Academic gathering with Lich colleagues

“Ariana…”

Those slender arms embraced her.

A warm, soft body pressed against hers, one arm encircling her waist, the other's fingers stroking her neck. A delicate fragrance filled her nostrils, completely masking the sweet aftertaste of the oil.

Lyle closed his eyes and quietly felt it. He heard the voice from this beautiful body, a heartbeat exactly like his own.

The gentle voice in my memory is like a breeze blowing past my ears.

"Did you hear that, Lyle? Right now, I'm also thinking about this."

"My feelings for you are more than just curiosity; there's something else mixed in. Now, I'm fully capable of answering you."

Lyle, I like you.

Chapter 192 Dancing Together

Gazing at the face before him, Lyle could see every single eyelash as she blinked under his gaze and feel Ariana's body tremble slightly.

The dress her friend had carefully prepared finally came in handy; the shimmering silk under the lights gave Lyle the courage to embrace her.

"It's like a dream, Ariana..." The words, carefully uttered, seemed too simplistic in the face of her radiant skin. Feeling the soft body in his arms, all words became dull.

Ariana's gaze was no longer fixed on his face; her closed eyelashes, like a velvet veil, obscured the light in her eyes. Her voice carried a faint sadness, her words like lemonade going down her throat.

"If my arrival is a burden to you, Lyle, I am willing to let tonight be our last dream."

“No, it’s not like that!” Lyle’s reply was simple and forceful. He held Ariana tightly in his arms, like a child clutching his most beloved doll. “Because tonight is like a beautifully colored bubble, and I want to hold on to it, but I’m also afraid of its beautiful escape. If you are a dream, Ariana, I hope I will never wake up.”

Ariana smiled, as if a window had opened in her heart. She reached out and wiped away the tears on Lyle's face.

Her cheeks drew closer, and their lips met. It felt like lying on the grass, lips kissing a white cloud.

For a long time, the lips are divided.

Seeing Lyle's stunned expression, Ariana let out a cute snicker.

Do you still think it's a dream?

His heart was like a boiling volcano, sending scalding blood to every corner of Lyle's body, and his face quickly turned bright red.

"It was a dream! Because I didn't feel anything just now, I need to try again to be sure!"

Ariana raised her eyebrows, making a reproachful expression, then changed to a mischievous one. She looked just like Beatrice always did.

"Really? But I already know what you taste like."

"The smell of lard." Ariana licked her lips, delivering another blow to Lyle's heart.

Did he forget to wipe his mouth? He stretched out his arm and wiped his lips with his sleeve.

This action elicited laughter from Ariana again. She nestled in Lyle's arms, her body trembling slightly with each laugh.

"Ariana, how did you become like this?"

"It was Nia who did it!" A slight tug came from the pant leg, and Nia, transformed into a little girl with a cute appearance similar to Ariana, was showing off her achievement.

“It’s a corrosive disguise,” Ariana whispered in Lyle’s ear. “Nia reshaped my body on my bones, but it wasn’t just a simple skin. It’s a miracle, Lyle. Now I can feel warmth and cold, the touch of your fingers, the warmth of your lips, and the desire to be close to you. I want to touch your cheek, listen to your heartbeat, and a longing to be with you dominates me now. I want you to always be in my sight.”

"The smell of lard whetted my appetite, and I felt like I was reborn."

The original corrosive disguise didn't have its current abilities. Lyle looked at Nia, who resembled a porcelain doll at his feet. It seemed that absorbing Duke Hamlet had greatly altered her abilities. Perhaps she had inherited a similar ability to create clones.

The result was that his goddess was truly standing beside him, in front of everyone.

"Lyle, who is she?"

This was the first other person to speak up after Ariana's arrival.

The chilling voice came from his uncle, Ralf. His gloomy eyes, now filled with disbelief and suspicion, swept over Lyle and Ariana.

Lyle released his grip on Ariana, his gaze finally shifting to Nia. Nia smiled sweetly at Lyle's gaze.

"Nia wants a hug!"

Lyle picked her up and casually placed her in Ralf's arms. Ralf stared wide-eyed, instinctively hugging Nia, his face blank as he looked at the little girl in his arms.

"Yes, your grandniece."

Ignoring the malfunctioning Ralf, Lyle extended his hand toward Ariana.

"In Hamlet's castle, I still owe you a dance. Beautiful Ariana, may I have the honor of inviting you to dance?"

A serene smile graced Ariana's face as she lifted the hem of her silk skirt and placed her soft hand in Lyle's palm.

"The price of breaking the contract is something a dance can't pay for me now."

Lyle led Ariana onto the dance floor, his head close to her earlobe.

"I will keep dancing until you are satisfied."

Ralph watched as his nephew transformed into a completely different person, becoming the center of attention at the ball.

A small hand gently patted his cheek as he looked at the little girl in his arms, at her incredibly cute face, her features carrying the scent of that strange woman and Lyle.

Nia gave Ralf a bright, flower-like smile.

"Ralph, it's Nia!"

……

Ariana's mockery and Lyle's embarrassment clashed together.

"So Mr. Lyle, who promised to dance forever, actually can't dance?"

Lyle's left hand was holding Ariana's, and his right arm was around her waist, so he could only look away to hide his embarrassment. The atmosphere had been so perfect that he had forgotten he couldn't dance.

