Tonight wasn't just any night in the Velvet Moon Pavilion, it was a special banquet, an exclusive affair meant only for the pavilion's most loyal and influential patrons.
The grand ballroom shimmered with golden light, chandeliers casting a warm glow over the tables lined with exotic food and fine wines. Courtesans, dressed in the most elegant silks, floated between guests, offering flirtatious smiles, whispered promises and attending to every whim.
Yet despite the outward glamour, a tense undercurrent rippled through the air.
Jealousy had become a poison that coursed through the veins of the courtesans, particularly those who watched Elian rise above them.
Elian stood at the edge of the VIP section, serving drinks to him, the mysterious merchant who had, over time, become a constant presence in the pavilion.
