Chapter 645: Take Care of My Daughter

"I won’t say I’m that much of a perfectionist,"

Ezra replied calmly.

"I see."

Diane answered in her usual light tone.

She raised her head and looked at him with her half-closed, light-blue eyes.

Her expression was difficult to read, though the way she studied his face suggested that she was thinking about something.

"So, this is how the other ladies look at their partners during a dance."

She muttered the words to herself.

They reached their designated position on the dance floor and stopped.

Ezra held Diane’s right hand lightly, waiting for the music to begin.

Around them, the Nobles and Non-Nobles who had yet to take their places continued watching the dance floor.

Some had been looking at Ezra and Diane since they arrived.

Others were more interested in the people gathering around the edges of the hall, where servants moved between the guests with trays of refreshments.

The Grand Royal Hall remained bright beneath its grand chandeliers.

Their light reflected off polished shoes, jewelry, and the decorations on the guests’ formal clothes.

The musicians of the Golden Matching Order Band were preparing for the second Dance Core, their instruments resting in their hands as they waited for the next performance to begin.

Then a surprised voice rose above the quiet conversations.

"Oh, wow! It’s the Duke of Galehart with the Duchesses of Galehart!"

A young Noble boy among those who had yet to dance pointed towards the entrance to the dance floor.

Several people turned at once.

The Duke of Galehart was walking towards the floor with his two wives.

The First Duchess of Galehart held his right arm, while Duchess Mira Galehart held his left. Both women maintained their usual elegant appearances as they walked beside their husband.

Servants and Guards of Galehart followed behind them, keeping a respectful distance.

The sight drew the attention of the guests almost immediately.

A few people straightened their backs, while others leaned towards their companions to exchange quiet remarks.

The arrival of a Duke and his two Duchesses was enough to attract attention on its own, especially when all three were appearing together for the same Dance Core.

Yet they weren’t the only ones making their way towards the dance floor.

"The Duke of Bergwyn, too!"

A young Noble lady from House Bergwyn exclaimed in surprise.

The Duke of Bergwyn was approaching with his second wife.

His first wife remained seated on the upper floor of the Grand Royal Hall, where she had been watching the proceedings.

Judging by her position and the way she had remained there, it seemed that she intended to take the last Dance Core with her husband.

The guests had barely finished reacting to their arrival when more familiar names began to appear.

"The Duchess of Derlis is making her way to the dance floor with her husband, too!"

"Hey, hey! Sir Lucien Derlis and Lady Eleanor Tempest are also on the floor!"

"Isn’t that Sir Carmine Bergwyn with Princess Victoria?"

"The Third Prince is here as well!"

One announcement followed another.

People who had been talking among themselves began turning towards the dance floor, eager to see who else would appear.

"Oh, my scholars, this second Dance Core is packed with big names and rising young figures alike."

Another guest spoke with clear excitement.

"Who will draw the most attention?"

No one could give an immediate answer.

The second Dance Core had only just begun to gather its participants, yet the number of prominent figures already present had made it far more interesting than many had expected.

Some guests had spent years hearing about these people without ever having the opportunity to see them in a relaxed state.

Others had seen them from a distance but had never been close enough to observe their behaviour when they were less bothered about authority presence.

Now, they were all sharing the same dance floor.

The musicians of the Golden Matching Order Band exchanged excited looks.

They had performed at countless formal occasions, but a gathering like this was still something worth remembering.

With so many important figures taking part, even a small moment could become a topic of conversation long after the evening ended.

The photographers from the various Broadcasting Groups understood that just as well.

They moved closer to the dance floor, adjusting their positions to obtain clearer views of the guests.

Some spread out to cover different angles, while others concentrated on particular couples.

They wanted to capture the moments that would attract the most attention once the images reached the public.

Of course, the only photographers missing were those who had been forced out of the Grand Royal Hall after causing the earlier commotion.

The remaining photographers had no intention of wasting their opportunity.

Their equipment was ready, and their attention was fixed on the people who mattered most.

On the dance floor...

Ezra remained in front of Diane.

The attention directed at them had decreased considerably.

With the arrival of the Duke of Galehart, the Duke of Bergwyn, and several other prominent figures, the crowd had gained new people to observe.

Even so, Ezra could still feel a few gazes on his back.

He didn’t need to turn around to guess where they were coming from.

The couples standing near him and Diane were almost entirely made up of members of House Bergwyn.

Every one of them seemed to have a different reason for watching him.

Some gazes carried anger.

Others held concern.

A few were filled with excitement, as though their owners were waiting to see what would happen next.

Ezra didn’t bother trying to distinguish every person.

He had more important things to do than study the expressions of a group of people who were already staring at him.

"Argh."

His vision blurred.

