Chapter 369: Dancing Together

Chapter 369: Dancing Together

In Joseph Wood District, the bright sun dispelled the chill, warming the streets lined with red brick and concrete like an early summer day.

Street vendors loudly hawked their vegetables, fruits, and cooked foods, calling out to passersby who hurried along. Some stopped to compare and buy, while others waved them off impatiently, still unsure of their work prospects for the day.

Aurelia walked down the street with Susi, basking in the rare noise and bustle, and the various gazes—greedy, mocking, envious, or jealous—that followed them. She pulled her hat lower, lowering her head even more.

Aurelia had changed out of her elegant dress and light dancing shoes, donning a pre-prepared black hooded robe. Most of her face was hidden in the shadow of the hood, leaving only her beautifully curved lips visible.

This should have been a low-key outfit, though somewhat peculiar and not quite mainstream, it shouldn't have drawn much attention. The problem was that Susi was too eye-catching.

The not-so-purebred golden retriever had been well-fed and groomed, with a lustrous coat and a ladylike demeanor, making her a natural attention magnet. This drew attention to Aurelia as well, and the pair caused a significant increase in people turning to look.

"Aurelia, so many people are watching us."

Amid the children playing in the alleys, the vendors shouting, the accordion players performing, and the various novelties not often seen in Queens District, Susi wagged her tail, looking somewhat excited.

Although a servant regularly took Susi for walks, she could only wander around Hall Mansion or near the ballroom. The farthest she had ever been was during the Hall family's outings, where she would stroll nearby. This freedom was a refreshing change.

It was like a fish being released from a clear, temperature-controlled, and well-fed aquarium into a vast, albeit less hospitable, ocean. Susi even felt her instincts awakening, urging her to run wild, chase, and hunt. But given that such behavior was unbecoming, she restrained herself.

Aurelia, feeling the novelty but preoccupied with her own concerns, only glanced around briefly, saying nothing. She was running short on time and needed to return before nightfall to avoid suspicion.

"Susi, only speak when there are no outsiders around."

"I'm being very careful, no one will notice."

Susi nudged Aurelia's pant leg, "Does your friend count as an outsider?"

Aurelia pressed her lips together and quickened her pace, "No, he's also a paranormal, just like us."

Technically, Susi should be considered an extraordinary creature... or perhaps an extraordinary animal?

A few minutes later, Aurelia, still holding Susi's leash, arrived at the agreed-upon café.

The busy breakfast rush had ended, and the café was nearly empty, with the few waiters looking rather lackadaisical and not very welcoming.

Aurelia had been worried about the no-pet policy and the need to find a place to leave Susi, but upon inquiry, she learned that this particular café allowed pets.

Was it a coincidence, or did Mr. Emperor know Susi would be coming along from the start? If so, does that mean he knew my true identity from the beginning?

Stepping into the paranormal world, Aurelia always thought twice about coincidences. She took three steps at once to reach the private room, took a deep breath, and pushed the door open.

The private room was clean and tidy, with ample sunlight. A round wooden table sat in the center, two empty chairs waiting to be occupied. Two steaming cups of coffee and a small green plant adorned the table, and the window was open, allowing a sweet breeze to waft in.

It was a perfectly normal scene, and even as a Spectator, Aurelia couldn't detect anything amiss. If she had to say something...

"Mr. Emperor hasn't arrived yet?"

Aurelia glanced at the steaming, fragrant coffee, feeling her tense mood slightly ease. She pulled out a chair and sat down.

Beside her, Susi muttered, "Making two ladies wait is very ungentlemanly, and you're the one who escaped."

She nimbly jumped onto the other chair, sniffing the air and looking hopeful. "Aurelia, can I have a sip of coffee? It smells so good..."

"No, dogs can't drink coffee..."

Aurelia's words trailed off as Susi seemed to lose control. She stood on her hind legs, "ladylike", using her paws to steady the coffee cup, and began to lap at the liquid.

