It was Emperor Maxwell who allowed the candidates to dance with other nobles at the ballroom. He had instructed this, feeling burdened by the ladies’ attention all night…

The Emperor’s lips, previously upturned, now set in a straight line as he resumed dancing with Arabel.

“Do you remember what I just said?”

Before Arabel could respond, the Emperor answered.

“When dancing, it’s important to connect with your partner. If you’re confused about the steps, trust and follow his lead.”

“Yes.”

“Since you learned to dance from me, dancing with another partner will mess up all the steps you’ve just learned.”

The Emperor said, frowning worriedly, causing Arabel’s eyes to widen.

As the Emperor brought Arabel’s waist closer to his body and spun them using his toes, he continued.

“Everyone’s steps differ slightly. You’ve just started dancing comfortably with my steps; it’s too early to adapt to another partner’s.”

A fleeting sense of guilt almost overtook him as he looked into Arabel’s startled deer-like eyes.

But that vanished quickly, his mood souring at the thought of her smiling while dancing in another man’s arms.

“Swoosh,”

“Ah!”
As the Emperor’s long leg accidentally tripped Arabel’s, her small frame lost balance and fell into his arms.

Catching Arabel lightly and resuming the dance, the Emperor spoke nonchalantly.

“See? The moment I start dancing to someone else’s steps, my legs get tangled and I fall over.”

Arabel, calming her startled heart, finally nodded, understanding his point.

“That’s why it’s dangerous to dance with anyone but me at this banquet. You could sprain your ankle or even fracture your wrist. If anyone at the ball asks you to dance, you must refuse. It’s for your safety.”

“Yes, I will not dance with anyone else. Thank you, Your Majesty.”

Sir Theo, overhearing the Emperor’s blatant lie, rolled his eyes in disbelief.

It was remarkable how the Emperor made up such plausible-sounding nonsense, and equally astonishing how the lady believed it without question.

They were truly a match made in fantasy.

After blindfolding Sir Theo and sending him away, the Emperor and Arabel arrived at a vine-covered door, having passed through the underground corridor.

The Emperor, resting his hand above the door, slowly opened his mouth.

“From here, you must go alone.”

Arabel nodded, her nose twitching in determination.

Under the lamp light in her hand, Arabel looked so fragile and small that the Emperor’s jaw tensed strongly. His hand, empty after leaving the cellar, reached out towards her but then withdrew.

Arabel, lifting her head, met his gaze with firm eyes.

“Don’t worry about me, Your Majesty. I’m not as weak or young as I seem.”

As if reading the Emperor’s mind, Arabel reassured him instead.

“There’s no one else in the empire brave enough to heal a dying beast. I believe in you.”

The Emperor, forcing a smile, caused Arabel to blush slightly.

His hand on the door paused, and he asked softly.

“What do you think?”

Arabel blinked her round eyes, and the Emperor continued.

“Didn’t I say earlier? The woman who will become Empress didn’t ask for my help, fearing she would be upset. So, if your beloved dances with another woman, would you feel upset?”

Arabel, not understanding his words at first, stared blankly into his eyes. She imagined the Emperor dancing with another lady at the ball.

Her heart ached sharply, as if pierced, and her eyes grew tense. To think of His Majesty when he mentioned a beloved.

Confused, Arabel blushed to her ears and lowered her head without responding. The Emperor, smiling faintly, said,

“Then, see you in three days, Lady Arabel.”

With a whisper, he pushed the vine door.

The floor beneath Arabel’s feet began to rotate, and in an instant, she appeared in the forest outside the vines.

Holding the lamp, she started down the dark forest path. Softly, a yellow ginkgo leaf fell at her feet.

As Arabel walked on, ginkgo leaves kept falling before her. She looked up briefly at the tall cherry trees, then continued walking.

Even alone in the dark, she felt neither lonely nor scared. The lights of the pond garden and the annex growing closer almost felt disappointing.

Passing through the forest to the annex guarded by soldiers, the accompanying yellow leaves no longer fell.

Picking up the last fallen ginkgo leaf, Arabel quietly whispered to herself.

“Goodnight.”

Turns Out He’s Been Secretly in Love with Me

One-line summary: He acts like he doesn’t like her but is actually playing hard to get.

Synopsis:

Xu Muzhou like her. He has liked her for a very long time, and through repeated schemes, he finally closed the distance with her.

But this is still far from enough.

He wants to be the one who stands out among her many suitors, to fight for her attention, and to make her take the initiative to pursue him.

_____

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