Adonis pov

For a moment I danced with a cloud. Her hands so soft, so small slid into my hands which was the opposite of Riona's. Rough, scarred, and much bigger than hers. Her body was pale, as white as snow, and soft as the clouds. She was still skinny but, than better when I first met her when she was a walking skeleton. 

I allowed my hands to run down her white bodice, which did nothing but highlight her figure carefully, onto her waist as the dance continued. 

Who would have guessed a cloud-like person could be like a thundercloud? She stood tall even against Lady Zenith from the great house. The house that destroyed my family, perhaps that is why I felt happy right now even if she did attract more attention than needed standing tall without faltering in front of others wasn’t a bad thing.

Although currently, she seemed to be in another world as she stared into my eyes lost with her small grey somewhat like diamonds. “Riona,” I whispered softly in her ears trying to reel her back into reality but the response I received was her stare briefly at my hands on her waist and a shiver when I closed the distance between us pulling her closer. Her crimson ribbon somewhat like blood stood out as her sleeve hung down lifelessly with snake-like patterns. The sweat slowly and discreetly traveled down the side of her face as she continued to wear the same exhausted and fake smile she always did just like Amelie. 

I was fooled by a fake smile once but this time I won’t.

“If you are uncomfortable just tell me,” I told her as I spun around creating a distance comfortable for her.

“Who said I was uncomforta-” she blurted out as she broke out of her trance giving me an awkward smile.

“You have been spaced out, you look like you saw a demon, and you are trembling,” I listed, as I removed my hands from her waist and twirled her around breaking away from the traditional dance choreography. 

“I’m fine,” she lied as she adjusted herself to the change of dance style.

“Having a worn-out partner is no good perhaps, drawing more attention to yourself than needed tired you out quite easily,” I said, placing on a cheerful smirk that she hated but even that barely made a dent in her mask of fake happiness. 

“I'm aware that I have drawn even more attention however if you seek to gain influence should you not gain the respect of others? Letting them walk over me would have the opposite effect” she stated releasing a sigh of tiredness.

“That is correct, perhaps we should go mingle with nobles together,” I suggested loosely locking my fingers into her hand “This is fine, right? You're not uncomfortable?” I questioned and when I did for a split second there was a glimpse of sadness and shock mixed into one. 

“I'm alright thank you for your concern,” she lied, reminding me of Amelie…

“Very well, I guess it is time to introduce my fiance personally,” I nodded, looking around the hall for my next prey. My targets were simple merchants who had not clearly made an effort to publicly please or join hands with the 3 main nobility houses. Merchants and small nobility would typically make a public effort to get on their good side. 

According to Nelson, the trades have been doing poorly due to the occupied trade routes which meant with more information, I could be able to use this as an opportunity.

“Duke Axel,” a voice called out.

It was Carlos Benedict the next duke and of the head of the house of Benedict - and his newly wedded wife Victoria - the daughter to the lead of the merchant guild - their arms were linked together as they walked happily toward us in their green attire adorned with the pattern of their house. 

“Greetings,” Riona bowed her head slightly, rising slowly with grace flashing a small delicate smile that could break at any time.

“Greetings,” Victoria responded bowing slightly as her braids dangled, smiling as she continued “I must say Duke Axel has fine eyes for beauty,” she chuckled softly

She openly complimented Riona and was the first to engage in conversation despite Riona upsetting Lady Zenith. Was this possibly their way of declaring us a friend rather than a foe?

“You flatter me quite well,” Riona responded “I have been doing my best to maintain my looks but that was only with the help of your cosmetics,” she stated.

Their marriage allowed Victoria’s father's cosmetic business to be owned by the house of Benedict while Victoria’s father still gained a large profit however I couldn’t recall any of Riona’s maids buying such fancy cosmetics for her and Riona only had a short amount of learning time from Madame Nolle. So how was she educated in the noble families?

I turned to Riona who had the same expression while she was busy talking to Victoria. 

“So how did the two of you meet?” Victoria asked curiously as if she was about to reveal a mystery

“Oh, how did we meet?” Riona repeated the question as she shot me a look. 

“Riona-” Before I could make up a lie Riona spoke “Well…It was a chilly winter, I had gotten lost a year after my family succumbed to the deadly plague and before I knew it I found myself in front of the northern duke…who had a broken heart…needless to say, he was quite like a…” she paused as she smirked “A lovesick puppy,”

Victoria laughed softly, she hid her face behind her ivory fan contrasting her bronze skin while Carlos looked amused. 

“It is glad to see that the cold duke of the north has been enjoying himself; perhaps we can discuss more later,” Carlos stated, heading toward the main hall as servants frantically added the finishing touch. 

“They seem…interested in you,” Riona said, her head turned to me with her smile dissolved, gone without a trace. 

“I guess they did, perhaps they are looking for an investment, whatever it is I’ll tell Gerald to research more,” I responded, guiding us to the main hall, it was the final part of the banquet.