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Chapter 239: The Ball
🕑 Added 2024-09-24 07:26:53 +0000 UTCRhett stood up and placed a few gold coins on the table. His gaze toward the middle-aged man became more serious. "Let's go."
"Please follow me, sir!" The middle-aged mage maintained his smile and led Rhett outside.
Night fell.
At a secluded manor on the outskirts of the city, numerous knights patrolled the grounds, their expressions stern and their auras powerful.
Inside the manor, a tall, pitch-black castle stood proudly. The opulent hall within was illuminated by exquisite blue crystal chandeliers, casting a bright yet gentle glow. This advanced treatment of light elements was something only a highly skilled alchemical equipment master could achieve.
That afternoon, Rhett had been brought directly to this manor. Not long after his arrival, he met Prince Hogus, who had come to greet him. After some polite conversation, Rhett was invited to attend a ball that evening.
Shortly after sunset, Rhett changed into a luxurious evening suit provided by Hogus. He spent over ten minutes in front of the mirror, adjusting his appearance.
When the time came, he joined Hogus and made his way to the ballroom.
The castle doors were open, welcoming the nobles who entered in succession. Inside, small groups of nobles scattered across the hall, each holding a crystal goblet filled with red wine as they engaged in relaxed conversations.
Melodious music filled every corner of the hall, creating a harmonious atmosphere.
"Prince Hogus, it’s been a while. You look even more handsome than the last time we met," said a beautiful woman in a light blue strapless gown as she approached.
"Is that so? Everyone around me says the same thing. I'm fortunate to have such honest subordinates," Hogus replied with a light smile, stroking his chin. He then turned to Rhett and said, "Rhett, let me introduce you. This is Miss Sylvette, the eldest daughter of Marquis Marcille—a very clever knight."
"Miss Sylvette, it's a pleasure to meet you." Rhett offered a polite but measured smile, his greeting neither too enthusiastic nor too indifferent. He wasn’t one for unnecessary socializing, especially not idle small talk.
"This is Earl Rhett, a highly talented magic caster who resides in the southwestern borderlands," Hogus added, introducing Rhett to Sylvette.
Upon hearing this, Sylvette's eyes lit up. Being called highly talented by Prince Hogus, and noticing that they had arrived together, indicated that Earl Rhett was highly regarded by the prince.
Sylvette extended her right hand, encased in a black lace glove, and smiled alluringly. "I'm also pleased to meet you, Earl Rhett. I’ve met many nobles from the southwestern border, but you’re quite unique—there’s something different about you!"
Rhett raised an eyebrow and lightly shook her hand. "Different? In what way, exactly?"
"Hehe, I can’t say just yet. But would you do me the honor of a dance later? I’ll tell you then..." Sylvette gazed at Rhett with an inviting look.
Rhett maintained a neutral expression but felt a hint of annoyance. A simple dance didn’t bother him, but the woman’s overtly seductive demeanor made him want to keep his distance.
He was about to find an excuse to decline when—
"Hey, Rhett! So you did make it to the capital—so quick to fulfill our promise!"
A joyful voice echoed from the castle entrance, drawing the attention of many nobles in the hall.
A middle-aged woman in a simple, white mage's robe entered. Her well-proportioned figure exuded a mature charm.
It was none other than Grand Magister Karina, both a powerful magic caster and a renowned artist, known far and wide in social circles.
With numerous eyes on her, Karina walked straight toward Rhett, her smile blooming like a flower. Rhett had been helpful in finding her mentor, and in the future, she might rely on him to take care of her daughter in Darkhawk City, so she was eager to express her gratitude.
Karina’s timely arrival gave Rhett a perfect excuse to avoid Sylvette. He shot her an apologetic glance, then moved past her to greet Karina with a light embrace.
Rhett shrugged and said, "Of course, I heard from Prince Hogus that you’d be attending this event. I’m glad to see you here."
