Chapter Text
Entering the cuppa moment, Wise overheard familiar voices.
Standing near a table was a long silver-haired woman. She held a fan, covering half her face. "Miss Cissia, do I need to remind you of proper tea-drinking etiquette?"
A few feet away, a girl with long yellow hair profusely shook her head. "Ehahha, no no no nopeeeeee—you got it all wrong." Stopping her shaking, she raised both hands, fingers slightly curved. "What I mean—Miss Velina, I'm grateful for your hospitality, and charitable enough to educate me on manners." Moving her hands into a praying pose, she continued. "Can I eat the eggs now?" she softly said, her voice barely audible.
Velina motioned with her hand, closing the fan. "Miss Cissia, a proper lady waits for every participant to sit down before thinking of eating." Her violet eyes narrowed as she pointed her fan toward Cissia. "If I had the privilege of guessing, you have not listened during my etiquette guidance. Should we go over it again?"
Cissia's eyes widened in horror.
Remember the sneaky trick that Velina used to force her into etiquette training.
Free food, she said.
Free tea, she said.
Free eggs, she said!
All lies!
It was a nightmare! She was forced... to drink tea... slowly! Oh, the horror. Not to mention the portions of food she could eat... Even Chalky almost starved.
There is no way that she would ever go back there again...
Unless it will have free food... wait a moment—
Cissia shook her head, removing the depressing thoughts. Recollecting herself, she threw her head toward Wise. "I mean Ve—Lady Velina..." Quickly walking behind Wise, she placed her palms on his shoulders, pushing him toward the silver-haired lady. "Wi—Manager—No—I mean Mr. Wise has... umh, bad manners. He really needs help with proper... umh, what was it called again?" Removing her hands from him, she placed her left hand on her noggin and the other on her waist.
Wise did not expect to be used as a shield.
The gray-haired proxy closed his eyes, slightly leaning his head upward and to the left. "Cissia, you're trying too hard."
Looking at the gray-haired boy, Velina's expression softened.
She quickly raised her right hand and opened her fan, covering her lower face. Drifting her one exposed eye to the opposite direction of the proxy, she spoke. "Oh? Does the manager lack formal etiquette?" Redirecting her gaze toward Wise, she slightly tilted her fan, exposing her lips. "Heh, if it were Miss Belle, I would be more likely to believe it."
With one slick motion, she closed her fan. With her palm facing the sky, she pointed her white fan—which dangled from her fingers—toward the gray-haired boy. "Wise has been nothing but a gentleman these past few weeks." Gripping her fan lightly, she rotated it toward Cissia. "So, Miss Cissia, may you finish your thought? Or are you poised to continue our little tea party?" Her voice was slightly sharper.
The yellow-haired girl jumped back, her hands thrown up as a shiver ran down her spine. "Y-y-y-ye-yeahhhhh," she said, although she thought differently. 'Hell nah, I need something fast...' Then a light bulb appeared over Cissia's head.
Smugly, with closed eyes, she crossed her arms. "Lady Velina, I remember Wise—Mr. Wise—can't dance. I just thought that such a refined, upper-class wom—Lady, such as you, could help him out..." Opening her eyes, she was met with Velina's gaze. She gulped as she began playing with her fingers. "Dance lessons..." Her voice became softer as she spoke.
Wise's eyes snapped open.
"..."
Quickly turning around, he walked past Cissia. "I remember Belle wanted me to buy her something," he mumbled.
As something flickered in Velina's eyes, she just as quickly closed her violet gaze. "Mr. Wise, could you spare a moment of your time?" Her voice left no room for arguing.
He stopped.
Slowly creaking his head over his shoulder. "... Of course, Miss Velina," he said in a calm voice.
Walking closer, he gently smiled at her.
Noticing the smile, before the colour red could show on her cheeks, she flipped open her fan, hiding her face with the exception of her eyes. She faintly tilted her upper body forwards, her free hand moving behind her. "Is it true that you lack proper dancing etiquette?" Her voice held a gentle, melodic grace.
Hearing this, he raised his left hand to sheepishly rub his neck. "I wouldn't call it that. Just not as experienced and refined as a proper lady such as you..."
Cissia made a cross with her hands, shaking her head until her eyes started to spin. "Nananan, he's lying." She took out her phone, quickly pressed a few buttons, then faced it toward Velina as she quickly approached her. "Here, Velina, you can check this," showing a video of Belle and Wise dancing.
After watching for a few seconds, the silver-haired woman's grip on her fan intensified. "Not as 'refined,'" she muttered, her eyes swaying from the phone toward the gray-haired proxy.
Cissia took a step sideways.
While Velina took a step forwards, folding her fan.
"'Experienced,'" Velina repeated Wise's words.
