The Ball

Editor(s): Speedphoenix, Joker

"What are our chances of success?" One man spoke to another in a hushed tone under the cover of darkness.

"High, my lord. Very high. All of our preparations are in order."

"Good," The first man nodded once, but then curved his lips into a frown. "Still, we have two major obstacles. The hero is certainly a threat, one eclipsed only by the meister."

"That is something my men and I have already been made painfully aware of. My subordinates are not capable of causing either of them physical harm." Despite an ill-sounding claim, the second man carried himself only with confidence. "That is precisely why we have chosen to instead create a situation in which they will be rendered incapable of action."

"Excellent. And I take it that you will not fail?"

"Naturally. Please, do not worry. All will soon be exactly as you will it."

"Good. But I wish for results, not words. Prove to me that you are truly as capable as you claim."

***

"Wonderful. How truly, truly wonderful."

I got down on a knee and raised my hands into the air as I clasped them together. A wholehearted prayer worked its way through my mind as I carried out the action.

"I'd always suspected that gods did exist. But never did I think I would get a chance to see the goddess of beauty first hand…"

"K-knock it off! Y-you're embarrassing me!" Nell squeaked, half panicked, as her eyes shot to the maid who'd helped her get dressed. The maid's expression had twisted half in surprise, and half in distaste, as would one after drinking a cup of coffee only to find that it was 90% sugar. "A-and why are you acting like this anyway!? Didn't I let you look all you wanted just the other day!?"

"You really don't get it, do you, Nell? Seeing you in a dress is a treat I'd never grow sick of."

Her face turned even redder, no doubt in part because my pose remained unchanging, even as I spoke. Nell was right. She certainly had already put on her dress and given me the opportunity to worship her picture perfect form once before. But that meant nothing. Things didn't just stop being beautiful because you got used to them.

I continued to exalt her beauty without any regard for time or place. Both she and the maid soon began cringing and writhing in agony, but I didn't stop, not until another pair emerged from the curtains that separated the waiting room from the dressing room.

Like Nell, Iryll and Enne were dressed to the nines. They'd been decked out in some of the most elaborate dresses I'd ever seen.

"What do you think, Mr. Demon Lord?"

"How do I look, Master?"

The pair voiced their questions as they lifted the hems of their dresses and spun around. The frills that decorated their outermost layers fluttered about and glimmered under the light of the chandelier above.

"You both look absolutely stunning," I said. "Hell, I'd even mistake you girls for princesses. Though I guess that wouldn't really be much of a mistake, considering one of you kind of is one."

I caught myself realizing that Iryll was, in fact, a genuine, bonafide princess immediately after complimenting her. As one would expect of a member of the royal family, she was wearing one of the dresses from her own private collection. I would have loved to give Enne the same liberty, but we weren't able to secure her one in time for the ball. Unlike dresses for adults, like the one Nell had purchased, children's dresses were never in stock. They were rarely sought, so creating one simply wasn't worth a tailor's time unless he knew for sure that it was going to end up being sold. And as the ball had been so close to the date of our arrival, there was no time to have one custom made. Fortunately, Enne was still able to attend the party because Iryll had offered to let the sword girl borrow one of her many spares.

While some may have been less satisfied with letting their daughter wear second hand goods, I saw no problem with it. Enne was an angel, no matter what she was dressed in.

"Thanks for letting Enne borrow one of your dresses, Iryll. Right, Enne?"

"Mhm. Thank you."

"No problem! We're friends, so I don't mind! Not even the slightest bit!"

Iryll cracked a pure, happy smile. What a cute kid. She's adorable enough to stand shoulder to shoulder with the kids we've got back home.

"Oh man, elementary school students are just the best!"

"Elementary school students?"

"What are those, Mr. Demon Lord?"

"Nothing, don't mind me."

I ignored the kids' questions as I plopped my hands on their head and gave them a rub, albeit one that was much less vigorous than usual, as to not mess up their hairdos.

"Just double checking, you got the game plan memorized?" I directed a question at Nell as I stood back up.

"Mhm. I've got it all in my head."

"You sure you'll be alright? I won't be there right off the bat, so they're pretty much guaranteed to take the opportunity to point fingers."

