Academic gathering with a lich-Chapter 201 - 188 Intentions

Noise, laughter, body warmth, and the savoriness of food.

None of these related to Lyle.

The banquet hosted by Kevin turned out to be livelier than he’d imagined, with nobles, wealthy merchants, ladies and misses dressed to the nines, and even the proud young up-and-comers; the sheriff had been invited too, though it was unclear whether it was to network with governmental bodies or simply to rely on their order management.

At least Ralph was like the eye of a rampaging storm, maintaining absolute calm and chilliness over an area.

Ralph didn’t come over to Lyle; he didn’t want to disturb his nephew’s relaxing party.

Yes, the banquet was largely a matchmaking dance, and at least Lyle had already seen no fewer than ten couples choosing their futures. But he stood leaning against the wall, just five meters away from the table with the roasted suckling pig. It was the perfect spot—not too distant, and not revealing his true intentions.

Lyle had no plans for a romantic encounter; his heart was already filled with the two soul flames, and now he just wanted to be a peripheral figure at the banquet, engaged in a one-on-one contest with that roasted suckling pig.

Kevin was the star of the banquet, engaged in the tiresome social activities he professed to detest. Always sparkling, he possessed the elegance and confidence of nobility, and a charm that felt refreshing to those around him. William became the second most attention-grabbing figure at the party, his handsomeness complemented by a rakish smile; perhaps he would take the lead on the dance floor, the dance partner that the girls eagerly sought.

Finally, the music started playing, and people were no longer blinded by beauty; they chased after the heart-fluttering notes instead.

Two sharply dressed lads, similarly holding their glasses of wine, similarly dropped their social smiles, and from left and right, they came to join their reclusive brother.

"To our survival," Kevin toasted, initiating the night’s first enjoyment.

A sip went down; despite the vintage’s specific tartness, it tasted much better than past meals.

"Lyle, do you intend to follow in Mr. Ralph’s footsteps, a lonely warrior?"

"Sorry, Kevin, it’s just that I don’t feel like mingling with anyone."

"That’s not up to you, though. Mr. Ralph just gave me a strict order; he wants to see you with a nice girl visiting him tomorrow, plus I promised you a delightful encounter, don’t make it tough for me, brother."

"I don’t have thoughts of falling for any girl, Kevin. Thank you very much, but no."

"Because of Alianna?" Kevin saw Lyle fall silent, but his black pupils shone with brilliant specks of light.

"Yes, she is the only girl I care about in my heart. Thank you for the invitation, Kevin, but in the future, I might not be able to come over here and hang out with you as you’d like. I want to spend more time on the other side, with Alianna. I owe her far too much, so much that it makes me feel lucky. Kevin, I think I’m luckier than you."

Kevin drained the rest of the wine in his glass, then patted Lyle’s shoulder, "Bless you, Lyle. Do what you want to do, I’ll always support you... Can you help me explain it to Mr. Ralph?"

A jest about Ralph lightened the mood. 𝐟𝕣𝕖𝐞𝐰𝕖𝚋𝐧𝗼𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝗰𝐨𝐦

As the night approached midnight, the grand dance had yet to begin.

Kevin noticed Lyle’s confusion.

"It’s my arrangement, inspired by those creatures from Hamlet. Twelve o’clock, the old ends and the new begins. I set the dance time for twelve, after midnight, that’s when the real revelry starts."

Time silently passed, with Kevin and William both gone.

Kevin was interacting with his prearranged dance partner, the anonymous fiancée promised by his family, about to lead the dance as the head of the Borey Family. William had been approached by several daring young misses, sharing their affections with him.

By himself, with no one else around—it didn’t matter, as the seat by the roasted suckling pig was also empty.

Tonight, I’m paired with the roasted suckling pig.

The passion music that rose with the twelve chimes of the clock climaxed the atmosphere.

Footsteps thundered across the floor as everyone moved towards the dancefloor, and Lyle made his way to his seat.

As everyone stood still, Lyle also put the first piece of pork into his mouth, reveling in its perfect doneness and the richness of its fat. His heart bloomed with joy, and he couldn’t wait to taste the next bite.

However, Lyle had to stop because, surprisingly, the dance music had not begun, and everyone fell into silence, as if something had seized their throats.

Come on, liven up. I can’t very well be the only one making noise.

Just as Lyle thought this, a single set of footsteps echoed in the hushed hall.

The only set of footsteps.

They were like soft drumbeats, resonating in everyone’s hearts.

When those drumbeats faded, Lyle completely lost his appetite; those footsteps had disappeared behind him.

He felt a tug at the hem of his jacket and Lyle turned his head.

There stood an adorable little girl with a finely chiseled face, wearing a pretty light blue puffy dress and smiling with open arms, "Gurgle, Nia is back!"

Lyle didn’t pay her any attention; it was as if he sensed something and turned around to look behind him, his knife and fork still in hand.

He saw it.

Moonlight.

The once dazzling lights dimmed in his eyes as if a bright moon had entered the room.

Her black coiffed hair glistened like the pure night sky under the light, her skin as pale and luminous as moonlight. Her features were as delicate as a piece of art, and her light green eyes pooled with autumn waters, reflecting an astonished boy. The pearls on her silken gown became mere backdrops, and the finely made dress seemed almost a blasphemy to her beauty.

Lyle understood why everyone was silent; they didn’t wish to shatter such a miraculous beauty, just as he was so moved that he had shed tears.

Her visage was just like the goddess in his dreams, as if supreme beauty had emerged from his fantasies.

"Alianna..."

Those slender arms embraced him.

The warm, soft body pressed against his, one arm wrapped around his waist, the other’s fingers caressing his neck. A faint scent wafted into his nostrils, completely masking the aftertaste of the fat.

Lyle closed his eyes, quietly savoring the sensation. He heard it—the heartbeat from within this beautiful body, identical to his own.

The gentle voice from his memories wafted like a breeze at his ear.

"Do you hear it, Lyle? This me, right now, also has a heart."

"My feelings for you are not just curiosity; they are indeed mixed with something else. Now, I have the capacity to give you an answer."

"Lyle, I like you."