Though he was still slightly taller, it was manageable at this point.

“One, two, three, two, two, three. Just follow my lead. Okay?”

With her bird-like steps, she began to move her feet smoothly to the rhythm of the metronome.

Tick, tick, thump. Tick, tick, thump.

“Ugh! Good grief…”

“Oh, it’s okay to mess up. Slowly following the beat.”

Hades’ uncertain steps frequently stumbled and swayed. However, Latifa gently touched his tangled feet, continued leading him, and step by step, they danced like the dendrobium flowers.

Dancing with bird-like steps might have been challenging, but dancing barefoot on the soft wool carpet was effortless. The gentle touch of the fur felt pleasant on the soles of her feet. Moreover, placing her hand on his broad shoulder made her feel secure, even with the entire weight of her body.

“Ah, I’m getting used to it. Perhaps because you have good athletic instincts?”

“Don’t speak. It’s confusing.”

Though he usually acted as if he knew everything, now he was struggling with just a waltz. Latifa stared at his embarrassed face with a strong sense of duty.

‘Hades is struggling with just a waltz! What a sight to see!’

One, two, three, two, two, three.

As the beats repeated, Hades’ narrowed forehead widened, his stiff cheeks relaxed, and his gaze, which had been fixed on the floor, gradually rose. The steps of the dance brought them closer.

Despite not being a skilled dancer, Hades gracefully moistened his throat, revealed the beautiful line of his shoulders, and smiled as he watched her, causing Latifa to wonder what he was thinking.

One, two, three, two, two, three.

In the exotic star palace illuminated by the golden sunset, with the beautiful arch gallery adorned with crimson vine flowers, a man and a woman were dancing the waltz, creating a tingling atmosphere within the room.

“Waltz? It’s nothing special.”

“In the topic of someone struggling.”
Until just now, Latifa, who was tense enough to have sweaty palms when holding hands, decided to show off again on the topic of waltz, causing a bit of embarrassment. Without warning at the third beat, she elegantly turned around.

Skillfully placing her arm back on Hades’ shoulder, Latifa continued to step to the rhythm.

“Latifa, what did you just do?!”

As the waves of her veil unfolded beautifully, and her hair spread like a silvery wave, Hades’ black pupils narrowed vertically, discovering something interesting, and he blinked like a curious kitten.

“Try it again. Quickly.”

One, two, three. Two, two, three.

At his urging, Latifa laughed and turned again under the joined hands of the two, creating a storm of silver and white.

Even dancing steps were challenging for her, but Latifa, who turned around again, dancing gracefully, made Hades demand her to keep turning.

“Haha! Even a clumsy person has the talent to roll. You must try again! More!”

“I can turn three beats in a row. Want to see?”

With a nonchalant expression, Latifa raised their hands high, stepping to the rhythm, and began turning around.

One, two, three. Two, two, three.

Did they notice the gradually slowing beats as the metronome’s leaves unfolded?

Hades, as if fascinated by the sight of silver petals blooming, stared blankly at her, forgetting to step.

One, two, three. Two, two, three.

Time seemed to pass slowly with the languid beats.

As they continued the unending turns, Latifa, feeling his hand firmly holding her waist, naturally stopped stepping and followed the last lead of her partner.

“Ah.”

Hades, attracted by gravity, leaned slightly backward, his arms firmly wrapping around her waist. Latifa, feeling his firm embrace, tightly clasped the finger he had been holding.

The breaths of the two, slightly sweetened by the waltz, felt close.

The sound of the slowing metronome added to the profound silence.

“…”

“…What should we do until the third beat rings? Teach me, Latifa.”

Behind the quiet whisper of Hades, the tranquil twilight of the silent desert settled.

“Until the third beat rings…”

Hoping silently that the metronome would not ring, Latifa closed her eyes and gently approached Hades’ lips.

As if time had stopped, existing only in their shared moment.

“Hah.”

“Latifa…”

At that moment, when the two shared a warm and sweet sigh.

Thump!

Though the metronome’s final third beat resounded loudly, it seemed completely unheard to the two sharing their sweet time.

And to one more person.

Leaning against a large column in the beautiful star palace, Ruhan, who was sitting, also did not hear it at all.

The wisteria vines climbing the railing were just cruelly beautiful, blossoming why so beautifully.