Xemena caught her breath and met Niles’s eyes again as they continued their dance. “So, what’s your plan for tomorrow? Where are you going in your banishment?” There was a faint edge of curiosity in her tone.

“I don’t know,” Niles admitted with a shrug before flipping the question back. “Do you have any ideas?”

Xemena’s gaze shifted as she considered it, then a sly smirk tugged at her lips. “I’d suggest Monster Island. It’s unclaimed territory, rich in resources—but crawling with monsters. No one’s been able to settle there for long.”

“Perfect!” Niles exclaimed, cutting her off mid-warning. His face lit up as if she’d handed him a treasure map, completely ignoring the word monsters.

Xemena raised an incredulous brow. “Did you not hear the part about monsters?” Her eyes scanned his face, searching for a hint of humor, but he looked utterly sincere.

“We’ll be fine,” he assured her with an optimistic grin.

“Fine?” Xemena echoed, her tone edged with disbelief. “Full armies have tried to claim that island and failed miserably—”

“Thank you,” Niles interrupted again, his excitement undeterred. “Once we’ve settled, I’ll be sure to send you an invitation.”

Xemena stared at him for a moment, half-convinced this was some elaborate joke, but his earnestness was impossible to miss. Finally, she shook her head and let out a soft chuckle at the sheer absurdity of his confidence.

The music shifted, signaling the end of their dance. All around them, guests were bowing to their partners and swapping places for the next tune. The band struck up a fresh melody, and the ballroom filled with murmurs and new pairings forming across the floor.

Xemena made a small, graceful bow to signal her thanks, but Niles didn’t return it. Instead, he extended his hand toward her once again.

“I think I’ve got it now,” he said, his grin wide and confident.

“Got what?” Xemena asked, her brows arching in skepticism.

“The dance your guests are doing,” Niles explained. “I kind of kidnapped you for that last one, but this time...” He stepped back slightly, his posture upright and formal, and bowed just like the other men on the floor. “Princess Xemena, would you do me the honor of another dance?”

Xemena’s lips twitched upward despite herself. “You really think you’ve got the steps down?” She crossed her arms, studying him.

“Care to see for yourself?” Niles replied, his confidence unwavering.

With a faint shake of her head, Xemena raised her hand and pressed her palm against his, their fingers meeting like two walls in a standoff. “Don’t forget—don’t embarrass me,” she warned.

The music swelled, and they began to move. To Xemena’s surprise, Niles kept up, matching her steps with surprising fluidity as they glided across the floor in sync with the other dancers.

As they danced closer, Niles leaned in and whispered, “Act casual, but I need to tell you something.”

Xemena’s brow arched, sensing urgency in his tone. “Of course,” she replied, her voice low as she adjusted her posture.

“You should summon the Xargian Guards back.”

Her expression shifted to mild offense. “You doubt our security measures? Is this another one of your infamous gut feelings?”

“Long story short…” Niles began, stumbling slightly on the dance floor. Xemena steadied him, smirking. “I see you’ve overestimated your coordination.”

“Ha-ha, hilarious,” Niles replied dryly.

“I’ll take that as a compliment,” she teased, her smile smug. Before she could savor the moment, Niles subtly maneuvered his leg in front of hers, causing her to trip slightly.

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“You did that on purpose!” she hissed.

“Who, me? I was just overestimating again,” he quipped, spinning her gracefully as she shot him a glare.

“What proof do you have?” Xemena finally asked when their eyes met again.

They moved in rhythm, and Niles lowered his voice. “Felix, the moat bridge guard, says he’s sensed more hostility than usual from the guests. And Winston—our assistant—says some of their levels are unusually high, especially Zacharias’s.”

Xemena exhaled, unimpressed. “Nonsense. If someone was plotting, my father’s Veritas Gaze would’ve exposed them already. He can sense lies from a mile away.”

“Do the guests know about his ability?” Niles asked.

“Of course,” she replied, almost dismissively. “It’s feared across the realm.”

Niles sighed, ready to drop the subject. “Alright, one last thing, then. Zacharias was drinking something blue. It looked delicious. Do you know where I can find it?”

The question made Xemena freeze mid-step, her scarlet eyes widening. “It can’t be…” she whispered.

“What?” Niles asked, confused.

Xemena’s eyes narrowed as she whispered, “that blue drink, it could be a mana potion—an incredibly rare and potent one.”

