Chapter 149: Gathering of Masks (1/2)

”How is he?” asked Saint Maria as she looked out of the window. Nikolai was silent, admiring her dress. They were dressed for the gathering, and seeing her beauty made it less tedious.

”The answer you want is that he is alright,” Nikolai said. ”However, he seems to have realized that we were following him. Everything we saw might just be an act.”

Nikolai knew that it was no act, but he needed to give her the right mindset about people. Saint Maria cannot go on trusting everyone, and it was what Master Edward wanted from him. However, he was not doing it for that old monster but humanity as a whole.

”It was not an act, even if he knew that we were following him,” she smiled. ”The fool cannot act even if his life depended on it.”

”You are too trusting of him,” Nikolai warned as he saw her walk to open the drawer and wear a mask that was inside. ”What is that?” he frowned.

”The ball today is about peace between races, so it helps if everyone wore a mask,” said Saint Maria. ”This is also, in a way, a tradition to uphold equality.”

'...she is so annoying,' Nikolai had to admit this. Her ideas about peace and whatever were more like sick delusions that she needed to survive. 'I bet she feels good when she says them, but it is marginalizing the sufferings of war victims.'

However, if she wanted him to wear a mask, then it was even better for him. Nikolai did not want his face to be known by the nobles of these kingdoms. It was already troublesome on its own that Lucas saw his face.

Nikolai had a mission, and it was to sneak into Celestia using his powers. This might allow him to bypass the Law of Selection and gain Val's powers directly.

It was one thing to hate the gods and another to steal from them. His plan might indeed make him the banished of Celestia, but he did not care, as it was never kind to him.

”Wear your mask,” Maria asked of him, handing him a black mask that covered his nose and eyes. Nikolai sighed as he placed it on his face, and it turned out to be an enchanted item. ”Don't worry about it falling off.”

Saint Maria smiled at him from behind her white and gem-embedded mask. It complemented her dress and earrings, giving her an angelic aura.

They left the mansion and headed toward the ball, but Master Edward did not accompany them. When Nikolai asked the princess, she said that he did not like such events and he would rarely attend.

The ball was hosted by the lord of this city, a name that Nikolai did not bother knowing. The dining hall was grand, and food tables lined every side, with the middle opened for chitchat and dancing. Small gardens mottled the mansion, allowing the people inside to stand beside them and chat.

”The Rosian Royal Family is here,” announced the herald of the ball. All eyes turned to look at them, and Nikolai realized another role of his: to help the princess on such occasions.

The job was becoming increasingly annoying, but it would be over in a few days, as long as his plans succeeded. A part of his plan and one of its essentials depended on today's performance.

”Welcome, honored guests,” said a suspicious guy in a mask who came forward. ”I am the host of today, Lord...” and that was the end of Nikolai's interest. Instead, his interest was in the guests, who were flocking their way like doves.

”Greetings, your highness.”

”Princess Maria is as lovely as always.”

”An honor to meet you at last,” said a man who the crowd allowed through. It was none other than the priest that Nikolai saw in the vision. ”I expect to see you in the ritual in a few days,” he said with a creepy laugh, kissing her hand.

”I shall attend indeed,” she smiled oblivious, although Nikolai could tell that she was forcing it. ”I learned a lot about Lord Vyxas' great deeds.”

As the conversation went on, Nikolai stood in the background. A few people noticed him, and they could all tell that he was a new retainer of her highness.

Nobles of the Bestial Kingdom did not care a lot about him, as they did not know the kingdom's internal affairs. Then, however, Rosian nobles began to notice him, as a retainer of her highness was the desired position by almost all young men.

”Hello there,” said a person in a mask, and Nikolai almost rolled his eyes at him.

”You are talking to the wrong person,” said Nikolai as he looked at the princess. Lucas mirrored Nikolai, and his gaze lingered on the princess before sighing.

”As beautiful as ever,” muttered Lucas. ”Again, I feel like she is the sun that I must not approach.”