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The young woman cast bored glances around the room. She had forgotten how long she had even been sitting there. This grand hall felt much warmer than it should have. The woman wanted to command her servants to fan her, but she was too bored to even manage that. The velvet red dress wrapping her body wasn't helping with the heat at all, either.
Normally, she wouldn't attend these night festivities herself. But tonight, she had learned that her favorite dancer would be coming. She couldn't miss it. Yet, the orange-haired dancer she had come all this way for was nowhere to be seen.
When she asked around, she learned that the girl hadn't wanted to attend today. Lada's mood had soured considerably, but as the Empress, leaving the festivity she had joined right away would draw too much attention. The young woman had always been uncomfortable with intense attention.
Adjusting herself where she sat, she felt the sequins of the floor cushion digging into her body. She crossed her legs, resting her elbow on her knee.
Placing her chin in her palm, she let out a sigh. The Empress truly hated such festivities, but she had wanted to see the woman she fancied. She wondered why, among all the other dancers, that girl wasn't there tonight.
Empress Lada had many concubines. From girls sent as gifts from other empires to those who came to the palace of their own volition, she had a multitude of beauties. These other women, with their different appearances and blended cultures, did not excite Lada nearly as much as the dancer girl. It wasn't even close.
The Empress's heart had belonged to the orange-haired dancer from the very first moment she saw her. Lada had spotted the girl two years ago during yet another boring event. She had learned her name was Tata, and the young girl had been setting her soul on fire ever since. However, the young dancer did not look at the Empress with the same interest.
She had invited her to her palace many times, but Tata had never come. She wouldn't attend the celebrations at her palace.
Aside from that, Lada had also invited her to live in the palace. She loved the girl dearly. It didn't have to be as a concubine; she could simply reside in one of the hundreds of rooms in the palace. A common dancer living in the massive palace wouldn't strike anyone as odd. If the girl said she wanted it, Lada was ready to even take her hand in marriage. Yet, the dancer girl never stopped rejecting her.
Lada thought that perhaps Tata hadn't come today because she had somehow found out that she would be there. If she had caught wind of Lada's attendance from someone, the girl might have avoided coming. The Empress didn't understand why she was being rejected. She possessed everything anyone could ever want.
With a single command, she could command armies, but Lada had absolutely never given the dancer girl a single order so far. She was waiting for the day the girl would come to her of her own free will.
The Empress wasn't aware of it at all, but while she was lost in these thoughts, her gaze had locked onto a dancer. It was a dark-haired girl whose face was veiled. Lada couldn't see her face clearly from where she sat, but she was certain her beauty couldn't compete with Tata's. While orange hair adorned her thoughts, the dark-haired dancer noticed the Empress's gaze on her and blushed.
Foolish girl, she was entirely unaware of how occupied Lada's mind actually was. She assumed the Empress might be interested in her. Answering the music with coquettish movements, she began to glide with small steps toward where the Empress sat.
Lada couldn't make sense of it when she saw the girl approaching her. She watched her with an interest that held nothing but curiosity. As if wanting to display just how beautiful she was, the dark-haired dancer lowered her veil, revealing her flushed cheeks.
Of course she was beautiful; if she weren't, she wouldn't be allowed to dance in an environment filled with nobles. But the Empress was too drunk on love to even see it. She merely settled for giving her a weary look.
"Did you want something?"
The dancer straightened her posture and offered a smile she deemed charming.
"Your Majesty... I was wondering if-"
"Speak quickly."
"What? Right, Your Majesty. I was wondering if I could dance for you privately in your chambers tonight? If you are not occupied."
Lada stared at her for a moment, as if initially unable to process what she had said. What a tedious question. Without any rush to answer, she opened her mouth to reject her with a few short words, right when she caught a sweet voice she knew all too well.
"She is. I mean, she is occupied, yes."
Turning toward the source of the voice, the Empress showed an intense interest she hadn't displayed all night. Her heart rate quickened when she saw the sight she had been longing for. The orange locks she was dying of love for were just a few steps away from her. Tata was out of breath; it was evident she had rushed to get here. The Empress swallowed hard and spoke without turning back to the dark-haired girl.
"You heard her. I am occupied. I think, at least."
Blushing with embarrassment but trying to save face, the dark-haired dancer bowed quickly and departed with hurried steps. Lada's gaze, however, remained fixed on her own favorite. She was wearing a green dress that suited her beautifully.
Tata cast an unpleasant look after the departing dancer. How dared she make such a brazen request to the Empress? Especially when Tata herself hadn't even seen her chambers yet...
The orange-haired girl actually wasn't going to attend this event today because she was feeling a bit under the weather. News travels fast. Word that the Empress would also be at this event had reached Tata's ears only just before evening.
She didn't have enough time to prepare, but she had gotten ready quickly while doing her absolute best. And she had only managed to make it before the evening concluded. The moment she arrived, she had been at a loss for what to do upon encountering that scene. She couldn't help but wonder what Lada would have said to the other girl if she hadn't shown up.
When her gaze finally returned to the Empress, she couldn't help but smirk inwardly. The woman truly looked bored out of her mind until a moment ago.
Offering a slight bow, Tata sat down on the cushion beside her. The orange-haired dancer took immensely great pleasure in Lada's interest in her. She didn't even want to admit to herself how much she liked it.
For instance, she wouldn't call the Empress "Your Majesty," and Lada would never get angry with her. She would put up with all her whims. Tata wondered about the boundaries of her love for her.
For Lada, the entertainment had only just begun. She didn't hide her smile at the pleasant scent filling her nose as the girl sat beside her. Immediately wrapping one arm around her waist, she asked her with a sparkle in her eyes:
"Beautiful... What was that just now? What you just did, I mean."
Now, Tata had no idea how to answer that. She had practically gotten herself invited to her chambers. She should have simply let the Empress answer and kept her mouth shut. But she didn't want to go back on her word. She didn't know what explanation to make, either.
"What? Would you have preferred that girl coming to your room instead?"
"No, no. I wouldn't. I was just curious. If I knew you wanted to see my chambers, I would have had you brought there much sooner."
The dancer was gradually starting to feel embarrassed, but of course, she couldn't let it show. Since she had started this, she was going to see it through. Besides, she genuinely wanted to see Lada's room right now.
"Fine. Don't get too spoiled." She thought for a moment.
"And wait, I just said you were occupied. I didn't say you were occupied by me. You have a whole dozen of concubines. You could be occupied by any of them."
Lada knitted her brows and looked at the girl in front of her. This thought made her uncomfortable. But looking closely at the girl's face, she saw that she was actually seeking reassurance. And she decided to play along with her game.
"But... I am not occupied by any of them. I mean, if I'm not occupied, I had better call that girl back, wait."
Tata's eyes widened. She wasn't expecting to hear these words. She felt something stir inside her. She cast a few uneasy glances around her, then turned back to Lada.
"You're joking, right?"
"Nope. Why would it be a joke?"
"Umm... I mean... I am literally in your arms right now? Maybe?"
Lada's smirk widened just then. Even the slightest crumb of interest shown by the orange-haired girl made her happy. Giggling this time, she wrapped both arms around her and buried her face in her neck, placing a kiss there.
"Of course it's a joke. I am not occupied. But I would very much love to have a dancer named Tata by my side. If she wants it too, that is."
Tata secretly rested her head against the Empress's expensive dress. She deeply loved the scent of the costly perfume filling her nose.
"Maybe she does. Ask her again."