“Follow my lead,” she commanded, taking charge of the dance. She guided him across the floor, weaving through the crowd until they reached her father, who was still in conversation with Aurelia and Lord Aldric.

King Xerxes raised a brow, surprised to see his daughter dancing with Niles. Before anyone could react, Xemena boldly declared, “Father, I’ve decided to marry Sir Niles.”

Lord Aldric gasped. Aurelia gasped. Niles gasped.

Xerxes, however, frowned. “There will be no such thing. I forbid it.”

“Thank you, Father,” Xemena said smoothly, bowing her head. “I’ll obey your command.”

She spun Niles away before anyone could speak further.

Blushing furiously, Niles stammered, “I… I didn’t know you felt that way about me.”

Xemena shot him a withering glare. “Don’t flatter yourself. Who in their right mind would marry you, let alone date you?”

Niles’s face paled. “Oh,” he muttered, filing this rejection into the Hall of Fame for Brutal Putdowns.

“Listen carefully,” Xemena said sharply, her scarlet eyes fixed on Niles. “My father’s Veritas Gaze didn’t activate when I lied just now. That means something is wrong.”

Niles’s hopeful expression softened into confusion as she sighed. “And no, I wasn’t honest…”

“Couldn’t you have lied about something less... humiliating?” Niles muttered, clearly stung.

Xemena’s lips curled into a sly smile. “And miss the chance to ruffle the goddess’s feathers? You mistake me for someone with kind intentions.” Her narrowed gaze glimmered with mischief, almost daring him to challenge her.

She shifted gears quickly, her tone turning practical. “After this dance, I’ll send word to one of my retainers to recall the Xargian Guards. Just in case.”

“Thanks,” Niles said with a nod, genuinely relieved.

But before they could relax, Niles noticed something unsettling. Across the room, Zacharias’s cold, slit-like eyes tracked them with an almost reptilian intensity.

The music shifted to its final notes, Xemena leaned in closer, her voice dropping to a near whisper. “I need you to know something about Zacharias,” she began, her gaze darting briefly toward the man across the room, who was still watching them intently.

“What about him?” Niles asked, his expression sharpening.

“His skill,” she said, her tone laced with unease. “It’s called Viper Eyes.”

“Viper Eyes?” Niles repeated, his brows furrowing.

“It grants him night vision—perfect clarity in darkness,” Xemena explained, her voice steady but quiet. “He sees the world better at night than most can during the day. Shadows are no obstacle to him. In dim light or complete darkness, he can spot even the faintest movements.”

Niles’s mind raced as he processed her words. “So... he thrives where others falter?”

“Exactly,” Xemena confirmed, glancing toward Zacharias again, who was now sipping from his goblet with a smug expression. “It’s a dangerous skill for someone with his ambitions. You’d better hope he doesn’t decide that this night is his stage.”

Niles’s jaw tightened. “Good to know,” he said grimly, then smirked faintly. “Guess I’ll have to stay out of the shadows then.”

Xemena didn’t laugh. “This isn’t a joke.”

“I’ve got a dagger in my coat,” Niles whispered back. “When the dance ends, I’ll pass it to you. Use the chill as an excuse to ask your retainer for something warmer—hide the blade with them.”

Xemena raised a brow, slightly impressed. “Not a bad plan. Maybe you aren’t a complete idiot after all.”

As the final notes of the music faded, applause rippled through the ballroom. Niles offered a gentlemanly bow, while Xemena performed a small curtsy, delicately holding the ends of her dress.

“It’s freezing,” she declared with feigned innocence, her voice cutting through the polite murmurs around them. “I’ll take your coat.”

Niles hesitated for a moment but quickly played along, removing his coat and handing it to her. “Thank you for the dance,” he said, his tone polite.

Xemena smirked as she turned to leave, tossing a parting remark over her shoulder. “Good luck in your banishment.”

Niles remained in his bow, ever gracious, though his lips quirked in quiet amusement.

Xemena strode toward the sidelines, her steps confident. As she passed Prince Xander, he raised a brow. “How was it?” he asked, his tone warm.

“Not bad,” she replied, her voice cool but carrying a subtle undertone of satisfaction.

Xander, closed his eyes as if suppressing a smile. A faint warmth seemed to radiate from his sister, a rare glimpse of something softer beneath her guarded exterior. But neither sibling spoke further, their unspoken understanding more than enough.