NOVEL NEXT Chapter 223
As soon as I entered the banquet hall, I was purely amazed. “To use so many magical plants…”
The enormous banquet hall was decorated with magical plants throughout, making it look like a gigantic greenhouse. There was even a large indoor fountain. I had never seen anything more splendid and grand in my life.
The buildings of the heavenly realm were also splendid, but they didn’t have this luxurious feel.
The imperial banquet hall showed the end of a corrupt empire. It was overwhelming.
Ozworld asked, “How is it? Does it capture the essence of the summer ball?”
Was it because it was a question about the game? I answered sincerely without realizing it. “It’s beyond that. I didn’t think it would be this magnificent.”
“So, do you like it?”
I whispered to Ozworld, covering my lips with a fan so others wouldn’t hear. “No. It’s impressive but not right. If this were really a game, I might have liked it.”
Ozworld smiled softly and brushed my hair aside. His overly friendly demeanor disgusted me, and when I turned my head, I met Euges’s gaze, who was looking this way.
Euges stood up and raised a champagne glass without taking his eyes off me. It seemed like a toast was about to begin.
When the banquet hall quieted down, Euges spoke. “Welcome, everyone, to the summer ball. May God’s blessings be with us in the coming season.”
The toast was so brief that it was almost anticlimactic, but everyone here knew what kind of person Euges was. Our emperor was such a person.
Everyone laughed and raised their glasses. “May God’s blessings be with us!”
The emperor took the first sip. Even while sipping champagne, Euges kept staring at me intently.
What’s wrong with him?
His gaze was so obvious that it was hard not to notice, and the nobles around started whispering, realizing the emperor was looking at me.
Ding!
[The Constellation ‘Dopamine Addiction’ has sponsored 1,000,000 coins.]
[Wow, starting the ball with a dopamine donation]
Seeing the emperor’s behavior, Raul whispered something to Ozworld. Ozworld nodded slightly and held out his hand to me.
“The first dance will start soon. Shall we?”
Raul added as if he had been waiting. “Yes, hurry and go. The first dance should be with your partner.”
Though I was reluctant, it was customary to dance the first dance with the partner you came with. I moved to the dance floor with Ozworld and took my position. Soon, heavy music started playing, and those on the dance floor began to move.
“What were you talking about with my father?”
“Before Chief Steward Bein came to fetch you, he told me to ask you for dance.”
Since it was expected, I just nodded and kept quiet. I didn’t want to talk to Ozworld, so I pretended to focus more on the dance steps.
I do have some questions, though.
But asking about Pantheon’s affairs, his injury news or Chairman Alpha wouldn’t get me a straight answer from him, so I just remained silent. Talking
to him will only make me angry.
Ozworld, apparently not respecting my choice, abruptly asked. “Are you ready to become the flower of the social world?”
I twisted my lips. “Thanks to you.”
Whether they were nobles watching the dancing couples or those on the dance floor, everyone glanced at us. It was quite an interesting sight to see me. I’m the hottest topic in the social world these days, and I dance closely with Ozworld.
Ozworld chuckled. “I’m glad to be of help.”
See, talking to him only makes me angry.
I turned my head in annoyance and noticed a familiar figure. It was Damian.
Damian was dressed more extravagantly than ever before. It seemed that Duke Kapento intended to officially introduce Damian as his child and debut him in the social world through this summer ball.
Damian, who had been politely greeting nobles, looked at me precisely as if he felt my gaze. His previously calm expression instantly filled with life, and a broad smile spread across his face.
I smiled back at Damian, who showed undisguised delight. At that moment, Ozworld suddenly pulled me closer, almost causing me to stumble.
“You need to focus, Miss Theresa.”
Ding!
[The Constellation ‘Empty Vessels Make the Most Noise’ has sponsored 1,000,000 coins.]
[What’s this? Is he jealous?
Ha.
]
Jealous my foot.
This man just wants to mess with me. So, he must be deliberately turning his head to smile at Damian.
I gripped Ozworld’s clothes, almost clawing at his chest. “You need to focus, too, Marquis Vallensia.”
Stop being unreasonable and picking fights. I swallowed my retort and smiled, causing Ozworld to whisper in my ear.
“It won’t come off just by pulling like that.”
“
Oh
, really? I should have pulled harder since I have strength to spare.”
