Chapter 296: The Crimson Toast
[Music recommendation: LIBERTO - Love Crime]
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As they swept across the floor to the rising notes of the melody, memories of the first time they had danced together back at the academy surfaced. They both felt just how much had changed in the span of only a few months, from strangers fueled by suspicion and fear to a force that the entire kingdom now watched with bated breath.
But one thing remained constant between that first dance and this moment. Just as before, they were utterly lost in one another.
They moved like ripples of water and flowed together as if they were not two separate beings but a single body. They were so perfectly in sync, and the fit of their forms was so seamless that they could not help but feel a barrage of fireworks erupting between them.
In that moment, the world outside ceased to exist. It was simply the two of them, finally allowed to enjoy the peace they had never known in their previous lives.
They smiled at each other throughout the entire dance, and they did not realize that the onlookers were once again bedazzled by the sight. Even the neutral guests could feel the immense love radiating from the pair. Many found themselves unable to resist smiling at the Crown Prince and his chosen Princess.
With every twirl Eve took, her gown swayed like a starlight mist to the music. As they drew closer to one another in a way that felt as inevitable as the tide, the burning passion between them became palpable to everyone in the room.
No words were spoken. Instead, their locked gazes seemed to convey a thousand secrets in a silent conversation that no one else was permitted to hear.
As the music reached its final crescendo, Ivan dipped Evelyn gently and leaned over her. His warm breath caressed her lips, yet his mouth did not touch hers. He seemed to be playing a tantalizing game of hide and seek that left her burning at his mercy. All Eve could do was hold him tighter.
She felt the tension between them like a thin string stretched to the point of snapping. Ivan’s intense, loving gaze took in her beautiful, blushing face, which was now lit up with a visible need for him. Just as he leaned closer to heighten her anticipation, his lips pulled into a smirk, and he brought them both upright to a stand.
The ballroom remained silent for a heartbeat before Damien became the first to clap. The rest of the guests followed suit and snapped out of their dazed state.
Just like that, Ivan and Eve were brought back to the present. Ivan did not let go of her hand.
Instead, he leaned down to press a lingering kiss to her knuckles. He closed his eyes as if he were savoring the touch of her skin against his lips in absolute devotion. The sight sent the hearts of many women into a frenzy of awe and envy once again.
Eve’s heart skipped at Ivan’s simple yet heartfelt gesture. He guided her off the floor, and the moment they stepped away, Silas announced for the rest of the guests to join in. The music swelled back into full swing.
While many continued to whisper in awe and envy over the royal couple’s breathtaking performance, others hurried to the dance floor with their partners, eager to reclaim the spotlight.
However, Ivan and Eve were quickly intercepted by Silas. "Your Highness, that was....quite the performance," he remarked, his voice straining for politeness.
"It may be a performance to you, Minister Silas," Ivan replied coldly, "but I was simply enjoying a dance with my partner."
"R-right." Silas’s conniving gaze fell on Eve. She met him with a perfectly blank expression, causing him to clear his throat nervously. "Your Highness, I wanted to ask if you would do me the honor of sharing a toast?"
Maribel joined her husband at that moment, followed closely by a server carrying a tray of drinks. Ivan’s eyes narrowed as he noted the dark contents of the glasses; he immediately anticipated their childish attempt at sabotage.
Eve, having already endured a past episode where her drink was spiked with an unwanted substance, felt the same suspicion flare within her as she stared at the tray.
Not in the mood to endure such a childish ploy again, Eve looked at the tray while the couple was momentarily distracted. As they reached for the glasses, her eyes flashed with a faint, sudden gold.
The server felt a sharp, tiny sting on his hand, causing him to flinch. The tray tilted violently, and before anyone could react, the entire load slid toward Maribel.
With a loud clatter, the crystal shattered against the floor, and the dark wine sprayed upward, drenching Maribel’s golden gown in deep, ugly stains of red.
"Oh my god!" Maribel shrieked, looking down at her ruined dress in horror, while Silas stood frozen by the sudden turn of events.
Ivan’s gaze slid subtly toward Evelyn. She met his eyes and offered a discreet wink, causing a ghost of a smile to pull at the corner of his lips. His eyes danced with a mixture of pride and amusement at her antics.
He then turned his attention to the messy scene before him, where Silas was fussing over his wife before pivoting to glare at the trembling server.
"You ingrate!" Silas roared, fuming as he stepped toward the man. "You cannot even do a simple job properly! If you cannot use your hands, then perhaps you have no need for them at all!" he sneered as he stepped forward to strike the server.
"Minister Silas, it is truly unfortunate what has happened here," Eve began, her voice carrying across the silent circle of guests.
She stepped gracefully toward the trembling server, "But surely, a man of your esteemed standing and benevolence wouldn’t let a mere accident ruin such a perfect evening."
Silas froze, his hand still raised to strike or seize the servant. He looked at Eve, then at the crowd, who were now watching with keen interest at her "compliment."
"I am certain," Eve continued, her blue eyes shimmering with a pretend sweetness, "that the Minister is far too noble to punish a man for a simple slip of the hand. After all, a leader’s greatness is measured by his mercy toward those beneath him, is it not? To act otherwise would be so....uncharacteristic of your reputation."
Silas’s face turned a mottled shade of purple. He was backed into a corner; if he touched the server now, he would be admitting to the entire nobility that he lacked the very "nobility" Eve was praising.
Damien decided it was time to twist the knife. He stepped forward, leaning casually against the back of a nearby chair, a devious smirk playing on his lips.
"Absolutely, Evelyn," Damien drawled, his voice dripping with mock admiration. "Minister Silas is practically a saint of patience. I was just telling Edward how impressed I am by the Minister’s self-control. Most lesser men would have made a scene, but Minister Silas? He knows that a stained dress is a small price to pay for maintaining his image as a gracious host."
Damien turned his sharp, mocking gaze directly onto Silas. "You wouldn’t want to prove us wrong in front of the Crown Prince, would you, Minister? That would be such a....disappointing climax to the toast."
Silas swallowed hard, his jaw tight enough to snap. He looked at Ivan, who was watching the entire exchange with a bored stillness. Under the weight of Eve’s public "praise" and Damien’s sharp-edged support, Silas had no choice but to cave.
"Of course," Silas managed to choke out, forcing a skeletal smile that didn’t reach his eyes. He waved a dismissive hand at the server. "Go. Clean this up and get out of my sight. As the Princess said....I am a man of mercy."
The server scrambled away, nearly tripping in his haste to escape, while Damien let out a low, amused hum.
"See, Evelyn? A true philanthropist," Damien whispered just loud enough for Silas to hear. "Though, Lady Maribel, I do hope that wine doesn’t stain the floor. Red is so difficult to get out of white, isn’t it?"
Maribel, who was shocked out of her wits by their performance, could only press her lips into a thin line. She forced a tight, trembling smile as she stammered, "Y-yes, we will have this cleaned up immediately. If you all would excuse me, I must change my wardrobe quickly."
Before retreating, her sharp gaze sized up Evelyn one last time. Eve simply returned a look of genuine pity, causing Maribel to grit her teeth in silent fury before sweeping out of the room.