Stopping just a step from Wise, the violet-eyed woman gazed straight into his emerald eyes. With a 'sweet' smile, she spoke. "Mr. Wise, as an External Strategy Department head, I fear I cannot allow our special guest to walk around without a proper skill in dancing." Closing her eyes, she slightly raised her right hand near her, her fan dangling from her fingers. "Ballroom dancing isn't uncommon for my family gathe- I mean in Roscaelifer." Her 'sweet' smile sharpened. "Please indulge me in my private dancing lesson."
Wise gulped.
A small shaky smile formed on his lips. "I wouldn't wish to disturb Miss Velina much further-"
He was interrupted by the feeling of a fan touching his mouth.
Slowly, her amethyst eyes flickered open. Her elbow was slightly bent, and her grip on her fan slightly intensified. "Please allow me to rephrase it. This is mandatory tutoring. I trust a 'wise' manager such as you would comply without further hurdles." She delivered the line in a low, measured, silken tone.
Rubbing the back of his neck with his left index finger, Wise drifted his gaze left, toward the nearest table. "Is this what they mean by 'being in someone else's shoes'—although in this instance, a Bangboo," he muttered in a soft voice. Turning his attention back toward the violet-eyed girl, he continued. "Since, Miss Velin-"
Lowering her left hand, she gently tilted her head right, her side bang swaying and revealing her other amethyst eye, while her lips curved into a soft, elegant smile. "Please, call me Velina. I believe we're close enough to not need honorifics."
Hearing this, Wise blinked, reopening his eyes into a gentle expression. Lowering his right hand onto his waist, he smiled."Velina is taking her valuable time from her busy timetable. I'll happily accept your offer."
He tilted his body left and slightly extended his left hand, his curved elbow touching his waist. "May I have a dance?"
Velina fixed her posture into an elegant stance, her violet eyes dropping toward the palm extended to her, then toward Wise's green eyes, her smile curving further. "Wise decision."She flickered her wrist, her fan spreading open.
Gracefully, Velina lowered her left hand, her middle and index fingers brushing against Wise's palm, her thumb lightly touching his ring finger's knuckles. Locking his ring finger between her thumb—curving around it—and ring finger, she gently traced her four fingers up and down his palm, sending gentle tingling feelings through him. This went on for a few seconds. Retracting her left fingers slightly, she curved her left wrist before lowering and interlinking her left palm with his right, giving one soft squeeze.
Her violet eyes softly narrowed as they drifted from their hands toward his mixture of confusion and flustered expression. "You'd know I would never turn you down," she said in a silky voice, her fan covering her face and only revealing one violet eye. Yet one could see her long ears glowing scarlet.
Cissia, being oblivious, stared at the egg-based cousin food, drool leaking from her mouth. Quickly wiping her drool, she looked at Velina. "So, since you're both leaving, like right now, and you're not eating... could I eat it?" she said with no shame, giving her usual hungry smile.
Shifting her gaze from the gray-haired proxy toward the snake-thiren, she spoke. "Of course, Miss Cissia," she said in a graceful, albeit slightly sharp, voice.
Cissia's expression dropped into a flat stare.
"Your etiquette training is postponed until a later date. Please satisfy your hunger. A proper lady should never leave with an empty stomach."
Cissia sniffed, nearly crying. As realization snuck in, she hadn't escaped her nightmare—only postponed it.
With her heels clicking against the ground, the silver-haired lady turned toward the exit, stopping just to look over her shoulder. "Although, I must thank you, Miss Cissia. Without your 'tip-off,' I doubt I could have managed to get alone time with the manager." As she spoke, she pointed and tilted her fan vertically downward toward the yellow-haired girl.
Glancing toward the violet-eyed girl, Wise tilted his head left. "Velina, please don't cut yourself short. I enjoy spending time with you," he said in a smooth voice, his body tilting toward her direction.
Hearing those words, Velina's eyes slightly squinted. She turned her head back, stealing the man's gaze into her own eyes."Likewise." Her eyes glistened beneath the outside sunlight.
"Now, to begin with." Gripping his hand slightly, she took a small step closer, drawing his arm in as she naturally settled beside him. His upper arm met the soft warmth of her chest. "It's proper etiquette to remain close to your 'partner'." Her left elbow faintly brushed against his waist.
The gray-haired proxy's eyes widened. "Veli-"
"Is there an issue?" she interrupted in a soft voice, leaning closer toward his shoulder, her right hand gracefully swaying as she fanned a gentle breeze toward them.
Curving his left index finger around his nose, the rest of his fingers slightly curved around his mouth, hiding it, his emerald eyes avoided the silver-haired girl's silhouette. "No." He muttered, deciding to ignore the feeling of his upper arm brushing against her chest.
In the proxies' new residential area, Belle lay on her sofa, staring at the ceiling. "Where is Wise? He should've been back with the ice cream already," she muttered before picking up her phone to check the time and then play some games. "Ehh, he'll return."
Stepping into the flying bus, the silver-haired lady led the way. Walking to the back, she sat in the second-to-last corner chair. The gray-haired proxy followed suit, taking the seat right beside her.
