The gentlemen elegantly invited the ladies they favored, while the ladies responded gracefully. Together, they whirled and leapt across the dance floor, their skirts blooming like flower petals.
Perhaps Sista was annoyed by what had just happened, as she grabbed Su Ling’s hand forcefully. Her pace was quick, leaving Su Ling to stumble along behind her, nearly tripping over her high heels several times.
“You don’t want to dance with that man from earlier, do you?” Sista suddenly asked out of the blue.
“Huh? No, I didn’t think that at all.”
At that moment, a melodious waltz began to play, and the atmosphere in the ballroom grew even more vibrant. Sista gently took Su Ling’s hand.
“Then come and accompany me for a dance.”
Su Ling immediately looked troubled and carefully declined.
“Your Highness, I… I don’t know how to dance. And look at these high heels; I’m already wobbly just walking. Dancing… I definitely can’t do it.”
She looked down at her magnificent yet torturous shoes, her eyes filled with distress.
“If you don’t know how, then learn. This is an Aristocratic Ball. Since you’ve come, you must follow the rules here.”
Sista was as domineering as ever. Before Su Ling could speak again, she was pulled directly onto the dance floor. Su Ling could only struggle to keep up, her heart filled with trepidation.
At this ball, very few humans had been invited, and most of them stayed at the very edge of the dance floor. It was even rarer for a human to be brought into the center, like Su Ling.
When the human girl stepped into the middle of the floor, the gazes of the surrounding Blood Clan fell upon her like sharp blades, making her feel incredibly uncomfortable.
Sista seemed not to care at all. With a cold expression, she spoke in a tone that was nearly a command.
“Follow my lead. Don’t let your mind wander.”
With that, she led Su Ling into the waltz.
Su Ling had no choice but to follow the rhythm, but her clumsy movements were quickly exposed.
‘This is so painful…’
Amidst the dizzying array of magnificent attire, that was the only thought remaining in Su Ling’s mind.
In this moment, those exquisite high heels had become her nightmare. The thin, high heels lifted her petite feet high, forcing her soles forward and squeezing her toes into the narrow toe box like trapped pomegranate seeds.
The music rose and fell. As the dance steps changed, Su Ling’s small feet endured unprecedented torture.
Natural turns, reverse turns, closed changes…
With every step, her soles felt as if they were being pressed heavily against a hard floor. The thin heels felt even more like needles, constantly piercing her heels.
With every rotation, the tops of her feet rubbed against the inside of the shoes, and her ankles throbbed with pain from constantly adjusting her balance.
Gradually, sweat trickled down the silver-haired girl’s forehead. The cold sweat made her look quite miserable.
Several times, she nearly lost her balance and fell forward. She could only grip Sista’s hand tightly, enduring the pain in her feet. When the music reached its climax, she almost lunged into Sista’s arms. Fortunately, the other woman reacted quickly and stabilized her.
‘Ugh… this is so embarrassing…’ Su Ling wailed in her heart.
Yet, within Sista’s icy eyes, an imperceptible flicker of excitement flashed.
She liked seeing Su Ling’s nimble little feet struggling within those high heels. She liked the way her brows furrowed slightly from the pain. She also liked how she was covered in cold sweat yet still tried her best to keep up with the dance steps.
When Su Ling nearly tripped again and leaned forward, the emotion in Sista’s eyes deepened. She even deliberately slowed her movements, forcing Su Ling to remain in that state of imbalance for an extra moment, enjoying the panic that flashed through her eyes.
This was exactly what she wanted to see.
It was also the reason she had brought Su Ling to the ball.
When they returned later, she would help apply medicine to those rubbed-red feet, and while she was at it…
Sista’s train of thought paused for a moment, but her face remained calm.
The music gradually came to a stop as the song ended.
Su Ling could hardly stand. She leaned weakly against Sista like a limp accessory.
Sista was secretly delighted, though she remained cold on the surface.
“To think a single dance would tire you out like this.”
While scolding her, she supported Su Ling and led her to a table to rest.
Su Ling was pale, her forehead covered in fine beads of sweat. Breathing softly, she said weakly, “Your Highness, I… I really don’t know how to dance. Please do not blame me.”
Sista gave a soft huff and signaled a waiter to bring a glass of water, which she handed over. “Drink some water first and catch your breath.”
“Thank you, Your Highness.”
Su Ling took the glass and took small sips.
Just then, a curvaceous noble girl walked over. She had rounded cheeks and wore a blue and white gown with wide sleeves embroidered with intricate totems.
Sista recognized her — Nivea Lorian.
Nivea stepped forward with a wine glass, a brilliant smile on her face as she gently clinked glasses with Sista.
“Your Highness Sista, your dancing just now was truly captivating. I couldn’t help but feel a bit jealous.”
Sista only gave a faint smile and glanced over her without responding.
Nivea’s eyes flickered, and she took a small, exquisitely wrapped Affection Enhancing Square from her pocket, quietly pressing it into Sista’s hand.
“Your Highness, my brother Buke has been missing you dearly. Unfortunately, he couldn’t attend the ball today. This is a small token he asked me to deliver. It’s said to… have the effect of enhancing affection.”
Sista’s fingers gently brushed the packaging, her eyes shimmering slightly.
“Are you certain he was the one who asked you to give this to me?”
Nivea froze for a second, then forced a smile. “Does Your Highness not believe me?”
“It is not that I don’t believe you, but rather that the one Buke loves is someone else.”
Sista raised an eyebrow and tucked the Affection Enhancing Square into her pocket.
“I will accept the gift. However, Nivea, this is the last time I will remind you — stop forcing yourself to please me like this.”
Nivea was stunned. Realizing the meaning behind the words, her expression dimmed. She lowered her head and, without another word, turned and walked away.
Su Ling listened from the side, feeling somewhat confused, but she didn’t dare interrupt due to her status. Only after Nivea left did she ask softly:
“Your Highness, about the Buke that lady mentioned…”
“He is the eldest son of the House Lorian. His father hopes for a marriage alliance between us, which is why Nivea keeps trying to find ways to please me.”
Sista looked in the direction Nivea had gone, her tone indifferent.
“However, the person Buke truly loves is actually Nivea. They have been in love since childhood, but they were forced apart because of family pressure.”
Su Ling was slightly taken aback, feeling a secret sense of pity in her heart.
“Su Ling, it is about time for us to leave.”
As the ball drew to a close, Sista gently tugged on Su Ling’s hand.