Chapter 97 : Rascal (1/2)

After some time had passed, I found myself sticking close to Olivia and Agnes. 

Every time I tried to step away, it seemed inevitable that the same exhausting interactions from earlier would repeat themselves.

As the three of us chatted together, Bliss eventually joined us, her expression betraying just how tired she was. 

Soon, all the female members of our group, except for the men, had reconvened.

Finally, a moment to breathe.

I stretched my arms wide, letting out a small sigh of relief. 

A bit of rest had done wonders for my drained energy.

Not that I was eager to jump back into the crowd or anything…

If I just stayed still, I’d likely attract more unwanted attention. 

I needed something to occupy myself.

I turned my gaze to Bliss, who was chatting and laughing with Agnes.

“Bliss, are you enjoying the soirée?” I asked out of curiosity. 

I wondered how the others were feeling about this situation.

Bliss tilted her head, humming thoughtfully before answering.

“Hmm… I wouldn’t say I like these kinds of events. Honestly, I’d rather spend this time praying or doing something more meaningful…”

Her expression grew serious, but she shrugged and shook her head lightly, muttering a small tsk under her breath.

She seems to be enjoying herself more than she lets on, I thought but kept the observation to myself. No need to stir unnecessary tension.

Instead, I shifted my attention to Agnes.

“What about you, Agnes?”

Agnes took a slow sip of her drink, her expression unchanging. “I’m not fond of these events either.”

“Why not?”

“They don’t suit me. Besides, most people here don’t take kindly to my presence.”

She downed the rest of her drink and set the glass aside, her calm demeanor unchanged.

That’s strange, I thought. Agnes seems like the perfect fit for a place like this.

I decided not to press further and instead turned to Olivia.

“What about you, Olivia?”

She crossed her arms, her tone dripping with disinterest. “Not really a fan. 

There’s no one here worth forming a connection with. Besides, I’ve attended enough of these to last a lifetime. 

A few familiar faces are here, but that’s about it.”

Her words were casual, yet her annoyance was palpable. 

She seemed entirely unfazed by the grandeur of the event.

Of course, I mused, impressed despite myself.

She was clearly accustomed to navigating such gatherings. 

It wasn’t surprising, considering her noble background.

Thinking back, Bliss had been surrounded by several acquaintances earlier, as well.

Most of the group seemed to have at least some familiarity with people here.

The hero, naturally, was a magnet for attention, and even Artorius had been approached by a friend right at the start.

Only Agnes seemed to be an exception—no one had approached her the entire time I’d been watching.

Somehow, that makes me feel closer to her, I thought, a small smile tugging at my lips.

“We should stick together more,” I muttered to myself, silently vowing to be kinder to Agnes in the future.

“So, where’s Dane?” Olivia suddenly asked, breaking my thoughts.

“Oh, the hero? He’s over there,” Bliss replied, pointing toward the crowded center of the hall.

The hero was buried in a swarm of people, his figure barely visible through the throng.

“Looks like he’s in the middle of it,” Bliss remarked with a faint smile.

Olivia sighed, her annoyance resurfacing. “No surprise there. It’s the same everywhere we go.”

“Seems like he’s used to situations like this,” I observed.

“Well, he is a hero. He wasn’t always like this, though. I imagine he got used to it over time,” Olivia replied matter-of-factly.

That made sense. 

People can adapt to anything if exposed long enough.

Even I had gotten used to confessions, learning to separate my inner feelings from my outer reactions. 

It was a skill I hadn’t wanted to acquire but had needed all the same.

I shifted my focus, scanning the room for Artorius. 

It didn’t take long to find him.

Unlike the hero, who was surrounded by a mix of men and women, Artorius was in the middle of a group of only men. 

His loud, hearty laughter carried across the room.

“He seems to be fitting in well,” I noted.

Bliss scoffed, shaking her head in disapproval. “He always has too much fun. It’s a problem. Honestly, he and Calavan are ruining the image of the Paladins.”

Calavan? I thought, recalling the name. He was one of the Seven Paladins, known as the Paladin of Temperance.

I’d never met him, but if Bliss was comparing him to Artorius, I could only imagine what kind of person he might be.

Artorius… but with self-restraint? The thought was almost impossible to picture.

“Well, does it matter? People like him are necessary too. Besides, from what I’ve heard, his behavior has actually brought some benefits to the Church of Providence.”

“That’s true. Regardless of his flaws, he has helped make the idea of paladins more approachable to the public. I just wish he’d drink a little less…”

Agnes set down her glass with a smile as she spoke to Bliss, who nodded slightly in agreement.

“When will this soirée finally end…?”

