Chapter 29: I LOVE YOU
PLACE : ROYAL PALACE OF DARWITZ
The King of Darwitz sat alone on his imposing throne in the vast hall, his anticipation palpable as the silence hung heavy in the air. With a creak, the doors swung open, and Clare, the Saintess, entered, her presence commanding attention.
"My Liege, the preparations are complete. We have gathered 12 brave warriors and an army of 200,000 soldiers," she announced, her voice unwavering despite the tension in the room.
The king, his voice laced with authority, responded, "Excellent. Now, we must devise a plan to lure her out of the kingdom."
Clare, her frustration evident, hesitated before offering a suggestion, "My Liege, why not summon the Holy Knights as well? Their presence would ensure the succubus's complete eradication."
Panic flickered in the king's eyes as he quickly dismissed the idea, "N-no, there is no need to involve the Holy Knights. We are more than capable of handling a succubus on our own."
Internally, the king cursed his decision, 'Shit!, If I call Holy nights they will surely sense that I'm a demon too, I'm posing as king using magic'.
I can't let My 'Demon kings' plan ruin by taking a risk of inviting Holy Nights'.
"Then my Liege can I go with them when the time comes to kill that Succubus?," Clare conceded, masking her concern beneath a facade of obedience.
The king's response was swift and firm,
"Absolutely No!, You're my lifeline to keep the hero under control, I can't take the rist I can't take the risk of something happening to you."
Despite her disappointment, Clare accepted the king's decision with a nod.
With a final directive from the king, Clare departed from the hall, her departure marked by a sense of resignation as she prepared to carry out her duties.
BANQUET OF PRINCE'S BIRTHDAY
As we strode back into the main hall, exuding an air of cool confidence, soldiers swiftly approached Duke Reginald and ushered him out of the party due to his disruptive behavior.
Leading the way, Aoto couldn't help but comment on the situation with a smirk. "You were right, Asta. This world is brimming with idiots. We're warriors; his movements were so sluggish, we could predict his every move."
Despite wearing blindfold,In front of Scarlett's superhuman reflexes, he was thousand times slower turtle, if he would just said that they are a Warriors with a high concentration and reflexes and could prediction his every movement, then he would be able to get out of this situation but he was just so dumb to even realise that, in the end he was just blinded by lust and desire and made his own demise.
Scarlett chuckled in agreement, her mind already drifting to the Duke's unfortunate fate. "Indeed. I heard that among his six wives, four are young and attractive. So I thought, Why not add them to our list of conquests?" She mused mischievously.
As the evening descended into darkness, the real festivities commenced in the main hall. Guests poured in, and the party's representative began greeting everyone, setting the stage for Prince Richard's toast.
As the party representative began his speech, emphasizing the importance of courtesy, that the important thing is to knew that being Rude is not a good thing, Since there are Royal people's here from other countries and other stuffs.
I think he was indicating the recent even, that I made Duke Reginald kicked out of Party.
A crowd quickly formed around Scarlett, eager to engage with the renowned figure.
"Ms. Nova, please hear what I have to say. I'm a diplomat, and I have a proposition—" the diplomat began, but his words were abruptly cut off as another individual pushed his way through.
"I'm Gáldwiz, the advisor of the king of Almeida. Are you single? We could go on a date," the newcomer interjected, his tone brimming with confidence.
In a matter of seconds, the atmosphere grew tense, resembling a brawl rather than a social gathering.
'Ughh! I'm not Aoto. My social skills have their limits,' she thought, feeling overwhelmed by the sudden attention. 'I don't mind being surrounded by one or two idiots, but handling this many people is difficult, especially when I don't even like men.'
'They're so noisy, it's giving me a headache. I want to beat them up, but I can't risk causing a scene,'she lamented silently, feeling trapped in the chaos of the party.
As Scale attempted to navigate through the crowd, her attention was abruptly drawn to someone who captivated the gaze of everyone around her. She exuded a stunning beauty that rivaled even Princess Ingrassia herself, leaving no doubt that she was among the most beautiful women at the party.
However, despite her striking appearance, many struggled to place her, as if they were seeing her for the first time.
In a moment of recognition, Scarlett couldn't contain her disbelief as she uttered her name, "Irish?"
Indeed, it was Irish Heartfilia. She was adorned in a breathtaking dress with a strikingly large opening in the back, its pitch-blue fabric adorned with jewel-like embellishments reminiscent of stars.
But it was Irish's innate allure that truly made the dress stand out. With her short hair, her bare skin was fully exposed from the nape of her neck to her waist, accentuated by a ribbon adorning her neck, adding to her irresistible charm.