As the bus began to move, Velina tilted her head onto Wise's shoulder, gently resting it there, her violet eyes slowly tracing around the interior. Still interlinking their fingers, she pushed herself closer to the proxy.
At her actions, Wise calmly glanced at the elegant woman. Slowly, he drifted his gaze upon the passing passengers, their own eyes watching the pair. Silent whispers reached his ears, yet he couldn't decipher what they were speaking about. "Velina, they might get the wrong impression," he said in a soothing voice, his emerald eyes shifting from their interlocked fingers to the woman resting on his shoulder.
Indifferent, the amethyst-eyed girl slowly flicked her eyelids shut, her fan swaying in a calm, rhythmic pace, pushing a gentle swirl of air in their direction. "Let them watch, I'm on my well-deserved vacation," she eloquently said, her long elf ear overhearing the silent whispers.
“Airgid family.”
“Found?”
“Bachelor?”
"Eh-Nah."
With each word, her smile grew, the pace of her wrist increasing, sending faintly chilled wind tingling across her exposed skin before slowing once more. "We will arrive shortly." Slightly flickering her exposed eye open, she glanced at Wise. "Just a warning, my standards are exceptionally high," she quietly said.
Raising an eyebrow, he blinked a few times, his green eyes landing on Velina's silver locks and catching a glimpse of her royal-colored eye. 'She must mean the dancing lesson. This won't be easy...' he thought, redirecting his attention toward the western flying city.
Entering Emerald Central Park, they walked further in. Velina, now a bit more daring after their talk on the bus, had positioned herself even closer, completely hugging the gray-haired proxy's arm, her left ear gently touching his shoulder. Her other hand swayed rhythmically with her steps, her fan dangling from her fingers.
Stopping near the fountain, she smiled. "Perfect place for an etiquette dance. Wouldn't you agree, Wise? And please don't be frightened by gazing eyes. At this time of day, Emerald Central Park has few visitors."
The gray-haired proxy glanced around the park, finding little to no people. "I'll trust your word, Velina. I don't really want to embarrass myself with a crowd watching. I must keep my image."
Noticing a small Bangboo, Velina removed her head from Wise's shoulder, slowly approaching it—yet still remaining just as close. She raised her other hand, waving open her fan. "Hello, little Jeremy. Could you possibly do me a favor? I wish to teach my partner some manners in dancing, but he is self-conscious, to put it nicely. He lacks proper skills in this area."
The Bangboo stood still until realization clicked in his core. "Ehn, nahhhh... Enh, noh naaa.... (Of course, Angel. I wish to repay you and Master Proxy for helping us... Please take it as my apology for my bad attitude toward ESD.)" Its voice simmered at the end, the two bunny ears lowering.
Pointing her closed fan toward the Bangboo, her palm facing the sky, she gently said, "I'm really grateful for your sentiment. But please don't let your ideal image of the Angel obscure your view of me. As the Administration Force of ESD, it's my job to help as much as I can, whether it be human or Bangboo. I am simply doing my work."
Its circular eyes gazed at both humans, its screen face turning into a crying emoji. "Eh Nah... (Miss Velina...)" It stopped, noticing their intimate position, its digital screen turning slightly red, its eyes changing into '> <'. Quickly standing in a straight line, its left hand giving a salute toward the silver-haired girl, it said, "Eh, na-nehhh... (I'll make sure that no one interrupts you!)" Saying this, the Bangboo quickly ran off, its small legs carrying it as fast as they could muster.
Tilting his head toward Velina, Wise gave a small smile, closing his eyes. "Hhm, it appears that your image among Bangboo has changed for the better." Placing his free hand on his waist, his eyelids slowly crept open. "I'm glad that they are finally seeing this side of you."
The silver-haired woman drifted her amethyst eyes in the opposite direction. In one swift motion, she shut her fan, lowering her hand. "Wise, if you'd witness my other side, I fear you're going to end up referring to me as a witch." Her voice carried the same elegant tone, yet came out much quieter.
Noticing the shift in her expression, Wise stepped in front of her, raising their interlinked hands slightly upward and guiding her gaze into his. His gaze carried a reassuring smile. "I doubt that anything Velina can do would change the perfect Bangboo Angel I view her to be." Tilting his head faintly left and softening the curves around his eyes, he gave her a gentle expression. "Witches are meant to be scary, not mesmerizing like an angel." His voice carried a tender rhythm.
Hearing the compliment, the silver-haired girl widened her eyes. "Perfect, mesmerizing..." she whispered, testing the words as they rolled down her tongue. Pushing herself away from Wise, she unlinked their fingers before walking up to a bench. "Flattery won't help you," she murmured without turning back, her long ears burning red.
Reaching the wooden bench, she settled into it with effortless grace, crossing one long leg over the other. Resting her cheek against her gloved hand, she reclined slightly into the plush cushions. Her ornate fan remained raised before her face, concealing her lips and nose while leaving a single violet-gold eye visible. Through that half-lidded gaze, she regarded her surroundings with quiet confidence, the corners of her hidden smile left entirely to the imagination.
