The Boundaries of Possession - Chapter 32
Elysia furrowed her brows at his sheer obstinacy. She looked up at him, clearly offended, her pride wounded.
“How disappointing.”
“Likewise. How do I know that your family won’t use that contract to blackmail me?”
Andreas exhaled sharply, pressing his fingers to his forehead. A contract was troublesome. Unless he truly intended to accept Elysia, he had no desire to be branded as an alpha who had shamelessly taken in a brazen omega.
It was true that he found an omega who knew how to use her intelligence intriguing. But he also felt a strange sense of kinship in the fact that she didn’t trust him either. Or perhaps it was a slight disappointment. He had been drawn to her independent nature, so unlike other omegas who clung to alphas for support. But in the end, Elysia Brillen also viewed love as conditional.
“What is it that you like?”
At Andreas’s question, her left eyebrow arched slightly. He could practically see the gears turning in her head as she tried to decipher his intent.
“Money. Because it’s certain.”
“…….”
Andreas’s expression twisted. Seeing his unfiltered reaction, Elysia let out a brief, amused scoff.
“……Then, let’s do this.”
***
It was past nine in the evening. The warm yellow glow of the lights made her pale hair seem slightly darker.
Elysia welcomed the light cascading from the chandelier above her. If the glow of wine swirling in a glass could take form, wouldn’t it feel like this? This was the first ball that had not felt burdensome to her.
“Take my hand.”
She stared at the large hand extended toward her. Then, cautiously, she placed her own hand atop it. Andreas grasped her hand and pulled her closer.
Elysia, caught off guard by the movement, showed a brief flicker of surprise. It almost felt like a silent command to yield and match his pace, which made her let out a quiet laugh.
From behind, Sei and Hern exchanged looks. At Andreas’s slight nod, a servant standing by the door stepped forward and opened it.
“From now on, whenever you attend a ball, you will enter with me.”
The two had reached an agreement faster than expected. Elysia would be able to attend the balls freely, using his presence as proof of his promise, while Andreas would solidify his credibility among others. Their interests were perfectly aligned.
Naturally, they drew attention. Many were already invested in the scandal surrounding them, eager to seize any opportunity to speculate further.
As the music swelled, Andreas smoothly extended his other hand. Elysia took it, a faint smile playing on her lips. As guests began stepping onto the small stage one by one, Andreas leaned in and murmured,
“You do know how to waltz, don’t you? You’ve spent too long as a wallflower.”
“Just because I didn’t dance doesn’t mean I was a wallflower.”
“Oh, of course.”
Their eyes locked, brimming with intensity. To them, it was a battle of observation, an unspoken duel of wits. But to the watching nobles, it was a look of longing.
Some covered their mouths in surprise, while others stared in open fascination.
A large hand gently encircled Elysia’s waist. She met Andreas’s gaze, but he was already surveying the room.
Her movements were fluid, her steps elegant as she moved to the rhythm. The sight of an omega dancing at a ball was rare—so naturally, no one could look away.
Elysia struggled to suppress her emotions. The firm muscles beneath his attire, the fleeting glimpses of his strength as they danced—her eyes were drawn to them despite herself.
She already knew, instinctually, that Andreas was the epitome of a perfect alpha.
Forcing herself to look away, she barely managed to speak.
“Your Grace—”
“Andreas.”
Her heart pounded.
He smiled, elegant and deliberate, like a peacock spreading its feathers in an act of seduction.
“You used to call me that just fine before, but now you’re back to this?”
“……Andreas. When did you learn to dance so well?”
In her memory, he had been terrible at dancing. She distinctly recalled a tutor struggling for weeks just to get him to learn the basic steps.
Time had passed, of course, but the thought of him dancing with others until he had mastered it twisted something inside her.
“Perhaps from the moment you insisted you needed to dance.”
It would have been better if he had just stayed silent.
Following the turmoil in her heart, Elysia’s golden lashes trembled ever so slightly.