"I'll be fine." She reassured me with a confident nod. "I wouldn't really be much of a hero if I always needed someone to look out for me now, would I?"

My investigations had culminated in the conclusion that there were three major factions at work. The first was the loyalist faction. It was composed of the king and his men, whose goal was to shelter Nell and keep her from being dismissed. Several of the faction's members, including the king and the governor, were currently in the midst of a meeting to discuss their plans for the ball.

The second faction was one associated with the church. It was composed of Nell's former allies, men who had turned on her after coming to the conclusion that marrying her off for power was to their benefit. As far as they were concerned, using her to join hands with one of the country's most powerful men was a just way to make up for her recent "failures." While they had at least been somewhat of a concern at first, I wasn't worried about them or their actions anymore. I had already figured them out and arranged to have any problematic factors sorted.

Finally, there was the faction associated with the department of defence and headed by its minister and made up of individuals and families who were more often than not related to either the military or its affairs. On the surface, they seemed to be patriots, willing to lay down their lives in support for the king's decisions. But in truth, they thought little of him. They believed that his actions were far too indecisive for a ruler. Even their goals happened to serve as proof of their treason. They wished to have Nell fall from grace.

I had already determined that they were responsible for all the rumours about her incompetence. And that the Minister of Defence, Jaynor Redrius, often met with the count whose head I'd been after ever since we stopped in Sengillia. The faction had many reasons to see Nell disposed of. The two most prominent were the fact that she was in support of the king's rule and that they wished to instantiate one of their own in her position. Both ultimately served to strengthen their grasp on power. But to me, none of that truly mattered. All I needed to know was that they stood in opposition of me.

I wanted to go to the ball immediately so I could catch a few glimpses of their ugly mugs and identify them for the purpose of eliminating them. But that was unfortunately going to have to wait. My agenda was filled with far too much janitorial work, work important enough to take precedence over even accompanying Nell.

"Alright, then I'll be counting on you to make sure that everything on your end is kept under control. Make sure you don't let anyone get hurt," I said. "Oh and just to be clear, that doesn't mean you should be putting yourself at risk. If the situation starts to spiral out of your control, then drop all appearances and teleport back to the dungeon immediately." I made sure to emphasize the latter instruction. It was the more important of the two, especially given Nell's propensity to fight to the last. "That said, it probably won't end up coming to that. I'll be keeping an eye on the situation and cleaning up everything on my end as quickly as I can."

"We'll be fine. If anything, you should be the one being careful."

"Don't worry. I won't slip up, especially not after how much you've been nagging me about being careless lately."

I squatted down as I turned to Enne so we could see eye to eye.

"You've got an important role to play this time too, Enne," I said. "I know you're normally responsible for keeping me safe, but this time, you'll have to keep Iryll safe instead. Got it?"

"Mhm," nodded Enne, as if it were only natural. "I will. Because she's my friend."

"Good girl." After smiling at her, I turned away from the princess' bodyguard and directed my attention to her royal highness herself. "Be careful, and stay on your guard, princess. This ball might end up turning into something incredibly nasty. If that happens, then make sure you listen to Enne and Nell. They'll keep you safe."

"Sure thing, Mr. Demon Lord!"

"Good." I stood back up and cast a sidelong glance in Nell's direction. "Alright, that's just about everything. I know the plan isn't all that detailed, but we're probably best off playing it by ear anyway given all the shit that's going to be going down."

"I'm not really sure playing something by ear really makes for much of a plan at all," replied the hero.

"Good point." After exchanging one last laugh, I turned around and began heading off to the first of my many destinations.

It was time to take out the trash.

"A wonderful evening to you, Milady. I am Elmeray Favorangue of House Lottnis. It is an honour to make your acquaintance."

"Likewise, I, Morbedd Suoh of House Portereye, feel the very same way. You are like a diamond amongst gems, Milady. You shine far greater than any other present at this ball."

"And I am Toola Zytothinko Fanothername. As a man whose house bears firm ties to the church, I am delighted to be allowed the opportunity to be graced with your presence."

Nell found herself surrounded by young noblemen shortly after stepping into the ballroom, the vast majority of which happened to be around the age where one would often express interest in seeking a partner and fathering an heir.

