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Chapter 3.5
Chapter 3.5
Chapter 3.5
Naturally, the banquet prepared by city lord Sansa held in the honour of Osmund is an extravagant affair.
Originally, Sui Yuan is not meant to be here together with the two main leads. With no idea how to overcome this phase of the story, he is happy to continue remaining invisible in the eyes of everyone present. Plastering a cold and unwelcoming expression on his face, he chooses a small balcony as far from the feast as possible to occupy. Hugging his knees to his chest, Sui Yuan perches comfortably on the banister, half-enjoying the melodious dance music and half-conversing with 5237.
From the looks of things, it seems Aurora is also finding this entire affair difficult to deal with. In addition, the city lord is intentionally aiming for her, attempting to unmask her flaws before Osmund, leading to the poor female lead’s dazzling smile dimming considerably and appearing rather vexed. With considerable effort, she manages to break away from the vicious pack of female nobles, making her way to the small table at a corner filled with dessert.
As a foodie, Aurora’s depression is cured by the sweet, delicious desserts, and her cheerful expression is reinstated after a while. Finally, after devouring a few more small cakes, she starts to search the area for her companions.
Unlike Sui Yuan and Aurora, however, Osmund takes to the banquet like a fish to water, long accustomed to such events. His every move is neither flamboyant nor restrained, but mild and aloof, befitting his status as someone high up and effortlessly commanding respect. Whether it be males or females, none dare to be too excessive in speech or action before him. Dazzled by his grace and charm, the relatively large crowd surrounding him listens attentively to his every word, eyes loathe to part from his fair face.
"Hmph, really knows how to put on an act," 5237 sneers, for some obscure reason detesting that man more than his victim - Sui Yuan - does. Adding onto the fact that it harbours an intense hatred for 0007, 5237 really wishes to be rid of this master and servant pair as quickly as possible.
"There’s no need to say that ah. Aren’t I the same as him?" Sui Yuan shrugs lightly.
In actual fact, while Sui Yuan may be the sort of actor to read lines from the script word-for-word, he is also someone who completely immerses himself in the role. As long as he is in a world, he will meld the character’s persona with his own. That way, there will be no mistakes made when struggling to stay in character because he doesn’t think of himself as a separate individual.
It’s probably because their topic of conversation is Osmund that Sui Yuan’s gaze unconsciously sweeps over the crowd and lands on said man. Right this moment, Osmund glances up and catches Sui Yuan’s stare.
Warmth seeping into that bland smile, he apologises to the people around him clambering for attention and expertly extracts himself from their midst, then heads towards Sui Yuan. The elf eyes him warily, not too sure what the other is planning to do. Finally, he decides to wait and see.
"Not fond of these kinds of events?" Osmund inquires softly. "Why not have a dance?"
"I don’t know how to," Sui Yuan admits honestly. This is his first soiree, and he didn’t think about learning to dance beforehand, more focused on other important subjects like language and arts. On top of that, with his role as Nardred, there is an even less chance for him to actively participate in dancing without him being out of character.
"It’s not proper for you to lack this knowledge. Which is why you cannot avoid participating in this affair." As he says this, a hand darts out to grab Sui Yuan’s arm, dragging him off the banister.
Unprepared for the sudden physical contact, Sui Yuan stumbles, hands instinctively coming up to catch himself. Another tug on his forearm has him hitting Osmund’s chest, an arm wrapping around his waist and trapping him in an embrace.
"What are you doing?!" Sui Yuan explodes, struggling in vain to escape the hold. However, Osmund’s elegant appearance bellies great strength, rendering a pre-villain BOSS Sui Yuan helpless.
Although Osmund’s class is a priest, it is predestined that he still possesses the strength and physique of a warrior. This right here is an apt example of an author’s partiality towards the male lead.
"Teaching you to dance." Osmund’s false gentle attitude doesn’t waver in the slightest, remaining unmoved even as Sui Yuan strains with all his might to shove him away.
Failing to resist, Sui Yuan has no choice but to make a compromise. Frowning, he allows the other party to move his limbs to the appropriate position, resentment growing by the minute. "You are bluffing me again. Don’t think I don’t know that you are teaching me to dance the woman’s part!"
The bastard has the gall to laugh. "That’s right, because this is the only part you need to know."
Sui Yuan: "?"
"Trust me." Osmund lowers his head, lips brushing Sui Yuan’s sensitive, pointed ear and speaking lowly. "Because you will never get the opportunity to dance with a woman."
Sui Yuan: "........."
- Such a savage curse!
No matter how Sui Yuan harbours the intention not to cooperate with Osmund’s actions, in the end, he still has no choice but to follow his movements, each step full of reluctance. With no way of resisting, the next best thing he can think of is to step on the other man’s feet as frequently and viciously as possible during the dance. But once again, his plan is thwarted, this time by his own elven nature. Elves, whether they be light or dark, are naturally sensitive to music. Even unbidden, their movements will match any beat, each step graceful and lithe. Hence, within the minute, his steps begin to match Osmund’s, moving like he has been doing this all his life.
