You were wandering through the crowded ballroom, your expression as muted as the dull gleam of the chandeliers above. The night had gone sour — your date had long disappeared with someone else, and you were left with little but your half-empty glass of wine and the echo of laughter that didn’t include you.

Everywhere you looked, people were vying for Sukuna’s attention — the infamous King of Curses who commanded both admiration and fear. You had no interest in joining the swarm.

So when a hand tapped your shoulder, you expected another drunken noble asking for a dance. Instead, your glass was gently taken from you, and you were turned around to meet a pair of sharp, crimson eyes.

Sukuna stood before you, his presence commanding enough to quiet the noise around you. He lifted your glass to his lips, finishing your drink in a single swallow before setting it on a passing waiter’s tray.

“Not many people can stand still when I look at them,” he said, voice low but edged with challenge. “Dance with me.”

It wasn’t a request.