LUNA: Alpha’s Soulmate from Another World

Alkrevas rose confidently and approached Luna, extending his hand towards her. “Little mate, it’s time for our first dance. Would you dance with me?” Luna looked around hesitantly. With a slightly held breath, she reached out and accepted Alkrevas’ hand.

Luna heard whispers of anticipation throughout the hall as she walked beside Alkrevas toward the dance floor, feeling her legs tremble. “Can’t you dance?” Alkrevas teased gently.

“Of course I can!” Luna replied with newfound conviction.

Why did I say that so confidently? she wondered to herself. She wasn’t sure if the dances here would be the same as those in her world; if they were different, she would surely be terribly embarrassed. Why hadn’t she asked Judith for a crash course in dancing? But were dances different everywhere? Err… but this is a different world, though the music she heard was so familiar, almost like the classical music she knew. Hah! Luna was thoroughly confused.

“Why are you nervous then?” Alkrevas asked.

“Everyone is watching!” Luna replied, glancing at the guests observing them.

Alkrevas chuckled softly. “Isn’t that better?” he asked playfully.

Once they reached the center of the dance floor, Alkrevas released Luna. The man bowed gracefully, extending his hand with a small, gentlemanly smile. Luna returned Alkrevas’ gesture with a curtsy and accepted his hand. They drew closer. One of Luna’s hands rested on Alkrevas’ shoulder while the other held his hand; one of Alkrevas’ hands encircled Luna’s waist, and his other hand held hers. The music began, and Alkrevas moved, leading the dance skillfully.

Luna felt relieved to know it was a waltz; if it were some strange and unfamiliar dance, she would have fled the hall. “You’re very good at dancing,” she said.

“Do you think I know nothing about festivities?”

“Where did you learn?”

“Dance class.”

Their dance continued. Initially, they had the dance floor to themselves, with the guests choosing to be spectators, but gradually, other couples joined in. The first song ended, followed by the second and third. They danced on until Luna’s feet grew tired by the end of the third song.Content property of NôvelDra/ma.Org.

Alkrevas decided to end their dance by stepping back and bowing. “Thank you, my lady, for giving me the chance to dance with you.”

“And I with you, Your Majesty. Thank you for choosing me as your partner for the first dance.”

They walked off the dance floor, and the guests seized the opportunity to engage Alkrevas in closer conversation regarding imperial matters or business issues. Initially, by Alkrevas’ side, Luna gradually found herself separated from the psychopathic Emperor. Alkrevas surely noticed, attempting to approach Luna as she became cornered by other women, but his efforts were consistently thwarted. Luna sighed heavily and decided to engage with the female guests trying to talk to her.

Twenty minutes later, Luna finally stood in a corner of the room with a glass of champagne in hand. Leaning back, she watched Alkrevas busy in conversation with delegation guests from a distance. Several times, Alkrevas signaled her to come over. Still, Luna declined, either eating food from the buffet table or pretending not to notice.

In the lively party atmosphere, she found a moment to herself, observing quietly. Standing behind a pillar, hidden in shadows, meant no one noticed her presence, a fact she was grateful for. She was tired of talking and entertaining guests. If only she could escape to the balcony on the second floor or to the sitting rooms designated for resting, that would be even better. Unfortunately, revealing herself amidst the guests would thwart her intentions, as many were curious to know who she was.

Luna took a sip of her drink, unaware of someone standing beside her. When she realized, she gasped and nearly dropped the glass in her hand. With a deep breath and a hand to her chest, she looked at the man standing beside her. “Beta Savon. I didn’t realize you were here.”

“Why aren’t you by Alpha’s side, Luna? The Luna must accompany their Alpha in all circumstances.”

“I know,” Luna replied sarcastically. She dropped her formal tone with Beta Savon since he had spoken informally to her first. “I was just taking a short break. My feet are starting to ache from the shoes I’m wearing.”

“Is that so? Would you like to rest in the sitting room?”

“No. Here is fine. I-” Luna didn’t finish her sentence as she heard three taps of a cane, indicating someone’s arrival, and indeed, shortly after the taps, a footman’s voice announced, silencing the room. Alkrevas walked to the center of the room and stood at the forefront to welcome the late guest.

“The leader from the northern region, Duke Markus Adolf de Veniam, enters the room,” the footman’s voice echoed. The guests murmured in anticipation. When the door opened, the chatter subsided into silence. Luna heard footsteps. From where she stood, she could see a man with dark hair walking towards Alkrevas.

The man, whom she knew as Duke Markus and carried the title de Veniam, was clad in a beautifully decorated military uniform adorned with various medals on his right chest. Luna observed as Alkrevas and Duke Veniam spoke. From their brief interactions, it was clear they shared a close relationship.

“Come. Alpha instructed me to escort you to his side,” Beta Savon said.

“He knows I’m with you?”

“Of course,” Luna nodded and placed her glass on the nearest table, then walked back to Beta Savon’s side. “But before that, I want to ask. Who is Duke Veniam? Why does he seem close to the Emperor?”

An annoyance crept into Beta Savon’s expression as if Luna’s question was entirely unworthy of consideration, but Luna didn’t think so. She hadn’t been here long and hadn’t been taught anything since arriving, so it was fair for her to ask and want to know.

Despite his irritation, Beta Savon answered, “He is the Duke of Veniam Duchy, a region in the north. The Cold Duke of the North. That’s the title given to Duke Veniam by the nobles of the Capital.”

Luna nodded as Beta Savon provided this information. “The northern region is cold and the farthest from the imperial palace, bordering Vasilos and the Nightale Kingdom. Despite that, the Duchy is the strongest domain, and the Veniam family is the wealthiest after the imperial family due to their numerous mines and gemstones.”

Luna nodded again, digesting Beta Savon’s explanation. “And it can be said that between Alpha and Duke Veniam, they still have family ties.”

“What?”

“Duke Veniam is Alpha’s cousin. The previous Duke was the younger brother of the previous Emperor. Duke Veniam is also one of the imperial generals and has been the Emperor’s chancellor for five years.”

No wonder they seemed close, Luna concluded inwardly.

“Alpha intended to pass the throne to Duke Veniam if he became Feral,” Beta Savon continued. Luna widened her eyes and looked at Beta Savon in disbelief. “But that didn’t happen because you appeared in front of him.”

“I can’t believe…”

“You can ask the rest of Alpha. Now we should move. Alpha has ordered me to bring you back to his side.”

“When did he do that?”

“Just now. Follow me.” Beta Savon said, tapping his temple with his finger, indicating that he was communicating with the Emperor through a mind.

Luna nodded understandingly and walked towards the center of the hall, where Alkrevas stood with Duke Veniam and other equally prominent nobles. As she walked towards Alkrevas, she replayed Beta Savon’s explanation of the young Duke in her mind. I’ll have to ask Alkrevas more about Duke Veniam later.

For some reason, Luna wanted to know more and felt intrigued by Markus Veniam, the man she had just seen for the first time.

…