Ozworld chuckled softly as I defiantly replied.
“Do you want to try?”
Ding!
[The Constellation ‘Boarding on Ozthere Ship’ has sponsored 1,000,000 coins.]
[I agree.]
Try what, you crazy person.
After finishing the torturous first dance, Raul called me with a reluctant look. It seemed the Duke and Duchess of Kapento had come to greet us with Damian.
“Greetings to the Duke and Duchess of Kapento.”
The Duke of Kapento greeted me enthusiastically and introduced Damian. “You look lovely today, Lady Theresa. You’re of marriageable age, aren’t you? By the way, this is my son, Damian Kapento, whom you may already know.”
I replied that I knew him, greeting Damian briefly. Damian accepted my greeting with a displeased look.
Meanwhile, the Duke of Kapento introduced himself to Ozworld. “Are you the Marquis Vallensia from the southern nobility?”
“Yes, this is our first meeting. I am Ozworld Vallensia.”
“
Hmm
.” Duke Kapento narrowed his eyes and scrutinized Ozworld. “You’re quite a handsome man. Though it feels boastful to say, my children also inherited their looks from their mother. Especially Cecilia, who is famous in the social world for her beauty.”
Raul, who had been quietly listening, laughed mockingly. He didn’t say anything, but it was clear he was ridiculing the idea of comparing his daughter’s beauty to anyone else’s.
Duke Kapento briefly showed a displeased expression but forced a smile and changed the subject. “I wanted to introduce my family at the recent Squire family banquet, but we couldn’t attend due to some family matters. I hope you understand.”
“We just had a small celebration for a family event, so there’s no need for concern. By the way, where is Lady Cecilia?”
As soon as Raul asked about Cecilia’s whereabouts, the Duchess Kapento’s face stiffened and trembled slightly. Duke Kapento’s eyes also narrowed.
“Cecilia is in the imperial garden. She pushed herself despite not feeling well and got sick.”
Raul looked at Damian and asked. “Oh dear. Shouldn’t her brother be looking after her in that case?” It was clear to anyone that Raul was implying Damian should leave.
Unaware of why he was being disliked, Damian looked puzzled, and Duke Kapento was displeased.
“It’s not proper for a grown woman to be constantly attended to by her brother. Damian, you don’t need to leave. Your mother will take care of Cecilia.”
Duchess Kapento, unable to contain her anger, left without a word, her face full of rage. It became evident that accepting Damian as his legitimate child was Duke Kapento’s unilateral decision.
Raul, not wanting to interfere further, suddenly decided to introduce Ozworld to other nobles. He also said to me. “Theresa, you should also greet the others. Aren’t those your friends over there?”
Looking in the direction Raul pointed, I saw familiar faces. Clybe and Mimosa were among the young ladies looking my way.
Though Mimosa was staring at Damian, not me.
Not wanting to stay in this uncomfortable spot any longer, I exchanged a brief apology with Damian and courteously took my leave.
As soon as I appeared, Clybe circled around me like a maypole dancer.
“
Kyaaa
! You’re dazzling today!”
“Wait, I just had a vision… Are you perhaps embodying the appearance of the Demon God’s descent during Genesis?”
“
Ah
~ Lady preached that at the Squire family banquet last time. It was quite impressive. I’m preparing to create a sculpture of the Demon God in Lady Theresa’s image.”
“No wonder! Isn’t that why you look more divine today?
Haha
!”
“…Please, stop it, guys.”
Ding!
[The Constellation ‘Face Inspector’ has sponsored 1,000,000 coins.]
[I can really get along with these girls]
Unfortunately, I didn’t get along with them at all.
Clybe had already started discussing how to deify me under the project name ‘Demon God Project.’ Not wanting to join such a conversation, I approached Mimosa, who was staring blankly at Damian.
“Mimosa, what are you doing?”
“Looking at Damian. You know that, why ask?” Mimosa was unusually grumpy today.
“Why is your expression like that while looking at Damian?”
Mimosa, who usually looked at Damian with hearts in her eyes, seemed troubled today. She sighed deeply.
“I don’t know. Somehow, Damian doesn’t seem like the Damian I know.”
I was honestly a bit surprised by that.
She’s sharp.
Given that the current Damian was a mix of the dungeon Damian and himself, it was understandable that Mimosa found him unfamiliar.