Elves are natural-born artists. No other race comes close to their talent in music, song and dance, let alone hoping to match their artistic touch.
One clad in long, white, Heavenly robes and the other in midnight black, fur-skinned attire, the Holy Son and an unknown elf’s every move are in perfect sync. Black and white crisscross like bright moonlight against a starless night sky, contrasting yet co-existing, impossible to be separated.
Staring at this scene, the Obsidian City’s lord purses her lips tightly, suddenly feeling that the target she has always taken note of and guarded against is reduced to a mere joke now. Her eyes shift towards Aurora, who is still standing in a corner of the ballroom. Even from this distance, she can make out the unwavering gaze fixed on the two men, loneliness and envy in those naïve eyes.
Sighing to herself, Sansa walks sedately over to the young human woman.
Although Osmund and Sui Yuan are dancing together in a quiet and inconspicuous corner of the ballroom, the spectacle quickly draws everyone’s attention. It’s not because the sight of two men dancing is strange, but rather, because Osmund’s gentle look is all concentrated upon the elf, which in itself is hard to believe.
Anyone who has interacted with the Holy Son knows that even if he looks mild and gentle, beneath it all, he is a pitiless and coldblooded person. He can treat everyone kindly, but will never place more than a sliver of attentiveness on a single individual. A large but shallow heart. Distribute a little to each and one will be left with a meagre portion. Never before has anyone seen him so focused on somebody as though everything around him simply fades away, ceasing to exist.
If Osmund himself was standing amongst the crowd watching the actor in his body dancing with Nardred, he would have been able to tell he is acting very out of character in a single glance. In the later part of the plot, even after he and Aurora become lovers, he still doesn’t pay as much attention to her as one would expect. But Zhao Xihe cannot help it. For as soon as he pulls Sui Yuan into his arms, every other superfluous thought escapes his mind.
"That man...who is he?" Sitting down beside Aurora, she can see how tense the other woman is, as though she is all alone in enemy territory. Sansa’s manner unprecedentedly softens, a trace of empathy seeping into her eyes.
"Who?" Aurora jerks a little in surprise before replying, "Oh, are you asking about Nardred?"
"Nardred? That elf?" The Obsidian City’s lord ponders for a moment, not recalling an elf going by this name from her extensive memory. "How did he come to know Osmund?"
"I’m also not too clear about that." Aurora shakes her head. "When I joined their party, they were already together. I only remember them saying something about Osmund saving Nardred when he was injured. This time, we are going on a journey to accompany Nardred into the dark lands. Osmund feels uneasy if he allows Nardred to go alone, and I’m just tagging along for the experience."
"The dark lands...Lord Osmund is actually willing to take such a huge risk for him..." The city lord’s eyebrows draw together, a feeling of anxiety surfacing at the bottom of her heart.
In his lifetime, Osmund has saved the lives of countless people, therefore, one cannot use this event to explain the intimacy between these two. But looking at Aurora’s wide-eyed and naïve visage, Sansa knows that she most likely cannot get anything more from the mouth of this young lady.
Right this moment, the music comes to an end. The elf pushes Osmund away from him, dislike clear on his face, cheeks flushed in anger. However, Osmund doesn’t get offended. Instead, the usually bland smile on his face widens into a genuinely cheerful curve as he leans closer, as if begging forgiveness from the elf, whose expression becomes less gloomy.
The Obsidian City lord covers her eyes with one hand, face void of all expression. She can’t bear to watch this scene any further. Her image of an apathetic and dignified Osmund shatters to little pieces as her heart aches in acute agony.
Lord Osmund sucking up to someone...this must be a mistake!!
"So envious ah..." Aurora sighs in both admiration and regret. "Osmund and Nardred’s relationship has always been so good."
"...Don’t you feel it’s a little strange?" The city lord asks, voice steady. "I mean, this interaction between the two of them."
"What’s so strange about it?" The female human tilts her head in confusion. "Shouldn’t lovers interact this way?"
"Enough!" The lord abruptly gets to her feet, frowning heavily. "They are not lovers!"
"Eh?!"
"It is impossible for them to be lovers! At most, they are very close friends! I have known Osmund for so long, therefore, I know what kind of person he is!" Sansa grits out between clenched teeth, trying to justify their actions and consoling herself. "You are overthinking it!"
"...Is...that so?" Aurora’s eyes brighten, a sliver of hope sprouting in her heart as she watched the Obsidian City’s lord stalk off. "So...they are still not lovers yet?"
Striding swiftly away from the ballroom to her office, Sansa retrieves her crystal ball and contact her best friend, weeping grievously.
"My Adonis Lord Osmund has a lover! And the other party is a male elf! I’m so heartbroken...what should I do... QAQ"