Chapter 84: The Dance (Edited!)

As evening falls, I am graciously welcomed to a Grand Ball at the Royal Palace.

Stepping inside, I am immediately struck by the splendor of the Symkarian royal palace's ballroom. Crystal chandeliers illuminate the expansive marble floors with a soft, inviting glow, while intricately crafted tapestries showcasing Symkaria's rich history grace the walls.

Guests in elegant attire mingle, filled with dignitaries, military personnel, and prominent citizens. As I enter, the room falls silent for a moment, all eyes turning to me. I don't know anyone here, and Sable had sent me ahead as she might come a bit later.

As I was about to head towards my company personnel, who were also invited, a woman approaches me.

"Hello, Mr. Watson. I am Countess Katarina Karkov, His Highness's sister," she introduces herself with a smile as she extends her hand toward me. Her English is quite perfect, and I am glad she is not speaking in Symkarian, as I am not that good at it.

I smile warmly as I take her hand and press a kiss to its back. "Countess Katarina, you are absolutely radiant tonight," I compliment graciously, returning her smile.

"I have heard tales of the billionaire Lucas Watson's handsome looks, but I never imagined he would be such a charmer," she responds with an enchanting smile.

"Call me Luke," I offer with a smile.

"You can call me Katarina. Come, let me introduce you to the rest of the royal family," she says, extending her arm to me. I take it graciously as we both head towards the royal circle.

From my meta-knowledge, I am aware that in the comics, the royalties of Symkaria eventually meet their demise, leaving even Sable presumed dead for a time. In that narrative arc, Katarina, as the sole surviving royalty, assumes control of Symkaria as the Queen.

Symkaria's royal family's rule goes back 300 years, so it wasn't hard for her to rise to the throne.

But after that, she joins hands with Norman Osborn and turns the whole of Symkaria into a weapons manufacturing plant for him.

Right now, though, she seems just a hot socialite who wants to strengthen her connections with me, which I don't mind honestly.

The Symkarian royal family was very large, as the King had seven wives who were all from various clans around Symkaria. Here, at least, the King was allowed to legally have a harem. And the King had been busy because all the wives had almost seven to ten kids.

Fortunately, I noted with relief that the majority of the royal family present here were adults.

As Katarina introduced me to all the Queens and their children, who were princes and princesses, I was just politely shaking hands with them. I didn't need to suck up to them; instead, it was the opposite.

"This is Princess Lenka," Katarina introduces me to a blonde girl who was looking at me shyly.

"Hello," she extends her hand. I take her hand and lean down to kiss the back of it, surprising Katarina and all the others, including Lenka herself.

"You are even prettier than the Symkarian sunrise," I compliment with a smile as her whole face turns red, and she shyly mutters thanks, taking her hand back.

"Okay, let me introduce you to our military personnel next," Katarina says awkwardly, thinking about how Lenka was just 14 years old right now.

Honestly, I was much more interested in Lenka than anyone else in this room, not because she was pretty or because of her impressive bust, but because of her potential.

Lenka is the seventh daughter of a seventh daughter, and born of noble blood. This grants her Katra astounding mystical potential. She may become the mother of a Sorcerer Supreme or become the Sorcerer Supreme herself.

At least that's how Doctor Strange explained it in the comics. Even Doctor Doom wanted to marry her and then use some fatal methods to take control of her spirit potential.

This was our first meeting, but it definitely wouldn't be our last.

Just then, my gaze automatically goes towards the entrance of the room as I see Sable enter.

All the noise in the ballroom comes to a stop as everyone looks at the stunning Silver Sable walk in.

I practically glide towards her, leaving Katarina behind. As I stand in front of her, I see Sable in her sexy gown.

She is a vision of elegance and sensuality, wearing a sleek, floor-length gown of shimmering silver fabric that clings to her every curve.

The dress is cut to accentuate her athletic figure, with a plunging neckline that hints at her cleavage. The real showstopper, however, is the back of the dress.

It is completely exposed, showcasing her toned back and the delicate curve of her spine. The fabric sweeps down in a dramatic cascade, trailing behind her as she moves.

Her hair is styled in loose waves that frame her face, and her makeup is impeccable, highlighting her striking features. She wears a pair of sparkling silver earrings and a matching bracelet that I had gifted her, catching the light with every movement. The effect is breathtaking; she looks both regal and alluring.

