The royal princes of Kieris are famous for their particular characters: the son being an overly-intelligent, overly-sly lady killer with the curiosity of a cat, and the daughter being a monotone, apathetic, clingy, witty, snake tongued girl with the curiosity of nine cats. Their father is instead famous for begin incredibly proud and quick to rage to those who offend him, while also being a great warrior: an horrible combination sometimes. The queen is sadly known for being the main cause the king uses always the same armor for doing everything, instead of buying new clothes.

The Royal Family, Opinion from an hired adventurer

"Andrew, are you ready?"

"Yes, i'm done"

A week finally passed, the night fallen and Andrew now knew perfectly every single bit of Kieris etiquette, be it greetings, table manners or simply witty comebacks a.k.a burns. Edresia may have been a very harsh teacher but she was also an incredibly talented one, turning what a noble would regard as a mannerless thug into the most well-mannered gentleman in the land, somehow. Andrew and Edresia had just finished preparing themselves for the ball, the girl waiting outside the Church with her private carriage. She was wearing a lovely white dress, obviously decorated with symbols of the Church, that stretched out to her feet, golden bracelets on both hands and a necklace decorated with various precious stones. The final touch was given by a very small miter, at least compared to her normal one. Her golden eyes stood out beautifully in the night. Andrew was instead wearing something a bit more grim-looking: a completely black, noble-like dress that looked a bit like it came out from the eighteenth century, the only white thing being his shirt. He felt ridiculous in it, but he did look good, even though he didn't exactly fit with Edresia.

"Perfect! You look great!"

"Are you sure this is good? I really don't fit with you at all"

"Don't worry, it's just a way of saying you're not from the Church. Also, you look much better in black than in white"

"That is true....."

They had tried various white clothing, and while it wasn't bad, it looked kind of awkward on Andrew.

"Well, now time to go"

They both got in the annoyingly white carriage, which immediately started moving towards the castle. But something was amiss.

"Ehm, Edresia?"

"Yes?"

"Where's Dles? I haven't seen her for a while, we didn't even say hi to her"

"Right here!"

Andrew saw Dles putting her head in the carriage from the a small front opening.

"JESUS CHRIST! WHAT THE HECK?!? WHERE DID YOU COME FROM?!?"

"Hello, Mr. Andrew, i'll be your coachman for today! Please relax and know that any action done in the carriage shall remain in the carriage, as such, don't mind me and explore the depths of l-"

Edresia hit her in the head with a small ball of light, making her return to the front with the horses.

"Dles, do you want to get back to the roof?"

"No, please calm down sis. I was just kidding!"

"That's what i thought...... Andrew?"

"What's the matter?"

"What is this Jesus thing you shouted about? Is it some kind of expression in your land?"

"...Yes, that's precisely what it is"

"Somehow i feel like that is not the truth"

"Trust me it is"

"It'll take us half an hour to reach the castle, so we are going to have the time to talk about it"

"There's nothing to talk about"

"Is it perhaps the name of a person?"

"......Uh, whatever, yes, it is"

"Is it a hero's?"

"Uhm, i guess he can be called one, but he helps people, instead of killing demons"

"Oh, so he's a Saint"

"A Saint?"

"A Saint is especially chosen by their God to support and help their faithful, but they rely more on supporting abilities, unlike Heroes, who rely on their offensive skills. For example, i'm a Saint"

"You never told me that"

"It wasn't really important till now. So, what do you think about it?"

"It's cool, i guess"

"..... Your lack of enthusiasms offends me a little bit"

"Sorry"

"It doesn't matter, i got used to that part of you. Now, there's something i have to ask"

"What?"

"Is your hair cursed? I used the best products i could find and yet they're immovable"

"I have no clue myself"

"I tried to do my best, but it just doesn't work. I guess i'll have to use magic"

"Please don't use your divine powers to fix my hair"

"I was just joking! Hahahahahaha"

"Didn't look like it"

"If you say so, Lord of The Chaos Hair"

"Oh really? You're going that place? Freaking nicknames?"

They kept talking like this for a while, till they finally reached the royal castle. The castle was magnificent, its walls completely covered in white and its towers challenging the sky, their majesty highlighted by the many lights that came out of their windows. Andrew and Edresia were in front of the main entrance, in a plaza full of other carriages. They would have parked them inside the castle, then they would have been guided to the main hall, where the party would take place. Andrew was quite taken by the spectacle.

"You guys really like white, don't you?"

"I don't know what to say Andrew, it's a bit like the national color for some reason"

"Probably because this country is quite intimate with the Church"

"Yeah, probably.... Ehm, there's something i have to tell you"

"What?"

