After hours of monumental auctions, billion-dollar bids, and calculated glances from all corners of the world, the atmosphere in the Gala hall gradually softened.
The lights dimmed, transforming the room into an ethereal, almost dreamlike scene, with hues of gold, lilac, and silver floating in the air like enchanted particles.
A string quartet took up position on the mezzanine, followed by a magical orchestra in the background, and the event organizer took to the central stage once again.
With an impeccably practiced smile, he announced in a smooth, elegant voice, "Excellent guests, gracious ladies and gentlemen... To conclude this historic evening with the elegance worthy of the empires we represent, I invite you to the Last Dance of the Night."
A low murmur of excitement ran through the hall, as if everyone had been waiting for just this—the social climax of the Gala: the dance that sealed alliances, flirtations, and sometimes destinies.
Matthew wasted no time and appeared beside Luna, who had just taken a sip of sparkling wine.
"Would you accept the honor of granting me the last dance, Miss?" he asked with an almost mischievous smile, offering his hand like a classic gentleman.
Luna, who was looking forward to this and expecting it, although she had been feigning disinterest until then, arched an eyebrow, let out a sigh, and replied, "Hm... only if you don't step on my heel again."
He laughed. "It was once. And it was your jump that invaded my territory."
"We'll see who invades who now," she murmured, taking his hand.
On the other side, Kael was already positioning himself naturally next to Victória, who was looking at the ceiling pretending she wasn't waiting.
"May I have a dance, my polar miss?" he said, extending his hand.
Victoria crossed her arms and bit her lip, trying to contain her smile, and failing beautifully. "Only if you promise not to freeze me with that imperial gaze of yours."
"I promise to just melt inside," he replied, bringing her hand to his lips lightly.
The other two friends, Lumine and Nikoly, looked at each other with resignation.
"And once again, the single ladies in the corner of the wall," Lumine grumbled.
"The dance of the stranded," Nikoly finished, sighing and crossing his arms.
That's when two absurdly handsome men appeared.
One was dark-haired, with golden eyes and a defined jaw, a diplomat known for his dangerous way of speaking.
The other was a silver-haired engineer with the air of a mad genius and charm.
"Excuse me," the diplomat said, bowing to Nikoly. "You strike me as someone who dances as if he has a secret agenda."
"Maybe I do," Nikoly replied, accepting.
The engineer looked at Lumine. "If I don't invite you now, my AI will conclude that I'm not worthy of being in this room."
"Your AI needs to recalibrate its priorities," Lumine murmured, smiling as she placed her hand in his.
And then, the music started.
The couples glided down the central dance floor, illuminated by floating crystals. The floor seemed to reflect the stars, as if they were dancing across the sky.
Luna and Matthew naturally stood out.
The two seemed to balance each other in a silent game of teasing and restrained smiles.
"So… are you going to tell me what you thought of Gala?" Matthew asked as he guided her masterfully.
"Long, loud, and full of people looking at me like I was a rare auction item."
"Well, maybe because you are."
"You just want to increase the stock price of my ego."
"And you keep trying to hide how much fun you're having."
"Would you like to know..."
Victoria and Kael also spun gracefully.
He guided her lightly, but always maintaining eye contact.
There was something in his eyes.
"Are you having fun?" he asked softly.
"More than you should. Don't tell anyone."
"Blood secret."
Meanwhile, Victoria's fiancé Liam was across the room with a CEO from Oceania, trying to clean up his social image.
But when he glanced at the dance floor and saw Victoria in Kael's arms, laughing, something she never did with him, his blood boiled.
With a discreet gesture, he took out his cell phone, focused the camera on the two of them and recorded the fluid and elegant dance between them for a few seconds.
"We'll see if the little princess's daddy will like this…" he muttered through gritted teeth, sending the video directly to the Lancaster family patriarch.
Then, with a venomous smile, he deleted the message history and turned with false sympathy to the group of businessmen.
