Dragon's Awakening: The Duke's Son Is Changing The Plot-Chapter 385 - 384 - The Rejection and the Dance.

The moment Selena’s voice slid through the air, it silenced everything else.

Even the music seemed to soften, as if recognizing the rightful queen of the stage had arrived.

She stood behind Raven—her shadow draped over his. Her blue eyes gleamed under the golden chandeliers, her smile warm yet sharp enough to cut.

"Raven," she said softly, "when exactly were you planning to dance with me? You did promise, remember?"

Raven blinked once, sneaking a glance at Aira, and seeing her hopeful expression, he sighed inwardly.

But knowing that this was the best thing to do, he turned back to Selena with a smile. "...Right now sounds good."

Selena’s expression brightened, but beneath that glow was a glint of something unmistakable—possession.

She slipped her hand into his without hesitation, fingers threading through his, as though claiming something that was hers all along.

The nobles nearby pretended not to stare, but their eyes followed every movement.

Behind them, Ilene and Aira exchanged a quiet glance.

They both understood instantly.

This wasn’t just Raven agreeing to a dance.

This was him choosing to walk away.

They could tell that he already knew why they approached him. Yet he decided to say no, and that meant something.

Ilene’s eyes softened with a mixture of understanding and resignation. Aira, on the other hand, stood frozen, her expression carefully composed yet trembling at the edges.

’So, I was rejected,’ she lowered her gaze just as Raven turned away, following Selena toward the center of the hall.

It wasn’t that she hadn’t expected it.

She knew that every woman around Raven was better than her in every aspect other than beauty, so she was prepared.

Yet it all seemed inadequate, as her heart still hurt.

She realized now that no matter how ready one was, they could never avoid the pain of heartbreak.

Suddenly, she felt a hand gently placed on her back, making her turn sideways, only to see Ilene, looking at her with an expression that said, ’Don’t worry, I’m here.’

Seeing her mother, who had already told her that chances of rejection were high, looking at her like that, she managed a faint nod, even as her heart sank beneath the music.

........................

Meanwhile, as Selena guided Raven through the crowd, her eyes flicked sideways, catching Aira’s motionless form.

Her voice dropped, quiet enough that only Raven could hear. "...Are you sure that’s what you wanted?"

Raven met her gaze, calm and sure. "If it weren’t, I wouldn’t be here."

Selena’s lips curved into a small, satisfied smile. "You’re saying you’re done adding more girls into your mess of a harem?"

Raven chuckled. "For now, yeah."

Selena’s smile froze. "For now?"

Before he could respond, her fingers found his side and pinched.

Raven winced. "Ow—hey!"

"You deserved that," she said, her voice deceptively sweet.

He just chuckled softly, leaning closer. "You’re cute when you’re jealous."

"And you’re impossible when you’re smug," she replied without a pause, shaking her head.

By then, they had reached the dance floor.

And the moment their feet touched the edge, the crowd shifted instinctively—creating space as though parting the sea.

The musicians noticed too, and the melody changed—slowing, deepening, filling the air with a silken rhythm.

Selena, noticing the shift in the music, raised a brow at the musicians hired by her, and they nodded at her, making her smirk.

Then, she turned to face Raven, her hand resting on his chest, eyes gleaming with playful challenge. "Do you even know how to dance, or are we about to embarrass ourselves?"

Raven smirked. "Not really, but I’ve accepted the fact that I’m a genius, so I’ll follow your lead and learn."

Selena giggled softly, shaking her head. "Dancing isn’t like swordsmanship, Raven."

"We’ll see."

He extended his hand. She took it.

Then, their dance began.

Their movements started awkwardly—his foot grazing hers once, earning him a narrowed stare and a muttered, "You’ve defeated a god but can’t step properly?"

Raven stared into her eyes, his gaze narrowed, but he didn’t say anything.

He didn’t need to because soon, the momentum changed.

Raven adapted—swiftly and effortlessly—matching her rhythm, his hand firm yet gentle on her waist.

Each motion was smooth, each turn natural, as though he’d done this countless times before.

The crowd watched in reverent silence.

Under the glow of chandeliers and drifting mana-lights, Raven and Selena danced—a living contrast of void and water, strength and grace, heat and calm.

To Velmoria’s nobles, it wasn’t just a dance. It was reassurance.

Proof that the hero who saved their land wasn’t going anywhere.

They were all flocking around him before because they wanted Raven to be bound to the kingdom, and although everyone knew that something was going on between Raven and Selena, no one was sure about it.

After all, Selena wasn’t the only girl around Raven. With that many of them, it was hard to tell if Selena and Raven had a thing going on.

But now, everyone knew the truth.

This revelation, however, was a bitter sight—a chain of loyalty forged not by politics, but by love—to the envoys of the other kingdoms.

