It's so hard being a hero!

"Don't worry, I know what I'm doing."

After saying that, Vic put on his usual nonchalant smile again, picked up his wine glass, and walked away.

Chapter 28 The Shadow of Desire

Sophia was staring blankly in the direction Vic had left, her mind still churning with thoughts of Evelyn and Lilith.

That woman's face, those purple eyes, that sweet, cloying aura almost identical to Lilith's.

All of this made her uneasy.

"Little girl, come here, dance with me."

Just as Sofia was pondering Evelyn's identity, Lyra suddenly walked over, reached out without a word, and grabbed Sofia's wrist.

"what?"

Sophia paused for a moment, instinctively wanting to shrink back.

"Dance?"

"Yes, dancing."

Leila pulled hard, lifting her up from the chair.

"Today is a special day, how can you not dance with me?"

"But I... I don't know how."

Sophia quickly waved her hand.

"If you don't know how, just learn. It's very simple. I'll show you."

Leila gave her no chance to refuse, holding her hand with one hand and placing the other on her waist.

Sophia froze.

The sensation of that hand on her waist left her mind blank.

"Relax, how can you jump if you're so stiff?"

Layla rolled her eyes and pulled her body forward slightly with her arm.

"Just follow my lead, I'll guide you."

Sofia took a deep breath, trying to relax.

But her attention wasn't on the dance steps at all; she was still thinking about Evelyn.

Leila led her to take the first step.

Then comes the second and third steps.

Sofia's feet moved almost instinctively to Lyra's rhythm, her body naturally spinning and moving forward and backward in the melody of the music.

Her body seemed to be executing some kind of muscle memory, requiring no command from the brain.

The melody of the waltz flowed through the banquet hall, the light from the crystal chandelier bathed the two of them, their white skirts fluttered gently as they twirled, and their long silver hair shone softly under the light.

Leila's hand firmly supported her waist, guiding her through the dance floor with light, graceful steps.

One turn, two turns.

His movements were so fluid that it didn't seem like that of a beginner.

"Huh?"

Laila suddenly stopped and looked down at Sophia, her eyes full of confusion.

Didn't you say you couldn't dance?

Sophia was stunned, and then realized what she had just done.

Damn.

In her previous life, as an imperial hero and a holy child of the papacy, she attended countless banquets, large and small, and ballroom dancing was as natural to her as drinking water and eating.

Those dance steps were etched into her body, becoming an instinct.

I was thinking about something else when my body started moving uncontrollably.

"I.."

Sofia quickly shook her head, trying to get away with it.

"That's right, I was following you just now, you've been a good guide for me."

"Did I lead well?"

Leila raised an eyebrow, and a faint, ambiguous smile slowly curved her lips.

"You already know how to do it before I even started teaching you?"

Sophia opened her mouth, but was speechless for a moment.

"Um, um..."

"Don't tell me it's your body moving on its own."

Layla crossed her arms, giving him a look that said, "Let's see how you make this up."

Sophia's mind raced, searching for countless excuses in just two seconds, finally coming up with an answer that even she found absurd.

"Yes, my mom taught me."

"Your mother?"

Leila was taken aback.

"Yes, my mom."

Sophia nodded quickly, a "that's right" expression on her face.

“My mother worked as a maid in a noble family in Kyle City when she was young. She learned some dance and taught me at home when I was a child.”

She paused, then added.

"But I haven't jumped in a long time, so I'm a bit rusty."

Leila stared at her for a few seconds, her blue eyes filled with suspicion.

"Ok."

Leila waved her hand and took her hand again.

"Since you can do it, then dance properly and stop pretending."

Sofia felt guilty after hearing what she said, but she couldn't refuse anymore, so she could only bite the bullet and continue dancing to Layla's rhythm.

She felt she had already made enough mistakes today, so one more wouldn't matter.

Anyway, unlike Vic, Lyra wouldn't think that way.

At worst, I'll just think she's a strange little girl.

When the song ended, Leila released her grip, took two steps back, and looked Sophia up and down.

"Hmm, that was a good jump. Keep it up next time."

Sofia's lips twitched slightly.

next time?

There will be a next time?

Just as she was about to say something, Leila was pulled away by several young men nearby.

"Layla, come over here, we're talking about you."

"They're here, they're here."

Leila winked at Sophia, then turned and left.

Sofia stood there and let out a long breath.

"Ugh! I'm so tired."

She muttered something, turned around and went back to her seat in the corner, picked up the juice on the table and took a sip.

She put down her glass and glanced around the banquet hall again.

Vic was nowhere to be found, Frey was talking with several noble ladies, and Lyra was surrounded by a group of young people laughing and talking.

Everything seems normal.

But Sophia knew that beneath this calm surface, undercurrents were surging.

Meanwhile, in the temporary sleeping quarters deep within the palace.

Vic strode down the corridor, and the soldiers along the corridor bowed their heads in salute.

He finally arrived at the main gate of the palace, raised his hand, and gently knocked on the door.

"Your Majesty, it is I, Vic."

There was silence for a few seconds inside the door, then a tired, aged voice came from inside.

"Come in."

As Vic pushed open the door, a strong smell of medicine wafted towards him.

He frowned and glanced around the room.

The old emperor's complexion has improved considerably.

Why are you here?

The old emperor raised his eyelids, glanced at him, and asked.

Vic walked to the bedside, but instead of sitting down, he stood there, looking down at his father-in-law.

"Your Majesty, there is something I would like to ask you."

"what's up?"

"About the medicine you took."