"Thanks e—" Nell caught herself in the middle of defaulting to her usual speech pattern just quickly enough to sweep it under the rug. "I thank you all for your kind words and greetings. I am Nell, and while I do not belong to any particular house, I serve this country as its hero and guardian."

The training she had undergone to qualify her for her role left her with no issues exchanging simple pleasantries. Yet, she found it tiring nonetheless. The skill was one she rarely used in her everyday life, and as such, she felt as if she would revert to her usual manner of speech if she did not remain entirely focused on the words that left her mouth. As there were those that wished to find fault in her about, she had no choice but to fight off the urge to relax.

"You shine with as much beauty as the morning sun over a glimmering field of flowers, Milady," said Elmeray. "I was not made aware of the fact that our hero was a maiden so fair."

"Hear, hear," echoed Morbedd. "You are as radiant as a saint and charming as a celestial."

"You are undoubtedly this ball's jewel. There exists no man whose eyes would not be pulled to the allure of your form," added Toola.

"Thank you. It brings me no end of joy to hear such praise."

Being surrounded by handsome young noblemen and admired like a princess was something that many young women fantasized about. So common was the desire that it became a fairytale staple. While the words did grab her attention, they did nothing to her heart. She remained completely unswayed. The men around her were objectively good looking, but the sweet nothings they tried to whisper her did nothing to her heart. Even the smile on her face was one not genuine in nature.

The sensation of remaining unaffected whilst living a fantasy felt strange, jarring even. She suspected that it was because she knew. She knew that the praise did not come from their hearts. That they did not love her. Nor she them. Hearing their words only served to make her realize just how much affection she had for the man she had chosen. And how much his words meant to her.

It was a thought that put a smile to her face, a natural one. She turned red without fail every single time he praised the way she looked in a dress. Because she knew that he was expressing his honest, heartfelt feelings without any bit of restraint or impurity. That too was why so many were drawn to him. It was his gaze. Rather than allowing it to run shallow, he saw through people. He saw what lay within their hearts and judged them for who they really were.

Upon realizing that she'd let her business smile slip, Nell restored it and once again turned to face the crowd appealing for her affections. Whilst conversing with them, she kept her ears wide opened and listened in for any potential threats. But instead, she was greeted only by contempt and jealousy.

"How dare a mere commoner attract so much attention? Does she think herself some sort of princess?" spat a noblewoman.

"The nerve of her! I cannot possibly believe that she would so brazenly show up at a gathering like this after causing such a stir!" added her friend.

The affronts were intentionally spoken just loudly enough for her to catch wind of them. She was fully aware that it was an attack on her psyche, an attempt to destroy her confidence. But like the many attempts to woo her, it did little to affect her. Gently pressing a hand against her left shoulder was more than enough to fully restore her confidence.

"What's the matter, mademoiselle?" asked Morbedd.

"Nothing, Sir Portereye. I am simply finding myself a bit stiff given that I have yet to grow accustomed to such fine garments."

"I recall often feeling the same in my youth," acknowledged the aristocrat. "But do not worry, for soon, you shall grow accustomed to formal attire. It will be but a few occasions before you find that putting your beautiful figure on display shall become second nature. I would be able to provide you many such opportunities, my fine hero. I happen to have a great interest in your beauty, and would love for knowledge of it to propagate throughout the realm. I assure you that, should you choose to wed me, I will fill your wardrobes with dresses even more gorgeous than the one that currently adorns your form."

"A cowardly move, Sir Portereye! You should know better than any other that attempting to get a lead on the rest of us is in poor taste! But if you have chosen to play your hand, so too must I! My lady, should you marry into House Lottnis, I can personally guarantee your position will fall second only to that of my first wife! You will command wide respect and be respected as a member of the nobility. It is an offer I am absolutely certain you will find to your satisfaction."

"Thank you very much for your kind offers, gentlemen."

Nell was fortunate enough not to need to reject each man individually, for every time one man stopped boasting, another would take his place and brag about his house, as if to appeal to the hero before she could find the opportunity to reply to her last suitor. None seemed even remotely aware of the displeasure she hid beneath her smile, nor did they even begin to suspect that she had no intention of even considering wedding any of them, nor that she disliked them to begin with given their pride and propensity to regard the less fortunate with disdain.