"You know, Jupir's-"

"Going to be here and try to socially destroy me i get it, predictable"

"If you understand, then that's good"

"And just in case i prepared a lot of witty comebacks"

"I don't see how could you offend someone like him, i mean, he's detestable, but nobody really thinks that apart from us, and he doesn't have any notable flaw"

"Have you seen his hair? It must take hours to take care of it"

"Come on, he's a man, even if an horrible one"

"Believe me, i know that kind of things, i come from a land where some people take hours of their entire time just to look good"

"That seems... a bit sad"

"Hmmmm.. yeah. Anyway, i know when someone's using beauty products. I mean, in my land everyone did in some way or other, and most of the time you couldn't even notice, but you guys are so rough that in comparison it's evident"

"If you say so. Uh, and another thing: try to avoid the prince and the princess"

"Why should i?"

"Well, the king is overprotective of them, so you may annoy him and they're a bit.... eccentric"

"Ok, then, i'll avoid the princes, though if they come up to me i can't do anything"

"My dear costumers, we've reached our parking spot, now if you may descend"

"Remember what i taught you"

"Yes, m'lady"

"It's MY lady, you dummy"

"As you wish, my lady"

Andrew got down the carriage and, as manners said he should, held Edresia's hand and helped her get down.

"Oh, so gentlemanly"

"You have seen nothing"

They entwined their arms and began walking towards the staircase that would have brought them to the main hall, decorated with an enormous red carpet and and glass candelabras on the ceiling. They received many curious gazes, but no questions, since traditionally the people invited to the ball don't speak to each other until they reached the party itself.

They climbed on the stairs, till they finally reached the entrance, where the nobles were slowly entering, due to the fact that each and every one of them had to be presented by the servants once they arrived. After some minutes, an old butler came out to them.

"Lady Edresia, it is an honor for you to come here. I hope you enjoy the party"

"I will, thank you"

"Though, there is a problem"

"What may that be?"

"I don't think i know this boy, and that would be.... inconvenient"

"Oh, i understand perfectly. Please, present yourself"

"A pleasure to meet you, i am Andrew Tenebris, humble escort to lady Edresia for this ball"

He bowed in the most elegant and perfect way possible.

"Uh, you seem very educated, may i know your titles?"

"Regrettably, whatever titles i may have, they don't matter here"

"..... Very well then, i'll simply present you as an escort. Though i doubt such an educated young one like yourself will have problems. Just to be sure, you did study the witty comebacks, didn't you?"

"Yes, i did"

"Then you're ready for everything. Please, prepare yourself"

They got in front of the door, which was then opened by two servants, wearing red coats and strange wigs, making them look like the came out from the eighteenth century Austria. They were welcomed by an incredible spectacle: tables with all sorts of food in them, people from all the country, wearing the most expansive and rare clothes, the room made completely in a white marble-like material, decorated with golden candelabras, white wooden tables and a decorative, small, golden throne, at the end of it. The room was more or less fifty meters long and large thirty, making it enormous. At the sides of the room there were huge window doors every five meters, which led to small terraces that looked over the whole city and castle. Andrew almost stopped gazing in woe, but he would have looked like a fool, so he restrained himself.

"NOW ENTERING THE BALL, LADY EDRESIA SANCTUM THE HOLY MAIDEN, SAINT AND ARCH-CARDINAL OF THE CHURCH OF LUX AND HER ESCORT SIR ANDREW TENEBRIS"

At the name of Edresia everyone began looking towards the entrance in interest but when they heard the escort's name their faces showed confusion. Everyone expected Lord Jupir to accompany her, but instead there's an unknown boy from out of nowhere. They almost couldn't believe it, it was ludicrous. A mere kid who nobody ever heard off accompanying one of the most powerful and influential people in the country.

"This doesn't look good, Edresia"

"Don't mind them, it'll go perfectly"

"I really hope it does"

They just walked into the room, and a white haired man was already walking towards them, along with what one could only think of as his family. Strangely enough, he was wearing quite the intimidating armor. Edresia quickly bowed to him, and so did Andrew, even if he didn't know who he was.

"It is an honor to see you, your majesty"

"Please, lady Edresia, just call me lord Kieris, we've known each other for a long time by now, don't we?"

"Indeed, it is true. Then i'll call you lord Kieris. Oh, i almost forgot. This is my escort, Andrew Tenebris"

"An honor to meet you, your highness"

"The honor is mine, i never dreamt of seeing the day when lady Sanctum went to the ball with someone that isn't Lanius. And since the only alternative this year was Hero Jupir, i thought she wouldn't come at all"

"Ahahaha, how could you say that?"

"Who's Lanius, if i may ask?"