Twisting her left wrist, she let the gentle breeze sway her silver locks. “Let’s begin our dance lesson, Mr. Partner~” Slightly squinting her eyes at the last word, she pointed her fan toward Wise. “Let’s begin with the entrance. Please show me how you would invite a lady to the dance floor.” Her voice carried the elegance of a proper upper-class lady.
‘Umh, since it's a ballroom dance, I can’t just ask her regularly.’ A light bulb appeared over his head. ‘I could just recreate the scene from that movie,’ he thought.
Nodding to himself, he placed his left foot over his right, gently extended his right hand with the palm upwards, and crossed his left hand behind him. He leaned his upper body slightly, bowing his head. “May I have a dance?” he said warmly.
Seeing this, Velina snapped her fan shut. Drifting her hand faintly to the side, she closed her eyes, a warm smile morphing onto her lips. “No,” she said before opening her eyes and pointing the fan right at him. “Let’s begin with the position. Your vertical bend is forty-seven degrees, your foot position is wrong, and your upper body must be bent in a straight line.” Flicking the fan open, she added, “Try again.”
Wise gulped. ‘She wasn't exaggerating. She really expects perfection… This is going to be a long day…’ A cold sweat ran down his temple.
And thus, Wise fixed his posture, following the strict instructions given by the refined lady.
She swayed her fan. “Incorrect. Your footing is completely wrong, your hand isn’t outstretched far enough, and your neck and spine should be in a straight line,” she said.
Wise tried again.
She shook her fan. “No. Your posture is incorrect. You must elongate your neck and body. The lower body must be tucked together and pointed gently in a horizontal direction, in a short V shape.”
Wise fixed his lower posture.
The silver-haired girl shook her head. “No, your left elbow must touch your waist.”
And so, for the next hour, Velina criticised the little mistakes until Wise got the posture perfectly.
After what felt like eternity, Wise finally achieved the perfect posture. “Correct,” the amethyst-eyed girl sweetly said, gently breezing her fan in slow motion.
Releasing a deep breath, Wise tilted forwards, planting both his palms on his knees. “Ahh- that- ahhha- took, eter-ha ahhh-nity,” he said, gasping for air. Hearing approaching steps, Wise turned his head left, his eyes flickering with recognition.
The small Bangboo Jeremy came closer, his hands lifted upwards, carrying a water bottle. “Ah Nah. (Here, Master Proxy. Also, please let me put your drenched jumper on the bench.)” Giving the water bottle to Wise, who picked it up before hearing the request.
Hearing the request, Wise’s jade-coloured eyes widened as he glanced at his sweat-drenched school jumper. Shifting his gaze upon the Bangboo, he asked, “Are you sure?” The Bangboo enthusiastically nodded. “Thank you, Jeremy,” he gently said, placing the water bottle on the ground and slowly lifting his jumper over his shoulders, the T-shirt faintly rising along with it, exposing a glimpse of the left side of his stomach.
Velina, with her face covered by the fan, gazed directly at Wise's exposed physique. “Your physique is far healthier than I expected,” she silkily said, her grip on the fan slightly intensifying.
Wise carefully folded the jumper and handed it to the Bangboo, who moved toward the bench. Indifferent, Wise took hold of his T-shirt, pushing it up and revealing his bare chest as he glanced at his physique. “I should thank Senior Fufu. She would push me and Belle in our training. Some mornings, we could barely leave our bed.” Slowly pulling his shirt down, he continued. “Although, I still don’t have the same muscle as Lighter or Anton.”
Her violet eyes sharpened their gaze, the fan almost cracking under the pressure. Unbeknownst to her, a red liquid dribbled from her nose. “Yes, yes, muscle, and someone.” Feeling a faint touch on her face, she glanced down to find the Bangboo holding a tissue beneath her. “Much appreciated, Jeremy,” she softly said.
The Bangboo gave one last salute and departed with the bloodied napkin.
Sitting still for a second, the silver-haired woman blinked a few times, bringing herself back to reality and removing her head from her palm. She closed the fan before sitting at a ninety-degree angle, both hands resting on her thighs. “Wise, now that you understand the basics of initiating, please invite me for a dance.”
The gray-haired proxy nodded, getting himself into position. “May I have a dance?”
The purple-eyed girl's expression slightly faltered, her hands curving further. “No. Your partner is a person you're willing to put all your trust in on the dance floor. Position alone doesn't suffice; your words should be wisely chosen for that opportunity,” she said in her usual graceful voice.
Wise crossed his arms, his right fingers gently tapping his elbow, his eyes dropping to the floor in deep contemplation. ‘I could use some cheesy lines from the romance manga Caesar recommended, and from the videotapes Belle and I inspected.’ Nodding in conclusion, he struck the pose, his eyes sliding toward Velina. “My lady, would you grace me with your presence and dance with me?” he softly said.
“No.” The purple-eyed girl said.
‘...This won’t be easy.’ Wise thought, before giving another quote.