"Sylvette, how about we share a dance later?" As Rhett conversed with Karina, Hogus noticed his lack of interest in Sylvette. With a knowing smile, he stepped forward to ease the tension and offered to dance with her himself.
Sylvette blinked in surprise, doubting her ears for a moment. But she quickly realized the truth—Prince Hogus was indeed inviting her to dance!
Her eyes sparkled with joy, and she curtsied while holding her skirt. "Prince Hogus, I would be honored!"
Rhett didn’t need to turn around to see what was happening, but in his mind, he gained newfound respect for Hogus. Despite being a prince, Hogus wasn’t arrogant or overbearing like some of the characters Rhett had read about in novels. He possessed a rare combination of strength, intelligence, social grace, and emotional intelligence—a truly well-rounded individual.
Throughout the evening, as Rhett mingled with Hogus and engaged with Karina, he found himself approached by many nobles who were eager to chat. Most of them were well-established families from all over the country, with long histories and plenty of resources, allowing them to focus on social connections rather than being tied down to their territories.
Rhett handled the conversations with ease.
Half an hour later.
Amid the harmonious laughter of the nobles, the lights in the hall suddenly dimmed, shifting from bright and radiant to soft and muted.
The spacious castle hall featured deep blue carpets in the dance area, which emitted a faint glow as the lights changed.
A dreamy, ethereal atmosphere filled the air.
Jewelry-clad noblewomen and graceful young ladies mingled with well-dressed gentlemen and dashing young knights.
As the gentle music began to play, the pre-arranged dance partners moved to the center of the dance floor, gracefully joining hands and swaying to the rhythm.
"Earl Rhett, how are your dancing skills?" Karina asked, finishing the last sip of wine in her crystal glass as she looked at Rhett.
"Well, to be honest, not great. I hope you won’t mind," Rhett replied with a shrug. He wasn’t being modest—he genuinely wasn’t skilled at dancing. Although he was an earl, he hadn’t attended many noble balls, and he’d never formally learned the proper dance steps.
"Hehe, I suspected as much. That’s why I chose you," Karina laughed openly. "My dancing isn’t great either. I only learned a few steps after entering the palace because I had to. I’ve never really been into dancing. I much prefer painting to noisy balls."
Rhett looked at Karina with surprise and then nodded. "Well, I guess I won’t be holding you back after all..."
"That’s exactly what I was thinking."
They moved to the dance floor, which wasn’t crowded, and kept a respectful distance as they began to dance to the music.
As the melodic tunes played, Rhett found himself in a relaxed mood. He looked at Karina’s face and said, "Miss Karina, I’ve been thinking about your daughter recently. You might find this interesting..."
Karina’s attention was piqued, and she asked, "Aura? Has she caused any trouble? If she’s damaged anything, put it on my tab."
"Not at all. Aura is very polite," Rhett replied, shaking his head. "Actually, I noticed that Aura has grown quite close to one of my knights. Their relationship... seems rather intimate."
"What? Aura has a love interest?" Karina’s demeanor changed from gentle to sharp as she asked, "Who is this knight? Earl Rhett, I’d appreciate it if you could give me more details."
"The knight in question isn’t particularly remarkable, except for his outstanding talent. At around fourteen or fifteen years old, he’s already a Tier 2 knight," Rhett said with some helplessness.
"A fourteen-year-old Tier 2 knight..." Karina’s expression softened, and she fell silent, considering the situation. As a mother, it was natural for her to be concerned about her daughter’s choices. Without direct interaction, the most practical way to gauge someone’s character was through their achievements.
"How far has their relationship progressed?" Karina asked calmly. "They haven’t... gone too far, have they?"
"Uh." Rhett’s eyes widened slightly, and his mouth twitched. "No, nothing like that. There are just some signs of affection, nothing more. I’m only telling you because you’re Aura’s mother."
Karina nodded thoughtfully, then smiled. "Thank you for letting me know, Earl Rhett. I hope Aura enjoys her time in Darkhawk City."