"He's my bodyguard, but he's currently occupied"

The king chuckled.

"What is the matter, lord Kieris?"

"Bodyguard? That's quite the understatement for a Lord Inquisitor"

"A Lord Inquisitor, Edresia? I thought the most you would need was Dles"

"Stop joking, i'm not that strong"

"No, of course not, you're just a Saint after all, what kind of damage could you do? You just have divine powers, nothing much"

"AHAHAHAHAHAHA! Your friend is quite amusing indeed lady Sanctum! Now i know why you brought him here. Oh, since i have the chance, let me introduce my family to you. First of all, I'm Stolz Kieris, King of Kieris"

Andrew gave him a good look: He wore a white armor decorated in silver, gold and some jewels, along with a white cape with the symbol of the kingdom on it: a sideways image of a knight holding a shield and a sword. His beard and hair were long and white, making him look old, but Andrew quickly realized that he's much younger than the he gives off. He had a terribly scarred right eye, covered by a metal eyepatch, while the left was blue.

"This lovely woman at my right is my wife, Eitelkeit Kieris"

"A pleasure to meet you, Sir Andrew. Uhuhuhuh, i hope you enjoy this great ball of ours"

She was a beautiful woman, with long curly blonde hair, brown eyes and a slender but attractive figure. All of this was accentuated by what Andrew could swear was the most expansive looking dress he ever saw in his life: golden, completely covered in jewels and precious metals. She was also wearing an incredibly beautiful tiara made of diamond-looking stones. Andrew was sure he could buy a house with that dress, and not even a small one.

"This young man at my left is my son, Weisheit Kieris"

"An honor to meet you Mr. Tenebris, i hope we can get along, since we seem to be of similar age"

It was quite the handsome kid, with short, straight, white hair, and brown eyes, and a slim and tall body. He was wearing clothing similar to Andrew's, with the difference that they were light blue, and with a bit more decorations. He also seemed to have a fondness for rings, since he had three of them on his right hand. He gave off a strange aura of curiosity.

"And this is my daughter, Apathie Kieris"

"An honor to meet you, Sir Tenebris"

Her voice was incredibly monotone, and so was her dress in comparison to the one of her mother: completely white, with very few decorations and jewels, and a much less extravagant tiara, but she still was quite beautiful. Her hair was long, straight and white, and her eyes were blue and captivating. Her skin was pallid, but in an attractive way, and her lips were of a very light pink, adding to her cuteness.

"The honor is mine, in meeting the whole royal family"

"Well, then, i hope you enjoy the party, also, try to reach the buffet fast, it may disappear in a while. This may be a party of nobles but here people tend to indulge in gluttony"

"We will, lord Kieris"

"Have a good night your majesty"

The king and his wife left hastily, so that they could greet the other nobles that were entering, but their sons remained. Weisheit and Apathie both seemed to have developed a curiosity over Andrew, though the princess seemed to care more about talking with Edresia. The prince didn't lose time in bombarding Andrew with questions, while his sister barely listened and concentrated on talking to the Church's idol.

"So, Mr. Tenebris, how did you manage to get Lady Sanctum herself to invite you to be her escort?"

"It was me or Hero Jupir"

The prince's face petrified for a moment, before breaking in his historic laughter.

"AHAHAHAHAHA! You're hilarious! I'm beginning to understand why she invited you! You're probably the only person in this country that would openly insult that proud mirror lover apart from us. Ah, you studied the witty comebacks, didn't you?"

"Indeed, prince"

"You're a natural at it, nothing to say. So, where do you come from?"

"From the far west, i'm the son of a couple of rich traveling merchants"

"Rich *traveling* merchants? I'm sorry, but don't rich merchants stay in one place?"

"My parents were the kind of people that liked to do business in person, so they went everywhere they could. Regrettably it doesn't mean i got to learn a lot about foreign cultures, since we stayed at maximum of two days in one place, due to the fact that they were incredibly quick at their job"

"Interesting! Were are they now?"

".... Still traveling, i guess. Haven't heard from them in a while...."

"Oh, i'm sorry for it. It must be hard"

"Not really, we never were very.... familiar with each other"

An awkward silence fell, broken by Weisheit after a minute.

"Uhm... want to see my magic tome collection?"

"My prince, we barely met each other, i don't t-"

"Listen, i know, and i want to be honest with you: i don't care. Frankly, i can understand if i'm going to like someone in the first minute i talk to said person, after all i am a prince and i am smart, and no, i'm not being boastful, it's just a fact. And, i like you, mainly because you didn't think on how to murder my father and take control of the throne in the first thirty seconds you spoke to him. And yes, you won't believe it, but i notice it, and it happens a lot. Even mother does it sometimes, but it's just because dad did something bad. Also, if Edresia trusts you, i trust you, i've known her for years after all, and without her this kingdom wouldn't be on the map anymore. Last thing, for some reason all the young nobles at this party right now are not likable or cute girls, and you're my best option. So, i'm going to ask again, do you want to see my magic tome collection?"

