The Ball (3)
"Good day."
"Thank you for your hard work, Richard. I'll call you again later."
"I'll be waiting."
After being seen off by the conductor, the group disembarked from the magitech train.
Lucia, who had only just woken up, felt her body stiff and sore.
She wanted to stretch, but the dignity of nobility did not permit it.
"Is this Frida⋯⋯?"
"Yes."
Seowoo asked while gazing up at the building, his neck about to snap.
The atmosphere overwhelmed them with buildings that harmoniously blended medieval and modern architectural styles alongside towering skyscrapers that flaunted their height without restraint.
Each building was as beautiful and majestic as art itself.
Simply standing here felt like one's horizons were broadening.
As if to say forget everything seen until now.
It felt as though this was where the real Nectar began.
"No one here is dressed casually?"
"If you're not a noble, you can't even enter."
The nobles of Nectar were those from the five families, their collateral bloodlines, and self-made individuals who had gained a certain level of wealth or power.
Seeing luxury carriages passing by casually made it feel like they had arrived from a distant past only glimpsed in books.
"Ah, Lady Lucia. Do you happen to know someone named Faye Ceylon?"
"Of course. She's a famous prodigy of the Ceylon family, and the magitech train we just took is her work, right?"
"Yes⋯? So she's that amazing?"
"Yes. The starting point where transportation developed seriously is portals and magitech trains, and there's nothing without Faye Ceylon's hand."
I thought she was a snooty vampire because she was arguing over drinks, but⋯⋯. She was really amazing.
From Lucia's words, she seemed to possess fame on the level of a modern Edison.
"Tsuk⋯⋯."
"But why did you ask? Is there something wrong?"
"No. When I went to Kamil last time, I heard that name."
"Well, we probably won't meet, but be careful with the green hair. Like the Ceylon family, they really hate humans."
"⋯⋯Understood."
Seowoo felt that things had quite twisted.
On the other hand, since their activity ranges were different, maybe it was fine.
Research institute's low-level human assistant and famous person from the Ceylon family.
Any intersection was impossible to see.
Thinking it over easily, his heart became a bit lighter.
"Let's go straight to the ballroom."
"Yes."
In Frida, Lucia judged it might be too much and did not request an escort.
The path following slowly behind her.
The gazes of passing vampires never ceased.
Kamil hadn't been this bad.
Perhaps it was surprising that humans were present in the upper city.
"Don't mind it."
"Yes."
At that moment, Lucia, who had been walking ahead, casually threw out a word.
Did she know how to say such things?
The Lucia he knew was a cold-blooded vampire.
She wanted to control and dominate others at will.
After the day she took Lize to Kamil.
Since the day Suyeon had helped, it felt strangely different.
Did she find out something and prepare something strange?
Such suspicion arose.
While thinking various things, they soon arrived at the ballroom.
A large door was visible on the long stairs.
And in front of it stood a man.
The tall man with slicked-back silver hair was impressive, and upon seeing Lucia, he approached in an instant.
"Lord! If I had known you were coming, I would have sent a carriage!"
A vampire in a neat tuxedo complained to Lucia and bowed politely.
"It's been a long time since you've attended!"
"I have business. Seowoo? Introduce yourself. He's a retainer of our Earl Grey family."
"Nice to meet you. Edwin Earl Grey. I've heard a lot from Lady Lucia, but this is the first time I've seen her in person."
"Welcome. I'm Yoon Seowoo, an assistant working under Lady Lucia."
Edwin smiled and extended his hand first; Seowoo received an awkward handshake and bowed his head.
Whether because they were the same family or because the person was open.
Seeing Edwin after seeing the Ceylon people, there was no need for a fairy.
"Let's go in."
***
Amid the flashy and elegant atmosphere.
The ballroom that gave an open feeling as if the chest were pierced.
Refined music added even more elegance.
In the center of the building, the large dance floor surrounded by tables was welcoming guests with various delicacies.
Since it was not a set time and everyone was enjoying it together.
The hall was already heated up, and dancing was taking place everywhere.
Soon, after the ongoing song ended, Edwin emerged from among the crowds and grabbed the microphone.
"Everyone! Today there's a sudden guest! Our Earl Grey family's Lord! Lady Lucia Earl Grey has come! Please give a warm welcome!"
"Ooh!"
"Lord Earl Grey!"
The attention of many crowds focused on Lucia like a spotlight.
Calmly receiving the microphone amid many expectations and gazes.
The chattering vampires fell silent as if water had been poured in.
"Welcome. I'm Lucia Earl Grey."
A calm word came from her small mouth.