"Susi, you can't just lick at anything you see!"

And dogs can be poisoned by coffee!

Aurelia scolded, her head aching. The last time, Susi had licked the magic potion she had prepared, and now she was lapping at Mr. Emperor's coffee. This was both impolite and unsafe.

Just as Aurelia was about to step forward to stop her, she saw Susi pause, her round eyes filled with confusion. Then, in a panic, she let out a series of instinctive barks.

"Arf arf arf arf arf!!!"

Her body rapidly shrank, vanishing from Aurelia's sight in the blink of an eye.

"Susi!"

Aurelia cried out in alarm, not knowing what had happened. At that moment, a calm, gentle voice whispered in her ear.

"It drank the shrinking potion. If you want to find it, drink the coffee in front of you."

"Who is it? Is it Mr. Emperor?"

The familiar voice made Aurelia turn around, but she saw no one.

She realized what was happening, returned to her seat, and took a sip of the coffee to calm herself. The rich, aromatic flavor filled her taste buds, and the exquisite taste soothed her anxious mind. Aurelia had tasted countless high-quality coffees, but this was the first time she found such a refined drink so intoxicating.

As she savored the aftertaste, a strange sensation washed over her. Time seemed to slow, and everything around her grew larger. Before she knew it, she was high in the air, feeling weightless as she plummeted downward!

"!!!"

The primal fear of falling overwhelmed Aurelia. She instinctively closed her eyes to escape the reality, feeling her face flush, heart race, forehead heat up, and blood pressure rise.

Just as she thought she was about to fall to her death, a gentle breeze blew from below, enveloping her in warmth and lifting her. At the same time, a strong arm wrapped around her slender waist, bringing her to a gentle landing.

"You can open your eyes now."

The calm voice sounded again. Aurelia cautiously opened her eyes and saw an overly handsome, young face. His nearly perfect features left a deep impression on her.

"Good, you didn't scream. That shows courage."

Only when the man spoke did Aurelia realize the warmth and scent emanating from his body, and the awkwardness of their position. She hurriedly pushed away the man who had been holding her, stepping back a few paces and noticing the change in her surroundings.

The ground was covered with lush green grass and vibrant red flowers. Ancient trees with moss-covered trunks stretched out, and giant pea vines hung down, creating a scene that felt straight out of a fairy tale, reminiscent of a child's storybook.

Aurelia's gaze fell on the man a few steps away. As a Spectator, she instinctively observed him. He wore a pure white suit made of high-quality fabric, with a unique and eye-catching design, clearly a custom-made outfit. His physique was excellent, suggesting he had been well-exercised, though not from manual labor, as his hands were clean and uncalloused.

Aurelia raised her gaze. His lips curved slightly, unmasked, indicating that her recent experience was intentional on his part.

He was a man with a perverse sense of humor and an overbearing confidence.

Hmm... just like his performance at the Tarot Gathering. Mr. Emperor was indeed a powerful and self-assured Paranormal.

Aurelia forced herself to calm down and curtsied, lifting her skirt slightly. "Are you Mr. Emperor?"

Luke smiled and nodded, his tone gentle. "I hope the 'Mystery Reenactment' of 'Alice in Wonderland' hasn't disappointed your imagination of the Extraordinary world."

"It hasn't. It's even more... magical than I imagined."

Aurelia's honest admiration was clear. She was genuinely amazed by the fantastical scene.

However, she was more concerned about finding Susi and finding a place to discuss the matters they had planned to talk about.

Before Aurelia could speak, Luke stepped forward and, in a manner that was hard to refuse, took her hand.

"May I have this dance?"

"This... but I..."

Aurelia was caught off guard by the sudden request and was about to politely decline when she heard the forceful, unyielding tone.

"I’m willing to meet you and chat, so it’s only fair that you cooperate, Miss Justice."

That’s true…

Aurelia hesitated, looking down at her dull black robe, feeling a bit embarrassed. This wasn’t the dress one should wear to a ball.