She looks completely different from the warrior or the cute girl I spent the day with. I can understand why the whole room went silent, as from what I have heard, Sable never wears dresses or gowns, especially on public occasions.

"So, how do I look?" Sable asks, presenting her hand forward.

"You look breathtaking, absolutely stunning," I respond, leaning forward to kiss the back of her hand tenderly.

"You also look quite handsome and dashing in that tuxedo," she remarks with a smile, her eyes sparkling with admiration.

"Stunning is not enough to describe you, Silvija. You look like you walked straight out of my dreams," I say, my eyes are fixated on her with an intoxicated gaze, captivated by her presence.

Sable blushes as she intertwines her arm with mine and enters the room. Just then, the King also enters, and some attention is diverted away from us both.

My attention, however, remains on Sable.

"You are staring," she notes, looking at me with a mild blush.

"How can I not when there is the stunning Silver Sable with me," I reply with a smirk.

"Let us go greet the King," she suggests with a happy smile, taking me along with her.

While we were talking with the King, Countess Katarina arrives by my side and stays close, clearly interested in me.

"We have a strong workforce," Sable explains to the King. "But we lack the resources and infrastructure to fully utilize it. Luke's investments could make a real difference here."

"I see a lot of potential," I respond thoughtfully. "With the right projects, we can create jobs and improve living conditions."

I discuss the outline of my initiative, which includes various projects aimed at boosting the economy, such as infrastructure development, job creation, and healthcare improvements.

Silver Sable's tour of Symkaria had shown me both the beauty and the struggles of her homeland, so I could devise plans that would make the people see immediate benefits, and it could also work in winning Sable's trust and admiration.

---

As the orchestra begins to play a slow, romantic waltz, Sable turns to me with a mischievous smile. "Care to dance?" she asks, extending her hand.

"It would be my honour," I respond with a smile, taking her hand and leading her to the center of the ballroom.

As we begin to move to the music, I can't help but admire how perfectly the dress complements her graceful movements.

I start with the basic steps, my hand resting lightly on her exposed back. The warmth of her skin under my fingertips sends a thrill through me. Sable moves with effortless grace, following my lead with ease. Her eyes sparkle with excitement, and a playful smile tugs at the corners of her lips.

"You're quite the dancer," she remarks, her voice soft but teasing.

"I have a good partner," I reply, spinning her gently.

As the dance progresses, we both become more daring with our movements. I lead her into intricate turns and dips, our bodies moving in perfect harmony. The proximity and the sensual nature of the dance creating a palpable tension between us.

During a particularly daring spin, her dress flares out, giving me a tantalizing glimpse of her long legs. When she returns to my arms, I pull her close, our faces inches apart. The heat between us two is undeniable.

"Before, when I told you that you were straight out of my dreams, I wasn't fully truthful," I admit as I continue moving closely with her.

"Oh?" Sable looks at me with narrowed eyes.

"You are straight out of my wet dreams, Silver Sable," I confess huskily, sliding my hand lower on her back, just above the curve of her hips.

Sable's breath catches, but she doesn't pull away. Instead, she leans in, her lips brushing against my ear.

"You know," she whispers, "you are making it very hard for me to stay focused on this dance."

"Is that a bad thing?" I reply, my voice equally soft.

She laughs softly, a sound that sends and excited shiver down my spine. "Not at all."

As the music reaches its crescendo, I lead Silver into a dramatic dip. She arches her back, her hair cascading down in a silver waterfall, her exposed skin glowing in the candlelight. The moment is charged with electricity, and for a heartbeat, it's as if the world stops around us.

When I pull her back up, her face is flushed, her eyes bright with excitement. The applause from the onlookers is thunderous, but in that moment, it's just the two of us, lost in each other's gaze.

As the music fades, Sable and I remain close, breathing heavily from the exertion and the intensity of the moment. She is clearly exhausted while I am incredibly turned on, and I am sure she can feel it.

She looks up at me, her expression softening. "That was incredible," she murmurs, her voice filled with genuine admiration.

I smile, brushing a strand of hair from her face. "It was, thanks to you."

Silver squeezes my hand, her eyes lingering on mine. "We should get back to my castle," she suggests with a heated look.