Though she didn't touch it this time, she once again directed her consciousness to her shoulder. Or more specifically, the invisible eye that rested on it. It was one of his, an item he'd affixed to her in advance as a part of his preparations. From what she had been told, it wasn't alone. Many ears just like it had been scattered throughout the ballroom in order to allow him to observe the situation even while going about his other duties.

Knowing that he was still watching over her was one of the two factors that had allowed her to remain so surprisingly calm. The other factor was one that had to do with the environment. The people around her had turned out to be less hostile than she'd initially expected. That wasn't to say that she was being held solely in high regard. There were still several groups talking about her behind her back. Some were whispering just loudly enough for their words to reach her ears, whilst others remained completely out of sight. But she had yet to be publicly denounced. None had stepped forth with insults or criticisms. The only insults she heard were ones laced not with malice or calculated logic, but rather simple statements of jealousy.

In a sense, she felt let down. Both Yuki and the king had made the situation out to be dire. They had told her that things were likely to take a turn for the worst. She too had been aware that the wind was far from blowing in her favour. And yet, nothing had happened. The climax she had expected was nowhere to be seen.

Though almost disappointed, the hero didn't let down her guard. She kept her eyes peeled and her wits about her just in case her foes were simply biding their time in order to better execute whatever devious plot they had in mind. But even if they weren't, the status quo could still be described as the calm before the storm.

Because even if those that wished to see her fall didn't stir up the winds, he would. The moment he took centre stage was the moment the nobility would be blown away by an insurmountable gale. They would be sucked in and jostled about by a force of nature with no care for their standards, their norms, or any of their other thoughts or desires. He would march in under the assumption that he was surrounded by those that wished to wrong him and have them dealt with in a way that neither she nor they could fathom.

It was this knowledge that convinced Nell to write off over-exerting herself and only do what was necessary for the time being. Playing the role of a diversion and stalling until he was able to make his entrance was all she needed to accomplish. Thus, she carried herself with utmost confidence and grace. This too helped to abate the voices that would have otherwise wished to shame her. The combination of her confidence and her beauty stunned many would be hostiles into shock for reasons completely unrelated to politics.

"Are you enjoying the banquet, Nell?"

A voice deeper and more mature than those that had been attempting to woo her grabbed the hero's attention. It was one she recognized, one that belonged to the man who lorded over all of Allysia.

"Of course, your majesty." She bowed elegantly after turning to face him. "I have nothing but gratitude to offer you. Thank you for inviting one as undeserving as myself to an event this wonderful. Your grace truly knows no bounds."

The men crowding Nell immediately backed off to give the pair space as they engaged in their conversation. They were not so boorish as to interrupt His Majesty after he had gone out of his way to greet another. That, however, wasn't to say that they began minding their own business. In fact, it was the opposite. An even larger crowd gathered to listen in on their conversation.

"There is no need for you to humble yourself so, hero. I know full well of the battles you have fought and the contributions you have made for our state and our people. I am not so foolish as to disregard one who holds such value."

The conversation flowed so naturally that none came to realize that both parties spoke only premeditated lines, lines that they had worked together to arrive at following a series of detailed discussions. Reiyd's words were meant to imply that those who failed to see her merit were mere fools, idiots blind to the facts that were. And to state that she had his backing, that any who wished to challenge her worth were in direct opposition to the will of the crown.

"It appears as if you've garnered an extensive amount of attention from members of the opposite sex." The king looked around at the men gathered around her. And then chuckled as he spoke a line that dashed many of their hopes. "I suspect that your fiancé would likely grow jealous if he were to catch wind of this."

"He certainly would," she returned the sovereign's laugh with one of her own. "He can be quite childish at times, and is rather prone to sulking."

Many of the men and women who had remained silent to strain their ears reacted with a start. Unable to hold back their surprise, they immediately began gossiping with those that stood beside them.

"So the rumours were true! The hero truly does possess a fiancé!"

"The rumours? Are you speaking with regards to those that mention a relationship between the hero and the meister?"

"I was under the impression that heroes were not allowed to engage in romantic affairs given their importance to the country's defence. At the very least, her predecessor remained unwed throughout his career."

"I believe she may very well have chosen to wed precisely because her career is coming to an end. It certainly does seem like a fitting time for her role to be changing hands, after all."

