Hyerin screeched like a girl witnessing a cockroach for the first time.
"We won!" she yelled at Averie.
Leaning against the foggy window, the normally composed man had a small smile on his face.
Watching that, Hyerin got up.
She clasped his hands and danced around the room.
"We won, we won," she chanted.
Averie let himself be lost in the atmosphere.
’It’s no time to scold her.’
So, he took her hand, placed another on the small of her back, and swirled her around.
Min-Ha took a photo of the two to commemorate the moment.
On the stage of the Golden Lotus Awards, Director Lee was giving a speech. Surrounding him was the cast of the drama.
It was the easiest victory ever for the best drama category.
Min-Ha joined the two in the dance.
On the TV, the director’s speech was nearing its end.
"...and thank you to my dog, who refused to shit in the house until the filming ended."
’Did he return to doing it?’ Averie wondered. ’That’s one dedicated dog.’
"Thank you to my grandma, who died fifty years ago and whom I never met."
’What about us, asshole?’
"Thank you to all my party members who fought against the Demon Lord."
Averie cracked his knuckles. He was ready to run to the venue barefoot and beat the living daylight out of the good director.
"And most importantly, thank you to my cast, who delivered such exceptional performances. Thank you to In-Su Kim, Su-Jin James, Do-Yun Park, Raymond Lee, Peter Kang, John Strom, and especially Averie Quinn Auclair. Without him, I daresay, this production would not have been as successful."
He continued, "He isn’t here because of an important matter."
’Yeah, rest is important.’
Hyerin wiped a tear from her eye.
"Our Averie has grown up," she muttered.
Her mother called her on her phone, and Ari called Averie’s phone.
As if one weren’t enough, both blabbered in each of his ears.
"They called your name," Mrs. Lim said. "The director called your name, dear!"
"It’s not an individual award, so please settle down, ma’am."
"Can you send me some money, please? I lost a bet. Money. Money, please?" Ari pleaded.
"You wagered against BSPH? Seriously?" Aveire scoffed. "You deserve nothing, you moron."
He took out a few notes of cash and waved them in the air as if she could see his provocation.
"You know what, I would rather shove this cash in Hyerin’s pockets."
And he did indeed do that.
"Satisfied?" he yelled over the call.
Ari wasn’t satisfied, but Hyerin was.
"Free money," she giggled.
While Averie was being pestered by his cousin, Min-Ha went back to watch the rest of the ceremony.
BSPH continued to win awards throughout the night.
Writer Moon won the Best Original Screenplay award. Sinner won the Best Original Song award. The Best Director award went to Director Lee.
Several technical awards also piled on.
"Ooh, Ellie Arnold won Best Supporting Actress!"
Averie looked happy for a moment before going back to bickering with his cousin on the call.
They weren’t even related, yet he had started treating her as if she were his actual sister.
"The nominees for the Best Main Actor award are—" the announcer announced as the screen behind him flickered.
A familiar face appeared on the screen.
"John Strom, from Binsfeld’s Seven Princes of Hell."
A short clip of Belphegor on antidepressants was played.
"Peter Kang, from Binsfeld’s Seven Princes of Hell."
John’s face was replaced by the scene where Leviathan was looking at the bound girl in the trunk of his car.
"Raymond Lee, from Binsfeld’s Seven Princes of Hell."
The screen showed Mammon throwing stuff around after sending Satun to meet Asmodeus.
"Do-Yun Park, from Binsfeld’s Seven Princes of Hell."
Beelzebub hunting down and shooting Leviathan played on the large screen.
"Averie Quinn Auclair, from Binsfeld’s Seven Princes of Hell."
Asmodeus’s fervent danse macabre played.
"And, Ha-Joon Chae, from An Everlasting Romance."
A handsome man meeting a woman underneath a tree was shown.
"You are nominated!" screamed Mrs. Lim in Averie’s ear. "Are the other two not nominated? That’s sad."
And in the other year, Ari screeched, "Your show has five nominations!"
"Don’t get your hopes up," Averie whispered. "I won’t be winning."
"No way is that fraud nominated!" Min-Ha kicked the wall.
Suddenly, fear snaked its way into her heart.
"There’s no way, right?" Her pupils quacked. "No way they let him win, right?"
The more she talked, the more it seemed plausible.
After all, he was from Loret, and Weisin would love nothing more than to take away merit from Averie and those associated with him.
"Unpopular victories have happened in the past."
Some were so egregious that they were considered scandals.
"There are five from BSPH."
This felt more like a jinx than anything. The writing was on the wall.
’We are going to lose, aren’t we?’ she thought.
Hands joined, she prayed, ’Please, anyone but Ha-Joon Chae!’
"Don’t deflate their excitement," Hyerin yelled at Averie, rolling the sleeves of her shirt for a fight.
"I am just telling the truth." He rolled the sleeves of his pants. "You don’t like it? Close your ears."
While the two fought and bickered, Min-Ha cried out, "You won!"
They turned towards the loud girl who had her hands in the air.
Behind her, on the radiant screen of the TV, was Asmodeus Binsfeld staring through the screen with his umbrella just high enough to show a glimmer of his eyes.
Underneath the image was Averie Quinn Auclair written.
Someone stepped up to the stage as the large gathering of celebrities begrudgingly applauded to honor him.
The good actor ran his hand through his hair.
’I should have been there.’
The one who went on stage was none other than Peter Kang. A hideous grin was carved across his face.
Peter received the award and cleared his throat. He looked at the spectators.
"Thank you for the award. I cannot tell you how much this means to me."
’Fucker prepared for this better than he prepared for the role.’
"Finally, my efforts have borne fruit."
’Come down, asshole.’
Thankfully, In-Su Kim and Su-Jin James interfered.
They had the decency to deliver a proper speech on Averie’s behalf.
’This is too goody-goody,’ the diabolical actor thought. ’Peter was better.’
He longed for the funny and the ridiculous.