Does this mean she approves of Lawrence and Aura being together? Rhett wondered. Outwardly, he responded, "Miss Karina, it’s no trouble at all."
Inwardly, he contemplated finding an opportunity to bring Lawrence and Aura closer. If things progressed further, what would Karina’s reaction be?
After a few minutes of clumsy dancing, they returned to the table and sat down.
As the ball continued, some guests remained in the hall to chat, while others left. Some couples, overtaken by passion, headed to the empty rooms prepared in the manor...
Rhett waited for an opportunity when Prince Hogus was alone and approached him.
"Prince Hogus, care for a drink?" Rhett asked, holding a wine bottle in one hand and a crystal glass in the other as he walked toward the prince, who stood at the edge of the hall.
"Why not? Earl Rhett, are you enjoying yourself tonight?" Hogus smiled, his gaze sweeping over the dance floor before returning to Rhett. "Seen any ladies that caught your eye? If so, I’d be happy to help set you up—don’t be shy."
Rhett chuckled and shook his head. "Prince Hogus, let’s not joke around. Actually, I have something important to report..."
"Something important? Don’t tell me you’ve fallen for Karina? Hmm, that could be tricky. I can command her, but I can’t force her to... give herself away." Hogus muttered quietly, wondering if Karina, a mother with a child, really had that much appeal.
Seeing that Hogus hadn’t grasped the significance of the matter, Rhett glanced around and lowered his voice. "It’s about the mysterious letter..."
Hiss! Hogus inhaled sharply, his pupils constricting before his expression returned to normal. After scanning the hall, he looked back at Rhett and said, "Did you just receive another letter?"
"No, it arrived a few days ago. But of course, it’s already been burned to ashes..."
"So, what did it say this time?" Hogus asked, leading Rhett out of the hall through a side door.
Rhett followed closely, leaving the ballroom behind.
As they departed, many in the hall watched them go, their gazes full of speculation...
"Now, can you tell me, Earl Rhett, what message did you receive this time?"
In a secluded corner of the manor, shrouded in darkness and guarded by several powerful transcendents, Hogus stood beside a towering silver tree, his gaze serious as he looked at Rhett.
Rhett deliberately glanced around, his expression cautious, before whispering, "The letter didn’t contain much information, but it’s critical. A powerful evil Saint will attack the Circle Tower of the Rem Kingdom..."
"The Rem Kingdom?!"
Hogus frowned deeply.
He hadn’t expected that the Saint would target the Rem Kingdom. Could it be that this Saint’s objectives extended beyond the Kingdom of Gillen, affecting other nations as well?
If that were the case, it might be a good thing for him—after all, sharing the burden was always welcome. But regardless, given what had happened before, Hogus believed the Saint was undoubtedly aligned with the Beastmen. If they attacked the Rem Kingdom, Gillen couldn’t just stand by. Defending against the Beastmen was the common mission of the human alliance, and any loss weakened the whole.
Given his broad perspective, Hogus quickly realized that if the Circle Tower fell, the Rem Kingdom would descend into chaos, giving the Beastmen an opportunity to strike—a scenario that would weaken the human alliance.
He said gravely, "Earl Rhett, are you certain you’re not joking? You understand the gravity of this information, and the consequences if it’s false..."
"I swear, every word I’ve said is true!" Rhett replied earnestly.
"Very well, I’ll report this immediately." Hogus gave Rhett a deep look. "If we manage to avert this disaster, you will have performed a great service! Otherwise, you know the consequences..."
Rhett nodded firmly, then hesitated before saying, "Prince Hogus, there’s actually another matter I’d like your help with..."
"Go ahead," Hogus replied, his tone encouraging. In his heart, he leaned toward trusting Rhett. He knew Rhett’s character well enough to believe he wouldn’t make such a serious matter up. As a result, his respect for Rhett had grown even more.
"I’d like to ask for any information you might have about spirits."
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