Chapter 869: Confrontation at the Ball
What a coincidence, she came out just as I reached the door?
Angel was just lamenting the "coincidence" of their chance encounter when she noticed Georgina walking straight towards her across the hall with a very clear purpose.
The Duchess's outfit was slightly different from the last time Angel saw her, but it was still a black evening gown. The bold design and cut perfectly outlined her figure, which was kept in peak condition due to her extraordinary characteristics. The hem below her hips gradually transitioned from fabric to flowing tassels, exposing her smooth skin and perfectly muscular legs to the sight of others from time to time.
"Kristine, I didn't expect you to actually come. I thought you would refuse the invitation..."
Georgina quickly came to stand beside Angel and said with an undisguised joyful tone, and took her arm. Her height, which was a few centimeters taller than Angel, combined with her strong movements, made Angel, whose expression was still a little confused, look even more petite and cute, attracting the attention of many guests who stopped at the door.
But when they discovered that the other party was Georgina Augustus, these puzzled looks quickly shifted away, as if they were already used to this kind of thing.
I have a feeling that after today, I'll be surrounded by a few more untrue rumors... This Duchess isn't really like Hvin Rambis said, more interested in women than men, right? But I didn't show much charm in front of her, not even half as much as I did when teasing Klein...
Angel muttered as he was half-forced into the hallway and arrived at the ballroom on the first floor of Duke Negan's mansion.
The first and second floors here are connected. The first floor is paved with stone slabs carved with gorgeous patterns. Large candlesticks overhead are burning with a large number of fragrant candles, and the brightness is no less than that of gas chandeliers. In the corner, a band that is resident in the Duke's Mansion is playing melodious music. The front of the ballroom is a wide staircase and a platform above, surrounded by corridors on both sides. Guests who do not want to dance with others can stop in front of the railing and look down at the dance below, or go through the doors on the other side of the corridor to go to independent lounges, tidy up their clothes and appearance, and take a rest.
Behind the double doors next to the central platform on the second floor is a long corridor with stone carvings of all the ancestors of the Negan family. The end of the corridor leads to another hall. There are no noisy dancers and no impetuous and charming atmosphere. Instead, there are long tables with various hot and cold foods and drinks for guests to fill their stomachs or talk about really important things.
Led by Georgina, Angel entered the ballroom directly without even showing his invitation. The two of them walked around the guests who were already dancing to the music, and walked up the fan-shaped stairs that gradually narrowed to the second-floor platform, where they met the organizer of the ball, Duke Negan.
"Ms. Georgina, I'm very glad that you can come to the ball I'm hosting. This event will surely be more glorious because of your presence."
This tall, black-haired man, who was in his prime but had a slightly tired look between his eyebrows, exchanged a few polite words with the Duchess, then turned his gaze to Angel. His dark gray and blue eyes were full of surprise. It was obvious that he could not find the identity of this conservatively dressed young lady who was infinitely attractive in her whole body.
"Who is this?"
"She's Christine Theresa, my close business partner and an interesting young woman. I brought her here to broaden her horizons."
Georgina replied calmly, unintentionally revealing the aura of the demigod "Arbitrator". Angel beside her tilted his head slightly, huddled in Georgina's arms, seemingly submitting to the power of the person next to him, but secretly revealing a look longing for freedom.
Those purple eyes that seemed to be able to speak not only made little Duke Negan stunned, but even the guests walking in the corridor on the second floor were staring at her, wishing they could step forward and rebuke Georgina Augustus's tyranny and rescue the young lady who was like a little lamb.
"Miss Christine, have a wonderful night at the ball. If you need anything, feel free to come to me."
In the end, the little duke did not do anything out of line, but only made certain hints.
It seems that if "charm" is limited to the level of "pleasure", even if one deliberately adopts a girlish posture that is inconsistent with one's age and more likely to touch men, the effect on these powerful and determined men will be limited...
Angel had never met the previous Duke of Negan, Pallas Negan. He only had indirect contact with him during the assassination of the nobleman by the "Apostle of Desire". His impression of the surname "Negan" only remained in various news in newspapers, such as titles such as "the largest land noble", "conservative leader", and "the brother of the current prime minister".
Therefore, when Tirion Negan, who inherited his father's title and wealth and became the new Duke Negan, appeared, Angel was still a little surprised at his age.
He looked less than thirty years old, yet he had already become one of the most powerful men in the kingdom...Arrodes said he still leaned towards the Conservative Party and shared the same political views as Georgina. Perhaps he needed the advice of his father's old friends, so even though he had various thoughts, he didn't do anything that was unbecoming of his status...
Looking at the little Duke Negan, whose eyes were burning with passion because of his appearance but who remained restrained because of Georgina's presence, Angel greeted him respectfully. Then, led by Georgina, he left the front of the stage and strolled to the corridors on both sides to the sound of cheerful country music. He leaned against the railing and looked at the dancing guests below.
