The Dance of Light and Darkness

"He reminds me of the old man in my house. Seriously..."

Alpheas did not take his eyes off Erina until the music changed three times.

Through this, he realized something—she was genuinely enjoying the party. She seemed delighted simply by exchanging greetings with others.

But what kind of people are wizards? They are arrogant beings who consider ignorance a sin.

Even though they smiled in front of her, they mocked Erina behind her back.

"Klump, hold this for a moment. No, actually, drink it."

As Alpheas handed over his glass and made his way toward the ballroom, Klump hastily questioned him.

"What are you planning now? Please, for once, don't cause trouble at an event like this."

"Those halfwits think they're superior just because they learned a few letters and have the audacity to reject a lady's kindness. As the most popular man in Vashka, it's only right that I step in and restore her dignity."

At that moment, Klump's bear-like strength grabbed Alpheas by the shoulder and spun him around.

"Alpheas, that's a bad idea. Pity can be more hurtful to Erina. She has enough people around her. Don't make her situation even more miserable."

The righteous intensity in Klump's eyes made it clear he was being sincere.

Alpheas smiled.

"You're so simple. Do you really think I don't know that? I've never treated a woman with false intentions. Haven't you heard? All evil stems from discrimination. The moment you start treating her differently, her life becomes that of a caged bird. Trust me—I have a plan."

"Are you serious? You're really going to do this? Hey, wait!"

Alpheas, who was crossing the ballroom, turned around and flashed a lethal smile.

"Don't worry. I'm everyone's lover."

By the time he reached Erina, everyone around her had already disappeared. Unbeknownst to her, they had all quietly stepped away.

Yet, she didn't seem bothered by it at all. She sat there, happily munching on an apple.

"Good evening. It's a wonderful ball, isn't it?"

She paused mid-bite and blinked at Alpheas.

Though her gaze wasn't particularly sharp, it had an inexplicable charm that drew people in.

'She's pure.'

So pure, in fact, that she reflected the emotions of others like a mirror.

Perhaps this was the real reason people avoided her.

"Oh! Hello! I'm Erina!"

As if realizing something, Erina beamed brightly and greeted him.

However, unlike when Alpheas had observed her from afar, there was a subtle trace of fear in her demeanor.

'Well, of course. This must be the first time someone has approached her willingly.'

Alpheas bowed politely.

"I am Mirhi Alpheas, a wizard. It's a pleasure to finally introduce myself. If it's not too much trouble, may I have the honor of being your partner for this ball?"

Erina's jaw dropped slightly, her expression openly revealing her confusion—'What's going on?'

Then, without a word, she lowered her head and walked away.

Alpheas stood frozen in place, dumbfounded. Was this what people meant when they said they got 'rejected'?

Snapping out of it, he quickly chased after her and blocked her path.

"Wait, wait! Was I too hasty? I'm sorry. I just wanted to get to know you."

Erina still didn't speak. She simply stared at the ground, anxiously shifting her feet as if looking for a way to escape.

Every time she tried to turn away, Alpheas quickly stepped in front of her.

"Alright, if you don't want to dance, then let's just talk. I can tell you a really interesting story. Are you interested in constellations?"

"I want to go. I want to go to my room. My mother will scold me."

"Why would she scold you? No one is going to scold you. You're at a party, and I'm simply asking you to be my partner."

"She told me not to talk to anyone. She said people who talk to me are bad people. I want to go back to my room."

Alpheas felt frustrated. No, he felt desperate.

All the techniques he had mastered to charm women had vanished, leaving behind only a single thought—he wanted to look into her eyes just once more.

"I'm not a bad person. Look at my face. Do I look like a bad person?"

As Alpheas reached out to touch her shoulder, Erina let out a terrified scream.

"Ahh! No!"

The entire ballroom turned their heads.

To anyone watching, it looked as if Alpheas was harassing her.

"Mom! Help me! Mom!"

"Erina! Look at me! I'm not going to hurt you!"

"Mom! Mom!"

Among the spectators was Saroph, Alpheas's rival. He scoffed at the sight of Alpheas gripping Erina's shoulders.

He already thought the man was insane, but this was beyond ridiculous.

"So, after seducing every woman in Vashka, now you're resorting to chasing after a simpleton? You must be desperate to climb the social ladder."

Most nobles shared the same sentiment.

Erina might have been intellectually lacking, but she was still the eldest daughter of the prestigious Bastard family. Winning her favor would guarantee a secure future.

The only one who understood Alpheas's true intentions was Klump. But even he shook his head at this point.

'You really are a madman. This is your mess—clean it up yourself.'

Erina was struggling violently, nearly having a fit.

Any reasonable person would have let go, considering her family was present. But Alpheas held on stubbornly.

"Erina, wait. Look at me. Just look at me."

"Mom! I'm scared, Mom!"

"Erina!"

At his desperate shout, Erina's struggles stopped. But her trembling grew worse.

"Please, just lift your head. I'm begging you."

Terrified, Erina slowly raised her gaze.

In her eyes, she saw Alpheas's burning intensity.

That energy seemed to seep into her, setting even her heart aflame.

"See? Nothing bad is happening. I'm not a bad person. I won't do anything you dislike. But this is a party. Don't you want to dance?"

A hint of excitement flickered in Erina's expression.

The shimmering crystal lights, the musicians' melodies, the sound of laughter and conversation.

All she had ever wanted was to enjoy the party like everyone else.

"Erina, I want to be with you. Please, be my partner tonight."

She didn't answer, but her eyes did.

Alpheas took her hand and led her to the center of the hall.

Like a newborn fawn taking its first steps, she hesitantly followed.

The musicians, quick to sense the moment, resumed their performance as Alpheas guided her into a dance.

The nobles watched in stunned silence, even her parents at a loss for words.

But Alpheas didn't care. Because Erina didn't.

Their dance was unrefined, far from graceful. They stumbled, bumped into others, spun too wildly.

But the more they danced, the louder Erina's laughter became.

And for the first time in her life, she became the star of the ball.