Chapter 23
Fireworks
From that moment on, she felt like a prisoner on death row, waiting in a cell for the executioner to come.
No—that could very well become her reality.
If her real identity were exposed, it wouldn’t be strange for her to be charged with lèse-majesté against the royal family.
A woman of the Empire had forged her identity, attended the Crown Prince’s marriage meeting in the Kingdom, and even danced with him.
It was fraud to the highest degree.
She accepted the next dance instead of escaping, and Senna deeply regretted her own foolishness.
She fully understood she was being an idiot.
Any excuse would have worked. But Senna wanted to remain here, to enjoy this fleeting, wonderful time with him.
Just to taste this moment was enough.
There would never be another chance to experience something so extraordinary.
Once the ball ended, she would never again have the opportunity to dance with Robert.
When midnight came, tonight’s ball would end.
By morning, she would return to her usual duty as a cleaning maid, and everything from last night would be nothing but a lie. She would boast to Mia, “It was such a beautiful memory,” and irritate her to no end—that would fulfill her obligation as a friend.
For now—
she did not want to wake up.
She wanted to remain in the perfect dream just a little longer, dancing with him, passing time by his side.
The two of them danced dance after dance, lifted countless glasses of wine, and danced again.
The hand supporting her back gradually moved upward over time.
When his fingers finally rested directly on her bare skin—skin the dress did not cover—Senna’s heart flushed with heat.
A flood of excitement peeked out from within her, and the hand she held tightened, slowly but firmly.
With every new song, the distance between them shrank until they were completely pressed together.
Senna and Robert did not look away from each other even for a heartbeat.
All the surrounding couples were nothing more than trees in a vivid autumn forest decorating the world that belonged only to the two of them.
When the next group dance began, both feeling slightly tired, they exchanged a small nod and stepped away from the dance floor.
They went to the bar and drank wine again.
Time seemed to accelerate as if rushing past them.
Even the blessings of the goddess Raffine apparently could not slow time for them here.
As midnight approached, the music playing across the dance floor grew gentler, slower.
But Senna’s heart was pounding to an entirely different rhythm—fast, bright, alive.
Like a girl intoxicated by her first love.
The glittering stage, the arm that hadn’t let go of her for even a moment since that first dance, the wine coursing through her veins, and the intense passion burning in Robert’s deep crimson eyes—
all of it made her feel the joy of being alive.
Never before had her heart danced with such happiness, or her chest trembled so endlessly, or her entire being pulsed with the thrill of being cherished.
Every place he touched became painfully sensitive.
She had never been so conscious of a man in her life.
Perhaps because he had trained with knights, Robert’s skin was more sun-bronzed than porcelain, but that only highlighted his charm.
His strong, sturdy arms, his attractive mouth, the security she felt when entrusting her body to him in a dance…
His gaze was seductive, gripping Senna and refusing to release her.
If he wished, with just a snap of his fingers, he could destroy her entire life—
but Senna no longer cared.
Her courage had been growing without her realizing, and she blamed it on the wine.
This too was a feeling she had never known, born only through touching him.
“Have I pushed you too hard? You look a little tired.”
“No, Your Highness. I’m still all right.”
Moments like this would never return.
Senna prayed to the goddess that the rising sun would never arrive—that morning would never come to this place.
Robert leaned closer and whispered softly.
“Before midnight, the party will end. After that, there will still be a soirée until morning—but the fireworks will go up. Quite a number have been prepared. Would you like to go see them?”
“Together? But…”
Senna became faintly aware of the attention around them.
Robert had motioned toward the courtyard.
She knew the place well—she used the courtyard path to travel between the suites and the dormitory while working.
If His Highness escorted her there, eyes would naturally follow them… or so she thought.
“No one is paying attention to us.”
“But…”
“Let’s watch them together. I’ve decided.”
He spoke forcefully, and Senna felt his hot breath right beside her ear.
His breath brushed her ear, stroked her cheek, and she trembled with excitement.
She could not refuse.
Silently, Senna squeezed his hand tightly, and he returned the gesture with just enough pressure not to hurt her.
Like a long-married couple, Senna smiled softly, and Robert answered with a passionate smile of his own.
The orchestra finished its song, and the two quietly rose from their seats at the bar.
On their way to the courtyard, Robert leaned close to her hair and inhaled its fragrance.
He wanted to take her somewhere with no one else around and steal those alluring lips.
The urge was so strong he nearly gave in—but he barely managed to restrain himself.
Until he met her tonight, Robert had wondered how he was supposed to spend this dull ball.
