Dragon King's Harem Chapter 567. A Dance
Dragon King's Harem Chapter 567. A Dance
I smiled.
Because apparently that was what kings did when an entire hall began developing “mild symptoms” from a poison buffet. Smile, sip tea, pretend the pastries were not attempted murder, and maintain enough royal elegance so no one noticed I was already mentally breaking furniture and assigning blame.
Across the hall, Queen Elowen Vireth glanced at me.
Not long.
Just enough.
A soft, elegant look. The kind of look that could be mistaken for polite attention if someone had never been hunted before.
Unfortunately for her, I had been hunted by worse things.
I lifted my cup slightly, gave her a courteous nod, and pretended I knew nothing.
Yeah.
I knew.
The question was what she wanted to check.
Sela and Marissa?
Maybe.
The two women beside me were both connected to the nymph and dwarven mess sitting under this wedding like a buried corpse. Maybe Elowen wanted to see whether they were reacting. Maybe she wanted to confirm if Marissa was still weak enough to be dismissed. Maybe she wanted to see if Sela’s hatred would spill out too early.
Or maybe… Her gaze moved briefly toward Seraphel.
Maybe she was checking whether the important guests had eaten.
Me.
The Phoenix Queen.
The royals.
The ones who mattered if things went loud.
Because it wasn’t enough for us to be present.
We needed to be affected.
We needed to bend at the right moment.
Queen Elowen’s smile didn’t move, but her eyes did. A tiny measurement. A small calculation. She looked from Seraphel to me again, and I could almost hear the thought behind it.
Why are they still fine?
Cute.
Really cute.
Unfortunately for her, we were professional problems.
Seraphel sat with perfect posture, holding her cup like nothing in the world had ever inconvenienced her. Her expression remained elegant, neutral, noble. But I saw the faint tension near her fingers. She knew too. Of course she did.
Then Elowen turned toward her daughter. “How about a dance for the honored guests, Seranaya?”
The hall softened at her voice.
Nymph queen voice.
Warm.
Maternal.
Seranaya looked at her mother, and for a moment, there was a silent communication between them. No words. No obvious signal. Just eyes meeting, lashes lowering, a slight tilt of the chin.
Yeah.
That wasn’t random.
They noticed.
Maybe not everything.
But enough.
Enough to realize I looked normal. Seraphel looked normal. My girls looked too controlled. Too steady. Too aware.
So now they needed to add something.
Durharn blinked, still happily sitting beside his new bride like a man who had voluntarily walked into a cage and complimented the craftsmanship.
“Why should she dance for them?” he asked, brows furrowing. “She is my bride.”
That was almost sweet.
Possessive, yes.
Stupid, also yes.
Seranaya smiled at him.
Soft.
Adoring.
Fake enough to make my teeth itch.
She reached for his hand and held it with both of hers.
“Yes,” she said gently. “That is exactly why I should dance for them.”
Durharn’s expression shifted instantly.
Grip tightened.
Brain softened.
“My king,” Seranaya continued, leaning closer, “we should show them how beautiful your bride is.”
Her fingers stroked his knuckles with practiced tenderness.
Then she leaned even closer.
Too low for normal guests to hear.
But I watched her lips.
Something about envy.
Jealous.
How the other rulers should envy him for having her.
Durharn’s chest lifted slightly. Pride filled his face. His eyes brightened with that masculine, deeply endangered thought of yes, everyone should see what I have.
He was gone.
Completely in her grasp.
He nodded.
“Then dance,” he said warmly. “Let them witness your grace.”
Seranaya lowered her head, smiling like she had just been given permission to spread death artistically.
Wonderful.
She rose from her seat.
The music stopped for a heartbeat.
Then she stepped into the center of the hall.
Every eye followed her.
She was built for this moment.
Her bridal gown flowed behind her like pale petals drifting over water. The flowers in her brown hair shimmered softly, glowing with tiny pulses of wood mana. She lifted one hand, and the musicians responded immediately, beginning a softer melody.
Not sensual.
Not that kind of dance.
It was beautiful.
Slow.
Elegant.
Ceremonial.
The kind of dance that told a story about spring entering the mountain, roots touching stone, blossoms blooming after winter. Her arms moved like branches in wind. Her steps were light enough to make it seem like the stone floor itself didn’t dare resist her. The veil behind her swayed in smooth arcs, and the flowers woven into her dress opened wider with every turn.
Guests watched in awe.
Dwarven nobles leaned forward.
Some nymph attendants smiled proudly.
Durharn looked like a man seeing heaven.
And I watched the hair.
Because beauty was distraction.
And poison loved distraction.
Seranaya spun slowly.
Her hair shimmered.
Not just from light.
Mana.
Thin.
Nearly invisible.
Powder-like particles drifted from the flowers woven through her hair and veil, dissolving into the air with every graceful movement.
My system flared immediately.
[Airborne Substance Detected]
[Classification: Nymphic Obedience Toxin]
[Delivery Method: Pollen-Mana Aerosol]
[Primary Effect: Mental Compliance Induction]
[Secondary Effect: Emotional Suggestibility Increase]
[Tertiary Effect: Mana Resistance Suppression]
[Target Compatibility: Broad-Spectrum Royal and Noble Bloodlines]
[Similarity Detected: Higher-grade variant related to toxin prepared for King Durharn]
[Warning: This toxin differs from banquet poison.]
[Warning: Prolonged inhalation may reduce independent decision-making.]
Oh, wonderful.
So the pastries were breakfast poison.
And this was dance poison.
Fantastic event planning.
Very layered.
Very evil.
Ten out of ten for commitment.
The toxin spread slowly at first, hidden beneath the floral scent already filling the hall. That was why the flowers were everywhere. Not just decoration. Cover. Background noise for the nose. If anyone noticed the scent getting sweeter, they would assume it was part of the ceremony.
Clever.
Annoying.
But clever.
Luckily, Marissa’s antidote wasn’t basic.
It had been designed against nymph poison. Not just one specific formula, but the core structure. Root-binding toxins. Pollen carriers. Mana-laced compliance effects.