NOVEL NEXT Chapter 222
“Everything’s ready, Milady!” Eloise proudly puffed out her chest as if she had created a masterpiece.
“You said the Demon God has black hair and silver-gray eyes, right? So, I went with a concept like ‘The Descent of the Demon God’ based on that.”
I was dressed in a daring black dress that boldly exposed my shoulders. My hair was loosely tied up and adorned with jewels, and I wore black lace gloves on my hands. Fortunately, wearing gloves meant I temporarily removed the ruby ring Ozworld had forcefully put on, which didn’t trigger a quest failure.
Maybe I should just take it off for good.
However, fearing how Ozworld’s significantly lowered likeability and the world’s adverse reactions could affect me, I resisted the urge.
When I descended to the first floor to catch the carriage, the atmosphere felt unusually lively. I approached Miranda, who was coming my way, and asked, “What’s happening? Did someone arrive?”
“Actually, I was on my way to find you, Milady. Marquis Vallensia has come to escort you.”
This unwelcome news made me frown deeply.
In the <God’s Play>, the escort partner for the summer ball event held significant meaning because it boosted likeability. Thus, I had no desire to be indebted to anyone and planned to bring a knight as my escort.
“I never asked him to escort me, so why is he here?”
“The lord asked for him to come on your behalf.”
“My father did?”
My displeasure was evident, and Miranda gently nudged me towards the entrance, explaining, “If it were an ordinary ball, the lord wouldn’t have bothered. But since the summer ball also evaluates the prestige of one’s partner, he wishes for you to stand out.”
Society expects even such details to be meticulously managed for one to be the belle of the ball. Reluctantly, I approached where my family and Ozworld were gathered.
Ozworld looked elegant and arrogant, and his golden hair was neatly combed. He was dressed in a black suit that seemed deliberately chosen to match my outfit, drawing the undivided attention of the female servants.
I curtseyed gracefully, keeping my expression neutral. “It’s been a while, Marquis Vallensia.”
Whether it was just my feeling or not, he seemed a bit tired. While his lips smiled, his eyes bore a look of ennui. Soon, his gaze met mine, sparking interest in his dark eyes, deep as the ocean at its darkest depth.
Ozworld kissed the hand wearing the ruby ring. “Yes, it has been a while. But it seems Miss Theresa has changed somewhat since I last saw you.”
“Is that so? I haven’t noticed any changes myself.”
Could he have noticed that I received star power from Gufel?
My mind raced, but I maintained my composure. “Could you tell me what seems different?”
Our conversation always felt like a dangerous game of hide and seek. As I stared apprehensively at Ozworld, he unexpectedly complimented, “You look even more beautiful today.”
My distaste was evident as I narrowed my eyes, prompting laughter from Ozworld.
Just then, a carriage arrived at the entrance. The person who alighted was none other than Zakari. Libby approached him with an excited expression. “I didn’t expect you to accept my request.”
“It was an easy favor to grant,” Zakari responded and then greeted us.
Raul, recognizing him as a knight from the Willow family’s vassal house, squinted. “If my memory serves, you are a knight of the Willow family. How come you are escorting a daughter of the Squire family?”
Libby, flustered, clung to Raul’s arm. Zakari, however, remained calm. “My knighting ceremony was conducted by the imperial family, so it has nothing to do with my family.”
“Are you saying you’re abandoning your family?”
“It has nothing to do with me.”
Zakari, merely masquerading as a human, was not bound by this world’s rules, making him seem excessively non-human. Raul sensed something off in his demeanor.
Knowing Zakari was an angel, I intervened to defuse the situation. “Sir Zakari helped Libby when she couldn’t find her way to the dormitory.”
Zakari was expressionless the whole time. But when he found me, he greeted me in an overly courteous manner, far more respectful than when he greeted the duke and duchess, which left me feeling awkward.
Ah… Does he know I’m the creator?
That would explain his behavior. I smiled awkwardly and hastened to get Zakari back on his feet. “Why are you doing this, Sir Zakari? Just be comfortable around me.”
“I cannot do that.”
As the atmosphere grew strange, Ozworld offered me his hand. “Let’s get on the carriage. We should arrive before the ball starts.”
Raul, with a deep furrow in his brow, gestured for everyone to get on the carriage. Thus, everyone except for the yet-to-debut Giuseppe boarded.
Due to the impropriety of leaving young men and women alone in a carriage, Libby and Zakari joined Raul, and I was with Ozworld and Roseanne.