"A point well made indeed, sir. And if what I have heard is correct, then the Masked Meister is quite the famed warrior himself. If the two were to produce a child, then it too would likely grow into a fighter to be feared."

"I have been quite curious about this meister fellow myself. I have heard rumours spread of his presence in the castle. I see no reason for him not to be present, and yet he remains nowhere to be seen."

"Likewise. His official capacity is that of one of the hero's key allies, a role that certainly does seem deserving of an invitation."

The ballroom grew rife with discussion. Uninformed nobles from all three different factions began spreading rumours as they offered their opinions and speculations.

"Ladies and gentlemen, your attention please!" The king's voice returned the room to a state of silence just before the noise level grew out of hand. "It has come to my attention that many of you are concerned that the term of Nell's service is coming to an end. Please allow me to clarify. She is not vacating her position. She will continue to serve us as Allysia's guardian!"

Again, the old monarch's words caused the room to stir. Because Nell worked not under the crown, but rather, the church. Reiyd had no power over the religious authority and could not force it to keep Nell in its employ. And yet, he made the statement as he would a royal decree. This, in essence, made it a threat, one that dared the church to embarrass him only if it did not mind feeling the full extent of his wrath.

It was the first time that the king had ever outright made a statement without any concern for the church's desires since the incident in which he lost his son, after which the organisation had become much more heavily involved in political affairs. And yet, the king had insisted on stating that her role would not be in jeopardy regardless. There was no other way to describe the declaration but to label it a testament to the force of his will.

"She is vital in the defence of our country." Reiyd raised his arms as he began to speak another premeditated line. His voice, loud and booming, echoed throughout the room for all to hear. "Her abilities are far more prolific than some of you may believe. Even Sir Remiero himself has already acknowledged both the current extent of her power and the potential that lies within her. And yet, it appears that some still find themselves unsatisfied. They obscure the facts and speak only the truths that they find convenient. They claim that she is weak, that she is worthy only of being removed from her position. It is a self-destructive act, one that reduces the might of our forces, and one that ultimately proves itself treason." The monarch panned his gaze around the room as if to look upon all the faces in the crowd. "But rest assured. I know that none of you are so foolish as to even entertain such a thought."

"It is as you say, Your Majesty." Raylow stepped forward in support of his king's words. "There is not a man amongst us witless enough to think that such a mighty warrior could possibly be considered deficient."

"I am of the very same opinion. Any individual who voices a desire to have Nell removed is working against national interests and should immediately be put under suspicion of espionage."

The man who had chimed in after Raylow was George Biverrell Abbott, chairman of the senate. Like the governor, he too had joined the king in a meeting immediately prior to the ball in order to discuss their approach. The senate functioned in an advisory capacity, and as such, had the tendency to remain neutral. And while the chairman himself was an exemplary example of this, he did have his own personal stance. He found the accusations laid against the hero suspicious, and so he had joined hands with the king, one of his most longstanding friends, in order to ensure that she would not be displaced.

Regardless of how they truly felt, most of the nobles in the crowd voiced affirmative opinions. None were willing to show any signs of disapproval following the king's statement—

"It pleases me greatly to see that we are all in agreement," said the sovereign.

—Except for one.

"If I may, Your Majesty." A man stepped out of the crowd and bowed courteously right as the king was about to conclude that all had gone according to plan. "I certainly agree that the hero is incredibly powerful. She cannot be compared to ordinary men like us. But even so, I cannot state with confidence that I believe it would be in our best interests to allow her to retain her position."

After exchanging a brief glance, Nell and the king steeled themselves for the battle to come and faced their foe head on.

***

Editor's note (Joker): Hey, guys. Joker here. Just a quick update, a really good one. My dad made it home. We're getting him settled in now. Thanks so much for all of your support. It really does mean a lot to me.

***

Though he had stepped forward with an amicable smile and an air of confidence, Baron Argus Ladorio was not by any means at ease.

