Academic gathering with a lich-Chapter 202 - 189: Dancing Together

Gazing at the face before him, Lyle could see each of her exquisite eyelashes flutter under his intense gaze, feeling Alianna’s body trembling ever so slightly.

The gown, elaborately prepared by a friend, finally served its purpose, giving Lyle the courage to embrace her, as the shimmering silk dazzled under the lights.

"It’s like a dream, Alianna..." His words, carefully chewed over before being uttered, seemed too crude in front of her luminous skin. Holding her soft body in his arms, all speech became dull.

Alianna’s gaze was no longer directed at his face; the velvet curtain of her closed eyelids hid the brilliance of her eyes. Her voice carried a light tone of sadness, the words as lemon drops down the throat.

"If my presence troubles you, Lyle, I am willing to let tonight be our last ephemeral dream."

"It’s not like that!" Lyle responded with simple forcefulness, holding Alianna tightly in his embrace like a child clutching his most cherished toy, "Because tonight, like a bubble tinged with beautiful colors, I want to hold on to it desperately, yet I fear its beautiful escape. If you are a dream, Alianna, I hope I never wake up."

Alianna’s smile was like opening a window in her heart. She reached out to wipe the tear stain from Lyle’s face with her finger.

Her cheek growing ever closer, their lips met. It felt like lying on the grass, kissing white clouds in the sky.

After a while, their lips parted.

Looking at Lyle’s dazed expression, Alianna let out a cute snicker.

"Still think it’s a dream?"

His heart boiled like a volcano, sending hot blood to every corner of Lyle’s body, his face quickly turning red.

"It is a dream! Because I didn’t feel anything just now, I need to try again to be sure!"

Alianna’s eyebrows quirked up, making a chiding expression, and then shifted into a mischievously sly look. She looked just like Beatrice usually did.

"Is that so? But I already know your taste."

"The taste of lard." Alianna made a lip-licking gesture, delivering another blow to Lyle’s heart.

Did he forget to wipe his mouth? He extended his arm and wiped his lips with his sleeve.

This action drew another laugh from Alianna, who lay in Lyle’s embrace, her body trembling lightly with her laughter.

"Alianna, how did you become like this?"

"Nia did it!" A slight dragging sensation came from his trouser leg, Nia transformed into a small girl exhibiting a cuteness akin to Alianna’s, proudly displaying her handiwork.

"It’s a corrosive disguise," Alianna murmured softly into Lyle’s ear, "Nia remodeled flesh upon my bones, but not just clad in a layer of skin. It’s a miracle, Lyle. Now I can feel the warmth and the cold, the touch of your fingers, the warmth of your lips, and the desire within me to cling to you tightly. I want to stroke your cheeks, listen to your heartbeats, a longing to accompany you now governs me. I want you always in my sight."

"And the taste of lard, it has aroused my appetite; I am like a newborn now."

The original corrosive disguise certainly didn’t have the abilities it has now. Lyle looked at Nia, who resembled a porcelain doll at his feet, it seemed that devouring the power given to her by the Duke of Hamlet had brought significant changes. She might have inherited abilities similar to the Duke’s to reproduce duplicates.

The result was his goddess standing truly by his side, in the gaze of all.

"Lyle, who is she?"

That was the first voice from someone else since Alianna’s arrival.

The cold voice came from his uncle, Ralph’s brooding eyes now glazed with disbelief and doubt, sweeping over Lyle and Alianna.

Lyle finally moved his gaze from Alianna and looked down at Nia. Seeing Lyle gazing at her, Nia revealed an adorable smile.

"Nia wants a hug!"

Lyle picked her up and casually stuffed her into Ralph’s arms. Ralph’s eyes widened as he instinctively hugged Nia, staring blankly at the little girl in his arms.

"Here, your grandniece."

Ignoring the frozen Ralph, Lyle reached out his hand to Alianna.

"In the Castle of Hamlet, I still owe you a dance. Beautiful Alianna, may I have the honor of asking for a dance with you?"

Alianna’s face bloomed with a serene smile as she lifted the hem of her silk dress and placed her soft hand in Lyle’s palm.

"The price of our overdue dance, a single one will hardly suffice now."

Lyle led Alianna onto the dance floor, his head against her earlobe.

"I will keep dancing until you are satisfied," he whispered.

Ralph watched his nephew transform into the focal point of the ball, seemingly a different person.

A small hand patted his cheek gently, and he looked at the little girl in his arms, at her infinitely adorable cheeks, her facial features carrying the scent of that strange woman and Lyle.

Nia gave Ralph a smile as radiant as a flower.

"Ralph, it’s Nia, yo!"

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The tease in Alianna’s eyes collided with Lyle’s awkwardness.

"So Mr. Lyle, who promised to always dance, actually can’t dance?"

Lyle’s left hand held Alianna, his right arm wrapped around her waist, forcing him to avert his eyes to hide his embarrassment. The mood had been so right that he’d forgotten he couldn’t dance.

Alianna leaned closer to his face, recapturing the focus of his dark eyes.

"Your stubborn and show-off-ish demeanor is quite cute, Lyle."

"Since when is it appropriate to describe men as cute?"

"In my book, my boy, you are very cute."

Alianna’s hand rested on Lyle’s shoulder.

"Follow my steps, Lyle, I will lead you."

"Alright, I hope I won’t make a fool of myself."

"There will be no failure, I guarantee it in the name of Naslan."

Music filled the air, and the people in the ballroom began their dance.

The dancing Alianna was undeniably the center of attention, a swan pirouetting in her own domain, reflecting her beauty in the dance floor. Lyle’s movements, though sporting a tinge of awkwardness and stiffness, were unexpectedly skilled and precise.

William covered his face; his brother was simply too cringeworthy. In his line of sight, two ghost maids were moving Lyle’s feet, placing them in the correct positions.

Lyle gradually relaxed, his body’s odd stiffness subsiding. He indulged in Alianna’s profile, his mood blurring amid the light.

The two immersed themselves in a shared dream, their skin close, inseparable in the pulsating light and shadow.