Chapter 6: The Prince
Taking advantage of the fact that Cinderella had captivated everyone's attention, Lu Li found a quiet corner, grabbed a plate of food, and started eating. Although he was transforming into a semi-shadow creature, he was still predominantly human. After rushing to kill Zhou Qian, then returning to the base without even a sip of water, and getting transported into the dungeon immediately, he needed some food to replenish his strength.
Honestly, the food at the ball wasn't bad. Considering it was a high-class national event, aside from some peculiar flavors, the dishes and desserts were quite decent. Of course, it would be better if the mixed odors in the air weren't so overpowering.
Tonight was the prince's ball, attended by nobles, but it's worth noting that people of this era generally considered water and the body to be unclean. Most nobles would only bathe twice in their lifetime and seldom drank water. This explains the prominence of perfume in Europe. Without perfume, their smell would rival that of a pigsty and could be used as a biological weapon.
Even the streets of the city were intolerable to them, so they often carried a bouquet of lavender to avoid being overwhelmed by the stench. They also frequently applied perfume to mask their body odor.
The prince's ball attracted numerous nobles and their families. The combined foul body odors and the various perfumes created a nauseating mix that could knock out a modern person. However, those living in this era were used to it, allowing them to maintain their facade of elegance while discussing various rumors.
Some young couples even engaged in intimate encounters in the palace's gardens. As Lu Li ate, he overheard conversations revealing a lot of information. For instance, it was a well-known secret among the nobles that Cinderella's father, the baron, was impotent, and her stepmother often visited her brother's house under the guise of family visits for other reasons.
Thus, the baron's family was a laughingstock among the nobility. While these were trivial gossip, what caught Lu Li's attention was a rumor about the prince—that he was a bane to princesses.
It was said that the prince had been betrothed to a neighboring princess who committed suicide upon her arrival. Another princess, named Snow White, whom he saved, fell ill and died after becoming his consort. This led to the prince being dubbed a bane to princesses. Despite this, the rumor was mostly taken in jest; after all, diseases were common in the medieval era, and people still aspired to marry the prince.
However, Lu Li found this puzzling. "Marrying a neighboring princess? Could it be that both princes are the same person?"
In the previous mission, Lu Li's group only briefly encountered the prince before destroying the witch's dark ritual. What happened to the prince afterward was unclear, but Lu Li had a vague sense that something was off.
"The prince is here!" someone exclaimed, drawing everyone's gaze to a figure appearing upstairs. He was a tall, handsome man in his thirties, with a gentle smile directed at the nobles.
Seeing the prince, Lu Li squinted his eyes. It was indeed Prince William. Unlike their last meeting, Prince William now seemed more mature. His once genuine and warm smile now exuded a chilling aura that pricked at Lu Li's nerves.
"Welcome, everyone, to my ball. I hope you all have a wonderful time and find your ideal dance partners," the prince said, scanning the crowd with a gentle yet authoritative tone.
Taking a goblet from a guard, the prince raised it and said, "Let us toast to this beautiful night and to all of you!"
"To the prince! To this beautiful night!" everyone replied, raising their glasses in unison.
The prince drank from his goblet, his eyes narrowing slightly as he surveyed the crowd. When his gaze landed on Cinderella, he paused, a glimmer of interest flashing in his eyes. But then his expression shifted slightly as he noticed Lu Li standing in the corner.
The prince quickly regained his composure, descending the stairs to mingle with the nobles and engage in light-hearted conversations with noblewomen and ladies. Eventually, he made his way to Cinderella.
Seeing the prince approach, the men surrounding Cinderella quickly dispersed. They knew better than to compete with the prince. Prince William smiled and said, "May I have the pleasure of a drink with you, my lady?"
"It would be my honor!" Cinderella replied, relieved that her goal, the prince, had finally arrived. She had been worried about revealing her identity during conversations with others, but now that the prince was here, her focus was clear.
After chatting for a while, the prince extended his hand and, with a magnetic voice, asked, "May I have this dance, Miss Cindy?"
Cinderella suppressed her excitement. Cindy was the name she had given, whether it was her real name or one she made up on the spot. It didn't matter now. The prince had invited her to dance, and in a ball, the first dance was akin to an indirect confession.
Seeing her future unfold before her, Cinderella nodded eagerly but elegantly, responding, "I would be delighted."
As the music began, the prince and Cinderella became the center of attention. Everyone watched their dance, with women envying Cinderella and men eyeing her graceful figure with desire.
And so, as the ball continued, time slowly slipped away...