Alex stepped into the grand ballroom at the base of the castle using the inner door, his boots clicking softly against the polished marble floor.
The air inside was warm, filled with the lingering hum of laughter and clinking glasses. Alex observed all that, his mind elsewhere as he still wondered what Vanessa and Alenia could be doing.
'Are things getting sorted out fine? Or will I have to step in?' Such thoughts passed through his head.
He didn't know just how right he was back then when he thought that the crack between Vanessa and Alenia might be partly his fault.
Listening to Sophie's advice was probably the best thing he could've done—not that he knew that yet. He would come to realize it later.
Soon, he had just arrived at the compartment where the council members were supposed to be, only to find a note left in their place.
"Gone to enjoy the programs," Alex read aloud, his eyebrows raising slightly. "And show some talents on stage?"
He sighed, a soft chuckle escaping his lips as he folded the note and tucked it away. "Guess they're having fun," he muttered. "Good for them."
[Well, you could use some fun too,] Sophie chimed in. [You've been sulking long enough.]
"I'm not sulking," Alex retorted inwardly as he turned to leave the compartment. "I just... can't stop thinking about Mother and Aunt Alenia. I hope things work out."
[Which is why you need to join the celebration. Sitting around won't help anyone, especially you.] Sophie's tone was firm, but there was a playful undertone to her words.
"Fine," Alex relented, rubbing the back of his neck. "A little competition might be a good distraction."
Shutting the door, he moved toward the opening in front of the castle.
Making his way down to the ground floor, Alex moved toward the ballroom's entrance. The vibrant energy of the ballroom spilled out into the surrounding areas, and the cheerful chatter of nobles filled the air.
Alex noticed that as time passed, instead of the crowd decreasing, more and more people kept coming.
In reality, it wasn't that more people came. It was just that the ones who came never went back—most of them at least.
Suddenly, a group of young noblewomen noticed him and immediately stepped into his path.
"Lord Alex," one of them began, her cheeks tinged with pink. "You look quite dashing today."
Alex smiled politely. "Thank you. I appreciate the compliment."
Another girl chimed in, "Won't you join us for a while? We were just about to share some stories of our travels. I'm sure you have plenty to tell."
There were expectations in the eyes of every girl in the group. One could tell how much they wanted him to stay just by looking into their eyes.
"Ah," Alex hesitated, scratching his cheek awkwardly. "I'd love to, but I promised someone I'd be at the clearing. You know how it is—can't keep them waiting."
It was an excuse, of course, but there was nothing else he could do. Alex knew very well how destructive his charm was for the opposite gender. Just like men would fall for a beautiful woman if she just talked nice to them, the same was true for girls, and Alex didn't want a bunch of crazy fangirls chasing after him.
The girls exchanged glances, a mix of disappointment and understanding on their faces. "Perhaps another time, then," one of them said with a gracious nod.
"Of course," Alex replied, offering a small bow before slipping away.
Soon, he was out of the ballroom. As he stepped on the grassy opening filled with vendors along with the people who couldn't enter the ballroom, Alex inhaled deeply, the cool night air filling his lungs.
The scent of grass and blooming flowers was a refreshing change from the sweet, heady aroma of cherries and wine that lingered in the ballroom. He let the calmness wash over him, his shoulders relaxing slightly.
But just then, breaking him out of his enjoyment, a chill ran down his spine.
His steps faltered, and his eyes scanned the area. The serene ambiance now felt strangely oppressive, as if an unseen presence was watching him.
"Something's off," Alex said inwardly, instinctively calling out for Verathian, which, without a second's delay, appeared in the form of a sword, handing down his waist.
[I feel it too,] Sophie's voice was sharp. [But no matter how hard I focus, I can't pinpoint it.]
On the inside, Sophie felt like pulling her hair. She didn't understand why some of her abilities failed her at the most important time.
One of her abilities made it impossible for her to miss anything in the surroundings, yet it didn't seem to be working right now.
Hearing her words, Alex's grip tightened on Verathian, but to the others around him, he seemed like any other eager participant preparing for the night's competitions.
He forced a casual expression as he moved forward, but every sense was on high alert.
Then, it happened.
Everything froze. The wind stilled, the faint hum of the celebration ceased, and the world around Alex seemed to come to a complete halt. Everything seemed to be stuck in time—living and nonliving alike.
He stood alone in a void of silence, his breath visible in the unnaturally cold air. It was so quiet that Alex could hear his heartbeats slamming against his chest.
He didn't know who or what it was, but he knew one thing: it was dangerous. In the crowd, people stronger than Alex stood frozen. They didn't seem to have even noticed anything.
This revelation just raised Alex's guard higher. It was clear that someone was aiming for him. All he did was for them to reveal themselves.
And soon, a voice broke the stillness, deep and resonant. "As I had thought, you do have time affinity. And at a grade higher than mine."
Alex turned sharply, his eyes narrowing as he spotted a figure emerging from the shadows. The man had black-red hair, crimson eyes that glowed faintly, and two obsidian horns that curved elegantly from his head. His expression was one of lazy curiosity as he stroked his chin. It was Anos Voldigod, the demon lord.
"And your senses are sharp enough to notice my gaze," Anos added, a faint smirk tugging at his lips.
Alex, on the other hand, just stared at him, dumbfounded. "What's the meaning of this?" He demanded, his voice firm despite not being forceful.
Anos raised a brow at that before he shrugged, his lips parting in response, only to pause as a surge of energy filled the air.
Vanessa appeared in front of Alex in a blur, her rapier drawn and pointed directly at Anos. A heartbeat later, Alenia materialized beside Alex, her stance protective as she frowned at the horned man.
"Anos," Vanessa growled, her voice icy and commanding. "Do you want to die?"
Anos raised his hands in mock surrender, an amused chuckle escaping his lips. "Take it easy, Vanessa. The way you greet people with the word 'die' might make people think that you are the demon lord instead of me."
"What are you doing here?" Vanessa, however, wasn't in the mood for jokes. When the matter concerns Alex, she would rather kill first than ask questions to the corpse.
"Hah..." Anos sighed, shaking his head.
"Wait—" Alex tried to interject, but before he could finish, Alenia, believing it to be better for Alex to stay down for now, moved. With practiced speed, she struck the back of his neck lightly but effectively, and his world dissolved into darkness.