"I do not believe that Nell should retain her title, even in the case that she continues to play an active role in o—"

"A strange thing to say, Sir Ladorio." The carefully constructed argument, which Argus had spoken in a perfectly steady tone, was silenced midflight by one of the king's pawns. Governor Lurubia, a man in charge of not but a tiny town in the middle of the far off countryside, had intentionally cut him off in a blatant show of disrespect. "The title of hero is bestowed not for one's reputation, but rather one's competence. Handing it off to another, less capable individual is making a mistake of our priorities, and should not be seen through regardless of how concerned the public is with her ability."

"We cannot dismiss the worries of our citizens, Lord Lurubia, for there is no smoke without fire," said Argus. "To be frank, I believe that their very concern serves as evidence that she is not competent enough to truly fulfill her duties."

"Have you not heard of the incident that took place in Sengillia?"

"I certainly have, but I don't quite see your point…"

"If you have heard of it, then you should have also learned that Nell had single-handedly repelled a veritable army of monsters without so much as incurring a single casualty."

"…I cannot say that I have not."

Argus was so annoyed by the governor using one of his schemes against him that he almost flew into a fit of rage, but he was not so foolish as to do such a thing before another noble, let alone a whole crowd headed by the king himself. The only visible indication of his rage was a momentary twitch of the brow.

"Her inability to make any reports despite the extent of her power only serves to evidence that she was dealing with something incredibly fearsome, a creature so overwhelming that encountering it would have led any other to certain death," said the governor. "Her return should not be met with criticism, but praise. The hero is not an almighty god. We cannot always be so naive as to expect her never to be impeded."

Again, Argus was assailed by irritation, both because the other man was insulting him in public, and because many amongst the crowd had failed to stifle their laughter.

The hero, on the other hand, had wistfully smiled to herself whilst muttering in agreement, "It's true. And I had to deal with two of them. Both Yuki and Lefi are so incredibly overwhelming that you can't really even begin to imagine all the crazy things they can do." But because she had spoken under her breath, the words had remained unheard.

"How about we hear an opinion straight from the horse's mouth then? What say you, hero?" The baron realized that continuing to argue against Raylow would only put him at a disadvantage, so he sought out a more vulnerable target. "What do you think of the current circumstances? I would have liked to avoid putting it this way, but it remains a fact that you are partially responsible for the current state of our nation."

"Oh, uhmmm…" Nell hadn't expected to be addressed, so she faltered, but only for a brief moment. "I don't think I'm as strong as I could or should be. At least not yet. My lack of strength is the only reason I was unable to make any timely reports, as well as the only reason I caused you all so much worry."

Argus felt his lips curving into a confident grin. The foolish young maiden was saying exactly what he'd hoped she would.

"But even so, I will not give up my mantle. Casting it away at a time like this due to outward pressure is not something I or any other true hero could ever do." Her voice carried her conviction throughout the ballroom. "I chose to take on this role to protect this country. I've been putting my best foot forward ever since I was first acknowledged. And that is what I will continue to do, regardless of what other people think. Because the only opinion of my standing I care about is my own."

"Do you truly believe that? Do you truly mean to make a claim as irresponsible as one stating that the opinions of others are completely irrelevant?"

"I do. Because they are." She slowly cast her gaze around the room as she spoke. "Fulfilling this role is nothing but an attestation to my own will. I am protecting this country for one reason, and one reason alone. Because I love Allysia. That is why I will, if given the chance, continue to carry out this duty of mine. That is why I have resolved to stand firm and fight for this country, even if it costs me my life. And that is why no opinion is relevant but my own."

The smile that followed the declaration sent the crowd into yet another frenzy. Compliments began flying at her from all directions. Many a young man spoke to her valiance, named her a saint, and complimented both her inner and outer beauty.

It was then that Argus' mask finally broke. The fox-like smile he was known for vanished, leaving nothing but an irritated frown in its wake.

She had continued to stand firm in the face of his criticism. Despite his best efforts, every single one of the attacks he had launched on her psyche had proven fruitless. And it was not just her. There was no unrest to be seen. Not in the hero, the king, nor any of his loyalists.

There were only a scant few voices willing to voice their support for the baron's argument. He hadn't expected any of the individuals who typically remained neutral to offer him their assistance, but he had been under the impression that his allies and those he bribed would have at least stood by his logic. He knew that this was in part a fault of his own making. The hero's success in Sengillia made her arguments more convincing. If she had not driven off the horde single-handedly, there would likely have been many more willing to speak at length about the extent of her weakness. Even those that wished to see her removed understood that it was not currently in their best interests to publicly denounce her, and that speaking up would put them in the minority. Thus, they had silently switched camps and left Argus out to dry. Even in spite of the exorbitant amounts he had put in their coffers.

