Kaiser slowly moved away from the dance floor, letting Isabella join a group of ladies near the columns. He crossed the crowd with nonchalance, nodding lightly to those who met his gaze. Muffled laughter and the clinking of crystal formed a continuous sound haze. When he reached a tall table, he delicately picked up a wine glass.
He brought the glass to his lips, took a long sip, then scanned the grand room with his eyes.
A few minutes earlier, he had still been chatting with a couple of elves, a more or less ordinary conversation. Then suddenly, a light breeze swept through the room from a half-open window. One of the large curtains lifted, letting in a thin thread of pale moonlight. It revealed a silhouette standing apart on the balcony, out of sight.
