9 TRICK OR TREAT

[WHERE IS Father?]

Zoe, now seated on one of the three tables in the first row, couldn't help but look for her father.

After all, she didn't want to deal with the brothers sharing the table with her.

How she wished she was seated at the lone table before them. It was the only table there, and it was also closest to the thrones.

Obviously, it was the table for Grand Duke Isaak Viotto. If she remembered it right, the ghoul duke would share the table with Count Nigel Ratliff later.

[Argh. Why am I stuck with these boys?]

Apparently, those two were Leo and David Collins– the sons of Count Thomas Collins, one of their families' vassals. The brothers were making her feel uncomfortable right now because of the two's unwanted and lewd "jokes."

Unfortunately for her, her father was still busy talking to his fellow noblemen.

So she had no other choice but to ignore the brothers. She wanted to snap at them, but she already made a scene earlier. It wasn't her goal to make enemies tonight. Thus, she was doing her best to "behave."

"Lady Zoanne, we haven't seen you in a long time. Why are you ignoring us?" Leo, the younger of the two, asked. "We heard the other ladies talking about your "poor clothes" a while ago. But you know what? Most of the gentlemen here don't give a damn. The face and the body of a woman are more important than her clothes."

She almost rolled her eyes at that disgusting comment. To hide her facial expression, she grabbed the glass of champagne that she got from the server earlier. Then she took a sip.

"Your hair color is your best feature, Lady Zoanne. It's a mix of coral pink and silver," David, the older one, said while eyeing her with a lewd look on his face. "Your hair is so unique that most of us are wondering if that is your natural hair color," he said, then he smirked before he continued. "Lady Zoanne, does the carpet match the drapes?"

Leo snickered at his older brother's disgusting "joke."

Even the men at the table behind them laughed. After all, David's voice was a little loud when he threw his dirty "joke."

[Hah. As I thought, I can't behave when I'm surrounded by idiots.]

"What does it mean?" Zoe asked in a sweet and innocent voice, then she turned to the brothers and the gentlemen behind her with the most naïve look that she could muster at the moment. "I'm afraid I'm not quite familiar with such terms since I've lived at the temple for quite a long time. So, gentlemen, why don't you explain to me why asking me if the carpet match the drapes is supposed to be funny?"

Suddenly, the Collins Brothers and the noblemen behind her fell awkwardly silent.

"Why did you suddenly become awkward and silent, gentlemen?" she asked, still acting innocent. Then she let out an exaggerated gasp. "It's not a dirty joke, is it? It can't be, right? After all, I can't imagine the proud and honorable gentlemen of our empire throwing dirty jokes at a woman who isn't even mildly interested in them."

"It's just a joke, Lady Zoanne," David said in an irritated voice. "Why are you being so sensitive?"

Of course, trashy men would pass off their offensive remarks as a "joke."

"And now I'm being sensitive?" she asked, acting like she was afraid this time. "I wonder why there are grown men like you who pass off their distasteful remarks as a joke, but when confronted by a woman, they run like little boys?"

David, Leo, and the other gentlemen were rendered speechless.

Then she heard the ladies behind her laugh. When she turned to the women, they smiled at her and raised their champagne glasses at her as if they were praising her.

She smiled and raised her glass as well as an acknowledgment.

"Zoanne?"

She instantly turned to Marquis Hendrix, who finally joined the table.

Then, her father introduced her to Count Thomas and Countess Maria Collins– Leo and David's parents.

"It seems like you're getting along well," her father, who was probably as dense as a rock, said. "If I remember it correctly, the three of you used to play with each other when you were little kids."

Count and Countess Collins's faces suddenly lit up.

Leo and David just smiled awkwardly at her father.

[Ah, so this family is sucking up on my family, huh?]

"We're catching up on each other, Father. But I'm afraid I have become too outdated after staying in the temple for so long," Zoe said, making Leo and David turn to her nervously. "I didn't understand Lord David's joke when he asked me if the "carpet matches the drapes.""

Would you look at that?

Marquis Hendrix Rochester still looked handsome even when angry.

[Goodbye, Collins Family.]

