A Party For The Ages

Espoo, Finland,

Edelfelt Compounds, Westend,

A well-off district quite near the capital of the country, with well-spaced housing, it would be one of the richest places in the nation later on if it wasn't already.. It was only par for the course then that most elegant hyenas above the ground nestle here, with a compound spanning several miles dotted with numerous facilities, built-in gardens and multiple structures akin to castles.

The Edelfelt had spared nothing when it came to developing their residences, even if they oft went uninhabited and empty because the members were too busy selling their services for wealth and plundering ancient tombs...

This specific day however, saw a change in the mostly central 'castle'... A party had been hosted to welcome the new Lord of the Department of General Fundamentals and the new Lord of their faction by the Edelfelt, arguably the wealthiest of the Democratic Nobility with perhaps only the Weins rivalling them.

The empty dull halls lay illuminated by both natural and artificial lighting, chandeliers hung from the ceiling and maroon carpets covered the floors, thick enough to stop any of the art pieces in the rooms from shattering should they fall.

Well-dressed nobles stood here and there, discussing various topics among themselves, new alliances, arrangements were made while they waited for the 'guest of honour'... Servants walked around, carefully manoeuvring around the guests so as to avoid accidents, accidents that would earn them the ire of stuck-up individuals more often than not... Though, they were magi before nobles and so crossing them wouldn't be something resolved with a scolding.

"Ya, still not here huh? ....As expec-...ugh..."

Melvin Weins coughed blood into a tissue, a small embarrassed blush on his unhealthily pale cheeks, "Pardon me..." He addressed the two women to either side, though they didn't really mind. One black haired and one blonde, while wearing rich dresses it was obvious they were a bit nervous here... Of course they were, being escorts and all.... Yeah the Weins heir was just that kind of person, it awed some that he'd brought along only two.

Hedonistic, supremely wealthy, and somewhat perverted... Rumour had it the second word he'd uttered was 'women' the first being 'money'.

"Lord Byron seems to have arrived." He looked to the three individuals coming down the stairs into the hall.... though it would be better described as a ballroom... A stern brown haired man in a green suit, his hands held slightly up and lightly grasped by two women with veiled faces, "The Twin Princesses are still hidden..." He sighed, it was a bit of shame. Melvin had learnt that their beauty was so otherworldly that it would make one quite literally stop breathing, and forget their sense of self.

Melvin grabbed a hold of a glass of wine from a passing servant, resting against a table just behind him with a small smile, this event was something... Almost all, save a few, nobles of the Democratic Faction were here.... There was no security however, after all what greater security than themselves? Heads of their respective families, accomplished magi with decades of experience.

Strangely enough, nearly all guests were European but in hindsight, it wasn't really that strange. The Western and Eastern magi never truly got along due to differing ideologies and often clashed.... Not as much as both organizations clashed with the Holy Church though.

"Fufu, you seem to be enjoying yourself, Lord Melvin."

"O-Of course.."

Startled, Melvin's voice hitched as his gaze met the greedy and intense gaze of the current Lady Edelfelt, with long flowing bright blonde hair and a crimson dress wrapped around her voluptuous figure...

"I thought so, we spared no expense! Now if only Lord Trambelio would join us." She huffed, crossing her arms under her chest, they'd received no communication from his end and no notice from the guards stationed to welcome him.

"He'll be here...." Melvin gave a small nod, it was next to impossible that someone like Roman would miss such an event.. Definitely not, he would be here to mess with everyone. Melvin didn't know his plans but he'd never been interested in the first place and only did what was asked of him.

"He better be.." Byron's lips twitched, annoyed that the two before him had somehow completely ignored his presence despite the fact that he was standing literally next to them...

"Lady Edelfelt, do you hear a buzz?"

"I thought it was just me."

Both family heads then proceeded to laugh as Byron turned to stomp away, done with their bullshit.

"Lady Inorai Valualeta Atroholm!"

