“Over here!”

I had just got past the guards at the gate when Arte called over to me.

There was a second checkpoint to get in to the reception room and they decided to wait for me.

“Not dressing up?”

Greer said with a little smirk on his face.

“Well I can’t picture him in anything except armor”

Arte chimed in agreement.

It was true, Arte had on a yellowish-white dress while Greer saw fit to wear a dress suit.

I returned their words with a smile.

“You don’t know what might happen at one of these gatherings”

I looked around and frowned.

“She’s not coming?”

“She said she had something else to do. You know, church duties and all that”

Greer shrugged as we had our invitations looked at.

But anyone who had a brain should know who we were.

Though I didn’t know Maria long, she did support us in our battles.

I had hoped this would be a chance to solidify a relationship with her.

Her abilities were incredibly useful.

If only I had gotten to her before the church or if they didn’t matter as much to her.

We made the rounds and I saw someone interesting.

Deke Marren, son of Duke Marren.

He had an angry look in his eyes and kept his hands balled up at his side.

I can’t believe they let him in here.

And I wasn’t the only thinking this, whispers and stares floated about with him as the topic.

His house was as good as gone.

Duke Marren was a second generation noble here.

His father had entered in the pact with Darrius and the Duke reaped the benefits.

Truly, Duke Marren was one of the vipers.

A city made up of forgotten sons and daughters.

And yet it is the center of the east.

“He seems tense”

Greer said with a chuckle.

“He was always one of those who only had their pride wasn’t he?”

I said indifferently.

“Come on, you guys can gossip later”

Arte dragged us away from the area and we continued along.

“I . I don’t know if I should be here”

Leon had showed up at the inn in the morning with a surprising invitation.

He wanted me to go with him to the ball.

This was so out of the blue, I had not expected to see him again.

I don’t know if I want to.

That dark presence near him worries me.

It might not be able to corrupt him but it’s intentions are unclear.

Sooner or later a situation will occur and it will be found.

The city under the king is allied closely with the church.

Not even a noble can escape punishment if hard evidence is linking them to a demon.

Even then, I’m still not sure it is a demon and I couldn’t prove it anyways.

They might dismiss it as hitting my head too hard.

Despite all that, I still thought Leon was a good person.

I couldn’t bear to sit still, so I said yes to watch over him.

Now here I was, in a light blue dress being escorted around by him.

“How are you doing?”

I smiled at his words.

“Not that good, people always stare. Just . . that I feel like coming here with you only made it worse”

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to make you feel bad. I wanted to make it up to you”

“For what?”

I asked, confused.

“Hm, I don’t know really but it’s a good excuse as any”

“Hahaha”

I looked Leon in the eyes and he looked back.

I turned away and took a moment to process my feelings.

I was here . . .now . . .and doing this.

Nothing else mattered.

I took a quick deep breath, all the while being careful not to drop hints at my turmoil.

I flashed him another smile.

“Lead the way”

I wrapped my arm around his.

He returned my smile with his own.

“My pleasure”

The king made his entrance and the usual fanfare went on.

Music, the announcing of his arrival and all the smiling people.

Fake or otherwise.

He was walking to the balcony overlooking the room when . . .

The world slowed down for me.

YOU!

It couldn’t be!

Why were you here!?

You’re not going to mess this up for me, are you?

Even if it’s you, I’ll . . . . no, you’re too strong

“Did you hear what I just said Arthur? LOOK!”

Arte interrupted my thoughts and pointed to a figure next to the king.

“Tch. Just more and more surprises aren’t there?”

He announced that Maria was going to be the next ruler.

This was most unexpected to say the least.

But what really bothered me was how early he came to announce this in the ball.

My initial plan seems to have just gone up in flames.

They descended the stairs and everyone started to gather around them.

I had an . . issue to bring up with the king but decided to talk to him later.

It seemed like I wasn’t the only one with an issue.

“DARRIUS!”

Everyone gasped and parted around the person shouting.

It was Deke and he had brandished his sword towards the king.

The only ones allowed to have weapons among the guests here were nobles related to the seven families.

Naturally, I had my sword but watching this unfold interested me.

The guards readied their weapons but the king waved them back.

“What do you want Deke? I have not touched your family’s properties and even your father’s title will be yours soon. So

why are you pointing a sword at the person who is on your side?”

The king said slowly with a bit of pity in his voice.

“YOU LIE! SHE told me about HER!”

Deke shouted as he pointed at Maria.

Huh? Where was this going

What did she have to do with this

Although who knew the king was going to be this lenient towards him?

“What do you mean?”

The king said, curious about his words.

“The “Saint” she’s did this to my father! She used the rebels to disgrace him. If my father is arrested, then she deserves to

die for being a traitor”

Fury was expressly shown on his face and everyone was watching intently.

Maria’s expression didn’t change but she reached for something under her robe.

The king stopped her as she took some more steps down.

“YOU FOOL! Do you know who you accuse of this? She is the leader of the church who has been an ally of ours for

decades. I’ll give you one chance to leave right now before I have you thrown in the dungeon”

Deke glared at Darrius and the king returned it with a stare of his own.

“RAAAGGHHH!”

In that moment, all the eyes in the room widened.

Deke had just sealed his fate, whatever foolish leniency the king had given him was gone.

He lunged with his sword, intending to quickly close the distance.

Deke proceeded to use a skill.

[Wind Blast]

Good, the people here were currently distracted by the king and Maria there.

But I needed something a little more . . .

I saw a brooding figure in the corner and remembered that he was the Marren heir.

Alright, let’s try this.

I put on a smile and approached him.

“Hello”

He shot me a glare.

“What do you want maid?”

“Oh, nothing I just wanted to talk you”

“So, even servants now think that they’re equal to me? Humph! At least you’re easy on the eyes”

“Thank you, people do mention how haunting—ly beautiful my eyes are”

He narrowed his gaze even further.

“What do you want?”

“. . no, I shouldn’t, it would only endanger my life. I shouldn’t say anything. Never mind it’s nothing”

I turned around to leave but he grabbed my arm.

“WAIT! . . . What do you want to say to me?”

“Can you promise me my safety?”

I said, trying to act sacred.

“YES!”

He tugged me a little closer and I pretended that it hurt.

“Okay, I was running errands for my master one night when I came across a strange scene. When I went closer, I saw two

people having a meeting. One of them was a man and from the conversation, he was a rebel. The other figure was a

woman and she was giving him a location with details. I realized when Saint Maria appeared with the king that it was her. I

saw her giving details on your home to a rebel that night”

“WHAT? That all sounds absurd. You’re wasting my time!”

He gripped my arm even harder and seemed to be livid now.

He thought I was leading him on . . . . hehehe

But these flaring emotions of his were good.

“She mentioned something about a prisoner in your basement”

Deke as he was called, was finally fed up.

“Ow!”

He onehandedly shoved me with enough force to make me fall on the floor.

He turned to walk away.

But then I sealed the deal.

“She also mentioned something about a glass coffin and that there was girl in it. A VERY special girl”