Of course, this was not a quiet place. Due to Georgina's presence, other guests kept coming over from other seats with champagne in their hands to greet the Duchess who rarely appeared in public, but their inquiring eyes repeatedly fell on Angel.
"It's just a friend with whom I have some business cooperation."
Georgina dismissed the curiosity of others with a bland tone, but succeeded in making the eyes of the guests even more weird, and they left with a look of confusion.
I feel like I've deepened some of their misunderstandings... And this is completely different from the introduction Georgina gave to Duke Negan. When she introduced me to Tirion Negan, she used words like "close partner" and "interesting young man"...
Angel thought about it, looked at the Duchess beside him, and finally couldn't help asking:
"Your Excellency the Duke, may I ask why you invited me to a ball of this level?"
She didn't think that the other party invited her because of his "interest in women".
"Of course, it's because I'm interested in you," Georgina said with a smile. She took two glasses of Misty Champagne from a passing waiter's tray, handed one to Angel, and took a sip herself. "Your behavior in Backlund, the identity hidden under your disguise, and the person behind you... all fascinate me."
The one behind him... Angel nodded and asked in response, as if realizing something:
"Golden Queen?"
The other party's attitude is so obvious, it would be impolite to play dumb.
"Yes, we hope to have a chance to communicate with her. This is one of the reasonable transactions in the 'contract'. The time and place can be decided by her. I think this fully demonstrates our sincerity."
Georgina lowered her voice, letting her words be drowned out by the noisy music and conversation downstairs.
A transparent barrier appeared beside the two of them, as if it could isolate any movement or sound. Like a diligent guard, it prevented any sound from inside from being transmitted to the outside world.
The Arbitrator's abilities...
Angel asked without comment:
"Does this 'you' refer to the entire royal family, or just your faction? What are their goals?"
"They want to collaborate with the Golden Queen on a series of matters. This involves the ghost ship she owns and the secret treasures left behind by the Fourth Epoch Trunsoest Empire. We only need a portion of them, and the rest can be given to her... This is a mutually beneficial deal. Please convey this to her."
Why is it so vague? It sounds perfunctory... "Golden Queen" Angelica Sage muttered, nodded to indicate that she would convey it, and then asked:
"This kind of thing could be delivered via secret letter, why at the ball?"
Are you the type of person who becomes more focused and interested when many people are watching you? Angel swallowed the second half of the sentence.
"This part is my personal interest," Georgina said, her lips curled up slightly, making her already round face, inherited from the Augustus family, even rounder. "Miss Christine Theresa, would you like to dance with me? I can dance the men's part."
Could it be that the guests' vigilance against Georgina was correct? But two women dancing together at a formal ball was a bit too much for Rune... Angel was about to refuse when he noticed a young woman approaching from the end of the corridor. Her long golden hair shone like gold in the light, and her green eyes were as calm as water. It was Audrey Hall, the "Justice."
"Audrey!"
Angel quickly greeted her and successfully diverted Georgina's attention.
"Ms. Georgina, good evening," Audrey walked over briskly, bowed to the Duchess, then looked at Angel, stretched out her arms and gave her a warm hug. "Christine, I didn't expect to meet you here. Let me guess, who is your dance partner tonight?"
"I'm sorry to hear that no gentleman has asked me to dance tonight."
Angel replied with a snort, a tone of disappointment in his voice.
"It's truly a pity. Do the gentlemen here have difficulty walking?" Audrey said with a smile, her eyes sweeping over the men in the second-floor corridor, who were chatting with friends over glasses of wine, more interested in conversation than dancing. "If I were a man, I'd probably rush over here to kiss your fingertips and take you away from Ms. Georgina."
"Unfortunately, here I can only wait for a gentleman's invitation, and I can't be the one to invite you and have the exclusive right to dance with you for three songs."
Audrey looked at Angel with regret, seemingly unaware of the impact her words had on Georgina. Georgina smiled, but looked at Audrey coldly, asking,
"Where's Earl Hall? Are you here with him today?"
"Father is in the restaurant at the back. His Excellency Duke Negan also went there just now. They seemed to have something important to discuss."
No wonder I didn't notice Audrey after I came in. It turns out she was in the back room before... Angel was thinking, but he found that Georgina waved her hand gently, causing the "barrier" that was shrouded in the surrounding area for several meters and made it difficult for confidential conversations to be heard to disappear quickly. Then she looked at her and said softly:
"Then I'll excuse myself. You can wait here for the 'gentleman' to invite you to dance, or you can go to the lounge to spend the rest of your time with this righteous lady... As for you,"
She looked at Audrey, her tone turning slightly colder, but still retaining the same authority and a hint of concern.
"This power is hard-earned, so it's best not to show it off casually."
With that, the Duchess, dressed in an evening gown but looking like a warrior in full armor, strode away. Her aura even made the gentlemen on the corridor, who were watching the three beautiful women talking, move out of the way as if avoiding charging cavalry.
"Is she... angry?"
After a moment, Audrey said cautiously.
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