"I'm busy with work, so it's hard to come to social gatherings. Actually, the reason I came here today is for something else."
Lucia's gaze briefly turned to Seowoo.
"⋯⋯We came to introduce a new family member to our Earl Grey family."
What?
Seowoo's eyes widened as he listened quietly to her words.
No, there had been no such thing.
Edwin's expression was also stunned, as if the insiders of the family didn't know either.
The crowd was shaken by the mention of humans.
"Ah, I didn't mean to say that right away. Before that, I wanted to make you all familiar with it."
Lucia corrected her subtle words and drew a clear line.
No matter what, as the Lord, she couldn't ignore the opinions of her retainers.
It was a place she had offered as an apology to Seowoo, so she had no intention of forcing anything.
After all, once accustomed to becoming a vampire, one could not remain human.
Today was just the first step toward that day.
Yes, that was enough.
"Seowoo? Please say one word."
Lucia smiled satisfiedly and handed the microphone to him.
Seowoo, who had accidentally pulled the aggro in front of the ballroom, felt his body stiffen.
His heart pounded as if it would burst, in contrast.
Such gazes were too burdensome.
But now was the time to show it.
After all, the kind of people who treated humans as fools, he didn't want to be embarrassed here with rumors.
After all, this place was familiar.
So, while comforting himself.
After exhaling a shallow breath, he slowly opened his mouth.
"Esteemed guests, welcome. I'm Yoon Seowoo, an assistant to Lady Lucia at the Ambrosia Research Institute."
The fluent common language made the vampires surprised.
Since there were almost no humans who had survived this long.
Most died before acquiring local skills, so it would look quite strange.
"Being able to come to such a precious place as a human like me is truly an honor. Lastly, thanking Lady Lucia for her goodwill, I greet you again. Thank you."
The voice trembled a bit at the end, but enough to be considered here, applause burst out from all over.
Seowoo handed the microphone back to Edwin and stepped back slightly.
"⋯⋯Thank you for your hard work."
"Thank you⋯⋯."
Lucia whispered in a very small voice to him, pretending to be calm.
"But, there's still one more important thing left."
"What's more⋯⋯?"
"⋯⋯It's a ball. I have to dance."
"Yes⋯? I don't know any dance that fits the etiquette."
Even if not necessarily social dance, but I don't know anything.
"It's okay. I'll lead you."
"⋯⋯Understood."
After Seowoo's introduction, the ball resumed.
Wanting to help as much as possible, he watched the first few teams come out and dance together.
It could be a bolt from the blue.
But it was already a given from the moment Seowoo grabbed the microphone.
Having already resigned himself, instead of complaining, he focused on watching as much as possible.
When the dance became somewhat familiar.
Soon, it was Seowoo and Lucia's turn.
Calmly flowing music.
Eric Satie's Gymnopédie No. 1.
A song famous in Korea as a bed ad.
When he stepped on stage, the hand he was holding with Lucia trembled.
"Don't tremble like that."
"Haha⋯ I want to, but it doesn't work easily."
Gazes focused on Seowoo suspiciously.
No, would humans always be that amazing?
Lucia took the first step first, and the two-person waltz began.
"At first, we'll go slowly."
"Yes."
"Next, one step back."
"⋯⋯."
"This time, side step."
"⋯⋯."
Even the answers Seowoo casually said at first with Lucia's lead turned into concentration.
How tense it was, sweat drops forming on his forehead.
"Get a little closer."
"Yes⋯!"
Even if it looked clumsy to others, Seowoo was doing his best.
"Arms and legs a bit softer."
While chasing Lucia's steps hurriedly with his eyes, he kept his ears open.
Soon, other teams that finished dancing around also stepped back one step from the ball, becoming another audience.
"Almost there."
The song had ended a little, but everyone made mistakes at first.
In the calmly settled ballroom, the sound of the two-person steps echoed.
The waltz ended by receiving Lucia's final spin turn.
"Phew⋯⋯ Thank you for your hard work."
"⋯⋯Thank you."
Applause burst out again.
"Phewu⋯⋯."
After the ball ended, Seowoo sat on the chairs placed around, leaning his body.
Unlike Seowoo who was completely drained, Lucia went to talk to other vampires for interaction as the Lord.
"⋯⋯If I had known it would be this tiring, I should have refused."
Seowoo turned his head slightly at the chattering sound from beside.
The green hair with green head that was definitely imprinted in his brain.
The prodigy of the Ceylon family.
Designer of the magitech train, Faye Ceylon.
"Eh⋯⋯?"
What the hell are you doing here.