What followed was a rather chaotic lesson in dance steps. All I could do was keep my eyes firmly on my feet to avoid stepping on the little girl’s toes. I truly couldn't fathom how these people managed to maintain eye contact with their partners while flawlessly avoiding one another's feet! I vaguely recall stepping on her right foot about thirty times, and my own foot retaliating in kind. After half an hour of dancing without a single stumble, it felt like a miracle.

When I finally paused to catch my breath, I was utterly exhausted. Dancing may not be considered a particularly strenuous activity, yet I was drenched in sweat, and the wounds on my body began to throb with discomfort. Despite my condition, the little girl seemed full of energy and appeared eager to continue.

"Are you alright? You look rather pale!" she remarked.

"I'm fine! I just need a moment to rest... You don't have to wait for me; you could find someone else. Ethan is over there, isn't he?"

"I don't like him," she replied bluntly. "He bullies me just because he's my cousin!"

"He's your cousin?"

"Yes! His father is my father's brother... Didn't you know that?"

"Cousin... How strange. Isn't it customary for the eldest son to inherit the throne in this kingdom?"

"Yes... But his father passed away early, and he was too young, so my father was appointed as the heir..."

How odd. If that were the case, Ethan would inherit the throne upon the king's death, given that the king had no children. It seemed so straightforward... But why had the king said what he did? The princess's husband was meant to be the next king... So that was why the king wanted me to relinquish my claim!

"Shall we dance?" The little girl urged me once more.

Just then, an unexpected reprieve arrived as the music abruptly halted. Everyone knew the king had an important announcement to make! All the guests, myself included, gathered on the dance floor in anticipation of the king's words.

True to expectation, the speech revolved around the king's promise. After a few introductory remarks, he got to the point, declaring that the princess's husband would be the next king and that I had voluntarily renounced my right to marry her.

"...My daughter has turned sixteen and is now at an age where she can choose her own future. Therefore, I have bestowed upon her the sapphire bracelet, a symbol of royal succession, allowing her to make her own choice..."

The sapphire bracelet... It couldn't possibly be the one I was thinking of! The symbol of royal succession? But that gemstone was indeed quite large... Large enough to cloud my judgment with greed! Yet the bracelet... I couldn't help but reach for my pocket, relieved to find it was no longer with me! Wait! Sixteen?! The little girl is already sixteen?!

She appeared beside the king, wearing the sapphire bracelet, her gaze darting toward me. I quickly averted my eyes!

If the little girl chooses her own husband to become king, what about Ethan? I didn't want to think further. I reminded myself that once my wounds healed, I would leave; whatever happened in this kingdom was no longer my concern! Everything was none of my business!

As the king concluded his speech and the ball had yet to resume, I slipped out. My purpose here had been fulfilled, and staying to dance with the little girl felt like mere torment!

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

It seemed almost everyone had congregated in the ballroom; outside, I could see only a few guards on duty. It was a tranquil night; the moonlight poured down like water, and the stars twinkled like countless eyes observing this mundane world and the trivial lives within it!

I made my way slowly back to my room, absorbing the stillness of the night—a feeling I couldn't quite describe! Perhaps I had experienced countless nights like this in my past, yet I had never taken the time to truly feel it as I did now! I gradually removed the mask from my face, holding it in my hands for a closer look. I had always worn this half-mask to conceal my face, to shield the glowing red eye from prying gazes, but was it merely my eye I wished to hide? Perhaps there was more beneath the surface!

The surroundings were eerily silent, devoid of any presence! I lifted the black glass piece that covered my eye, and as my hand withdrew, I saw the eerie red glow illuminate my palm, casting a blood-red hue upon it! This was the mark of my alliance with dark forces; a light that could not be overlooked even under the sun. Yet, with the black lens I had crafted, my eyes appeared ordinary to others! I had worn it, complemented by a mask to keep it in place! Through these two items, I had led the life of a commoner, never once arousing suspicion of being a necromancer, nor had I felt the weight of others' judgment upon me.

I presumed I would continue this way for the foreseeable future. I knew I lacked the courage to discard these two objects and walk boldly among the crowd; from one perspective, I feared being seen as an outcast...

A rustling sound interrupted my thoughts, and I turned toward the source, hastily putting the glass lens back over my eyes. "Who goes there?!"

No one responded, but I recognized the sound came from a nearby thicket. I focused on it, wondering if someone had witnessed everything...

I approached, parting the dense foliage, but found nothing.

A gust of night wind swept through the trees, stirring up another rustle!

Perhaps I was just overly sensitive; it must have merely been the sound of leaves swaying in the wind! I scanned the area, the bright moonlight illuminating my surroundings—if there were any suspicious figures, they could not escape my notice! Surely, it was just an illusion!

This sudden disturbance left me unsettled; I felt a twinge of anxiety and decided it would be best to return to my room quickly! In just a couple of days—no, the day after tomorrow—I would bid farewell to the king and leave this kingdom behind!

As I turned from the garden into the corridor, hastening my steps, I rounded a corner and nearly collided with someone standing right in front of me!

"Ah!" Luckily, I reacted quickly, stopping just in time to avoid a crash. As I steadied myself, I realized it was the little girl. She stood motionless before my door! She must have taken some shortcut, given her familiarity with the palace compared to mine!

"Why did you leave so suddenly? Did you not enjoy dancing with me?" she asked, her tone somewhat melancholic.

"I simply am not suited for dancing!" I replied. While dancing might be a delightful pastime for her, for me, it was a torment!

She raised a hand to smooth her hair, the sapphire on her wrist gleaming enticingly in the darkness! Unfortunately, I was well aware of the true significance of that sapphire; no matter the circumstances, it could never belong to me! Suddenly, I recalled the pact concerning the gemstone.

"Are you here to discuss the sapphire with me?" I began, "Rest assured, there’s really nothing to worry about. I merely intended to teach you some foundational knowledge of magic, serving as a kind of introductory instructor... No tuition or anything like that! Ha! If you considered that sapphire as payment, you’d essentially be agreeing to marry me! Ha..." I chuckled lightly.

"Is marrying me such a bad idea?" she said suddenly, locking eyes with me, a glint in her gaze that I had never seen before. "Am I not pretty enough for you? Or do you prefer more mature girls?"

I was momentarily taken aback, my words caught in my throat before I could express them. We stood there facing each other, enveloped in an awkward silence.

"I'm just joking!" she broke the silence, bursting into laughter. "It was merely a jest! Haha, your expression was priceless, so unlike your usual self! ...Now that you've said that, I feel relieved. I thought you might not teach me magic anymore! Haha, when shall we start learning?"

"Tomorrow... we can begin then!" A day or two should be enough time to teach her the basics; after that, other instructors would handle the rest!

"Alright then! See you tomorrow morning!" She skipped ahead, glancing back to wave at me. "I’m going back to dance! Goodbye, Ryder!"

"Ryder?" I watched her figure disappear around the corner, realizing she hadn't added "sir" after my name!