"My current attire isn’t suitable for dancing."

That was an objective fact!

Lu Ke’s face showed a faint smile, and with a gentle tug, Aurelia’s center of gravity shifted forward, bringing the two of them very close.

The ground began to tremble. In the midst of Aurelia’s startled cry, a massive vine shot up from beneath their feet, rising through the air and carrying them to a magnificent stage.

Spotlights illuminated the stage, and a prelude with a classical feel began, stirring a desire in those who heard it to dance.

In the center of the stage hung a large, rotating clock.

Aurelia noticed that her shoes had been replaced with a pair of crystal slippers, shimmering with a dreamy glow, and her dress had transformed into a princess gown even more beautiful than any in her wardrobe.

Before she could react, the prelude ended, and the main melody began. Her partner had already started moving, and she, being a beat behind, accidentally stepped on his foot.

Lu Ke didn’t seem upset, only giving her a slight, mocking glance as if to say:

"The brightest gem in Barkeland doesn’t seem to be a very good dancer."

Mr. "Emperor" indeed knew her identity!

Aurelia felt a surge of anger, a buildup of unspoken resentment from being constantly out of rhythm. That light, teasing remark ignited her frustration.

She straightened her back, assuming the most standard dance posture, and focused all her attention on capturing the rhythm of the music.

Years of practice kicked in, and Aurelia’s every step and beat were perfectly precise. Her graceful movements during spins were breathtakingly beautiful.

"Excellent!"

At the end of the dance, Lu Ke released her and stepped back a few paces, clapping and smiling.

Aurelia’s lips curled into a slight smile. She bent to adjust her dress and gave him a curtsy, then lifted her head proudly, her swan-like, white neck exposed.

As the classical dance music faded, a new, lively and bright tune immediately began, filled with vibrant energy.

It was the ancient elven dance recently popular in the court!

Aurelia’s eyes lit up, and noticing that her partner was already in the rhythm, she quickly followed the beat, her steps light and her body swaying, dancing gracefully without a hint of fatigue.

She became more and more engrossed, her face radiant with a bright smile. Even as sweat began to bead on her skin, she didn’t stop, feeling an extraordinary sense of relief as if all the knots, confusion, and pain in her heart were being washed away with the sweat.

The final dance had a stronger, more rugged rhythm, yet it seemed to stir emotions even more, with a subtle undertone of intimacy. It was a tune Aurelia had never heard before.

Lu Ke, seemingly effortlessly, explained with a smile, "This is the Trier Twist. There are no specific moves or steps to follow. It’s a dance enjoyed by both the refined and the common, and you just need to move with the rhythm."

Aurelia took a few breaths to steady herself, then softly hummed, moving her body in small, rhythmic twists. The sweat trickled down her smooth skin, glistening in the light.

As the music and lights enveloped them, their bodies drew closer, the warmth of their breaths mingling, and the air grew hot.

The atmosphere became quiet, with only Aurelia’s heavy breathing from the intense exercise echoing around them.

Humans are creatures of the atmosphere, and when the mood is right, it can be the most ambiguous and dizzying of times.

In the almost touching shadows, Lu Ke’s eyes sparkled as he gently lifted the young woman’s face, looking at her flushed, delicate skin glistening with sweat. He slowly leaned down.

The physical exertion left Aurelia feeling a bit dizzy and exhilarated. Her beautiful eyes showed a moment of struggle, but ultimately, she closed them, leaning forward, feeling his breath almost touching her face.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

The clock in the center of the stage had struck midnight, the chimes ringing three times.

Aurelia felt a sense of emptiness as the arms holding her vanished. She slowly opened her eyes, and everything in the box was as it had been.

Except for the empty chair opposite, which now held someone.

Lu Ke was holding Susi, stroking the golden retriever’s smooth fur, and he smiled at Aurelia.

"Good morning, Miss Justice."

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end