There was no light brighter than the brightness of the four.
A quartet so lethal that not even the most veteran of nobles dared approach without first checking their reflection in their champagne glass to make sure their hair was in place.
The entire room seemed to lean toward them. The carpet beneath their heels seemed to stretch out on its own, as if to say, "This way, your majesties."
And of course... the men came.
A Count in a white blazer studded with tiny sapphires and a practiced European playboy smile approached. "Ladies... I never imagined New York could host four goddesses at once. May I ask what perfume you wear, Miss Luna? Or is it... the natural scent of divinity?"
Luna just blinked slowly. "It's the scent of indifference. Exclusive, limited edition."
The count pretended to laugh.
He floated away, his dignity in tatters.
Another man, a Duke of England, looking 43 years old, with the look of a wolf in an existential crisis, starched to the core, approached, smiling brightly.
"Forgive me for interrupting this feminine constellation, but I would be a fool not to come pay my respects to you ladies. Lady Luna, your fame precedes your presence."
Luna nodded. "Great. That way I don't have to say anything."
Nikoly coughed discreetly to hide his laughter.
The next one was a Baron from Japan, serious, composed. But the look... that gleam of a nerd who plays RPG and has dreamed of waifus, he approached and said.
"It's an honor to see Lady Nikoly in person. And, of course... the other ladies. Lady Luna, your foundation has impressed even Asian consortiums. I'd like to talk later about... partnerships."
Luna tilted her head with a slight fake smile. "It depends. Do you want to talk or show off?"
Kazuo turned red and retreated as if struck by thunder.
There was even a Prince who approached with his embroidered cape, platinum hair and a perfume that could kill an elderly woman with asthma.
"Ladies... what an indescribable pleasure to see you. But I confess... I can only look at Lady Victoria. Don't you think it's destiny, my scarlet flower?"
Victoria looked at him as if she were analyzing a rare insect. "You reek of narcissism, prince. But thanks for the act."
He laughed. Nervously. And left.
But it was a Count named Henri, a cheeky one, who approached with two glasses of wine and... went straight to Luna.
"Mademoiselle... I would say I've never seen anything so beautiful, but you probably already know. Take this wine. And perhaps later... my hand?"
Luna was about to refuse, but the man went too far. He tried to take her hand. His gaze turned to ice. The air around her dropped about five degrees. She pressed her lips together... and was about to explode.
But then Matthew appeared.
His steps were slow, calm, but absolutely sure. He wore a black suit with gold accents, and the House Solarius crest was embroidered with cosmic threads on his chest. His hair was perfectly styled, and his smile... it was that son-of-a-bitch smile that made even the gods doubt themselves.
"Sorry to interrupt," Matthew said, as if he wasn't amused inside. "But I believe Miss Luna already has company."
Count Henri froze.
It wasn't just the beauty. It was the imperial presence that came with Matthew, as if the entire room should bow.
"Ah, of course... of course... a thousand apologies, your highness."
Henri coughed and left. Quickly. As if he were on fire.
Luna slowly turned her face.
And what was supposed to be an indifferent look... came out a bit stiff. His heart was racing. It was as if he'd just done ten sets of squats on the Chanel runway. But his poker face was intact.
Luna arched an eyebrow. "Matthew. How... casual. Showing up like that. Like a double-parked ambulance."
Matthew laughed lightly. "I just wanted to save the evening from diplomatic disaster."
"Or cause another," Luna countered, taking a sip from her own glass.
Lumine watched everything, leaning on Victória's arm. "She's pretending so much that she doesn't care that I can hear her heartbeat from here."
Victoria smiled. "If she crosses her legs three times, it means she's having an emotional breakdown."
Nikoly added, "The Cold Goddess is boiling inside."
And they were loving it.
Matthew continued to smile as he talked to everyone, especially maintaining eye contact with Luna who was desperately trying to keep a neutral expression.
But the tone of his voice, that damned double-layered kindness, the way he said "Lady Luna"... it was all getting to her more than she cared to admit.
Luna looked to the side, avoiding his gaze, but her heart insisted on beating like a tribal drum.
Matthew leaned in slightly toward Luna, his voice low enough to sound intimate, but still public enough to attract the attention of the three friends peering up like fashionista owls.
"I heard about the legal issue involving your foundation in Africa..." His tone was calm, but there was a genuine spark. "Would you like me to intercede? The Phoenix Empire has some trade agreements with the central African courts. We can... facilitate the process."
Luna blinked.
Outwardly, she maintained her composure: neutral face, half-closed eyes, erect posture and slightly arrogant.
But inside? A parade of unicorns with glittering pom-poms jumping to the sound of a Korean drama orchestra.
She barely managed to react when Lumine, who was quick as lightning, widened her eyes and fired back. "Lawsuit? Africa? What do you mean??"
Nikoly frowned. "Wait… you invested in Africa and they stole your money?"
Victoria tilted her head, visibly surprised. "And you never told us this, you snobbish mythological creature?"
Luna sighed in defeat. "The Malroth Foundation sent billions of dollars to a series of humanitarian projects on the African continent... and a well-organized corruption network infiltrated the process. They used forged documents, real names, and even the support of certain members of the local government. One of my employees fell into the trap."
She crossed her arms. "We're suing. It's going to be a years-long fight."
The friends exchanged shocked looks.
"Caramba…" muttered Nikoly.
"This world is really rotten," said Lumine, taking another glass of sparkling wine.
"It's a good thing you have the money to buy the courts if you need them," Victoria commented bluntly.
Luna almost smiled at that, but then shifted her gaze to Matthew. Outwardly, she responded with polite coolness. "Thank you, Matthew. But it's not necessary. We're handling the case directly with the African courts. Our lawyers are well-placed."
But inside?