What infuriated him most, however, was not the public shaming, but rather that he wasn't being taken seriously. The hero had, without even waiting for his reply, already moved on to entertaining the princess and another young child, one that looked to be a visitor from a foreign state. Likewise, the king was only barely paying him any attention. His eyes and ears had both been redirected towards the sight of his daughter enjoying herself, as if to declare that Argus was not even worth his time. Their attitudes made it obvious that they had no idea just how perilous the situation they were in really was.

Argus had a trump card. He did have one final concern about playing it: the hero's fiancé. He had heard that the pair were in the honeymoon phase. And as such, he had expected him to have remained by her side and offered her his support, especially in a time that was sure to be rife with hardship. His spies had, in fact, reported that the Masked Meister had every intention of participating in the ball.

And yet, he was missing.

Argus couldn't help but suspect that the man was attempting something behind the scenes. The suspicion was one driven by how poorly everything was going, a conjecture based upon nothing but his own irritation. Knowing that, he took a deep breath, calmed himself, and discarded it.

It didn't truly matter what the meister was doing. The final act of his scheme certainly had been predicated on the presence of both of the major threats to its success. But even with the meister gone, he was still sure to succeed. The only true prerequisite was the hero's presence. He knew that he would be able to steer the scenario in whatever direction he wished, even if the meister was to meddle and decrease the plot's effectiveness, for skillful use of rhetoric would cover for all that went wrong.

Allies in positions of power would have been nice to have, but they were not by any means necessary. All he truly needed to do was pull the wool over the eyes of the idiotic masses and manipulate them. As he had been doing. He had already sown all the seeds of his success. All the rumours that he had spread to degrade the hero's reputation had led the common folk to doubt her. No matter what happened, Argus was convinced that he could easily steer his conspiracy back on track. Because he still held the upper hand.

"Your majesty, I am terrible sorry to interrupt you in the midst of such an enjoyable evening, but I implore you for a moment of your attention." A soldier, more specifically a member of the royal guard, entered the ballroom and hurried to the king's side.

Many noblemen began gathering around the pair and throwing all sorts of gossip around as the guard whispered his report into His Majesty's ears. But not Argus.

Because unlike them, he was celebrating his success.

"Hmmm…" Once the king was done listening, he straightened his back and spent a moment in contemplation. "Thank you for informing me of this matter." Dismissing the guard, he turned to the audience gathered around him. "Ladies and gentlemen, listen carefully. The castle has been placed under siege by a group of fools. Several men have infiltrated it and initiated an armed assault."

Noise rippled through the ballroom.

"The nerve! To ruin such a wonderful occasion!"

"Armed men!? Here!?"

There were two distinct groups. The first was composed of those that panicked, while the second was composed of military personnel, men who flocked to the king's side.

"Your majesty, you must evacuate immediately! Please, allow us to escort you to safety!"

A series of officers gathered around him and formed a circle to serve as shields and protect him from any potential assailants. But rather than evacuating, the king simply continued to speak.

"Calm yourselves!" Unlike most others present, the sovereign had retained his nerve. His voice, which boomed throughout the room, did not fully restore order, but at least managed to abate any panic. "There is no reason to be in such a fluster. The assailants have already been dealt with accordingly. I have only chosen to make this announcement to inform you that the man responsible for having them removed shall soon be arriving."

Argus raised a brow in suspicion. He had not expected such an announcement. His men had been ordered to stay put, not come to the ball after the completion of their task. Anxiety struck him. Something was wrong.

"You may enter!"

The doors swung open following the king's order to reveal a pair of men.

"W-what!?" The baron reacted with a start.

Because the commander of his forces really had come. Just not of his own volition. The soldier, who was still wearing armour denoting his rank, was much less conscious than the man carrying him on his shoulder.

Argus had never before seen him in person.

But even then, he recognized him.

The one man that he had been concerned would throw off his plans.

The Masked Meister.

"Good evening," said the meister. "I'm here to crush a few puppeteers."