Roseanne spoke softly to Ozworld. “You must have been busy. It was regrettable not to see you at the banquet.”
Ozworld smiled wearily. “I had some matters to attend to. Returning to the capital wasn’t easy.”
“Still, you’re here to be Theresa’s partner. Thank you for graciously accepting on such short notice.”
“Not at all. I had intended to ask to be her partner first; I was merely too late.”
I snorted internally.
As if I’d have him as a partner.
Then Ozworld suddenly turned to me and asked, “Have you been well?”
I was so taken aback by his audacity that I almost laughed. “Yes, I’ve been well. Have you been busy, Marquis? Did you manage your affairs?”
“I did not.”
Expecting him to say he had handled everything, my question was merely polite. Yet his candid reply surprised me.
Ozworld repeated himself to assure me, seeing my bewildered expression, “I came here without resolving them.”
“…I see.”
I didn’t ask why. I felt I knew what he would say, and I didn’t want to hear it. Just the thought of it gave me chills.
Ding!
[The Constellation ‘Loyal Dog to Mr. O’ has sponsored 1,000,000 coins.]
[I heard he got hurt. Is he okay?
ㅠㅠ
]
Huh? Was he attacked by the anti-fans?
But from my memory, the anti-fans were no match for him.
According to Hardy, the Anti-Fan Alliance and the Victim’s Union were different organizations. So, was it the Victim’s Union that caused trouble this time? Do they have a secret weapon against Ozworld?
Ding!
[The Constellation ‘Ozworld Dating Ban’ has sponsored 1,000,000 coins.]
[Being stupid is incurable. Ozworld announced on the broadcast to refrain from mentioning Pantheon, yet you persist.]
Ding!
[The Constellation ‘Loyal Dog to Mr. O’ has sponsored 1,000,000 coins.]
[He said to refrain, not prohibit. If he really wanted to stop it, he’d have used his authority as Chairman Alpha to warn them~]
Ding!
[The Constellation ‘Ozworld Dating Ban’ has sponsored 1,000,000 coins.]
[You’re doing this on purpose, aren’t you? Didn’t you understand when he said not to mention Pantheon?]
What is this? Ozworld is the Chairman Alpha?
The constellations fought a few more times through donations before they were sanctioned.
Ding!
[Channel Manager – Ozworld’s Agent muted the sponsorship notification from ‘Ozworld Dating Ban’ for 24 hours.]
[Channel Manager – Ozworld’s Agent muted the sponsorship notification from ‘Loyal Dog to Mr. O’ for 24 hours.]
As soon as I saw the notification, I looked at Ozworld involuntarily. He noticed my gaze while talking to Roseanne and met my eyes.
“Do you have something to say?”
I don’t know Ozworld perfectly, but his demeanor suggested he was completely unaware of what was happening on the broadcast.
“…No, nothing.”
The carriage entered the bustling imperial palace and stopped. The one who opened our carriage door was the chief of chamberlain, Bein.
“I’ll escort you inside.”
Other nobles watched us instead of entering the banquet hall, intrigued by the unusual treatment. When Ozworld and I stepped out of the carriage, they murmured in admiration, clearly enjoying the spectacle.
Ding!
[The Constellation ‘Burning Happiness Circuit’ has sponsored 1,000,000 coins.]
[I’ve been waiting for this moment.]
Ding!
[The Constellation ‘Romance Pass’ has sponsored 1,000,000 coins.]
[Is it a power struggle already?! Is it a power struggle already?! Is it a power struggle already?! Is it a power struggle already?! Is it a power struggle already?! Is it a power struggle already?]
Ding!
[The Constellation ‘Future Ilya’s in-law’ has sponsored 1,000,000 coins.]
[Ilya, come out quickly! Your wife is about to go wild!]
Ding!
[The Constellation ‘Son-in-law Damian’ has sponsored 1,000,000 coins.]
[The important thing is to keep going, Damian.]
The constellations were excited about the gathering of male protagonists, except Clyde.
Thinking of Clyde left me feeling uneasy. I had secretly tried to find Clyde through the Squire Butterfly, but it was useless. It seemed there wasn’t even a fragment of his soul in this world. That fact weighed heavily on me.
“Miss Theresa.”
Lost in thought, I barely heard Ozworld calling me. Since when had he extended his arm to me?
“
Oh
, I was just lost in thought… Let’s go in.”
Ozworld smiled knowingly and escorted me. Raul, Libby, and Zakari joined us as we entered the banquet hall, drawing even more curious glances. We greeted familiar faces briefly and smoothly moved deeper into the hall.