“No.”
“No.”
“No.”
With each decline, Velina’s mood worsened.
After sixteen cheesy quotes, Wise remained silent, his shoulders dropping as the analytical side of his brain tried to find a solution.
Noticing this wouldn’t get anywhere, the silver-haired elf closed her eyes, her right index finger gently tapping her metal fan, each tap creating a silent click sound. “Mr. Wise, simply quoting from fictional literature isn’t going to sweep a lady off her feet. I suggest that, rather than using fiction, you follow your heart's beat, what you see in your partner, what captivates you.” Her elegant voice slowly softened by the last sentence.
Picking his shoulders back up, Wise calmly looked at the lady with royal-coloured eyes. ‘This isn’t Hollow data, or knowledge taught by Helios Academy...’ Slowly, his eyes traced along the wooden bench, then to Jeremy, who sat far away looking straight at them. The afternoon sun shining behind him forced Wise's eyes to squint. ‘Maybe I could learn from my friends. Their behavior should be a good reference point,’ he thought, his gaze shifting toward the clear blue sky.
The gray-haired proxy moved his left hand to his waist, his fingers gently gripping his shirt. His right hand rested near his side, his fingers slowly curling out and in, faintly grazing his palm. ‘Lycaon: always approaches gently, calmly, rarely allows his emotions to show. Miss Miyabi: is straight to the point, rarely shows her inner emotions; her swordsmanship is a beauty that few can achieve. Vivian: She might appear harsh or unwelcoming to others, but she will always lend her hand to the helpless, is responsible, and speaks formally. Alice: Easy to frighten, yet always faces what frightens her, though her true feelings slip through sometimes. Velina: She walks in composed elegance, speaks formally, is kind, but doesn’t wish to accept compliments from Bangboo.’ His eyes drifted from cloud to cloud.
Wise blinked. Slowly, the curves around his eyes softened, his head gently swaying from the empty sky downward. At a slow pace, he brought the light back into his eyes, turning his body right and facing the silver-haired woman directly, before giving a quick signal toward Jeremy.
Meanwhile, the violet-eyed girl slowly flickered her eyelashes open, halting halfway, her gaze stopping on her fan. Her left index finger stopped on the white fan, gradually sliding along the top corner. Carefully, she lifted her finger lightly, moving it beneath the sharp corner. She laid her thumb on top, the soft glimmer of light reflecting from the fan and a tiny part of her black glove, giving it a faint deep-gray colour.
Softly gripping the left corner, she languidly moved it left, expanding that corner further. The amber glaze illuminated her dark ocean dress. One small sunray landed on her shaded lips, revealing their true pale-pink colour. ‘It seems that progression has halted.’ Letting go of the corner, her fingers fluidly moved toward the center, stopping only to grip the right corner of the fan. Gently touching the corner from both sides, her middle to pinky fingers gracefully floated nearby, curved in small portions. Her gaze tilted toward the middle of the fan, then as her fingers moved, exposing the other side of the fan, her amethyst eyes followed suit. ‘Maybe skipping straight into dancing would be wis-’
“Yes, you're correct, Lady Velina. I was blind for not realizing your grace.”
The gray-haired proxy, in a languid pace, approached. The right side of his school blazer shone in a faint gray colour, while the left side was consumed by shadow into a calm, muted gray. Each step created a soft clack sound. His pace slowed until he halted at a respectful distance from the lady in blue, the sound disappearing entirely.
Wise opened his mouth, yet no words came out; fluidly, he closed it, his eyes softening at the same pace. Inhaling deeply, his chest slightly expanded before falling back into its usual rhythm. As the last bit of air left his lungs, his jade eyes flickered half-open, holding a calm yet soft look, while the corners of his lips turned slightly upward into a small, tender smile. Tilting his feet into a V-position, he moved his left hand behind his lower back in one fluid motion. His emerald gaze locked onto Velina’s amethyst eyes. Stately, he raised his right hand, the fingers curling inward before elegantly extending outward, palm up. With his right elbow steadily anchored near his waist and his neck and spine aligned in one perfect, steady line, he gazed at the woman before him, his eyes filled with quiet confidence.
At the first words of the gray-haired gentleman, Velina blinked. Her violet eyes widened slightly as she gracefully tilted her head. The subtle sounds of the fountain behind them fully fused into the background. Her fingers unconsciously released the right corner of her fan, letting the sharp tip fall horizontally until it lightly touched her thigh. Her purple eyes were completely glued to the man in front of her; with one eye partially obscured by her silver locks, she focused entirely on his silhouetted frame.
With each of his collected movements, her gaze softened. The way he carried himself, the way he spoke, left her lips faintly parted. With every action, a tingling feeling in her chest intensified, a bubbly sensation dancing in rhythm with him. At a slow, steady pace, each thud of her heart felt like a slow-burning desire.
Yet, she didn’t move. She simply waited—waited for him to finally ask her for a dance.
