Steel, Explosives, and Spellcasters

Anna, already a bit out of sorts, was shaken to the core by those words, and she almost fell into a stupor.

She didn't know what she had said or to whom she had agreed, but she found herself led onto the dance floor by a gentleman she did not recognize.

Throughout the entire song "Look! That's Sailor Johnny!" Anna, like a puppet, merely went through the motions subconsciously, making frequent mistakes and stepping on her dance partner's feet numerous times.

After the dance ended, Anna's partner courteously escorted her back to her seat, not minding in the least the number of times she had trodden on his feet, and amiably invited her to dance again.

However, when he looked up to see Anna's face, he discovered that Miss Navarre's cheeks were stained with tears, and she could not stop sobbing.

Her dance partner got a bit flustered, took out his handkerchief to offer to Anna, but she did not accept it. She buried her face into her fan instead, her shoulders still trembling uncontrollably, obviously crying.

The dance partner felt somewhat bewildered and keenly aware of the pointing and whispering from others behind him; he quickly excused himself, leaving Anna alone in a corner of the hall.

Seeing that the atmosphere of the ball had become sufficiently lively, Councilor Mid from Sea Blue City decided it was time to get to the point. He walked into the dance floor and tapped his glass with a spoon.

The clear tapping sound traveled across the hall, quieting down the bustling ball in an instant, as everyone awaited Councilor Mid to speak.

"It has been a long time since Sea Blue was this lively," said Councilor Mid with a smile.

Everyone applauded, and the hall filled with the sound of clapping and enthusiastic cheers.

After it quieted down again, Councilor Mid continued, "Watching the children dance, it's as if I'm back in my youth, when we used to play even wilder."

Another burst of cheers erupted, and someone shouted loudly, "Mr. Mid., dance one!"

"To get me to dance, it must be with the most beautiful partner, but I have important matters to discuss first." Na Bei Mid cleared his throat and began his speech in a loud voice, "Firstly, we must thank the lady of this place, Mrs. Navarre! It was Mrs. Navarre's generosity in hosting this fundraising ball that we have the opportunity to gather here, bringing life and vitality back to Sea Blue."

A round of applause followed, and Mrs. Navarre smiled and nodded in acknowledgment.

"The Tanilia Federation has shamelessly launched a surprise attack on us, and at this very moment, our finest sons are bravely fighting the enemy on the islands, seeking to avenge us. The young men are making sacrifices for us, and we too hope to do our part in helping them achieve what we can."

Mid paused for a moment before continuing with emotive arm gestures, "Hence, I stand before you all now, asking, asking you to donate your jewelry. I'm not asking you to make a sacrifice, does Vineta want your jewelry? No! What is being asked here is a minor sacrifice compared to what our brave soldiers at the front are enduring."

"Earrings dangle beautifully from the ladies' earlobes, and bracelets look gorgeous on smooth wrists! But this gold and these gems can be exchanged for food, ammunition, and medicine for our lads. Many here have sons, husbands, brothers fighting and bleeding on the front lines. By donating our jewelry, they may bleed a little less. Come now! Let's start with me!"

The final part of Councilor Mid's speech was drowned out by a tempest of applause and cheers.
Experience new tales on My Virtual Library Empire

Every guest received an invitation that had already explained this was a fundraiser for the front lines, and everyone had come prepared.

Two servants held up a large silver platter, as Mid removed his own solid gold cufflinks and medals and placed them on the platter, laughing as he approached Mrs. Navarre for a dance.

Mrs. Navarre smiled demurely, boldly removed her earrings, brooch, bracelet, and necklace, placed her hand on Councilor Mid's arm, and stepped into the dance floor.

"Change the tune!" Councilor Mid shouted at the orchestra: "Daniela Kupor!"

The cheerful, vigorous, and catchy "Daniela Kupor" poured out from the instruments like a waterfall.

Na Bei Mid clapped twice, then began following the rhythm, tapping his feet and twisting into the steps of the Trepak Dance.

Nobody would have imagined that this nearly sixty-year-old man could dance so well, and the dance he chose was the intense and elaborate Trepak Dance.

But as Mid's dance partner, Mrs. Navarre danced even better than Mid did.

The youth had never witnessed Mrs. Navarre's dancing skills before, as she had not set foot on the dance floor since her husband's death.

Tonight, the dancing duo simply astounded everyone.

Not just the guests, but even the hall entrance was crammed with the smiling faces of servants. On one side were the male servants, on the other the female ones, all had come to see the joyous Councilor Mid and Mrs. Navarre dance.

The gentlemen among the guests hurriedly removed their rings, cufflinks, and medals to place on the platter before approaching the ladies they admired to ask for a dance.

The ladies, in turn, laughed as they took off their earrings, necklaces, bracelets, and hairpins to place in the platter, then paired up with the gentlemen into the dance floor.

In such an atmosphere, no woman would refuse an invitation, and Catherine happily accepted a gentleman she had previously turned down, leaving others to sigh in resignation.

Each time an item of donation landed on the platter, it drew cheers and acclamation.

The dance floor grew increasingly crowded, but no dancing couple was as eye-catching as Mid and Mrs. Navarre.