Excited men, women, and old and young packed tightly around the dance floor. Their gazes felt so intense they could have scorched the entire area and everyone in it.

The music played by the townsfolk themselves gradually faded, replaced by melodies from a group of professional musicians.
Sylvia and I walked towards this terrifying destination.

There was originally a small path from the tents to the dance floor, but it was now filled with people and scorching sunlight, impassable.
...Good. Let's just miss the opening, and then I can immediately burn this stupid, ridiculously expensive outfit to ashes.

Sylvia lightly clapped her hands. The crisp sound instantly cut through the din, echoing down the path.
The surroundings suddenly quieted. People turned their heads one after another, their previously scattered gazes focusing on us in unison.

Goosebumps immediately covered my skin; my heart nearly skipped several beats.
Sylvia cleared her throat and said,
"Everyone, please make way~ We are Adam and Sylvia, here to take the 'Horn of Plenty Cup'!"

Waves of laughter rippled through the crowd, making my skin prickle. They also stepped back, creating a genuine, small path leading straight to the dance floor before my eyes.
The sound of my racing heart thundered in my ears.

I kept my head down, following closely behind Sylvia, but the feeling of being watched only intensified. Not only that, the overlapping cheers mercilessly assaulted my eardrums.
"Lad, lift your head! You don't even have the presence of your lady!"
"Mr. Adam, if you win, promote our Silverleaf Workshop a bit!"
"Brother, Via, go for it! Bring the cup home for Mom!"
"Mr. Apothecary, do your best...!"
Cheering from unfamiliar uncles and aunts. Cheering from the Silverleaf Workshop receptionist. Cheering from Emily. Even cheering from Rosemary, who entrusted us with her wish.
Cheering, cheering, cheering. They are watching me, watching my victory-by-proxy, watching my disgrace.

My breathing gradually grew uneven; sweat dripped into my eyes.
Before me were my own toes and the ground. Am I walking forward? Is my shirt still on me?
The sunlight grew brighter, the shadows cast by the crowd gradually disappeared, and stronger perfume scents drifted around.

Sylvia stopped. She seemed to be talking to someone.
"Mr. Grey, it seems I came to the right place."
"Indeed, Miss Elf. The 'Star God's Eye' is within the horn cup. You really are sharp as ice and snow."
Sylvia suddenly grasped my wrist and raised my hand. The cool touch offered a little comfort.
"Not me. Adam found it. He's number one today."

I looked up and found myself already at the center of the dance floor.
Surrounding us were dazzlingly vibrant men and women in pairs, each radiant under the sun. Before us were Mr. Wilson and Mary.
He also wore a well-fitted deep blue vest and a moon-silk shirt, even the silver-thread insignia on it was identical to mine.
Yet, unlike me, this extravagant outfit suited his tall, composed frame perfectly, as if it were a second skin born with him.
He looked at me with his usual smile and said,
"Is that so. Adam, I'm looking forward to your performance in a moment."

I opened my mouth, wanting to say something casual, but my mind went completely blank.
Sylvia stepped forward and smiled.
"Of course. However, I personally suggest you not bother watching others and think up an excuse for when you lose first."
What are they all talking about...

Amidst the noisy chatter, the melodious music ceased abruptly, and my breath hitched with it.
A short, loud horn blast sounded.
The surrounding dancers all tensed their bodies, eyes shining. A mountain-toppling, sea-roaring wave of cheers surged over, suffocating me.
On the high platform, the Baron stood up from his chair.
"The time has come. Everyone, under the gaze of the Star God, dance to your heart's content!"

Sylvia's figure and face flickered vaguely in the sun's halo, unclear.
She seemed to be smiling as she took my hand.
That's right... I have to dance.
Memory. Memory. Didn't we dance as kids? It should be very simple.
Just need to follow the rhythm. It's not some complicated high-society ball.
Circle, spin, step forward, step back. That's all, right?

But everything before my eyes became a delayed slow motion, blending with dazzling white spots of light into a formless mass.
The entire dance floor, along with the ground, turned into a soft, sticky mush.
Countless eyes churned within the mush, still not letting me go, staring at me.
Staring at me.
Is my arm waving? Are my feet moving? Quick, breathe. My cravat is soaked. I should step forward. I...
"Mph!"

A sudden chill on the back of my neck made the chaotic vision clear again.
Sylvia withdrew her hand from my nape and said quietly,
"Pardon me. Relax. Just follow my lead."
"...Yes."

She took my hand, the slightly cool sensation spreading through my skin. Her fingers were slender, yet their grip was surprisingly strong.
Not brute force, but some kind of extremely precise control.
As the beat landed, a gentle yet firm force immediately pulled my whole body forward.
My body stiffened; I almost lost my balance. But her other hand, placed on my shoulder, gave a timely, light push, bringing me back to the correct path.
Second beat, third beat... She anticipated changes in the music and steps, her movements flowing like drifting clouds and flowing water. Her skirt fluttered with her movements but showed no disarray.
In the intervals, she guided my motions lightly and accurately, like a puppeteer.

Sylvia's hand was an anchor in the chaos.
As long as I focused on holding it, I could barely manage to dance along with the flowing music.
Good. This works. Just keep going like this...!
"Hey, Adam! Not bad!"
Wilson's voice suddenly reached my ears. I was startled, instinctively looked up, and only saw his butterfly-like figure flitting away.

This sudden disruption completely threw off my steps. I hurried to adjust, but a dull thud came from beside me first.
Thump!
My foot met a softness different from the ground... I had stepped squarely on Sylvia's instep, my whole body losing balance and slipping to one side.
My whole body froze; my blood ran cold instantly. A buzzing filled my ears.
It's over!

The smile on Sylvia's face stiffened, but then bloomed even more vibrantly.
Not only did she not withdraw her stepped-on foot, she used it as a pivot, suddenly lifting her knee, driving her whole body to burst forth with astonishing speed, drawing a perfect circle on the spot.
Her ponytail flew through the air; her skirt bloomed like a flower. While spinning, she reached out with her free hand and casually supported my back, steadying and lifting my off-balance body, even carrying me lightly through half a turn.
Low gasps of surprise came from the surroundings, perhaps marveling at her explosive movement, or perhaps scolding my mistake.
...Damn it.
Why did I come? Why didn't I firmly refuse and let Emily or anyone else do it?
Why am I holding her back here? Why am I suffering this public humiliation?

As my thoughts became a tangled mess, the music suddenly changed. The short, bright horn sounded again, and the rhythm quickened severalfold.
It's the second movement!
I tensed my heartstrings, frantically trying to maintain the movements. However, just as I stabilized the rhythm, Wilson moved close again and said,
"Adam, Miss Elf, care to swap partners?"
As he spoke, Wilson released Mary, and the two closed in from left and right.
Madman! Get lost!
—Though I screamed this internally, Sylvia responded without hesitation.
"Come on! We're in perfect form!"
She made as if to let go, ready to pass me into the hands of Mary, who approached alongside Wilson.
No! Absolutely cannot let go of Sylvia!
I tightened my grip, clamping down on her hand hard.
"Woah!"

Wilson was caught off guard; Mary on the right was also blocked from her intended path.
...We're going to collide! All four of us will fall!

In that lightning-fast moment, Sylvia glanced at me, then used the force of my pull to execute a small spin, allowing Wilson to glide past.
Simultaneously, she reached out with lightning speed, lightly touched Mary's arm, guided her through a half-turn, and smoothly slid her back exactly into Wilson's embrace.
Wilson laughed heartily as he moved away. Waves of enthusiastic applause and cheers erupted from the crowd, their roar even drowning out the music.