Standing completely still for a moment, Wise let the soft breeze push his gray hair across his face, obscuring his eyes for a second. Yet his expression never faltered. Releasing one last silent, nervous breath, he opened his mouth. "I'm not very good at this... But you told me to follow my heart and speak of what captivates me. At this moment, that's you, Lady Velina. So, would you guide our shadows through this amber afternoon with a dance?" His tender voice dropped into a low, unhurried cadence.
Hearing those words, Velina's one exposed eye glistened inside the shadows. A moment later, her eyes squinted before flickering shut, her head tilting down. Her smile dropped into an unreadable expression as she slowly rose, both palms resting on her stomach, her left hand softly holding her fan. She took a step forward, the amber light pushing through the enveloping shade, illuminating her silver hair. Yet, as quickly as her heartbeat, her pace didn’t halt; with steady and elegant steps, she stepped out of the shaded area, the last of the shadows clinging below her chest.
Stopping a few feet away, her hands gracefully moved to both sides of her, gently gripping the fabric of her dress. Gradually, she tilted her head upward, eyelashes brushing against her cheek as they lifted, revealing her amethyst eyes gazing straight at her companion. With a graceful motion, she gave a courteous bow, slightly lifting both sides of her dress, her eyes never leaving Wise. “It would be my pleasure.” Her voice was silky sweet, her lips curving into a honey-like smile.
Releasing the hem of her dress, she softly took hold of his right hand. “Exceptional work, Mr. Wise.” Leading his hand over her right shoulder, she loosened her grip, letting it go before placing her left palm on his shoulder; the texture of his school blazer tingled against her palm. “Please relax your shoulders. From now on, I can teach you hands-on.” Feeling his stiff shoulder loosening, her attention was drawn to his right hand placed on her own shoulder. “Please place your right palm on my shoulder blade, fingers togeth—aughh—” She released a subtle moan at the feeling of her pale skin being touched, quickly covering her mouth at the unexpected sound, her violet eyes slightly widening.
Hearing the sound, Wise let go of her shoulder blade, moving his hand as far away as he could. “Lady Velina, are you okay?” His eyes narrowed in worry as he took a step back for her comfort.
Lowering her left hand, she flickered her wrist; the fan in her hand spread open before she covered her face, leaving her eyes exposed, yet she redirected her pupils toward the fan to avoid his gaze. “I apologise, it seems that I wasn't adequately prepared for you to touch.” Her elegant voice became quieter as she spoke. After a second, she recollected herself; lowering her fan, she moved her left palm from his shoulder toward his right hand, guiding it behind her. “Please don’t be frightened.” Moving her own palm onto his shoulder, she released a silent “ah” at the touch. Waving her fan shut and letting it dangle from her fingers, she lifted her right hand, gazing at Wise’s calm and slightly nervous expression. “Could you give me your hand?”
The gray-haired proxy followed her instruction, moving his left hand from behind and gently placing it on top of Velina's right palm. As their fingers interlinked, he could feel the calm chill from her fan. Shifting his eyes from their linked fingers toward her face, he closed his jade-coloured pupils. “Sorry, Lady Velina, but I fear that you're going to need to guide me through the step-by-step process.”
The silver-haired girl slightly tightened her grip, her royal-coloured eyes tracing along Wise’s body, checking for minor mistakes. “This is a relatively simple technique. I doubt a capable manager such as you would find it difficult.” She pushed herself closer. “Just follow my instructions. We will start slow, then increase the pace. I recommend watching your feet at the beginning.”
Obviously, Wise tilted his head slightly down to glance at his feet—only to quickly redirect his gaze back to Velina's face. “I would rather follow your instructions. Yes, that should be enough, Lady Velina,” he softly said, not wanting to look at her chest, since due to their distance, it obscured half his vision.
The silver-haired girl gave a knowing, teasing smile before nodding. With a click, she took a step backwards with her left heel. “Please take a step forward with your left foot.”
Wise took a step forward.
The violet-haired girl gracefully slid her right foot before stepping right and stopping. “Now slide your right foot to meet it and then step to the right in one fluid motion.” Her eyes slightly softened as the thumping in her chest increased.
Wise followed her instruction. With a calm expression, he smoothly slid his right foot near his left, then took a step right.
Not moving further, to the gray-haired student’s confusion, Velina tilted her head right, exposing her other violet-coloured eye as she glanced behind her partner. “Now, Mr. Wise, take a step back with your right foot, follow it with your left foot sliding back, and then take a step left.” She said in her usual warm, refined voice.
Wise nodded, slowly moving his right foot back, then sliding his left foot near his right, before taking a step left in less than a second.
Easily following his movements, Velina fixed her posture back into a straight stance. “Now I’ll count to three; each number, we will repeat the stepping motion. One.” She muttered, taking the right step forward.
Wise’s eyes widened, barely managing to quickly move his right foot back.
“Two.”
The gray-haired proxy quickly drifted his left foot near his right, then took a step left.
“Three.”
