Chapter 1: Dance178Please respect copyright.PENANAbS9wHT2axr
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"Feelings from the past do diminish and move on over time. For others, these feelings linger and fester even when the target of affection has long since forgotten. So by the end, what comes of this longing, jealousy, anger and hate?"178Please respect copyright.PENANAdN8eFR26CW
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On the floating island of Natta, there was bustling business in and outside of a large mansion. "Pick up the pace! We will have guests arriving within the coming two hours!" a man snapped roughly at the humans who tended to the grounds and inside preparations. He released a deep growl while he marched back inside with his reptile tail swayed behind him in his upper class garb.178Please respect copyright.PENANAjEz5ugwlMZ
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"Are they all keeping on schedule?" a firm young male voice questioned as the demon man passed by an opened door room.178Please respect copyright.PENANAA1hbCUSVpR
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The demon halted and looked into the small library before advancing inside. "Yes, Emperor," he bowed at the waist. "They are working quick as they can to ensure tonight happens flawlessly." He finished while he stood upright.178Please respect copyright.PENANAOMAimEwz0e
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A smile came to the Emperor's lips as a white gloved hand touched a glossy photo of a group of young men in recruitment uniforms. "Good, ensure nothing goes wrong. I want everyone to meet her." His hand removed itself before the other snapped the book of past memories shut loudly. He set his sharp silver eyes on one of his few advisers. "She's coming, yes?" he questioned in a lower and sterner tone with emphasis on the first word.178Please respect copyright.PENANAtqSqryTOfA
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The demon nodded as he maintained his composure under the cold glare of his leader. "Yes, I triple checked the list of those who responded and Mr. Syta is coming with his wife, just as you requested."178Please respect copyright.PENANAGDBqfC8QPM
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The Emperor nodded stiffly before quickly after confirming, made his way over and slipped the book back in place. "You are dismissed from my presence." His back was turned so he didn't see the demon bow in respect while his sight gazed over the book titles.178Please respect copyright.PENANAj0xJxuxoNB
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"Yes, my Emperor."178Please respect copyright.PENANARylWNmoETG
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When the demon had departed to keep an eye on the preparations, the Emperor finally reached up to pull down a thinner book and opened it to eye the photo of a woman with wings. "Soon we should meet again if my intelligence was right." He whispered softly with his charming voice as a few dark strains of almost black hair fell to rest above one of his eyes.178Please respect copyright.PENANAqO8LCx044Q
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An hour and a half passed by with things finishing up as the afternoon continued on its way. The Emperor was getting his royal blue and gold suit touched up while a silver banded ring with a unique gemstone in the center was slipped onto his finger. It looked like a speckled black fire opal yet also like that of a ruby. A knock came to the door which drew a deep, almost annoyed, breath. "Enter," he ordered flatly with his exhale.178Please respect copyright.PENANAvWul0XuN2O
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A woman let herself in and spun which caused her floor length rosy colored dress to flare out with elegance. "What do you think?" she quickly asked with excitement lining her prim tone. She came to a stop as she set her hazel eyes upon her betrothed. "I told the maids they did a standard job for their upbringing." She explained while extending an arm for a pose.178Please respect copyright.PENANAqZnff9Kltw
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The Emperor looked to her and scaled her up and down. "I say they are not complete wastes of life and managed to make your beautiful elegance even more enchanting." He swooned with a smile as he heard her giggle behind a hand.178Please respect copyright.PENANA2jB9Nwz9mn
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"Stop Emperor Amoxious, you make me blush~."178Please respect copyright.PENANA5lXATPEQSy
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Amoxious smirked as his maid finished with the touch ups before bowing while stepping back. This allowed him to move away from the mirror and over to the woman. Lifting a hand he softly took her chin into the curl of his fingers. "You are more gorgeous when blushing so why would I ever care to stop?" he purred alluringly close to her lips before stepping closer and took a deep inhale of her perfume. "Even their choice of fragrance compliments you."178Please respect copyright.PENANAQJhhfmAhvo
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"Oh I'm glad to hear and hope your help can learn to work with mine hired by my father."178Please respect copyright.PENANAuFo4ySVoHv