Ariana moved closer to his face, drawing the focus back to his dark eyes.

"Your stubborn and defiant attitude is also quite cute, Lyle."

"Where would you use 'cute' to describe a man?"

“I have him here, my boy, he’s just so cute.”

Ariana placed her hand on Lyle's shoulder.

“Follow in my footsteps, Lyle, I’ll guide you.”

"Okay, I hope I won't embarrass myself."

"It will not fail, I guarantee it in the name of Naslan."

As the music started, the people on the dance floor began to dance.

Ariana was the absolute center of attention, a swan gracefully dancing in her own territory, her beauty reflected in the dance floor. Lyle's movements were surprisingly skillful and precise, though his expression held a hint of awkwardness and stiffness.

William covered his face, unable to bear watching his brother. In his vision, two ghostly maids were moving Lyle's feet, adjusting them to the correct position.

Lyle gradually relaxed his body, which was acting strangely out of control. He was captivated by Ariana's profile, and his mood became blurred and indistinct in the lamplight.

The two were immersed in a shared dream, their skin pressed together, indistinguishable in the flickering light and shadow.

Chapter 193 It's Kevin's Fault

Kevin hummed a cheerful tune as he sat down at the table. When the song ended, his once proud and aloof fiancée, with whom he had danced, lost her enthusiasm for dancing, and he felt relieved. Although he was then bothered by the old man for a while, the content of their conversation had truly made him feel better.

"Who is that lady? Her dance partner... I remember her, she seems to be your classmate?"

"How is my sister-in-law?"

"She has a certain air about her, it's not just about simple beauty, she's very noble."

“She is a hereditary countess of Narancia, don’t you think?” Kevin recalled his conversation with Lyle in Hamlet, inwardly thinking that the old man was two ranks higher than his grandfather.

"...You have a good eye for people." Baron Borei's eyes held a mixture of melancholy and relief.

Kevin smiled; his grandfather had finally acknowledged his brother Lyle, albeit through Lyle's relationship with him.

At this moment, Kevin's mouth gradually became more unruly. "Old man, the Lyle I've chosen is better than you, and the William you've chosen is now my brother. What do you have to fight me with? Hahahahahahahahaha."

That's satisfying! I should eat a big piece of meat!

Everyone was captivated by Arianna and Lyle's dance; no one paid any attention to the eldest son of the Borey family. Haha, I can finally relax for a while! Kevin puffed out his cheeks and chewed vigorously, the delicious taste in his mouth and the joy in his heart blending into an even better flavor. Tonight is my lucky day!

"Kevin..." A voice, no less terrifying than his own grandfather's, rang out behind him.

Mr. Ralph, who was holding the lovely girl, sat down next to Kevin.

Under the table, Kevin's leg twitched, and he put on a smile. "Is there something you need, Mr. Ralph?"

The adorable little girl in Ralph's arms stared at him with wide eyes, her chubby little hands reaching out to grab the steak on his plate.

"This is Nia, Lyle's daughter. Have you seen her before?"

"I've met her, I know Nia." Of course, we know each other too well. I was there when she was playing with the thieves like a showerhead. If I didn't recognize her, I'd rip my head off. Forget her daughter, she's definitely Lyle's closest relative, his person. "What's wrong, Mr. Ralph? You doubt Nia's identity?"

Ralf looked at the lovely girl gazing at him, took the knife and fork, and handed them to Nia to play with. "No, I believe Nia is definitely Lyle's child. I have a gut feeling that Nia has the blood of the Bühler family flowing through her veins. This is what my grandniece should look like. However, I have doubts about the girl next to Lyle. She is very outstanding, unrealistically outstanding. I am very curious about how they met."

Mr. Ralph's gaze shifted to Kevin, who realized that Ralph was using him as Lyle's matchmaker. However, for Lyle's happiness, he decided to pretend. "Ah, you've found out, Mr. Ralph. Actually, I did introduce Ariana to Lyle. We met at Eiffel Academy. Yes, Miss Ariana Naslan is indeed a noble friend of mine. Shortly after I introduced her to Lyle, they became a couple. Perhaps Nia was born shortly after."

"Really? But Nia looks about five or six years old?"

"Ah... Ah ha! Nia just looks older. She was raised by the Naslan family and had better conditions, so she developed earlier. That's how it is for nobles."

"Really? Then why do you look so small?"

Kevin took a breath and lowered his head. "Because I was naughty and a picky eater when I was little, I didn't get enough nutrition, so I don't look old now." Kevin waved his hand again. "Don't worry about Ariana's good intentions. They really like each other, and their relationship is very good."

Ralph stroked his chin. "So, Lyle's been staying out all night lately because he's been having a tryst with Ariana?"

Kevin tried to smooth things over, "Yes! That's right! After the Eiffel Academy closed down, they lost their rendezvous place and could only meet secretly at night. You know, the love between nobles and commoners needs to be discreet. Really, I even acted as a lookout for them a few times!"

"You noble boy, keeping watch for Lyle's secret rendezvous?"

"Isn't it because Lyle and I have a good relationship? We're like brothers."

Ralph nodded. "Alright, take care of Nia then. I'll be leaving for a while."

"Ok."