Do you trust me?

And then it was time for the ball...

But-

Before that, Emperor Ryan Irwin got up from his seat and spoke with a smile " Thank you all for joining us today in the greatest celebration of Delos Empire. I would like to take this opportunity to announce the engagement of my son Prince Luke to Princess Seraphina of Lipon Kingdom!.... They will be getting married next year."

The crowd erupted in cheers and clapping sounds could be heard since they were already guessing it from the beginning while many noble factions had frowning faces for some reason.... 'This cheeky bastard' all those frowning noble factions thought at the same time since their plan failed that they have been planning for so long.....

The music started and since Luke has taken all the spotlight, he went up with Seraphina to the stage and danced but Noah could recognize that Seraphina was stressed and very stiff and uncomfortable.

He didn't want to make a scene so when they were done he went with Ares and danced elegantly.

Ares had a huge blush on her face but she was also smiling happily like she was in heaven. Being held by the person she loves the most so intimately made her giggle like a lovestruck fool.

Soon other people joined as well to dance.

Ares was already very drunk so Noah teleported Ares to her bedroom secretly.

Although in that drunk state she tried to make some advances towards Noah, Noah made her fall asleep and came to the banquet.

Noah was not someone who takes advantage of drunk women if she is not his enemy.

He can be extremely cold to his enemies but people who have always been kind to him will receive his kindness too.

Soon many people gathered around Luke and Seraphina and started gifting them whatever they brought as gifts for the Delos Celebration.

Luke seemed to have become the star of the night.....

Luke had a huge smile thinking about all the things he will get to do with her beautiful wife after their marriage.

Although he has tried to make advances towards her, she has refused many times since she was always accompanied Noah whenever she came to Delta city.

Looking at her 'beloved' younger brother who was calmly sipping his wine alone in a corner, Luke grinned from ear to ear!

Having one of the most beautiful princesses of the Empire as your fiancé who is equally talented in cultivation and battle prowess attracted many nobles' attention who did not want to miss this chance to build a relation with Luke and curry favors.

Noah was calmly sipping wine and watched the events unfold from the corner of his eyes.

Soon Seraphina couldn't take it anymore and made an expression of being extremely sick and started moving towards the washroom leaving Luke behind to attend to the nobles.

Luke didn't mind. He was still grinning while thinking about the passionate nights that they will have after a year.

Noah thought 'You finally couldn't take it huh?' while watching Seraphina moving towards the corridors and he smirked. He secretly followed Seraphina who went to look for a washroom.

She opened the door which looked like a washroom but when she entered the room she was dumbfounded beyond words.

She saw Noah sitting on a bed with a complicated smile while sipping wine.

Seraphina didn't know what to say, her body froze on the spot while she kept thinking 'How is this possible?!! This should be a washroom right??'

She opened the door behind her to get back to the banquet hall but when she opened the door she got another shock and her jaws dropped to the ground!

"This...!!! HOW?" were the only words that came out of her mouth.

When she opened the door she saw that there was nothing below her feet except clouds. She instinctively held on to the door with all her force to not fall.

Suddenly Seraphina felt a pair of arms wrapping around her waist. It was different when Luke held her during the ball. This pair of arms contained warmth and she didn't feel any discomfort.

"Do you trust me?" Noah asked honestly. If she denies then he will return her back to the banquet hall while altering her memories to keep his powers a secret...

Tears threaten to come out of Seraphina's eyes and she turned around to look into those purple eyes that she always found very attractive.

She didn't need to ask how he did it. Floating an entire room in the sky. Teleporting her through a door and how can he not get fatigued during maintaining such a spell even if it's possible somehow.

What mattered to her was that he was there for her when she needed someone to rely on.

"Yes," Seraphina smiled sweetly. Then she proceeded to tell Noah what happened between her sobs.

"Sob...Sob" She hugged Noah and cried in his embrace after explaining everything.

"So you mean to say Lipon kingdom was dissatisfied with the Imperial family and its rule that has lasted for centuries. They didn't like the fact that all [Lightning] experts were hired by the Imperial family and they have hoarded all the best techniques that should rightfully belong to all the people. To suppress a possible rebellion, Emperor asked for your hand in marriage and in return decided to share a few [Lightning] techniques with all the dissatisfied royals and nobles of many kingdoms."

"Hmmm, so cliché, weaken the leader of the enemy and the dogs will try to find a new leader but it will take a lot of time, In the meantime rebellion will lose its momentum and they will have to start from scratch again. As expected of the Emperor" Noah sighed and shook his head a little thinking, how such political games are meaningless in the entirety of the Universe.

In his eyes, it's like watching the fight of.....ants

Noah didn't like having this God complex where one feels like they are above all but he can't help but sigh again heavily thinking how useless these fights are in the grand scheme of an ever-expanding Universe.

Noah stroked Seraphina's auburn hair gently and she seemed to have calmed down a little after venting everything that was on her mind.

Seraphina escaped his embrace and said " I should go back now" while wiping her face with tissues that Noah gave her at some point.

She knew she is supposed to marry another man, and this relationship that she and Noah have should remain at the 'friendship' level to not cause trouble for each other in the future. She was also feeling guilty about acting so intimate with another man other than her future husband.

The guilt was eating her from inside especially thinking how comfortable she felt in Noah's embrace.

She did not want herself to be branded as an unfaithful woman.

Seraphina was a noblewoman with proper morals and etiquette.

Even though she knows fully that she has been used as a bargaining chip, she can't help but feel a little guilty because of her noble upbringing.

But-

Before she could turn around and leave, Noah grabbed her waist, pulled her towards him, and kissed her lips.

"!!!" Seraphina opened her eyes wide in shock and for a second her entire body turned stiff.