Raven and Selena, however, didn’t care about any of that.

They danced like they were the only ones in this world.

Everything around them blurred—the chatter, the envy, the whispers—all fading beneath the rhythm of two hearts beating in sync.

When the song ended, Raven dipped her low, their faces inches apart.

"So? What do you think?" He asked.

Selena’s lips curved softly, her voice a whisper meant only for him. "Not bad for a genius."

Raven smiled faintly, his eyes half-lidded. "Told you I learn fast."

Their laughter mingled quietly, swallowed by the applause that thundered through the great hall like rain on gold.

And for that brief, beautiful moment—beneath the shimmering lights and endless eyes—it didn’t matter that they were heroes, killers, or saviors.

They were just a girl and a boy in love, enjoying each other’s presence.

........................

The applause still echoed through the hall when Selena lifted her head from Raven’s shoulder, her cheeks faintly flushed, her smile radiant.

For a moment, the two merely stood there—breathing in sync, eyes locked in quiet contentment.

But peace, as always, was a fragile thing.

"Lady Selena! Lady Selena!"

A chorus of excited voices called out as a group of young noble girls hurried toward them, their silken gowns fluttering like petals.

Their faces were painted with adoration and awe, but their eyes... most of them weren’t looking at Selena.

They were staring—rather blatantly—at Raven.

One girl giggled behind her fan. "That was such a beautiful dance! Could you please teach us, Lady Selena? We... we’d love to learn how to move like you!"

Selena’s smile didn’t falter.

But her eyes—oh, her eyes—shifted.

For a heartbeat, the warm blue hue turned cold and sharp, like frost under moonlight.

Raven, catching that subtle glint, inwardly sighed. ’Oh no. They poked the dragon.’

"More like a queen bee, boss," Omni said from the tattoo on his hand.

Selena tilted her head slightly, the smile returning—perfect, graceful, and just a little too poised.

"Of course," she said sweetly. "If you want to learn how to dance, I’ll gladly teach you."

The girls exchanged delighted glances, though none of them expected what came next.

"However," Selena continued, her voice soft yet edged, "since you came to me for lessons, let’s move to the side hall. I wouldn’t want to disturb anyone else."

The tone was gentle—so gentle that the girls didn’t even realize she had just cornered them into leaving Raven alone.

Selena turned to Raven with a look that said, ’Stay out of trouble,’ and then she led the flock of nervous admirers away, her steps elegant and commanding.

Within moments, she was surrounded again—this time by giggling students pretending to learn, while Selena watched them all with a saint’s patience and a devil’s amusement.

Raven rubbed the back of his neck, exhaling. "...And just like that, peace returns."

He glanced around the bustling hall.

The nobles had gone back to their conversations, the musicians had switched to a livelier tune, and the world seemed to resume its rhythm.

He quietly slipped past a group of dukes before they could spot him, then sidestepped a merchant carrying too much wine, and ducked behind a marble pillar just in time to avoid a scholar clutching a stack of scrolls.

Days of fighting monsters hadn’t honed his reflexes as much as dealing with nobles had.

Finding himself at last on the quieter edge of the hall, Raven leaned against a pillar and exhaled, a faint smile tugging his lips. "Finally... peace."

"Damn, boss. You had to say that."

The moment he heard Omni’s words, he paused.

"...Did that sound like a red flag?"

"Oh, it 110% did—"

Before the sword could complete its words—

"RAVEN!"

The voice that boomed through the air was loud enough to make several wine glasses tremble.

Raven closed his eyes. "What did I do now..."

He turned around slowly—and immediately felt his neck crane upward.

The man approaching was a mountain in human form.

A mass of muscle barely constrained by ceremonial armor, his dark hair tied back, his steps heavy enough to make the marble creak.

Raven recognized him instantly.

"Vice Guild Master Bront of the Berserker’s Guild," Raven said, his tone calm, though his brows arched slightly. "What can I do for you, big guy?"

Bront stopped a few feet away, his expression unreadable.

For a moment, he just stared—those gold-tinged eyes scanning Raven from head to toe.

Then he exhaled slowly, his voice rough like gravel. "I know my limits, and I know I ain’t strong enough to beat you."

The nearby chatter faltered.

Raven tilted his head. "...But?"

Bront clenched his fists, the air around him rippling faintly with mana. "But I still want to challenge you... to a duel."

The word ’duel’ hit like a thunderclap.

The music stopped.

The laughter died.

The hall fell eerily quiet as every noble, knight, and adventurer turned toward them.

Raven blinked once, his expression caught somewhere between tired amusement and curiosity.

He glanced at the silent crowd, then back at Bront.

"Well," he murmured under his breath, setting down his untouched wine glass on a nearby table.

"So much for peace."