Mercenary System: I can increase innate potential !

"And I also don't feel like being scolded by my father."

While Maxime and Princess Selene chatted outside, Dorian watched Aveline from time to time so he could go and talk to her.@@novelbin@@

After all, she was his future wife, and he needed to show his guests that they were close.

As a young lady walked away from Aveline with a smile, Dorian seized her opportunity.

Approaching her gently, he gave her a charming smile.

"Good evening, Aveline." he said in a calm, composed voice.

"I think you look absolutely ravishing tonight, that midnight blue dress suits you perfectly."

Aveline turned her head towards him, a little surprised by his approach.

"Good evening Dorian, thank you." she replied, her tone slightly cool.

Dorian placed himself closer to her, observing the sparkle of her dress in the light.

"It's not given to everyone to wear a dress with such grace. And I'm just pointing out the obvious."

She sketched a slight smile as she took a step back.

"Your company is appreciated, but I'm rather preoccupied with the smooth running of the banquet and the entertainment of the guests, so if you'll excuse me." Aveline replied, bowing slightly.

Maxime, who was leaning against a wall not far away, saw and heard the short conversation between the two.

And somehow, he sensed something was wrong with Dorian.

But he couldn't put his finger on exactly what it was.

Aveline barely had time to finish before Luc Valderic, Dorian's father, stepped into the center of the room and spoke, his voice clearly resonating in the room, captivating everyone's attention.

"Ladies and gentlemen, I thank you for gathering here tonight to celebrate the union of my daughter, Aveline Ardan, with my son Dorian Valderic!"

Everyone looked at the Duke's heroic figure, who was full of spirit, with a smile.

At the same time, the band began to play louder.

"I invite our two protagonists of this evening to dance in front of everyone to celebrate their union!"

Aveline felt the pressure mounting as all eyes turned to her. Refusing to dance was unthinkable, even if her heart wasn't in it.

She sketched a measured smile and held out her hand to Dorian, who caught it with an assurance tinged with satisfaction.

"Let me show you what a good partner I can be, Aveline," he murmured, guiding her to the center of the room.

All eyes were on them, and Dorian began to lead the dance. His movements were precise and elegant.

In spite of herself, Aveline quickly adapted to his rhythm. She knew that this moment was not about her desires, but about her role.

Soon, she was subtly leading the dance, while giving the illusion that Dorian remained the guide.

Her natural elegance, combined with her impeccable mastery of movement, transformed the dance into a veritable work of art. With each turn, her midnight-blue gown sparkled under the chandeliers, capturing the fascinated gazes of the guests.

Dorian, though a little overwhelmed by his partner's level, tried to keep up, clearly aware that the real sparkle came from her.

A murmur ran through the room. The nobles exchanged glances of admiration.

"What grace..."

"She seems to have been dancing all her life..."

"A true duchess in the making."

Towards the end of the waltz, the music quickened, offering an additional challenge. Aveline accepted without hesitation. She subtly guided Dorian through more complex movements.

The final turn placed them in the exact center of the hall, Dorian tilting his head slightly, out of breath but smiling, while Aveline stood erect, unperturbed. The room erupted in applause.

Duke Valderic, visibly delighted, spoke up to cover the applause:

"A magnificent dance! Just what I'd hoped for from such a promising future union."

Aveline sketched a perfect curtsy, but her gaze turned discreetly to Dorian, who seemed slightly uncomfortable at being just a shadow in this dazzling performance.

After the first song and a round of applause for both protagonists, other nobles invited themselves onto the dance floor, while Aveline and Dorian continued to dance in the center of the room, surrounded by other nobles.

It was then that Princess Selene, who was watching the nobles dance, had what she thought was an excellent idea.

She stepped forward without hesitation, crossing the room with regal grace, catching everyone's eyes.

When she arrived in front of someone, she held out her hand.

"Maxime, would you honor me with a dance?"

All the non-dancing nobles were stunned.

It was rare for a princess to make such a gesture in public, and even rarer for her to address a man outside noble circles.

