The hall was then engulfed by half jovial half imposing orchestral melody, as the many hundreds of musicians in the hall began their enchantingly slow, yet elegant and forceful serenade, which prompted the emperors, other than me, to take to the center of the room, and begin the customary opening dance.
Emperor Octavian and Mikhail obviously, took to the stage with their wives in hand, but since the eastern emperor's wife had passed many years ago during child birth, his daughter, princess Ziyi took her late mother's place; a very sweet act, as thought by most who saw it.
While I merely abstained from it, which even though many found it a bit odd, or possibly slightly rude to our hosts, I neither cared, nor would anyone dare speak of it. For I had no interest in dancing with any woman other than Eve; and besides if that prideful woman were here this evening and saw me dancing with another lady, she would think ill of me if I try to flirt with her later on, thinking me a womanizer.