Taking a step back, then quickly taking the right step, Wise sighed in relief. “That was intense,” he softly said.
The silver-haired girl gave a graceful nod, her left fingers gently tapping his shoulder, briefly debating an idea—until stopping, her fingers elegantly resting on his shoulder. “Dance partners should be as close as comfortably possible.” Gripping his left hand, she pushed herself closer, her chest mere inches away from him, their interlocked fingers positioned between and slightly away from their shoulders. “This distance isn’t discomforting?” she spoke in a honeyed voice, her gaze slightly narrowing toward Wise, who remained silent before calmly shaking his head. “For the next few minutes, we will continue the waltz box step. I'll count at various speeds. Please be prepared.” The curves around her lips slightly lifted, the slits around her eyes lowered, as she decided their rhythm was her heartbeat.
After a few minutes of dancing the waltz, their pace slowed until it came to a stop.
Slowly realizing each other, Velina took a step back. “The waltz dance is completed by the lead man offering a slight formal bow from the waist,” she said in her elegant voice. She took hold of both ends of her long dress, courteously lifting it slightly.
Meanwhile, Wise, also panting, closed his eyes before bowing toward his partner. “Thank you for the dance,” he gently said, raising his upper body. A second later, he felt his hair slightly sticking to his forehead. Raising his left hand, he gently took hold of his locks, pushing them back. His emerald gaze drifted across Emerald Central Park—until it stopped on Velina, who was intensely, yet not subtly, looking at him from behind her fan. “Is something wrong, Lady Velina?” he asked in a puzzled tone, raising his right eyebrow.
Redirecting her violet eyes toward her fan, she spoke. “Not in particular. I was just wondering...” Lowering her fan slightly, the silver-haired girl placed her right palm on her waist, feeling the texture of her silky smooth dress. “If you’d like to partake in the Viennese waltz. It’s a slightly advanced form of the waltz. Although I doubt Mr. Wise will find it difficult.” Gently, she pushed a soft breeze toward them. “Fundamental positioning is overly similar to the waltz,” she said in a voice as smooth as silk.
Furrowing his eyebrows slightly, the gray-haired proxy tilted his head toward the large clock, narrowing his eyes. “I still have time before I need to return, although Belle might kill me...” he murmured, lowering his left hand and allowing his hair to fall slightly. Striking a pose, he extended his right hand, elbow touching his waist. “I’d be honored to partake in this dance,” he gently said.
Velina, hiding behind her fan, closed her eyes and gracefully nodded. “Excellent decision as always, Mr. Wise.” Reopening her gaze and flicking her fan shut, she took hold of Wise's right palm, interlinking their fingers, her metal fan resting between their hands. Taking a step closer, she placed her left palm on Wise’s shoulder.
‘I wonder how long we are going to keep calling each other Lady and Mr...’ he thought, as he carefully moved his right palm onto the silver-haired girl’s shoulder blade.
Noticing the position was wrong, Velina pulled their interlinked fingers first between their shoulders before gradually moving them outward slightly. “Mr. Wise, I suggest taking a better hold of my shoulder blade. The Viennese waltz is a fast-paced dance,” she said, positioning herself closer. “If the hold is too loose during the quick turns, the partners will lose their balance or drift apart.” She spoke in her usual graceful, smooth voice, tilting her upper body backward, completely stabilizing herself on Wise’s hold and on her left palm on his shoulder.
The violet-eyed girl took a step closer, tilting her upper body further; her grip on the proxy’s shoulder grew stronger. “Please strengthen your hold. We wouldn’t want to fall during our dance. Step forward on your left foot, make sure you cover a vast distance.”
Wise nodded, sliding his foot forward through the air before landing it on the ground with a silent thud.
Velina followed suit with her right heel. “Continue to the side with your left foot,” she gently said, hanging across her partner.
In a smooth motion, Wise slid his left foot. His emerald-colored eyes stayed locked onto his tilted partner as she followed along with him.
The silver-haired girl’s smile curved upward as her second eye was revealed; the corners around her pupils softened as her partner’s shadow covered her from the blazing sun. “Close your right foot,” her voice carried an elegant tone, as her legs gracefully followed after her partner. “See, we moved 180 degrees without effort. Now just complete the movements all over until we spin a full circle.”
The green-eyed student followed her instructions, pushing his right foot out, sliding it to meet his left foot, before stepping left with his left foot, Velina elegantly swaying along with him. “Like this?” he inquired, his eyes calmly gazing at the royal-coloured-eyed girl.
She squeezed their interlocked fingers, her eyes softening into half-lidded eyes. “Yes. Although we need a more appropriate space for the Viennese Waltz.” Gradually, she tilted her head around them until stopping at an empty space, only covered with grass. “That little area will suffice,” she said, taking a step backwards so she could straighten her figure.
Without letting go of his hand or shoulder, she began walking there, to Wise’s surprise. ‘Isn’t she going to release me so we can walk there?’ He opened his mouth to ask, yet closed it moments later, already knowing what her answer would be.