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"I'm sure they will." He allowed a throaty chuckle to give sound in the quiet room. "If not, they'll just be sent to the Arena and give means for cheers for our beautiful land's citizens." 178Please respect copyright.PENANATU2tpMIaUX
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"You are so devious~" she growled playfully as he kindly brushed back a single strain of her sandy-brown hair that had slipped from its woven up-do. She pressed her body against his while his arms wrapped around her waist. "I love it!" she exclaimed in a whisper against his lips while gazing lovingly into his eyes.178Please respect copyright.PENANAZYZFL9N6Tc
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Amoxious leaned in and briefly kissed her lips softly. "There will be time for that later on after the date of the wedding." Carefully he separated himself from her. "Go and I will be downstairs soon to start welcoming guests. Then I will introduce you to all and the celebration will begin."178Please respect copyright.PENANApdQqwmU3HV
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"Don't take to long~" she took her leave after blowing him a kiss from the doorway. Once she had left he waved a hand in dismissal and the maids in the room also departed from his side.178Please respect copyright.PENANALeRPFImvZy
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The remaining time passed and as five-o-clock in the evening came, guests were arriving. Amoxious had made his way down the staircase to the foyer and put on his charming air. "Welcome to one of my humble abodes. I'm so glad to see you could make it Baron." He turned his gaze to a woman at the middle aged man's side. "And your beautiful wife," he took her hand and kissed the top of it. "Baronness, it is an honor to meet you. Your husband has spoken so fondly of you."178Please respect copyright.PENANAc8HW4TGtIb
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"You are kind Emperor but we are here but to see who you have decided to settle down with. I hope it is not some tainted creature." The woman sneered as best she could while concealing a blush with her opened hand fan.178Please respect copyright.PENANAHOkOQRdUah
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"Then make your way to the ballroom and we shall begin once everyone arrives. Help yourselves to the hors d'oeuvre's and refreshments if you like." Amoxious stated in a tone that spoke to his pleasure in himself. Guests came from the upper crust and nobility of Natta as well as from other reaches of the region. All were of the primer end of bloodlines except a couple.178Please respect copyright.PENANAOnX7b2fU1u
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Meanwhile, outside in the evening sunlight, several couples were approaching the building. "Are you sure you should have brought me?" a young woman around twenty-four questioned as she turned her blue eyes up to her partner while they walked up the drive.178Please respect copyright.PENANAuoKKtzCtJt
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"I'm sure. His invite did say for me to bring my mate and that's you." The man replied with loose black bangs falling to frame his brown eyes.178Please respect copyright.PENANAyndkBeAQ2A
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Softly she pushed some hair behind her ear as the sides had been pulled back and held by an elegant clip. "I'm not from the upper society so I wouldn't want to stand out." She turned her sights down to her lovely blue dress which was slightly low cut and the sleeves rested off her shoulders. Her hand touched her ample belly which caused the dress to be slightly snug up top. "Plus I don't want to bring you down any." She turned her attention up to him. "You still sure you want some common woman here with you dressed in this glamorous attire?"178Please respect copyright.PENANA6YPK5lJEqs
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He nodded and lead down as a hand creased her cheek and his lips found hers for a loving kiss. "I'm five-hundred percent positive I want you here at my side. Besides, the dress compliments your eyes and jewelry." He gave her cheek a quick peck and lick as he chuckled.178Please respect copyright.PENANA8Nwf86Hmp8
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"Eck! Nate!" she exclaimed with disgust while wiping off her cheek before punching him in the arm.178Please respect copyright.PENANAZuekcgnKHU
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This brought a laugh and a wide grin to cross his face. "Aw but I thought you'd love being kissed like that, Sophia." He snickered as she shot him a glare with a pouting expression.178Please respect copyright.PENANAfZvTysV410
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"Just for that you are sleeping on the sofa. Hmph!" she stomped away from him and he quickly caught up to find her playing with her blue stoned necklace held by metal carved leaves.178Please respect copyright.PENANAwQRkBXMWHZ
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"Awe can't you forgive me?" he asked sadly with a small plea in his voice.178Please respect copyright.PENANASDvgJiNWHl
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Sophia glanced at him for a few moments before releasing a breath. "Fine but you are still sleeping on the sofa tonight for that move." She explained sternly as she folded her arms.178Please respect copyright.PENANAHNR62f0L71