Leaning against the wall, I muttered into the air. It felt like ages had passed, and I longed to leave and rest.

But my hopes seemed destined to remain unfulfilled.

“Hmm… I’ve never attended this city’s soirée before, so I’m not sure, but…”

Bliss paused for a moment, as if weighing her words.

“If we compare it to other balls, this hasn’t even really started yet.”

‘What?!’

I was speechless.

Did that mean this cursed soirée had only just begun?

My strength drained from my body. Thankfully, I managed to lean against the wall before collapsing entirely.

The constant hum of voices and soft music continued to fill the room, grating on my nerves. 

The sudden surge of stress made me wish I could escape to a quiet place. 

But knowing nothing of the layout here, it wasn’t an option.

I had no choice but to endure the noise.

‘Ah… I wish it would all just quiet down.’

I sighed internally, fully aware that such a wish was unlikely to come true.

‘At the very least, if someone could stop the music…’

Perhaps by sheer coincidence, the room began to grow quieter. 

The buzz of conversations and the melody softened, until all sound abruptly ceased.

I glanced around in confusion, trying to determine the reason for the silence. 

My search quickly revealed the source: a man with striking red hair.

“Who’s that?”

I subtly gestured toward him, ensuring no one else would notice.

Bliss, her earlier smile replaced by a serious expression, leaned in and answered in a hushed tone.

“That’s Rien Everglow, the son of the Duke of Everglow and this city’s master. He has quite a bad reputation.”

Her cautious demeanor made it seem as though speaking carelessly could bring trouble.

Curious, I pressed further. “What kind of reputation?”

“He’s infamous for his difficult personality.”

“Why?”

I studied Rien, puzzled. He seemed perfectly fine at a glance.

Indeed, his appearance mirrored that of his father, the duke, down to the dignified aura. 

Watching him exchange pleasantries and shake hands with the hero, I found it hard to reconcile this image with someone described as problematic.

“I’ve heard it’s because of constant comparisons to his older sibling, Alice Everglow, who is exceptionally talented,” Bliss explained quietly.

Alice Everglow… 

The name rang a bell. 

She was renowned as one of the North’s most distinguished figures—both beautiful and powerful.

“Rumor has it that Rien exploits the family’s prestige to torment those around him. He’s known for threats, property damage, and reckless spending.”

‘So, it’s a matter of insecurity,’ I mused, glancing back at Rien.

Bliss continued, lowering her voice even further. “And sometimes, he’s even violent toward citizens.”

What?! That’s outright disgraceful.

“He looks so composed…” I murmured, shaking my head.

It was a stark reminder not to judge a book by its cover. Despite his polished exterior, the rumors painted a damning picture. No wonder the duke carried such a stern expression.

“Because of all this, he’s often referred to as the ‘scourge’ of the Everglow family,” Bliss concluded.

I nodded in agreement. 

The moniker fit him perfectly if these stories were true.

Then, to my surprise, Rien began scanning the room. When his eyes landed on us, he started walking toward our group.

“He’s heading this way!” I whispered urgently to Bliss, panic rising.

Had he overheard our conversation? Was he coming to confront us?

“Calm down,” Bliss replied evenly, her composure unshaken. “The hero probably mentioned us, and he’s coming over to greet us.”

She paused briefly, then added, “Even if he were angry, he wouldn’t act recklessly. 

For all his flaws, he knows how to gauge a situation. Just answer a few of his questions politely, and it’ll be fine.”

‘Is that so… Well, we’re not the type to back down easily either,’ I thought as I calmed my startled heart at Bliss’s words.

By the time I regained my composure, Rien had reached us, his face adorned with a bright smile as he spoke.

“Hey there! Don’t think I’ve seen you lot around before.”

I couldn’t help but be taken aback.

He spoke casually, as if we were old acquaintances. 

His natural demeanor made me question whether we had met before, even though I knew that was impossible.

No one else we had met here had behaved like this, which only added to my confusion.

And his tone? It had an air of nonchalance, almost bordering on arrogance. 

At that moment, I felt like I was beginning to understand why bad rumors followed him.

But unlike me, Olivia replied without any sign of discomfort.

“Nice to meet you. I’m Olivia Violet.”

“Nice to meet you too!”

“Hello, I’m Bliss Lily.”

“You as well!”

Bliss followed Olivia’s introduction, and then it was my turn. I hastily tried to compose myself and said,

“Hello, my name is—”

However, before I could finish, he shifted his gaze away from me, as if I didn’t even warrant his attention. 

My words were cut off mid-sentence, left to dissipate into the air.

His attention was fixed on Agnes. With a smirk that seemed to mock, he looked her up and down before speaking.

“Huh? Agnes? What are you doing here?”