"......I guess i can't refuse"

"Fantastic! Follow me, then. Hey, Edresia, i'm stealing your man for ten minutes"

A vein, along with a shade of red, popped on Edresia's face while Weisheit guided Andrew out the party hall.

"Don't tease me, sir Weisheit!"

"Don't worry about my brother, lady Edresia, keep talking about that story"

"Oh, yeah, that.... so as i was saying...."

Edresia had to deal with Apathie innate curiosity, which beat her brother's, and clinginess. She liked the princess, but sometimes she could be exasperating. After ten minutes of interrogation worthy of an Inquisitor, Apathie finally had left, mainly because her mother wanted to present her some fine marriage candidates, well, fine for the queen at least.

"Ah, sweet freedom... I'm surprised that nobody asked about Andrew, it must be my lucky day.... By the way, where's Jupir?"

She expected the "Hero" to show up, hiding his rage under a veil of transparent paper, but he was nowhere to be seen, though it wasn't a bad thing of course, just slightly worrying.

"Well, better for every- What?!?"

She was sighing in relief, when suddenly she felt a tight sensation around her whole body, and saw that she had been caught by magic annulling ropes. She looked around, trying to find the culprit, and saw all the people panicking and screaming, while they were surrounded by the same bindings as hers, though of much less intensity.

"WHAT IS THE MEANING OF THIS?!? WHO'S DOING THIS?!?"

The king was shouting in rage, while her wife was terrified and on the verge of fainting. Apathie was dealing quite well with the situation, casually drinking Shalps juice from a glass with the little movement she had left. Edresia tried to free herself, but in vain, she could not use any of her powers.

"DO. NOT. WORRY. NOBLE BLOOOOOD OF KIEEEEEERIS. JUST AN ATTACK FROM THE SHADOOOOOOWS!"

Everyone was shocked at hearing the singing voice of a man that busted through the main door, along with a small army. The intruder was wearing incredibly extravagant attire, even by noble standards: he was wearing a purple top hat, what resembled a purple modified nineteenth century business man suit, a long black coat with a very tall collar, white gloves, black boots decorated in golden symbols and a white metal mask on his face, resembling one of those classic happy opera masks. He also held a wooden cane in his right hand, swinging it around when singing.

His men wore much more normal armor, but still decorated in purple and gold.

"WHO ARE YOU?!? HOW DARE A BUFFON LIKE YOU ATTACK THE NOBLES OF KIERIS?!?"

One of the nobles shouted in rage, ignoring the situation he was in. The man began moving in a very dramatic manner.

"MEEEE A BUFFFFOOOOON? I AM NO MASTER OF LAUUUUUGHS, INSTEAD MASTEEEEER OF THE AAAAAAART! THE AAAART OF KILLIIIIIING! LET. ME. SHOW. MYYYYYSELF WOOORTHY!"

The man disappeared from everyone's gazes and reappeared in front of the noble, his cane precisely penetrating through his neck. He slowly tore it out, getting out some essential pieces for the functions of the neck. Everyone apart from the king, the princess and Edresia began screaming in utter terror in front of such a grotesque and brutal spectacle. The man didn't care and kept dancing and singing.

"LAAAADIES AND GENTLEMEEEEEN! NO WOUND SHALL BE INFLICTEEEEEED ON YOUUUUU, UNLESS BRAVERY ENTRAPS YOUR HEAAAAART AND BRINGS YOU TO FIIIIIIGHT! FOR. YOU. ARE. HOSTAGEEEEEEEEEES!"

"HOSTAGES?!?"

"HE'S INSANE!"

"LUX, PROTECT US!"

The man laughed as loudly as he could, before giving the finishing touch.

"LET THIS NAAAAME, RESOOOUUUUND IN YOUR HEEEEAT! FOR I AM THE SOOOOOPRAAAANO! AND NOW!"

He went to one of the balconies that were watching towards the main plaza of the castle.

"BEGIIIIIIIIN PHAAAAAAASE TWOOOOOOOO!"

Hello guys! Liked the chapter? Hope you did! Things are getting dangerous! A new villain rises! You know, i thought of making a normal, intimidating assassin, but where's the fun in that? Instead, make a freaking soprano! Why not?!? And where's Jupir, the one that's conveniently absent? You'll know in a while! Also, will Andrew save the day?...... Of course, those of you that thought of no are dummies.