Stopping at the edge of the stone slabs near the grassy land, she tilted her head toward Wise. “Now, to make this a proper Viennese Waltz, we’ll need to do one hundred and eighty rotations in a minute.” Tilting her upper body back, she gazed at Wise with her two exposed eyes, both flickering with excitement. “Take the lead, Mr. Wise,” she said in her formal, elegant voice.
Wise’s eyes widened at the number. “One eighty…” he muttered. Closing his eyes, he inhaled a deep breath, slowly releasing it. “I’ll try my best, Lady Velina,” he said in a soft, calm voice. Flickering his jade eyes open, he met his partner’s gaze.
The gray-haired student shifted his weight to the right, tilting his body into the turn. Velina followed his cue instantly. With an elegant sweeping step, she leaned back, tilting her head slightly to the right as she let him guide her. A second later, he swayed to the left, and she moved effortlessly with him, her silver hair catching the gentle breeze while the ribbon tied in it danced in rhythm with their steps.
Without them even noticing, they were gracefully circling across the grass, the rest of the world fading away as their attention remained entirely captured by one another. Velina’s amethyst eyes shone brilliantly under the amber sunlight, softening into a pale purple, until the rotation brought them close enough that Wise’s shadow fell over her face, turning her gaze into a deep, intense violet.
As their pace increased, Wise smoothly lifted Velina into a gentle turn. The touch of his fingers sent a thrilling tingle through her, a warm, rhythmic excitement rising with every step they took, as a soft flush tinted the tips of her ears. Her gaze caught the gray strands of hair swaying across Wise’s face; for a brief second, his eyes focused completely on the movement before locking back into hers. His usually calm smile curved with genuine excitement, and as the afternoon shadows shifted over them, his jade eyes deepened into a rich, dark green.
Alas, before they noticed, the gray-haired proxy made a mistake, not extending his right foot far enough, causing the silver-haired girl to stumble over it.
Both their eyes widened in shock. Before they could hit the ground, Wise pulled Velina closer, turning beneath her as they fell onto the grass.
The purple-eyed girl blinked a few times as her head rested on top of the green-eyed proxy. Hastily, she pushed herself up, both palms placed on his chest. “Mr. Wise, are you alright?” her voice carried a mixture of elegance and worry.
Lying below the woman, Wise placed his hands to his sides. “Don’t worry about me, Velina. Shifu would’ve thrown us harder.” Slowly, he opened his eyes and looked at the woman sitting on top of him. “I hope you didn’t hurt yourself because of my failure.”
The royal-coloured-eyed girl glanced around the area, finding her fan stuck in the ground, its sharp edge digging deep inside. “Thanks for your fast thinking, I’m perfectly fine. Although, the way you worded your question is displeasing to hear.” Her voice was filled with silky smoothness as her gaze drifted back to Wise, her thighs resting on either side of his waist, her chest slowly settling into a steady rhythm.
In response, the emerald-eyed boy closed his eyes and gave a shaky smile.
For the next few seconds, they rested like this.
Until something flickered in Velina’s amethyst eyes. Her gaze languidly drifted down to his lips, her fingers slightly bent on his chest, twitching. Then, suddenly, her elbows bent slightly. “Mr. Wise, I apologise...” she muttered, her eyelashes slowly lowering to brush against her cheeks. The thumping in her chest grew louder as her ears turned scarlet.
Wise looked at her with a puzzled expression, until slowly his eyes widened in realization. He gulped, his breath stopping, jaw clenched. He didn’t know what to do, so he simply lay still.
The silver-haired lady’s elbows bent further, her sleek fingers slowly drifting toward his shoulder, her black-gloved fingers swaying up and down. Then her tender chest brushed against him, then more of it pressed against him, as her face loomed closer, until it was only a few centimeters away, just as her pale pink lips were about to land—
“Eh nahh!”
Velina jolted upwards, eyes widening intensely. Quickly getting off the gray-haired proxy, she picked up her fan, swaying her wrist to spread it open and moving it in front of her face, leaving only her violet eyes exposed. Yet her ears burned a deep ruby color.
She focused her attention on the sound, eyes narrowing at the Bangboo. “Jeremy...” her voice lacked its usual warmth. “I think I need to remind you why you once called me a witch...” Saying this, she closed her fan. The corners of her eyes lowered fully as she pointed the fan toward him, wearing a “sweet, gentle” smile.
The small Bangboo trembled. “Eh… (I’m sorry…)”
—
In the ECD base, Velina stood over the operating table wearing a white medical mask, her eyes “sweetly” looking at the Bangboo. She extended her left palm.
“Normal equipment.”
“Sure, Vivi.” The little yellow-haired girl handed her a drill. Crossing her petite hands, she tilted her head. ‘I wonder what did this little Bangboo did to make her this mad?’
Seeing the trill, the Bangboo’s eyes widened as it frantically tried to escape its restraints.
“EH, neh, anh, NOHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!”