The change came so suddenly that Ezra couldn’t immediately tell what had caused it.

The figures before him seemed to lose their sharp edges for a brief moment, and a faint sting spread through his head.

He tightened his fingers slightly before loosening them again.

"I apologize for using this on you, Young Alchemist of Ash."

A voice sounded inside his head.

Ezra’s eyebrows drew together.

He glanced around, trying to identify the speaker.

The people nearby were still occupied with the approaching Dance Core, and no one appeared to be speaking directly to him.

Who?

Another sharp sting struck his brain.

"Argh."

Ezra raised his free hand to his forehead.

The pain wasn’t severe enough to make him lose his balance, but it was sudden and uncomfortable.

It felt as though something had entered a place it had no right to be.

"E...?"

Diane looked up at him.

She seemed to be trying to remember his name, but her attention shifted when she noticed his reaction.

Her half-closed light-blue eyes opened a little more, and a faint trace of worry appeared on her face.

"Calm your mind, Young Alchemist of Ash."

The voice spoke again.

"It’s because a higher level of Cognis has infiltrated your brain. That’s why it’s slowly leading to nausea."

The speaker’s tone remained calm, as though he were explaining an ordinary matter rather than speaking directly into someone else’s mind.

Ezra didn’t waste time trying to answer.

If the voice was correct, allowing his thoughts to run freely would only make the discomfort worse.

He immediately cleared his mind and entered a state of blank meditation.

He stopped trying to identify the speaker.

He stopped examining the sensation in his head.

He let go of the questions forming one after another and focused on maintaining a still mind.

The pain began to fade almost at once.

His vision cleared.

The sting in his head weakened, and the pressure that had been building behind his forehead gradually disappeared.

"I didn’t expect you to be capable of doing something like this. So fast, but, as expected of the child whom the Queen personally gave a title."

The voice sounded almost impressed.

Ezra remained silent.

He couldn’t afford to let his thoughts wander again, not while the unfamiliar Cognis was still inside his head.

He wanted the speaker to leave as soon as possible, but he kept that thought to himself.

"Young Alchemist, this is my daughter’s first dance, and I have seen your dancing skills with the young child of Vivian Derlis."

The voice paused.

"Please take care of my daughter. She’s quite an absent-minded girl and might even forget her steps because she feels tired and sleepy. It’s not her fault, so please take good care of her."

The request was delivered with a seriousness that made it clear the speaker wanted Ezra to remember every word.

"She’s not doing it on purpose,"

The voice continued.

"So, I hope you can be patient with her."

Ezra maintained his blank meditation.

He couldn’t reply without risking another wave of nausea, but he understood the request.

The speaker wasn’t finished.

"I will reward you if Diane gains a little more interest in dancing. I will also compensate you for entering your brain."

The final words came without any change in tone.

Then the unfamiliar presence withdrew.

The distortion in Ezra’s mind faded as though it had never existed.

His thoughts returned to normal, and the last traces of discomfort disappeared.

Ezra lowered his hand from his forehead.

In front of him...

Diane was still watching him.

"Are you alright, E... mmm..."

She placed the fingers of her left hand against her lips and tried to remember his name.

Her expression became thoughtful.

She seemed to be searching through the little information she had retained, but the answer refused to come to her.

Ezra looked at her for a moment.

"I’m fine."

He spoke at last.

The music had already begun.

The opening notes of the Golden Matching Order Band’s performance spread across the hall, drawing the attention of the guests back towards the dance floor.

Diane glanced towards the musicians, then returned her gaze to Ezra.

"Should we go down? The dance has started, and we’ve already missed the opening."

Her voice remained light, although the faint worry on her face hadn’t disappeared entirely.

"It’s fine."

Ezra took her right hand again.

He placed his left hand around her waist, positioning himself to guide her through the dance.

Diane looked at him with mild confusion, seemingly unsure of what he intended to do next.

Ezra, however, was occupied with a different thought.

That was the Duke of Bergwyn.

He had already guessed who the speaker was.

The man’s words had made the connection clear enough.

So, Alchemists can speak directly into other people’s minds once they reach an even higher Alchemist rank.

It was a useful ability to know about.

It was also an unpleasant experience to be on the receiving end of it without warning.

Ezra had no intention of forgetting that distinction.

Two rewards from a Duke.

His black eyes settled on Diane.

The Duke of Bergwyn had offered him a reward for helping his daughter enjoy dancing and compensation for the intrusion into his mind.

Ezra didn’t know what either reward would be, but he had heard the offer clearly.

For now, he needed to focus on the dance.

"Let’s begin."

He spoke calmly.

Before Diane could react, Ezra shifted his weight and guided her body to the left with a smooth movement.

Her feet followed his lead as the music continued around them.

The second Dance Core began.