World Development System 297 228. This battlefield is full of thorns.

Diana too laughed and spoke as she heard Sally but took actions immediately, "Vlad, we will talk about those accessories for the next time. Come, John, lets dance or else who knows when you will take back your words."

Vlad laughed as he saw this scene and made some space, he thought, 'I guess it was good that I waited to take a ministerial post in Sky.'

John too smiled and took her hand and was about to join other couples that were dancing.

John sighed a bit and thought, 'It looks like Vlad and others have not yet spoken to them about our previous conversation.'

Maeen herself smiled a bit and spoke to everyone, "Sorry for my late introduction, I am Maeen Amon and this is my colleague and also my guard Cain from the Lemuria Republic. Currently, we plan to establish a connection with Sky and hence we have requested and made some transactions previously after the Grand Auction. We will soon be establishing an Embassy and plan to make a law-firm and other industries as agreed by the contracts. As for John's previous question, Actually this dress was designed by a friend of mine who I met recently, her name is Emena. Look over there, she is standing over there with Lord Mist and Lord Alison and is wearing Golden clothes. You must be Lord Vlad, I heard that you were quite famous for your feats in the previous era. Lord John, as a friend of mine, you should also dance with me, right?"

John forced a smile and spoke, "Of course how can I reject such a beauty. I will go with Diana first as she asked me out."

John headed to the ball with Diana who was dragging him away. As they started dancing, Diana spoke in his ear as she giggled, "You are quite assertive today. What happened, is there some change? or is it because you find it hard to deal with that woman. hahaha."

John too smiled a bit in front of her teasing as he tightened his grip on her waist and spoke into her ear, "Really? I think I have always been assertive, Don't you find it. It was just that, Today, I found you guys being mesmerizingly beautiful and hence I couldn't help but ask you guys out."

Diana meanwhile had red cheeks as she blushed after his grip and thought, 'Whatever the reason, I guess it is still good as he made his move for the first time after some panic. I should savor this moment. I guess he looks more charming today when he is being assertive.'

After a while, John helplessly and seductively spoke in Diana's ear, "Why don't you let me go? others are waiting for quite a long time. Or else I would need to give you some punishment."

Diana smiled seductively as she looked at John's helplessness and spoke in his ear as they were dancing, "I don't want to let you go. I would rather monopolize your time till infinity and you think I fear your punishment, what can you do about it? How about a kiss, maybe then I can let you go."

John sighed and spoke, "Well, I can't kiss you right now or else it will create quite big problems between countries as they might think that I have formed an alliance with your family, how about a date with you guys next week."

Diana smiled satisfyingly and spoke, "Okay, accepted. No problems. I will be expecting your date." 

Diana smiled as she took John and left the dance hall.

John was quite surprised at the instant acceptance and thought, 'It looks like this was her goal from the start. I guess she is Duke Fredric's daughter for a reason.'

At this time, Vlad and Fredric were quite satisfied.

Fredric thought, 'It's good that my daughter made the first move before Melanie's kin. It was good that we had a talk with John and hence his assertiveness from now on.' 

After dancing with her, John proceeded as Eva came forward and took his hand before Sally and moved to the ball.

Eva immediately spoke to John as soon as they were on the dancefloor with a terrifying smile, "It seems we will have to call Maeen frequently as you seem quite afraid of her. Or is there some special occasion?"

She meanwhile squinted her eyes and spoke, "By the way, why didn't you pick me first?"

John sweated bullets as he ran his brain in ultrfast speed after he heard her interrogation and spoke as he bought her closer to himself and spoke in a calm manner, "It is not as you think, I only wanted to create a rumor that Bluesea Duchy and Sky were allying and also to get away from that awkward moment previously. And hence the choice, there is nothing more to it."

He came near her ears and spoke in seductive tone to get out this situation, "Maybe we can go on a date next week." 

Hearing of a date, Eva couldn't help but think of anything else but the date and didn't question him more as she danced with him with a blushed expression.

Eva smiled a little bit and thought, 'Well, it is ok, anyway, because of her he has at least made a move subconsciously after such a long time or else I wonder how long he would have remained dense.'

Maeen smiled as she sighed and thought, 'Interesting, it looks like Lord John doesn't want to create unnecessary rumors when it comes to women so he is approaching everyone. I guess my plan won't work unless I try more. Well, I can still tease him in the ball for his cunningness.'

Maeen smiled as she took John's hands as they danced and spoke, "Lord John, you were quite cunning in dodging the previous situation. I guess you are quite experienced in these matters."

John smiled a bit and spoke a bit defensively, "Miss Maeen, to be very honest, actually, it was my first time being in such an awkward position. It's good that it was only a small banquet today or else I would probably have made a fool of myself in panic. Well, everything is an experience."

Maeen laughed and teased a bit as she leaned a bit on him and spoke, "You see quite a lot of ministers and nobles are looking at our way and hoping to have contact with you with their heirs. Anyway, are you sure you escaped me completely in this banquet?"

John smiled as he nodded and spoke, "Well, I think I have escaped your teasing for now."

Maeen smiled as she deliberately fell on him but it seemed like she misstepped her foot and was caught by John.

Maeen smiled and thought, 'Well, you could have escaped previously but there are some situations where you can never escape even if you want to.'

John slapped his forehead in his thoughts as he was forced to catch Maeen in an awkward position which the people may misinterpret. He thought, 'I can win wars on a battlefield, I can also win wars on the political battlefield but this battlefield is full of thorns. Damn it.'

Maeen giggled as she spoke while John was supporting her from falling down, "I guess it's my win this time. Anyway, take this note, you will owe me for this information." Maeen pressed against his chest as she gave him the note.

Quite a lot of people were surprised today after watching the show and had their own conjectures.

Meanwhile, John sighed as he danced with other women and had similar conversations with Sally, Josephine, Emena and other nobles. Sally and Josephine looked quite happy and were blushing from time to time after the dance as if they gained the biggest prize.

Sally thought a bit angrily but was quite happy, 'That rascal even dared to tease this big sister where it was my turn to tease him to death. This is utterly infuriating. It has always been this big sister who teases others and not the other way around. looking at Josephine, it looks like he has charmed her as well with his sweet words. One needs to be careful to not go into his flow or you will lose. He indeed has a glib and a sweet tongue as even I got teased by him. Next time I meet him, I must teach him a lesson. Argh, why am I getting red because of the previous encounter.'

Chapter end