***

ZOE felt comfortable now that only she and her father were sharing the table.

After she told her father that she didn't understand David's joke, she excused herself and said she needed to use the parlor to fix her makeup. By the time she returned to their table, the Collins Family was already gone.

"Zoanne, are you alright?" her father asked awkwardly. "Did anyone else make you uncomfortable?"

Zoe smiled and shook her head. "I'm alright, Father. I chose to wear this kind of outfit tonight, so I'm prepared to endure the things that I'm hearing from other people. But don't worry too much because, as I said before, I will make you proud later."

Her father was about to say something when, all of a sudden, they heard people talking in a hushed voice behind them.

When she turned to the source of the ruckus, she couldn't help but smile.

[Welcome, Isaak Viotto.]

The ghoul duke's entry was announced.

Then, Grand Duke Isaak Viotto entered the hall with empty violet eyes and a murderous aura that would make it hard for anyone to approach him.

[But damn, he's really hot.]

The ghoul duke was dressed in an all-black suit. The only bright color on his clothes were the golden and fancy epaulets on his shoulders.

[Boy, the one-shoulder mantle and his black gloves make him look hotter.]

She wasn't the only one who was thinking the same thing.

Most of the young ladies around her look half-scared and half-smitten with Isaak Viotto.

[Ah, he's alone.]

Isaak Viotto sat on the table nearest to the thrones. Just like her, it seemed like the ghoul duke had also mastered the art of ignoring worthless people, huh?

[Noice, what an unbothered king.]

She was the one bothered when Isaak Viotto, as if sensing that she was staring at him, turned in her direction and locked his gaze with her.

Of course, she didn't turn away.

Instead, she smiled and winked at him.

Isaak Viotto, as expected, ignored her and looked blankly in front of him.

On the other hand, she continued staring at his pretty face.

[He's spacing out. That's how I look when I'm thinking about what to eat for dinner. But I bet he's already full. In the original novel, Isaak Viotto would eat at home before attending a banquet because he doesn't enjoy eating in front of other people.]

Understandable.

"Attention, esteemed nobles of the empire!"

She flinched when she heard the loud voice coming from the balcony. When she looked up, she saw a nobleman standing on the balcony. There was a closed double door behind the "emcee."

"His Imperial Majesty, Emperor Rino, and Her Imperial Majesty, Empress Veronica of the Helion Empire, have arrived!"

The double doors behind the announcer opened.

All the nobles stood up and bowed politely. But as a stubborn girl, she still discreetly raised her head to take a peek at the royal couple.

[Woah! Are people allowed to be that good-looking?!]

Emperor Rino looked dashing in his outfit, accompanied by his regal red cape and golden crown. He had shiny blond hair and deep violet eyes. The novel described the emperor as a handsome and fit man, but His Majesty's face went beyond expectations.

Even the "villainess" in the novel looked very pleasing to the eye.

Empress Veronica had bright red and wavy hair, and round green eyes. She looked very majestic in the red fabulous ball gown that matched her cape. Like the emperor, the empress was also wearing her gold crown.

Zoe had just one issue with the royal couple's overall outfit.

[Their crowns look like the B*rger King crown.]

***

[SHE DISAPPEARED.]

Isaak Viotto noticed it when Lady Zoanne Rochester left the hall after Rino's speech.

There was a brief moment of silence before Count Nigel Ratliff, his half-brother, took the stage with the permission of the emperor and empress, who were now both seated on their thrones.

[I wonder what this bastard is up to now.]

"Ladies and gentlemen, I'd like to thank everyone for coming to this banquet," Nigel said in his usual "polite" and cheerful voice. Just like Rino, the count had blond hair and shared the same shade as the emperor's deep violet eyes. But, of course, Nigel looked younger and more "cheerful" compared to the gentle and calm Rino. "As you all know, we are gathered here tonight to celebrate my brother's victory. Thanks to Grand Duke Isaak Viotto, the Grimlings once again failed to attack our great empire."

Of course, an awkward silence ensued after that.

The only thing that he got from Nigel's "bragging" was pointed looks from people he didn't like him.

But of course, nobles were obsessed with "manners."

