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The Empress Luna

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"Is it alright for me to kiss the Empress' hand?"

They blinked at each other as an awkward smile broke across Luna's face.

She was the Empress for the goddess' sake!

Why was she acting like she was mute?

Luna was so surprised that her throat had tightened with anxiety and she almost stumbled on the train of her gown when she stepped backwards.

Not waiting to see the Vampire King's riposte of Draco's query, Luna took a deep breath, glance upwards at him and nodded warily at his request.

Luna placed her hand which had appeared tiny in his large ones, drowning her hand with its size as he clasped it before brushing his thick lips on her skin.

Luna shifted from foot to foot with unease.

She had thought that she was used to handsome men in her vicinity—The Vampire King, the two Archdemons and her close contact with King Panterra, King Phorcys and King Remus--but Luna had thought wrong based from the emotions these men had evoked on her.

She was deeply affected and in awe of their sheer beauty--akin to having huge bark of tree falling in front of her face and she just couldn't ignore it--but at least she could manage to keep her mouth closed.

Luna didn't wait for the Dragon Emperor to let go of her hand because she had already pulled away from his grasp when his lips had lifted from the back of her hand.

Luna will not show any sign that would display any disloyalty to her husband in front of him.

Luna wanted to prove to Apollyon that he could trust her.

It seemed like the Vampire King had trusted her reassurance for he hadn't interfered when Draco offered his arm for her to snake her elbow with.

The Dragon Emperor was clearly aware of the Ball Room etiquette for he did not hold her by the hand and drag her to the dance floor with a sense of familiarity and entitlement and that was when she knew that she would be somewhat safe with him.

When they arrived at the dancefloor, Draco bowed his head and she curtsied along with him as the music commenced.

Wearing a pleasant smile as she inclined her head a little, Luna sighed with relief when it was the waltz Apollyon had told her earlier.

She can apply the basic dance steps to this set and she wouldn't be humiliated like what her husband had expected of her in the beginning.

Luna will make Apollyon proud by how elegant and graceful she was at dancing.

Draco pressed his hand on her waist as they danced.

Luna did well when she danced at the balcony with Apollyon but right now, she tried her best to perform the steps carefully, adjusting to this new environment along with the crowd in the ball room.

Gasping, Luna's posture had suddenly stiffened when the Dragon Emperor had settled one arm on her back while the other one encircled her waist.

She was about to open her mouth in protest but she realized that Draco had forcefully pulled her as he stepped towards the right and she had no choice but to follow his guidance.

When she turned her head for a split second, there was a couple who had seemingly popped out of nowhere at their side and if Draco didn't steer away from them, Luna would have continued and crash into King Phorcys and his mermaid concubine.

That would create another embarrassing scene that would rival the Acquaintance Affairs where she stood with her wrists tied up, exposing her naked body in front of the guests.

Laughing shakily, Luna adjusted her hand on Draco's shoulders and leaned her face discreetly to his ear, "Thank you, Emperor Draco."

She gave him a slow smile. "I appreciate your help."

The Dragon Emperor's lips twitched with wry humor. "There is something I'm curious about that was why I wanted to gain an audience with you even just for a little while."

A shiver ran down her spine.

Goddess, was this about the Acquaintance Affairs?

If it was, then Luna needed the dance floor to crack open and let the ground swallow her whole, disappearing until nobody in this goddamned Realm remember that embarrassing moment.

Perhaps, this would prevent people who were in that event to mention anything about what happened in the past.

She wouldn't be able to handle the humiliation all over again.

Luna unconsciously straightened, forcing herself to meet Draco's gaze.

Instead, she replied, "Sure, Your Highness."

She forced a bright smile and looked up at him. "You can ask me anything."

"I just find it weird, Empress." There was a surprising hint of suspicion tightening his grim features. "Why do you smell like you are of dragon descent?"

Her smile wavered at the Dragon Emperor's question as she stared at her heels, avoiding eye contact.

"It's not fully strong but I know it's there for I have scented you the moment you entered the ball room." He shrugged with nonchalance when he noticed that her brows had knitted together in a mix of confusion and anxiety.

He pressed, murmuring, "May I know what race you belong to if you would care to tell me?"

As she messed up the dance steps she had memorized in her head because she had lost her focus, the Emperor wasn't able to stop her when Luna's back hit another couple on the dance floor.

Luna got too distracted from Draco's peculiar confession that she had panicked and lost her mind.

It wasn't that she was unfamiliar with the dance because Apollyon had taught her well at the Balcony and they had practiced it a lot of times but what the Dragon King said had terribly bothered her peace of mind.

Was there something wrong with her?

Why would she smell like she was of dragon ancestry?

She didn't stumble because Emperor Draco had come to her rescue by simply placing a protective hand to cradle the back of her head before she crashed into another King.

The impact had left her reeling.