70 Dancing Together

70 Dancing Together
(Ella's POV)

I closed the door and leaned against it, exhaling slowly.

Soon after, Colin's subordinate knocked respectfully and placed three elegant long boxes before me.

"Miss Ella, these are the gowns the captain prepared for you."

I thanked him and waited until he left to open the lids.

Each dress was beautiful, but what caught my eye was a pale yellow gown.

The satin caught candlelight with a warm luster, the hem cut cleanly—not floor-length, but just covering my ankles. A layer of fine gauze overlay shimmered faintly with movement. The waist was perfectly fitted without the elaborate bulk of noble ballgowns, and the skirt's interior even had hidden pockets for several vials and a small knife. It struck the right balance between banquet propriety and practicality for running or crouching when necessary.

Clearly, this wasn't just a pretty dress—it was designed for tomorrow night's mission.

I put on the gown and tried to fasten the back ties in the mirror. After several attempts, I couldn't quite reach. Just as I was about to give up, someone knocked.

"Ella."

It was Kyle.

I hurried to open the door.

The moment I cracked it open, he looked up.

"Kyle, what brings you here?" I asked, puzzled, only to find Kyle standing frozen in the doorway.

He rarely showed emotion on his face, but now he simply stood there, his gaze resting quietly on me without moving away.

His stare made my ears burn, and I instinctively looked down at my skirt.

"What's wrong?" I tugged gently at the hem. "Does it... not look good?"

Kyle slowly shook his head. "No."

He looked at me, his voice so low it was almost a sigh.

"You're beautiful."

He stepped into the room, the door closing behind him as his appearance instantly returned to its true form.

Black hair swayed gently with his movement, those deep eyes fixed on me without blinking, with something almost... hungry in them.

I couldn't help raising my hand to cover his eyes, my cheeks burning. "Stop looking. I haven't finished dressing..."

"Where isn't it finished? I'll help you." Kyle easily caught my wrist, then intertwined our fingers and pulled me before him.

With his height, he could easily see the unfastened ties at my back.

"Turn around," he said. "I'll help you."

I obediently turned.

Soft fabric rustled behind me.

Kyle stood so close I could feel his breath on my nape.

His fingers threaded through layers of ribbon, patiently retying the fastenings. His touch was light but inevitably brushed against my bare back.

His fingertips carried a cool temperature. Each contact sent tiny currents along my skin.

I couldn't help shrinking my shoulders slightly.

"Cold?"

"...No." I was just nervous. I suddenly remembered when Kyle was drunk and I'd accidentally touched him all over, making me feel shy.

Kyle seemed to notice my tension and moved even more gently until the final bow was tied, then lightly patted my shoulder.

"Done."

I was about to turn when I heard him speak quietly.

"Ella."

"Yes?"

"Must you accompany Colin to the ball?"

His voice was calm, but I still detected the suppressed emotion beneath.

I turned to face him.

"It's part of the plan, Kyle. Only Colin can legitimately approach Dorian, and as his dance partner, I can enter the banquet's center." I smiled at him. "Are you worried about me? Don't worry, Colin will take care of me."

"Take care of you?" Kyle raised an eyebrow. "Colin's motives probably go beyond the plan."

"Why else would he specifically ask me to be his partner?" I shrugged. "Don't underestimate Colin—he's incredibly popular. The girls chasing him could form a line from Thornton to the capital!"

Kyle's mouth twitched, looking displeased.

I suddenly understood. "Oh~ I see, you're jealous, aren't you~ Haha, you're quite popular too. So many girls visit our shop every day~"

As I spoke, I noticed Kyle's buttons weren't properly fastened.

I gently grasped his collar, wanting to straighten it.

Today Kyle wore a knight's uniform.

A deep gray double-breasted coat with silver thread embroidering the knight order's thorn insignia at the collar. The uniform made his shoulders look broad and legs long, like a dagger sheathed—understated yet deadly. But his brow remained slightly furrowed, his mouth pressed into an unhappy line.

Oh heavens, he looked even more dashingly austere.

I fastened his final button and smoothed the collar's creases. When my fingertips touched the fabric below his throat, his breathing clearly paused.

"Ethelburg is full of Church people," I said quietly, my fingers slowly smoothing his collar line. "Once they recognize you..."

I didn't finish. My fingers stopped beside his topmost button, feeling his skin's warmth through my fingertips.

Kyle looked down at my hand, then up at my eyes. "You're very worried about me. That's why you must participate in this plan."

Not a question but a statement—he was certain of my feelings.

"Of course I'm worried about you." I looked away. "If you died, who would carry my medicine chest? Besides, we have a contract—you still need to help me open my shop!"

He made a soft "hmm" sound, but his mouth relaxed just slightly.

Looking at his still-furrowed brow and unhappy mouth, I suddenly felt something gently poke at a corner of my heart. Moonlight spread across the floor while distant festival music drifted faintly from outside.

"Kyle."

"Yes?"

I stepped back half a pace, lifted a corner of my skirt, curtsied slightly to him, then extended my hand.

"Would you dance with me?"

He froze. That eternally cool expression finally cracked, revealing the bewildered and uncertain truth beneath. "What?"

"A rehearsal before the banquet," I smiled. "I'd like my first dance of the year to be with you."

Kyle stared at my outstretched hand for three seconds. Then he removed his gloves, revealing long fingers, and gently grasped my palm.

His fingers were dry and slightly cool, with thin calluses at the knuckles.

"My honor, my lady."

I placed my hand on his shoulder. He held my other hand, palm against palm, warmth mingling.

The room had no music, only night wind carrying distant melodies through the window—faint and indistinct.

Kyle led me in the first step.

Without music, we moved in perfect harmony as if hearing the same melody.

My skirt swayed gently with our steps.

My hand rested on his shoulder, my gaze never leaving his eyes.

One step, then another.

The room wasn't large, and we turned slowly around the soft carpet as if we were the only two people in the world.

Several times I nearly stepped on my hem.

Kyle steadied me each time.

"Slower," he murmured.

I couldn't help laughing. "You're the one leading too fast."

"Am I?"

"Yes, sir."

"What about this?" He slowed his pace.

The distance between us closed slightly.

We completed one circle. Moonlight poured through the window, creating silver squares on the floor. His boots and my skirt intersected, separated, then intersected again. I counted his steps but lost track of my heartbeats.

Another circle, and he released my hand without completely stepping away. Only half a palm's width separated us, his breath stirring my hair.

"I have something for you, Ella." Kyle drew something from inside his coat and held it before me.

It was a necklace with a pendant slightly larger than a thumbnail—half sun, half moon, with a rice-grain-sized pale blue sapphire in the center. Delicate vine patterns were etched where sun and moon met, glowing warmly in the candlelight.

I was stunned.

"What is this?" I looked up at him.

"You gave me a gift before." Kyle gestured to the necklace hidden beneath his clothes. "So this is my return gift. I made it myself."

"You made this yourself?!" I whispered in amazement, examining the necklace closely. "It's beautiful!"

"Let me put it on you." Kyle opened the pendant's clasp with his fingertips, reached around my neck, and fastened the chain. His fingers brushed my hair ends and lingered at my nape, cool fingertips touching my skin.

The pendant fell against the skin below my collarbone, cool as a small piece of moonlight.

"Keep it on always. If we become separated," he said quietly, his fingers sliding from my nape, "it will guide me to you, Ella."

I looked down at the pendant, then back up at him. "What if you're the one who disappears?"

Kyle smiled, that expression gentle as moonlight.

"Then you come find me."

He spoke so naturally, as if no matter how far apart we were, we would always meet again.