Luna wanted to bite into a satin pillow. That damn thing… how could he offer help so naturally? As if it were normal to want to protect her like that? Her heart was spinning like it was on a merry-go-round possessed by hyperactive cupids.
Matthew simply nodded. "As you wish. But if you change your mind, my diplomatic channels are always open to you."
Luna looked away, as if she were examining the ceiling of the hall. 'Idiot. Irritating. Wonderful. Arrogant. Damn prince…'
Then Matthew spoke. "Oh... and I also wanted to congratulate you on the official creation of the Diamond Tycoon Group company. The Phoenix Empire received the registration notification a few hours ago."
The girls, who had the cup in their mouths, choked.
"You're in the know, are you?" Victoria asked, smiling suspiciously.
"Apparently more than us," Lumine commented, fixing her hair.
"I thought the company name had an air of feminine power, of relentless brilliance," Nikoly commented.
Matthew smiled. "It has a touch of... creativity, for sure. A little chaotic, perhaps, but striking. It suits you."
Luna narrowed her eyes at him. "Chaotic?"
"Positively chaotic," he corrected, smiling. "Like a hurricane with diamond glitter."
The girls laughed.
Luna gave a forced smile, but inside… she was trying to remember how to breathe.
Victoria, sensing the moment, teased, "I think the prince is fascinated by the particular diamond that shines the brightest."
Matthew maintained his diplomatic smile, but looked directly at Luna. "Some sparkles... are hard to ignore."
Luna almost choked on her own soul, but just turned to get another glass, pretending the comment went unnoticed.
Nikoly, Lumine and Victória exchanged glances with sharp smiles.
The orchestra changed the rhythm.
The lights in the room dimmed, as if the universe were conspiring to create the perfect setting.
"Luna," Matthew said, with that smile that seemed to have been calibrated by some imperial charm laboratory. "May I have this dance?"
She could have refused.
She could have said her heel was tight or that her emotional agenda was filled with contempt for idiot men at the moment.
But no.
Instead, she just arched an eyebrow, swirled the champagne glass in her hand, and spread her fingers with a sigh that was worth its weight in refined sarcasm.
"Only if you promise not to turn this into a business meeting."
Matthew riu.
She hated it when he laughed like that, as if he understood something about her that she herself pretended not to understand.
They walked to the center of the hall, and immediately the sound of dozens of muffled sighs surrounded them.
Nobles, ministers, businessmen and even celebrities with cosmetic microimplants watched the two closely.
Luna e Matthew.
Luna seemed to be carved from noble marble.
Matthew was the definition of a prince of diplomacy.
But when they started dancing…
"So," he said, one hand on her waist, the other guiding the rhythm with calculated perfection. "Does Diamante Tycoon have a headquarters set yet?"
Luna's jaw clenched.
It was clear.
The man had his brain plugged into a spreadsheet directory even when the whole world saw them as the most magnetic couple at the party.
"Matthew, we're dancing a waltz. One. Waltz. Do you understand the concept of mood?"
"Of course. And a good corporate climate starts with a solid structure."
She nearly stumbled in disgust. "You know how normal it would be to ask if I liked the song or how beautiful I look, right?"
"You look beautiful," he replied automatically. "Now, about hiring…"
Luna squeezed his hand with meticulously calculated strength. "One more HR line and I'll turn you into a live corporate failure story."
Matthew just smiled. "Got it. I'll moderate. So... has the system integrated any CRM into the foundation yet?"
"Matthew."
"Right, right," he laughed. "But you're just too efficient, Luna. You created a mega-foundation, entered the top billionaires, and now have a company that will definitely go global. My political brain can't handle that without spreadsheets."
Luna spun to the beat of the music, and when she returned to his arms, she looked him straight in the eye with boredom. "So you dance and think about Excel?"
"Sometimes PowerPoint."
She let out a short, mocking laugh, even against her will.
He was an idiot, but… an idiot with a well-cut suit, a deep voice, and who could dance as if he had been born at a royal ball.
"You know," Luna said, sighing like a royal martyr. "You have a very high IQ, but emotionally… you're a stale piece of bread."
"Stale bread?"
"Bland. Unseasoned. Hard to chew."
Matthew laughed, and even his shoulders seemed to relax. "And yet you agreed to dance with me."
Luna snorted. "For social charity."
"I appreciate your philanthropy," he murmured with that crooked smile that irritated and, secretly, unnerved her. "But seriously... if you need logistical or diplomatic support for the company, I can talk to my brother. The main headquarters might have legal advantages if it were located in one of the Phoenix Empire's domains."
And here we go again.
Luna didn't respond immediately. She just took a deep breath, let the melody fill the silence, and spun around once more.
When she turned back to face him, she said with venomous sweetness, "If you don't shut up about work, Matthew, I'll send you a detailed quarterly report on how much boredom you're causing me."
"Does it include graphics?"
"Includes 4K graphics and a holographic projection of me ignoring you."
Matthew laughed.
And that broke down some of the wall she had built with so much effort.
Maybe it was the alcohol.
Or the dress.
Or the fact that... he kept looking at her like she was something precious, even when she wanted him thrown into the grave of the forgotten.
As the song began to fade, Matthew pulled her closer and said quietly, just to her, "You know, even when you pretend not to care... you're listening."
Luna arched an eyebrow. "And you know that even when you look charming… you're still a functional idiot."
They stopped with the last chord of the waltz, their eyes fixed on each other.
The hall applauded, and the whispers grew louder.
The girls, Lumine, Nikoly and Victória, watched from afar with sharp eyes and muffled giggles.
Luna turned away before Matthew could say anything else.
She walked off the track as if she had just wrapped up a high-level meeting, without looking back.
Inside, though?
Shit.
He messed with me again.