So, dancing with a mercenary went beyond anyone's expectations.

The moment seemed suspended in time, one that many would choose never to forget.

Others would say in the future that it was at this moment that we should have begun to distrust this young mercenary.

A princess asking a mercenary to dance was unheard of.

But unfortunately, too few realized this, depriving them of a unique opportunity.

Maxime, unsettled at first, turned his gaze to the princess. A wry smile appeared on his face.

He leaned slightly towards the princess, keeping one arm behind her back, and kissed her hand, before the shocked eyes of the crowd.

"Your Majesty, it would be an honor."

Then in a few steps, hand in hand, they found themselves in the center of the hall, where music bloomed around them.

The two silhouettes mingled with the bustle of the other dancers, but within them alone resided a strange tension.

As Princess Selene and Maxime entered the dance floor, a shiver ran through the crowd.

It was as if the atmosphere had changed.

Or rather, that the main characters of the evening were no longer the same.

Sélène put her hand on Maxime's shoulder, her other hand in his.

Before long, they were dancing together.

Maxime felt progressively at ease, no doubt a combination of his extraordinary physique, exceptional talent and mastery of the martial arts.

And it quickly became apparent.

"Does a mercenary also know how to dance these days?"

"That's strange, would he be an illegitimate noble son?"

"They're so beautiful..."

...

Murmurs spread across the room as Maxime and Sélène danced together, hand in hand and casting knowing glances at each other.

Dorian, still in the middle with Aveline, couldn't help noticing the glances turned towards the unexpected duo.

Aveline felt particularly happy not to be receiving so much attention, while Dorian was frustrated at having his scene completely ruined by other people.

But one of them belonged to the royal family, so he could only hide his anger.

The music changed subtly, adopting a slightly slower but no less elegant rhythm.

Sélène and Maxime followed the tempo with remarkable fluidity. If some of the nobles had hoped to see the mercenary stumble or hesitate, they were soon disappointed.

The murmurs in the room took another turn:

"Look at them... They look as if they've known each other all their lives."

"What could the princess possibly see in him?"

"Perhaps more than we will ever understand."

Find your next adventure on My Virtual Library Empire

...

Sélène, a mysterious smile on her lips, was exchanging low words with Maxime, close enough for their conversation to remain a mystery.

Luc Valderic, observing the scene from above, frowned slightly.

"A princess dancing with a mercenary... that's likely to keep people talking for a long time."

Marissa Valderic, who was standing next to her husband, was clearly not pleased.

"This was supposed to be a glorious moment for the Valderic family, how dare the royal family spoil this moment?"

The duke shook his head in disappointment.

"It's not a choice of the royal family, it's a whim of the princess, and for that we can do nothing."

As the music intensified, the two seemed more and more osmosis.

"It's a pity the music's almost over," the princess whispered discreetly in Maxime's ear.

Maxime grinned mischievously: since he'd come to dance with a princess, the scene had to be memorable.

So he spun Selene around with surprising dexterity before her surprised eyes, then with a slight control of force, he dropped her to the ground.

And as she got closer and closer to the ground, Maxime caught her with one hand behind her back.

At that moment, the music stopped and the two had their faces almost glued together.

If they moved even a few centimeters closer, they could kiss.

"It's indeed a pity, but I'm at the princess's disposal for another dance at any time," Maxime murmured with a charming smile.

Selene blushed slightly; she'd never been this close to a man before.

But she also smiled.

"That's a promise then."

Their final pose, simple but full of magnetic charm, stunned the guests.

"The princess is really supple." murmured a gorgeous young lady, wearing a dark red evening gown.

"More than the princess, this mercenary looks more like a noble than real nobles," murmured another young lady, squinting her eyes.

The latter's body exuded an intense aura of grace, attracting many a male gaze.

"It's a pity..."

"He'll never be destined for us since, apart from possessing a few skills, he won't be able to contribute anything to our families."

"Indeed, sometimes I envy common people, at least they can choose with whom they wish to spend the rest of their day."