"It's over, then."
"Miss Black Swan, it was a pleasure completing this dance with you."
As the music faded, the dancers on the ballroom stage froze mid-movement.
Lumina smiled at Black Swan, whose cheeks were still flushed and whose long, straight legs trembled uncontrollably.
"Mmm... Miss Lumina, I'm equally delighted to have danced with you," Black Swan replied, forcing a smile to convey her genuine enjoyment of the ball.
Just like the happiness I felt when I danced with Acheron at the last ball...
"Really? Then why do you look a little unhappy?" Lumina scanned Black Swan from head to toe, her smile unwavering and her gaze piercing.
"Hahaha... Well, you are an Emanator, Miss Lumina. Reading an Emanator's memories is still quite taxing for me," Black Swan maintained her strained smile, though her rosy complexion showed no signs of physical strain.
Black Swan wasn't truly overexerted; her physical condition had already recovered to about eighty percent.
But... even though her body was nearly restored, a sense of Nihility still clung to Black Swan's heart. This had nothing to do with fatigue; it was pure, primal fear.
Without a doubt...
Seeing the radiant smile spread across Lumina's Immaculate face, Black Swan knew she had fallen into her trap from the very beginning.
Lumina had deliberately shown her that memory, wanting to see her embarrassed once more.
Sigh... I never imagined the so-called pure and flawless Saintess would actually have such a wicked personality, brimming with all sorts of twisted amusements.
Recalling the various Image Stones in Lumina's possession, and the one she had just used to record her from afar, Black Swan couldn't help but sigh inwardly.
Black Swan's thoughts remained unchanged: as long as Lumina held enough leverage over her, there was nothing to fear.
With so much dirt on you, what makes you think I'd be afraid of you?
"Is that so?" Lumina smiled, not calling out Black Swan's lie. "Then Miss Black Swan, your body must be quite fragile."
"Come, let me help you to your seat."
Lumina guided Black Swan back to her original seat, picked up the unfinished SoulGlad soda, and handed it to her.
"Thank you."
Black Swan, still unsure of Lumina's intentions, offered no resistance. She accepted the bottle and drained it in one gulp.
Why bother resisting at this point? It's pointless. Better to let her do as she pleases...
If she's happy, maybe she'll spare me.
Perhaps influenced by the Nihility she had encountered in her memories, Black Swan had, to some extent, given up.
Seeing this, Lumina shook her head, reached out, and gently massaged Black Swan's head.
Streams of green light emanated from Lumina's palm, slowly seeping through Black Swan's head and into her body, completely purging the negative emotions caused by the influence of Nihility.
Back when Lumina had first arrived in Penacony, with plenty of time to spare, she would undoubtedly have seized this opportunity to play some "mischievous" pranks on Black Swan while she was in such a listless state.
But now, with their imminent parting, Lumina had no such inclination whatsoever.
"How do you feel?" Lumina asked after completely purging the negative emotions from Black Swan's heart.
"Thank you for your timely intervention, Miss Lumina," Black Swan replied, maintaining her composure despite not knowing what Lumina was up to.
After all, regardless of everything else, this was essentially the consequence of her own actions.
If she hadn't sought out Acheron back then, perhaps none of these troubles would have arisen.
Well, probably.
Black Swan comforted herself with this thought.
Though this didn't prevent Lumina from targeting her.
"Hmm?" Unaware of Black Swan's thoughts, Lumina hummed lightly and produced a purple-white ring from seemingly nowhere, holding it out to Black Swan.
"Here, a farewell gift and an apology."
Lumina smiled faintly, and under Black Swan's slightly surprised gaze, she also pulled out all the Image Stones containing Black Swan's embarrassing past and handed them over.
Seeing this, Black Swan hesitated for a moment before accepting them.
"Farewell. May we meet again." After Black Swan took the ring and Image Stones, Lumina waved casually and stood up to leave.
Black Swan: ...
Watching Lumina's retreating figure, then glancing at the ring and Image Stones in her hand, Black Swan smiled.
She shook her head slightly, choosing not to destroy the Image Stones but to put them away instead.
Her gaze then fell on the ring in her hand. Without hesitation, she slipped it onto her finger.
It seems I misunderstood her after all.
Black Swan gazed at the still-lively ball before her and sighed.
"She truly is a Saintess."
"A Saintess with a truly atrocious personality..."