The Devil WithInn 127 Inna's Song

"Dear Empress! My greatest apologies! Because of my negligence, this subordinate has caused you pain and suffering! If you wish to take this subordinate's life, this subordinate wouldn't hesitate to accept such a befitting punishment for harming the n.o.ble Empress."

Inna was about to take him up on that offer when she noticed movement from Drona's side. She looked at Drona, only to find her bowing and apologizing as well.

"Dear Empress, to protect someone as lowly as this n.o.ble woman, I truly do not deserve such honor. My incompetence on protecting myself has endangered someone as important as the Esteemed Empress. For that, I wish you would also take my life as punishment."

Inna laughed lightly but inside, she was furrowing her brows.

Why is she apologizing too?

She saved her as a thanks! Now, from how they all act, it seems like Drona did something wrong too…

But despite her thoughts, she still withheld her image as she spoke in a light and soft manner.

"Rise, dear friends. It was my choice to do it hence it is my fault for doing it. Bear no faults in my own choices and ease your minds."

"The Empress is truly benevolent and magnanimous!"

All three of them simultaneously spoke as they stood up straight. Then, wanting to break the awkward silence that came after it, Drona decided to continue like nothing happened.

"Then, shall we continue with the festivities?"

Galen nodded in delight.

"Please do, please do! Although such an unfortunate thing happened, the great Empress has pardoned us so we can add this to our wonderful reasons for us to all celebrate!"

Then, Galen and Herad took their respectful seats. On the other hand, Inna slowly walked towards her chair again. But every time she stepped on her injured foot, there seemed to be a sharp pain coming from her toes that spreads up towards her ankles.

Feeling complacent about it, she simply thought that she landed her foot on a wrong angle and figured it to be just a minor sprain. So, despite having that injury, Inna tried her best to hide it by avoiding on limping.

As soon as they were all seated, Drona gracefully got on top of the table as she spoke.

"This n.o.ble lady will be presenting a message towards Sir Galen through a verse of a song that I have made just recently."

"Be careful on what you say,

The world will hear and they will see,

How dark and ghastly one could be.

Be careful what you do,

Though eyes cannot perceive, our hearts can,

So we know behind a smile is the wickedness of a man."

Galen's eyes held in a storm as he forced himself to act cheerful and clap merrily. He knew the meaning behind those words but he acted like he didn't as he praised her.

"Wonderful! It truly reflects the... humanity in people!"

Drona didn't seem to care about his strained and forced praise as she decided to prepare herself for her dance. She simply showed her small handkerchief that she always carries around before she spoke.

"This present that this n.o.ble woman had prepared for sir Galen is a rare dance that's only taught within the circle's of chosen Molian priestesses. The song that will accompany this dance would be the song, 'Teardrops on a Winter Night' and I hope sir Galen would appreciate the piece."

Drona bowed deeply then she prepared herself to dance by doing her starting pose.

Then, the music began to play.

It was a calm and peaceful melody, comprising most of flute sounds and string instruments. But although the song felt serene, it still held a sort of fast tempo as Drona's body began to bend in beautiful angles. She held elegant and graceful movements that seemed to touch the hearts of the audience as they held in their awe.

Then, the tempo began to get faster and Drona's movement became sharp and precise as her face held an expression of anguish.

Inna felt so entranced by the dance that she almost forgot they were in a test.

Heck, she actually felt the emotions Drona was trying to portray. Unless Herad who simply looked like he was showing off.

When Drona finished, the audience couldn't hold it in anymore. They stood up and cheered in glee as they sang praises on Drona's dance. Professor Gnarly was also impressed that he didn't stop the audience from their noise.

Galen copied their expressions as he also sang praises on her dance. But, when Drona bowed and wordlessly went down the table, the audience seemed to calm down slowly.

That's because they all knew who was coming next.

Inna gracefully stood up, trying to push the pain she's feeling to the back of her mind. Then, with a shaky smile, she tried to hide her panic as she got up the table.

But as soon as she was on top, the first thing she saw was Raghnall's worried look. He was directly in front of her and when he noticed her stare, he mouthed and gestured to her what he really thought.

'GET DOWN FROM THERE.'

'YOU'RE HURT!'

But Inna didn't understand because he once again, looked like he was chewing a bone. So, disregarding his worried look, Inna simply pa.s.sed his worry off as being overly dramatic. In fact, she shouldn't be focusing on him, but instead on the message she's about to give.

Uhm… a poem? A song?

Inna's mind was in turmoil as she tried to remember any poems or songs she's heard of that would be appropriate for the occasion.

But her mind was blank.

She suffered from a mental block as she looked around the intimidating amount of people.

Then, suddenly, she remembered something. And she wanted to laugh at herself for being so stupid.

She obviously knew what to do.

So, with that thought in mind, she turned towards Galen with a bright smile.

"For my dear friend, this Empress will be presenting a message through a verse of a song that is out of this world! This song will be sung by generations to come and by n.o.bles and commoners alike! This is a song that is of great importance to me."

The audience murmured to themselves as they look at Inna in disbelief and ridicule.

Like an uneducated Lily cla.s.s could ever hope to have something like that!

But Inna didn't let the belittling stares get to her as she started her song.