Apocalypse Flower (3)

  A lavish ball. The magnificent chandeliers above seemed like diamonds about to shatter on the ground, champagne was lined up as if it were a 'mountain of wine', girls dressed in black and white maid uniforms walked around with trays holding glasses, violins played softly alongside pianos producing a elegant and leisurely melody, outside the swimming pool emitted a pale cold light as if it were lonely, quietly facing the moon in the night sky, nearby flower trees stood still, as if waiting for something...

  The originally lively dance party and the originally noisy crowd quieted down at this time...

  "Lord Lutz? What a wonderful surprise! I didn't think you'd remember my mother's birthday?" Miss Mersa said with a surprised smile, looking at the noble young man in front of her.

  "His Excellency, Duke Ramuel, is my instructor, and since he has urgent business that prevents him from attending today, I, Lutz, will take his place to express our respects to you!" As he spoke, Lutz's icy blue eyes inadvertently swept over Shinjin, who was rubbing his forehead, and the entire hall erupted in a commotion...

  Everyone was talking about it...

  "So this is really Lord Lutz! He's really cool!"

  "It looks like an elegant and noble demeanor that is out of this world!"

  "Didn't you hear that Your Highness had suddenly gone missing? Why are you appearing all of a sudden now?"

  Everyone was in a state of confusion, and some even thought that Lord Loth had been assassinated. It seemed that this land had hope for rebirth once again. Shin's mouth corners involuntarily rose, holding a transparent cup. Although he looked like he was about to get a headache, he still tried his best to support his body, forcing out a somewhat stiff smile so that no one would notice anything wrong. However, despite this, Masha understood in her heart. When her light amber eyes met those deep, icy blue ones, she felt as if the boy who had fainted in front of Ryūōkan was someone he had sent... But just as Loth approached him, Masha subconsciously grasped Shin's arm...

  "Have you been standing here all along, Xin Zhen? Didn't you know I've been looking for you for a long time?" Mingming said with a hint of jest, but the people around him could immediately sense the oppressive and icy atmosphere. The couples in the dance pool also stopped in their tracks at this moment, removing their masks to stare at the young man who shone brighter than the stars, standing beside the birthday boy, seemingly provocative towards Ramel's future son-in-law.

  "Xin Zhen's body is not feeling well..." Mo Sha wanted to explain, but was interrupted by Luo Zi, who smiled and said: "Everyone, please continue! Don't mind me! Today is the birthday banquet of Duchess Ramel, I hope you don't have to worry about my presence!"

  The men and women by the dance pool jumped up again, dancing a lively but unknown dance, like a waltz or some kind of Latin-like dance that seemed very light, in short, that dance looked very energetic, those gorgeous dresses twinkling before one's eyes, the sound of wine glasses being knocked over and fireworks blooming in the night sky...

  Xin Zhen was dragged by Luo Zi to a flower tree not far from the palace-like house, then suddenly and uncontrollably punched the young man who was less than twenty years old. With a pretended slightly angry face, he laughed and said: "You guy, it's really hard to find you! Do you have to make Duchess Ramel hold a grand party before I can see you?"

  I can be angry with you because we're friends!

  I can tease you freely because we are friends!

  I can have strong thoughts about you because we are friends!

  But you who have liked playing games since childhood, seem to still be the same after growing up!

  Since we were kids playing hide and seek, no one has ever found you because you're always like this! You can never be easily found, although I know your habits, but if I send a boy who doesn't know you to find you, how would he know that you are...

  Lewd fellow?

  Xin Zhen was punched by Luo Zi and retreated several steps, his body crashing into the flower tree, and then fluttering down onto each other's hair. The moonlight was cold and clear, and dark clouds quietly covered its face, like a shy child hiding behind the clouds, hesitating to come out...

  "Luozhi, didn't you leave the palace? What's wrong? Can't bear the loneliness or want to return to the palace?"

  "Stop it!"

  It seems that the youth was really angry, his face slightly red as he grasped Xin's collar, staring at him with a dazed expression: "Didn't you learn something from the magician? You said before that you developed a kind of mirror that can accurately locate people, right?"

  Shin's body stiffened for a moment, and when he finally came to his senses, he actually burst out laughing. As the white swallowtail fluttered gently in the waves, Shin rubbed his sore head and looked at the young man in front of him with a smile: "No way! Loth! Haven't you given up yet? Do you still want to find Green now? If you really want to marry Green, what about Melfease? The power of this country and the upcoming renewal of this land are going to rely on that girl!"

  What is so-called fate!

  What is this so-called contract!

  What is so-called freedom!

  The young man stood there, his head slightly lowered, his hands clenched tightly together, and said with a sob: "Do you think I was wrong too? Is it wrong for me to pursue happiness like that? I've thought it through, even if the earth is destroyed, I still want to find back the green shoots!"

  Her pupils constricted, Xinzhen was taken aback, a black cat suddenly darted out from somewhere and flashed past... Not far away, the mansion was still flashing with lights, glittering and joyful, some people surrounded the dance floor, some were holding trays to choose desserts, only a delicate porcelain doll-like girl sat on one side with a sulky face...

  "It's because you're a noble that I don't want to use force on you, really, I think your status shouldn't be reduced to just liking a slave!"

  “She is not a slave!”

  "Alright! Let's put it this way! You're already 17, and I'm 19, our social status requires us to make certain choices in life that are not entirely our own! You too! Everyone is! Besides, didn't you also live with Princess Mephis for a while?!" Shinjin said, his eyelids twitching slightly: "You little brat, don't think you can fool me, I know who you're with now, after all, I'm an eight-sided socialite - Shinjin ah!"