In The Middle Of The Night

As Naria walked through the thick red curtains, she stepped into a large hall filled with men. Her heart pounded in her chest as she felt the eyes of everyone in the room on her, admiring the beauty and kindness that she portrayed.

"Finally!"

"What took you so long to show up?"

The men shouted and whistled as she walked by, their voices repeated louder and louder. Naria tried to keep her composure, but couldn't help, feeling a little overwhelmed by the attention.

'I can do this,' her mind kept racing as she breathed in more air.

The room was filled with tall, masculine, masked men. The masks were all white, hiding their faces and adding an air of mystery to the room. Naria was always wondering who these men were and what exactly they were doing.

As she made her way through the crowd, the men stepped aside to let her pass. Some of them bowed their heads in respect, while others reached out to touch her hand or brush against her arm.

Naria felt how a cold and icy shiver made the hair on her skin stand out...

Despite the attention and admiration of the men in the room, Naria couldn't shake the feeling of discomfort that lingered within her. Her eyes wandered around the room, looking for a specific person.

She hoped with all her heart that he wouldn't be there.

Her heart sank as she scanned the crowd, her eyes darting from one mask-clad man to the next. She couldn't help but wonder if he was among them, hiding a mask and watching her from afar.

Naria's mind raced as she tried to push the thought of him out of her head. She knew that she couldn't let the fear and discomfort take over. She had to stay strong and focused, no matter what.

Her eyes looked up at the tall, dark ceiling that seemed to stretch up into the heavens. The ceiling was so high that it was difficult to make out any details, but the darkness gave the impression of a vast and mysterious space.

The walls of the room were brown, giving the space a warm and earthy feel. The brown colour was rich and deep, with hints of red and orange that added a touch of elegance to the room.

As she lowered her head and continued to walk through the room, she noticed how the floor which was made of murmuring wood was cracking softly as people walked across it. The wood was polished and smooth, with a subtle grain that added texture and depth to the space.

Together, the tall dark ceiling, brown walls, and murmuring floor created a sense of grandeur and sophistication. The space felt both cosy and expensive, with a hint of mystery that made it all the more intriguing.

Naria relaxed her shoulders and felt a sense of relief wash over her when she realised that he wasn't there, and she could finally breathe a little easier.

She took a deep breath, feeling the weight of the ruby on her forehead and the warmth of Mirai's hand on her back. She knew she was safe, and that she could enjoy the night without the fear of running into him.

And finally confident, Naria walked through the room with her head held high. She felt the eyes of the men, but she no longer felt uncomfortable or afraid. She knew that she was in control and that nothing could stop her tonight.

Naria loved performing, even if it was forced at first and through her gritted teeth and sweat she had to learn how to dance, at the end of the day when her gift was revealed to the world.

Naria's dancing was like butterflies at night, fluttering and sparkling in the darkness. Her movements were graceful and fluid, flowing from one to the next with ease and elegance.

As she danced, Naria seemed to shine from within, her energy and light filling the room and killing the darkness. Her outfit shimmered in the dim light, catching the eye of everyone in the room.

All men watched in awe as Naria moved across the murmuring floor, with movements so smooth and effortless that she seemed to be floating. Her dancing was a thing of beauty, a sight to behold and a moment to cherish.

It was like a beacon of light in the darkened room, a reminder that even in the darkness, there was always beauty and hope.

"Naria, you will not perform in front of everyone, just bow and thank everyone for coming and then move to your private room," Verna's tone was cold, kinda demanding and ordering.

"Why is that?" Naria froze for a moment, not understanding what exactly was happening right now.

"A special somebody placed the highest bid in our history, 30 golden monets, we can't lose that tonight!"

Without talking back or disagreeing, she gently nodded her head and released Mirai's hand and then walked away.

Naria took a deep breath and stepped off the stage, her knees trembled a little.

The room died in silence. She felt the eyes of the audience upon her, and a cold sweat broke out on her brow. She scanned the room, looking for a friendly face among the sea of strangers.

Her eyes settled on a man sitting in the back row, his golden mask was glinting. His eyes met hers from across the room, and Naria felt a strange sensation go through her blood.

She couldn't explain it, but there was something about him that drew her in.

As she began to speak, "I will not be performing tonight…" her eyes couldn't leave the stranger in the back row.

Loud Whispers filled the hall.

She felt a vibrating, sensational feeling fill her belly as their eyes met from afar. It was as if they were the only two people in the room, and all the noise and chatter faded away into the background.

Naria took a deep breath and continued, "I know you all were waiting for this… but tonight my time was sold to a stranger who bid the most," her was voice trembling at first but grew stronger with each note.

The stranger in the back row remained silent, but his eyes seemed to be fading into hers. Naria felt as if she was talking just to him, and that weird perception continued to course through her veins.

As the speech ended and the applause filled the room, Naria saw how that man got up from his seat and walked out of the room.

"It's the bidder…" She tightened her fist and clenched her jaw.