Lord of Mysteries: Starting As A Reader

The Valerian family's manor and the hotel Helene was staying at were only separated by two streets, so the distance wasn't too far. Thus, after merely five minutes, the carriage pulled up to a building with a distinctly Gothic style.

"The Valerian family is very fond of this style, which Emperor Roselle named 'Gothic.'

"It's said that the first truly 'Gothic' dress was specifically designed by a young Roselle to please the then-Countess Valerian...

"Of course, that's just a rumor. After all, according to our Sauron family's records, this style actually existed in the Third Epoch... Emperor Roselle merely improved upon it, modernizing it."

Helene linked arms with Ebner, handing the invitation to the attendant while quietly introducing the building.

The original novel seemed to describe the Giant King's Court as having Gothic architecture...

However, this style should be more suited to vampires, but Lilith doesn't seem to like it much... Though the Goddess's churches in the County of Winter are all Gothic.

As Ebner's thoughts wandered, he and Helene entered the ballroom together.

Since it was a masquerade ball, everyone theoretically concealed their identities, so there was no host greeting them.

Ebner and Helene simply entered the main hall led by a servant and then began to move about freely.

This was actually a common situation at private balls in Intis, as Roselle also described in his diary. It primarily served as a venue for "socializing," and the host generally did not interfere with how guests interacted.

Ebner looked around and found that, unlike the customs in Loen, the ladies and madams in Intis were much more open in their attire. Almost every gown revealed a large portion of their shoulders and fair chests, fully showcasing their beauty.

Especially one lady who also had fiery red hair; not only did she have an impressive figure, but the low "opening" of her gown's neckline attracted the gazes of half the men present.

In comparison, Helene's long dress seemed conservative.

Of course, Ebner observed her not because he had any thoughts, but because he detected some "familiar" qualities about her.

Seeing Ebner's gaze drift further and further, Helene's brows furrowed beneath her mask. She tugged on his sleeve and said, "That woman is the adopted daughter of a wealthy man, a famous socialite in Trier."

"Which wealthy man?" Ebner subconsciously asked.

"Why are you asking about that?" Helene eyed Ebner suspiciously. In her perception, "Detective Hero" wasn't a lecherous person, and was even very much a gentleman. Otherwise, on their journey to Intis, not to mention anyone else, Miss Fanny would have "succeeded" long ago.

Ebner glanced at several gentlemen nearby who wanted to invite Helene to dance but inexplicably "forgot" their purpose after approaching. He then extended his hand to Helene and said:

"Miss, may I have the honor of inviting you to dance?"

Helene was silent for a few seconds, as if guessing that Ebner might want to discuss something while dancing. So, she placed the champagne she had just picked up back on the servant's tray and politely replied:

"The pleasure is mine."

As they stepped onto the dance floor and the music began, Ebner took the opportunity to lean close to Helene's ear and say, "That's probably a Demoness."

Having encountered several Demonesses, Ebner, even without activating his "Pure White Eye," vaguely sensed the unique "charm" aura of a Demoness through "aura extraction."

And this one was likely a High-Sequence Demoness!

"A Demoness..." Helene seemed to think of something, and her dance steps became a bit erratic.

Fortunately, Ebner adjusted his steps, timely compensating for her mistake.

At this moment, Helene recollected herself. She looked into Ebner's eyes beneath the mask and reminisced:

"Speaking of which, Madam Margaret claims she was originally a country girl, noticed by the head of the Issac family who took her in as an adopted daughter, which is how she entered Trier's social scene.

"The reason I remember her is that her hair color was once mistaken for that of a Sauron family illegitimate child... until the elders of our family personally verified that she had no relation to the Sauron family, which then dispelled the rumor.

"Additionally, this lady has been married twice. Both husbands were gentlemen of good character... but neither of her two husbands lived long... so afterward, no one was willing to marry her again."

Issac... I recall that surname. In one of Roselle's diaries, it was recorded that Great Emperor's loyal Captain Issac explored the sea route to the "Forsaken Land of Gods" and never returned... And just two months later, that captain's daughter, Miss Issac, helped Roselle 'reminisce' about his youth.

Come to think of it, Helene helped transcribe that diary before it was given to Klein... What a coincidence!

Amidst the passionate melody, Ebner pondered while expertly performing various difficult dance steps with Helene, drawing glances from other guests.

One was tall and well-built, the other slender and graceful. Though their faces were unseen, their skill and demeanor were perfectly matched, creating an aesthetic appeal.

However, their spotlight didn't last long, quickly stolen by the red-haired socialite Margaret and her dance partner with even more exaggerated movements.

Ebner remained unfazed, simply glancing at the red-haired, red-dressed socialite again, thinking to himself:

Margaret... that name has a "Camille" déjà vu... and her self-professed origin is even more similar!

The Issac family had a close relationship with Roselle, and should have been purged when the Gustav Dynasty fell... Yet this family is still wealthy... This suggests they either betrayed Roselle or received support from someone.

Additionally, Margaret is likely a High-Sequence Demoness.

In Intis, the organizations that possess High-Sequence formulas for the "Demoness" pathway are the "Demoness Sect" and Roselle's "Men in Black."

So, is this Madam Margaret a "Saintess" of the Demoness Sect, or a Saint of the "Men in Black"?

Or both?

Why would such a person attend the Valerian family's ball?

Heh, if my "gathering calamity" constitution holds true again, will the upcoming "accident" originate from her?

Though Ebner had many conjectures, he didn't intend to actively "report" her. Instead, amidst a graceful turn, he changed the subject:

"Do you want to know about Tracy's current situation?"

Of course, as he brought up this topic, he used "Evans's Secret Barrier" to prevent others from hearing.

Helene's steps faltered again upon hearing this, and she bumped into Ebner's embrace. After two seconds, she regained her composure and asked chidingly:

"Why bring her up?"

Her feelings for "Vice Admiral of Ailment" are indeed complex... But then again, Tracy, aside from forcibly detaining her, was actually quite good to her...

As his thoughts drifted, Ebner replied:

"Tracy's condition is very poor right now. Not only was she betrayed by her subordinate, but she's also suffering from a very troublesome poison, and could lose control at any moment..."

He then meticulously relayed the information Mr. World had just "sent" to Helene.

"How could such a thing happen..."

Helene's bright eyes behind the mask showed some concern. She was about to press for more details, but the music stopped at that moment.

The first dance had ended.

Meanwhile, the red-haired, red-dressed Margaret and her dance partner, under the envious gazes of many gentlemen, entered a lounge.

But as soon as the door closed, Margaret pushed her partner away, frowning as she said:

"Why are you still staying in Tosk?

"Aren't you afraid Amon will come knocking?"