But in his gaze, frustration and venom were planted.
The music reached its peak.
In the center, Luna and Matthew stopped for a moment.
He slowly brought his face closer, almost as if he were going to kiss her. "You don't seem so annoyed by my IQ now…"
She laughed, turning her face away at the last second, escaping like a night breeze. "Don't get carried away, Mr. Heir."
And with that, the dance ended.
Everyone applauded.
And the smiles exchanged in that room would not be forgotten any time soon.
Although the final dance officially closed the event for the general guests.
There were still fake smiles being exchanged, agreements whispered in the shadows, and political alliances sealed with toasts of golden champagne.
But for the four women who captured the attention of half of the nobles present, the night was far from unforgettable, and perhaps for that reason, they decided it was time to leave before it became annoying.
Lumine was the first to step off the dance floor, adjusting her crimson dress with an impassive expression.
"Shall we go?" he said, looking at Nikoly, Victória and Luna.
"Now. Before another CEO tries to buy me off with a yacht," Nikoly replied, stifling a laugh.
Luna, for her part, was already walking ahead, with her hair impeccable, her posture erect like a modern empress, and her patience at its limit.
Matthew found himself surrounded by two European Union senators and a banker.
The four of them tried to cross the hall, but, of course, not without being intercepted.
First, a duke, as old and elegant as a ruined castle, intercepted Lumine. "Miss Edelweiss, allow me to present my granddaughter, heiress to the von Halder house. Perhaps we can discuss an inter-family arrangement at brunch this morning."
"I'm allergic to brunches with hidden agendas, Your Excellency," Lumine replied with a smile as polite as it was cutting.
The man laughed, not realizing he had been politely rejected.
Soon after, Nikoly was surrounded by three young, overly perfumed men, perhaps nobles, perhaps just influencers from smaller empires.
"You seem to like silence. I'm quiet too. Let's talk?"
"That's an interesting paradox," she said, turning away without another word.
Victoria received a contact card with a number engraved in rubies, delivered by an heiress-hunting count. "If you have time, I'd love to show you my family estate in Eldoria."
"Only if I'm going to leave you there and fly back," she replied, handing the card back with a sneer.
And finally, Luna. Ah, the favorite of the night.
Three men tried to approach. One with flowers (we don't know where he got them), another with a necklace of antique pearls, and a third with... a miniature prenuptial contract.
Luna stopped, looked at the three of them, and said, "You're mistaking me for a startup desperate for investment. Good night."
They scrambled away like soggy kittens.
Finally, in the brightly lit atrium that led to the hotel exit, Matthew approached the group.
There was a tired glint in his eyes, but he still maintained his calm and impeccable posture. "I have a meeting with some ministers right after. I need to stay a little longer."
Kael, who was right behind, nodded. "I have a meeting with global representatives. Nighttime meetings are kind of... our culture," he said, giving Victoria a subtle glance.
Luna crossed her arms, looking at Matthew with mild disapproval. "Don't drink too much. And text me when you get home."
Matthew arched an eyebrow. "Are you worried about me?"
"I'm worried about the content of what you say when you're drunk. What if you confess that you like me?"
He laughed, but before he could answer, Luna quickly hugged him. It was a brief touch, but full of silent codes.
Victoria, next to Kael, hesitated for a second.
She looked at her friends who were already saying goodbye and turning their gazes to her with silent expectation.
Then she took a deep breath and said, "Kael... would you mind if I accompanied you to this meeting? Just as an observer."
Kael smiled, that calm, controlled smile that hid more than it showed. "I don't see why not. But I warn you: they're long, cold, and full of political ice."
"I'm used to cold things," Victoria replied with a wink.
The friends watched the scene with knowing looks.
"Someone is going to become the princess of Polo," Nikoly murmured.
"She's already been melting ice since he showed up," Lumine added, while Luna just laughed.
The girls waved goodbye, each going their separate ways through the glittering streets of New York.