Chapter 4 - The Charity Gala

Crimson Hearts: The Mafia Queen & The Ice Violet King

The following evening...

The grand ballroom of the Royal Crescent Hotel glittered with crystal chandeliers and elegant decorations.

The world's wealthiest business leaders, politicians, and influential families had gathered for the annual charity gala.

None of them knew that beneath the glamorous smiles...

Danger lurked.

---

Outside the hotel...

A long line of luxury cars arrived.

Then—

A matte-black limousine stopped at the entrance.

The driver opened the door.

Ivan and Emily Valentine stepped out first.

Behind them came Thevan, Oliver, Alex, Marcus, and Killiam.

Finally...

Hazel stepped out.

She wore her crimson gown with effortless elegance, her long crimson hair flowing behind her.

The moment she appeared...

The crowd fell silent.

People whispered to each other.

"Who is she?"

"She's beautiful..."

"I've never seen her before."

The Valentine family ignored every stare.

A second limousine arrived.

Arthur and Lyra Volkov stepped out, followed by Cassius and Layla.

Lucian exited last, dressed in his black tuxedo.

His icy violet eyes met Hazel's crimson ones.

Without saying a word...

They walked side by side into the ballroom.

Perfectly in sync.

---

Inside...

An orchestra played softly while guests mingled.

Hazel picked up a glass of sparkling juice.

Lucian did the same.

Killiam smirked.

"They're even drinking the same thing."

Marcus nodded.

"They share one brain cell."

Hazel looked at them.

"We actually have two."

Lucian added calmly,

"One each."

Oliver laughed.

"That's debatable."

---

Meanwhile...

Across the ballroom...

A group of arrogant young heirs whispered among themselves.

"So that's the mysterious girl with the Valentines?"

"She's gorgeous."

"I'll ask her to dance."

One of them confidently walked over.

He bowed politely.

"May I have this dance, miss?"

Hazel looked at him for exactly three seconds.

"No."

"..."

"I don't dance with strangers."

The young man forced a smile.

"Perhaps we could get to know each other."

Lucian, standing beside her, answered before Hazel could.

"She already knows enough."

The heir frowned.

"And you are?"

Lucian smiled faintly.

"The reason this conversation is over."

The man stiffened.

Something about Lucian's calm voice made him instinctively step back.

Hazel hid a smile behind her glass.

When the heir finally walked away, she leaned toward Lucian.

"You scared him."

"I simply answered."

"You used your 'I'm about to ruin your life' voice."

Lucian blinked.

"I have one?"

"You definitely do."

---

Across the room...

Emily whispered to Lyra,

"Did you see that?"

Lyra grinned.

"He didn't even realize he was being possessive."

Arthur chuckled.

"He'll figure it out eventually."

Ivan folded his arms.

"I already have."

The five Valentine brothers all looked at Lucian.

Killiam whispered,

"If he hurts her..."

Marcus interrupted.

"He won't."

Thevan nodded once.

"He values her too much."

---

Suddenly...

Hazel's smile disappeared.

She quietly set her glass down.

Lucian noticed immediately.

"Haze?"

She subtly pointed toward a waiter.

"Third table from the left."

Lucian's eyes followed.

"The tray?"

"No."

"The man carrying it."

Lucian looked carefully.

The waiter's posture.

His shoes.

The tiny communication device hidden behind his ear.

Not a waiter.

An infiltrator.

Lucian smiled faintly.

"I see him."

Hazel whispered,

"He isn't here to serve drinks."

"No."

"He's here to kill someone."

Without alarming the guests, the two quietly split up.

Hazel circled from the left.

Lucian from the right.

The disguised assassin reached into his jacket—

Before he could draw his weapon...

A calm female voice spoke behind him.

"Looking for this?"

He spun around.

Hazel was already holding the pistol he hadn't even realized she'd taken.

His eyes widened.

"How—"

"I've met better pickpockets."

At the same instant...

Lucian effortlessly restrained the assassin from behind.

The man struggled.

It was useless.

Lucian said quietly,

"You lost before you entered the ballroom."

Security rushed over and escorted the assassin away without causing panic among the guests.

Most people never realized anything had happened.

---

Later...

The orchestra began playing a slow melody.

Guests moved to the dance floor.

Hazel quietly watched from the balcony.

Lucian joined her.

"You don't like crowds."

She shook her head.

"They're noisy."

A comfortable silence settled between them.

After a moment, Lucian held out his hand.

"Haze."

She looked at him.

"One dance?"

Hazel blinked.

"You dance?"

"Barely."

A tiny smile appeared on her face.

"So do I."

She placed her hand in his.

The two stepped onto the nearly empty balcony instead of the crowded ballroom.

There was no audience.

No expectations.

Just moonlight, cool night air, and soft music drifting through the open doors.

They moved slowly, laughing quietly whenever one of them missed a step.

Hazel looked up at Lucian.

"We're terrible at this."

Lucian smiled.

"We're improving."

"For two assassins, our footwork is disappointing."

"It usually isn't for dancing."

Hazel laughed—a genuine, carefree laugh that only her family and Lucian ever heard.

Neither of them noticed a photographer inside the ballroom accidentally capturing the moment through the open balcony doors.

Far away, in a hidden headquarters, the masked leader of the Crimson Crown looked at a live feed from another spy.

He stared at Hazel and Lucian dancing beneath the moonlight.

"So..."

"The Queen has someone precious to protect."

A chilling smile spread beneath his mask.

"That makes this game much more interesting."

End of Chapter 4

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