Her porcelain-white skin, just like Asta's, contrasted beautifully against the dark fabric of her dress. Completing her ensemble were black stockings adorning her legs and sleeves enveloping her hands, enhancing her alluring presence.
Scarlett's cheeks flushed as she saw her, a shade of crimson embracement flooded her senses.
'We both are wearing backless dress, Now I'm kinda thankfull to Aoto.'
She managed to escape from everyone by any means and made her way to greet her.
Aoto also spotted princess who was wearing a red colour royal dress, surrounded by girls and made his way to Her But Scarlett didn't even took a glance at her and reached to Irish.
A warm smile graced her lips, her eyes lighting up with admiration. "Hello! As always, you're looking gorgeous, Introvert-chan," she greeted her, his words sincere. "You look pretty amazing in that dress."
Irish's smile brightened at Scarlett's compliment, a faint blush tinting her cheeks. "I was looking for you, Nova-san," she replied, her voice soft but filled with warmth. "I wore this dress especially to show you, but there's no doubt that you're the prettiest woman here."
Before their conversation could delve deeper, the arrival of Prince Richard, Aoto, Princess Ingrassia, and Elminia Houseburge interrupted them.
Scarlett wasted no time in extending his well wishes to Prince Richard on his birthday. However, as their gazes shifted towards Irish, apart from Aoto, the others' expressions turned serious, as if concealing a grudge. Their eyes darted away from Irish, as if she were invisible.
Scarlett couldn't help but wonder, 'Did something happen between them?'
Breaking the awkward silence, Princess Ingrassia spoke up, suggesting they drink some alcohol.
Scarlett's mind raced with concern. 'Alcohol? Damn, I may look older, but I'm not even an adult yet.'
"W-well, I d-don't really like drinking," Scarlett stuttered, her words cutting through the group.
Irish quickly jumped into the conversation, echoing Asta's sentiments. "M-me too, me too, I also don't like drinking."
"I guess it can't be helped then," Aoto conceded, his tone indicating a sense of understanding.
As Aoto scanned the room, a sudden idea sparked in his mind. "Why don't we dance?" he suggested, his voice carrying an infectious enthusiasm.
Eager energy filled the air at his proposal. Aoto's eyes fell on Princess, and without hesitation, he chose her as his dance partner. However, Elminia couldn't hide her jealousy at his decision. Sensing her discontent, Aoto quickly reassured her, promising to dance with her after his turn with Princess.
Meanwhile, Prince Richard's attention turned to Scarlett. "How about I become your partner, Nova-san?" he proposed, a friendly smile gracing his features.
Scarlett's expression shifted to one of denial as she replied, "I-I've never danced before, so I can't." His words held a hint of truth; indeed, he had never danced before.
'I'm not lying, I really never danced in front of everyone.'
Before Prince Richard could insist, another noble girl approached, extending an invitation to dance. With a polite nod, Prince Richard accepted, leaving Asta momentarily relieved.
As all the pairs paired up and the music poised to start, a sudden invitation came from Irish. "How about dancing with me, Nova-san?" she proposed.
Scarlett's's confusion was palpable as she stammered, "Huh? But I said I've never danced before."
Yet, Irish's persistence prevailed, assuring Scarlett, "I'll lead; just follow my steps." With a hesitant nod, Asta yielded, and the music enveloped them as they began to sway to the rhythm.
Under Irish's confident guidance, Scarlett found herself twirling and spinning in sync with the upbeat tempo. Their movements were fluid, graceful, yet imbued with a sense of spontaneity and joy.
Irish's expertise in western dancing was evident as she effortlessly guided Scarlett through the steps, their laughter mingling with the music.As they danced, their chemistry and synchronization captivated the onlookers. Whispers of admiration rippled through the crowd, their eyes fixed on the duo as they seamlessly moved across the dance floor.
With each step, Scarlett grew more confident, mirroring Irish's motions with increasing precision.By the end of the dance, cheers erupted from the surrounding crowd, applause echoing through the room. Irish and Scarlett/shared a triumphant smile, their impromptu performance leaving a lasting impression on everyone present, a testament to the magic of stepping out of one's comfort zone and embracing the moment.
As the music faded and their dance concluded, a hushed anticipation hung in the air. Suddenly, Irish made a startling movement that sent a ripple of shock through the crowd.
With a swift motion, she knelt before Scarlett, a determined glint in her eyes. Pinching her fingers together, a dark blue fire erupted from her hand, casting an otherworldly glow. As the flames dissipated, a red box materialized, holding within it a dazzling purple diamond ring.
Irish extended her hand towards Scarlett, her voice filled with sincerity and vulnerability. "I love you, Nova-san," she confessed, her words echoing amidst the stunned silence of their surroundings.