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"Thank you dear." They made their way inside after a pair of couples had entered and were greeted. "Nice to see you, Emperor Amoxious."178Please respect copyright.PENANAx0zeGhSRmI
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Amoxious looked to Nate and put on his charming smile. "Ah, if it isn't my old friend." He walked up and gave the black haired man a quick, somewhat rough, hug. It lasted barely a second before it ended and he straightened out his jacket. "How have you been?" he turned his gaze to Sophia as she took in the interior design.178Please respect copyright.PENANASITuy4HtT9
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"I've been pretty good, got a lovely wife and been having a quiet life." Nate narrowed his eyes on Amoxious slightly with a bit of tension slipping through his body. "I would ask you how you've been, but since you are the former Emperor's son, I can and will assume the answer is great." He moved closer to Sophia as he put an arm around her waist. "Sophia and I have been married happily for four years." He explained with a defensive tone in his voice.178Please respect copyright.PENANAtZrH2sLSWI
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Amoxious glanced to Nate and reached out, taking up a confused Sophia's hand to kiss the top of it gently with his other hand closed in the small of his back. "It's a glory to meet you, dear Sophia." His tone had quieted as he spoke with his eyes downcast and partially closed.178Please respect copyright.PENANACAUtA4RlZQ
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Sophia felt her cheeks lightly heat as she stared blankly at the Emperor's head. "Uh...um thank you? It's...nice to meet you as well." What's this feeling? she firmly pushed the small sharp urge down while keeping her hand from curling into a tight fist.178Please respect copyright.PENANA16ZwyhyG6J
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Amoxious stood and released her hand. "Please, make your way into the ballroom and we will begin soon with the introduction of my betrothed."178Please respect copyright.PENANATIQ1VkbXTN
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The pair nodded and made their way to the ballroom with Nate not releasing Sophia's waist. There was quiet between them until, "Nate?" she asked softly which drew his attention. "Do we both know him?" she looked up to Nate's eyes. "I wanted to punch him into the ground a moment earlier."178Please respect copyright.PENANAvviiUzM2fX
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Nate shook his head. "No, you don't know him but I do from my days at the academy. Just don't be alone with him, okay?" Sophia nodded, "thank you, now, let's see what they got as we wait to meet this woman he's met." Once in the ballroom they went to one of the tables to sample a few of the hors d'oeuvre's.178Please respect copyright.PENANAIXAlOWQzgR
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It would be fifteen minutes 'til six-o-clock before the sound of metal tapping glass sang out and causing the group to quiet down. Amoxious set down the whine glass and fork when all eyes were on him at the head of the room. "I wish to say to everyone, welcome and thank you for coming tonight." He gave a polite deep, yet brief, bow then stood straight once more. "Now for the real guest of honor!" he swept his arm out and to the side towards a curtained archway. "Solaria Vynwood!"178Please respect copyright.PENANAmspKA6Ejjw
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The woman from before stepped out into the ballroom in her gown, waving gracefully to the applauding people as she turned and made her way up to stand at Amoxious's side. "Thank you my love. It makes me the happiest woman to know we shall soon be one."178Please respect copyright.PENANAZaLtSGaW6Q
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They shared a loving kiss which got an applause which quieted down as the engaged couple separated. Amoxious turned to the group with a hand lifting. "Enjoy yourselves for the remainder of this celebration." Everyone did just that, going back to conversing while others danced to the live string and wind musical artisans. Amoxious eyed Sophia who began to chat with another women before Solaria drew his attention back to her, planting a kiss on his lips deeply while sliding her arms around behind his neck.178Please respect copyright.PENANAidwoiPNTIY
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"Pay attention to the one you are going to bed after our wedding." She reminded him softly after getting some air. She gently pressed her forehead against his so her eyes were locked with his. "Unless you wish to test my father's temper by betraying the arrangement."178Please respect copyright.PENANAddurp3INBw
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Carefully he wrapped his arms around her and rested his hands on her back. "Oh I would never break my word to ones who hold such influence in key positions of government."178Please respect copyright.PENANAhp99pv7Fh9
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"I'm glad you are not like some clueless men." She pushed away from him and held her hand out to him with her palm up. "Come, I wish to dance and enjoy myself." He nodded, took her hand and they stepped down onto the ballroom floor where they took part in dances with the others.178Please respect copyright.PENANAbo8LIwk8mm