Thus, despite everyone's personal opinion regarding his existence, the nobles around him still gave him a round of applause.

As a proper prince and noble of the empire, Isaak bowed as an acknowledgment.

"Since you are the star of the banquet tonight, we prepare a special dish for you, Brother Isaak," Nigel said with an "innocent" smile on his face. "Please enjoy your meal."

He clenched his fists tight.

Nigel knew that he didn't enjoy having a meal in front of other people. After all, everyone knew that his diet changed ever since he was turned into a Grimling.

Thus, the loud "whisper" around.

He could tell that half of the guests were already scared and disgusted to see him eat, while the other half was thrilled to watch him get humiliated.

[You stepped the line this time, Nigel!]

"Nigel," Rino said in a stern voice while looking coldly at his younger brother. "What are you doing?"

While the emperor was confronting Nigel, he stood up.

He was about to walk out when the doors suddenly opened. When he saw who the "server" pushing the flambé trolley was, he was stunned. He wasn't sure, but she was the only lady at the banquet who wore that kind of outfit, so he couldn't be mistaken.

[It's Lady Rochester, isn't it?]

The reason why he couldn't say it for certain was because of the strange "head costume" that the lady was wearing at the moment.

It looked like a hollowed-out pumpkin in which the holes were cut to resemble what looked like a scary facial expression. He didn't know if the pumpkin was just too big, or if Lady Rochester's head was just pretty small.

Well, he bet it was the latter.

[Lady Rochester has a small face after all.]

But why the heck did she wear that weird head costume? Lady Rochester had a face that shouldn't be hidden on an occasion like this. Her face was the reason why most people didn't care about her inappropriate outfit.

What kind of show was this?

He turned toward Marquis Hendrix Rochester. The marquis wasn't the type to get involved with his brother's schemes. Moreover, the shocked look on the marquis's usually stoic face was proof that he didn't know what his daughter was up to.

[That means Lady Rochester is moving on her own.]

"Hello there, Your Grace," Lady Rochester said, her voice echoing because of her weird head costume. Then she stopped in front of him with only the food trolley separating them. "Trick or treat?"

For some reason, despite that strange situation, he didn't feel like his life was in danger.

But since Nigel had an arrogant smirk on his face, this must still be a part of his brother's evil scheme.

"If you choose 'trick,' I'll play a prank on you," Lady Rochester said cheerfully. "But if you choose 'treat,' I'll give you something yummy."

He smirked bitterly. "Fine, I'll go along with your silly game," he said in a low voice that only Lady Rochester would hear. "But if I don't enjoy your "yummy food," I. Will. Kill. You."

"By all means, Your Grace," the lady said, then she swiftly yet carefully took off her pumpkin head costume.

He didn't want to admit this, but seeing Lady Rochester's beautiful face lessened his anger.

Moreover, everything seemed to fade into the background while he was focused on her.

It was as if things suddenly moved in a slow-motion while he watched the way her long and unique pink coral hair fell freely on her shoulders. Perhaps that was how mesmerized he was with her beauty.

"I told you that I'll make you steak tartare if you return the dog to me, didn't I?" Lady Rochester said, while putting the weird pumpkin on the second tray of the trolley. Then she stood straight and looked him straight in the eye. "I'm here to fulfill that promise."

He was in the middle of appreciating her beautiful orange eyes that reminded him of sunset when suddenly, she did the unthinkable: Lady Rochester lifted her clothes as if she was about to strip right then and there.

[Damn!]

He immediately closed his eyes while taking off his suit to give to the lady.

"It's okay. You can look now, Your Grace," Lady Rochester encouraged him. "I'm wearing my real outfit under the cloak."

He waited for at least a minute before he slowly opened his eyes.

And damn, he didn't expect that the "outfit" Lady Rochester was talking about would make him feel…

… warm.

Isaak knew that his purple eyes glowed, and it wasn't because of anger or bloodlust.

[For the first time in my life, I want to spend the night with someone.]

***

NOTE: Hi! Please consider ADDING 'I Won't Let The Ghoul Duke Go Hungry!' to your LIBRARY. Thank you! <3