returning to his old suit.

Farrah couldn't help agree as well.

Her closed eyes had secretly opened, revealing a dark glint within. So that was the Grand Duke of House Rubius. Indeed, he is a mysterious man... sick though only in private, and his illness hidden to the public... All of his responsibilities were stuffed to his future heir...

Farrah was confident that nobody posed danger to her.

However, that Grand Duke Rubius... something about him made her anxious at heart—a feeling which she'd never experienced since losing her memories.

Dinner passed by orderly.

"It's almost nighttime." Zephyratt dismissed them. "Get some rest. I'll figure out House Delta's birthday banquet later."

The group separated to their own ways.

Only Lucilline, Farrah, and Augustine remained.

All of a sudden, Farrah pulled the black-haired nobleman to her side. The Demon Princess remained unmoved while reciting contrasting lines, "You are really good at dancing, Lucilline."

The young man arched an eyebrow.

Farrah wasn't acting like herself.

"However, your dumb butler has no idea how to dance." Farrah bluntly exposed the young man behind her.

Even the often cold and indifferent expression on Augustine's face had suffered from a dent. His expression cracked, revealing turbulent waters beneath. "...you!"

"If you have time tonight, you should teach your butler how to dance." Farrah negotiated. To her surprise, Lucilline was actually docilely listening. "Imagine attending the birthday banquet for Grand Duke Delta. What if your butler was asked to a dance? What if your butler has no dancing skills at all? Doesn't this mean a great damage to House Rubius' reputation?"

Silence filled the hallway.

Lucilline hummed. The more he listened, the more he felt that Farrah was right.

"Then I will take the honour to teach my butler dance tonight." Lucilline nodded. He turned his head to Augustine, who was speechless. "Follow me to my quarters, Augustine. I will nitpick your every movement carefully."

For once, the butler became nervous.