A guard announced loudly, following the sound of calm, elegant steps.

"Mm, this is quite nice.." Inorai looked around, wearing a small amiable smile that went well with her long green dress, covering her entire body... Her face showed signs of age, though that just made her image akin to kind old lady's..... None of the Lords there thought so though, well aware of the vicious nature of the Lord of the Department of Creation, Head of one of the three largest and most influential families presiding over the Clock Tower.

She noted the presence of all Trambelio branch families and sneered seeing their pale and afraid states, the new Lord Trambelio was someone they'd ridiculed and looked down on for nearly two decades, it made sense that they were more terrified than anyone else there...

"I see the Trambelio are enjoying this party..." Inorai's smile widened as she approached her fellow Lords, "Was this not supposed to be a casual gathering?" She addressed the Lady Edelfelt, resting her head in her hand.... Really, it seemed that some traits would never die out.

"Of course, however I wished for it to be a gathering befitting the inauguration of a Lord."

"Heh.." Melvin snickered, he was looking forward to this.

It was then that a breathless Luviagelita ran up to her mother, holding up her dress with both hands with her eyes cautious and a little too self-conscious, she was yet to get used to such gatherings, "Mother... He's-"

"I see..." Smiling slightly, the older Edelfelt softly patted her daughter's head, "Did I not tell you to accompany him?"

"Y-Yes but-"

Before she could inform the others of the situation, the voice of the guard responsible for announcements reverberated throughout the room,

"The Lord Trambelio has arrived! Roman Trambelio Hauth and....."

All gazes landed on the two doors as the announcer paused, there he was....

Wearing a golden suit, a cane in one hand and the other raised... Atop it was the hand of a pink haired woman in a blue dress that highlighted her figure, her beauty left some in awe... It was inhuman, supernatural.

He walked with slow, firm steps that rang in everyone's ears and his small grin, that was perhaps the most annoying part of it all only outdone by his intense vicious gaze... He had one over them and made sure they knew he knew it.

"Yoo wassup cunts! Any progress on the sticks up your posteriors?"

"..Uh...?!"

The announcer sounded shocked, and they soon enough learnt the reason for this shock.... The Lord Trambelio had an entourage of his own.

".Umm ehem..Lady Lorelei Barthomeloi!"

"Greetings."

Audible gasps left the mouths of some as even the most established of magi were thrown for a loop, unable to understand why the hell the head of the Aristocratic Faction was there. The Queen of the Clock Tower, the de facto strongest magi on the planet, Lord of the Department of Policies!

Dressed in an olive suit, she wore white gloves and a stoic face, analysing every individual in the room... She walked down the stairs with her hands behind her back, right after Roman himself.

"Uh... Lord Marisbury Animusphere!"

"Hello everyone... I'm just a by-stander! Don't mind me."

Marisbury waved one hand with a harmless polite smile, his other hand in the white labcoat worn over a simple shirt coupled with suit pants and boots.. His wife walked by his side, cradling a small white haired baby in her arms... Compared to her husband however, her expression was completely devoid of emotion.

"Following are....." The announcer found himself stumped and taken aback, what were these people doing here?

"The Peligor represented by Lady Camus Peligor! And Lord Kurou Adashino, Lord of the Department of Modern Magecraft Theory!"

A shy aloof girl in a plain and simple dress, and a tall man with fiery red hair tied going down below his waist... His clothing was completely concealed by a long red cloak, and while his smile seemed warm and welcoming, his eyes were cold and 'heartless'.

"I think you short-circuited so I'll say it again, wassup." Roman casually waved his hand, grinning wider than before as he rested his weight on his black cane, "Ah..." He took a deep breath, "Truly smells like money earned from selling your body."

"...Selling...what?" Lady Edelfelt's smile twitched...

That day, the Democrats learnt that Roman's reputation was neither exaggerated nor undersold, nay, he was exactly like the general populace thought he was... A hedonistic asshole who would make you regret walking on his wrong side on a good day.

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