“What sort of training do you partake in, Sir Joseph, in order to get so strong?” asked one of the girls huddled around me. 

Smirking a tad bit, I indulged her a little.

“Well, it’s not what kind of training you do, but how you approach it, and how dedicated you are. Anyone can become strong enough, as long as they have the willpower to do it.”

“Oh! Such words of wisdom! As should be expected of Sir Joseph!”

I smile at the girl who said that, and she practically swoons before me.

As it should be.

After all, I am the most excellent member of my generation, never mind that I hadn’t been born nobility. I was here, at this ball, due to my own efforts, and hard earned title. I have made friends among the Royalty, and the princess herself greatly valued my talent.

I could feel the envious glares from a few of the noble scions around the room, displeased that I was able to talk with so many beautiful girls at once. It’s their fault that the girls prefer me to them, due to their boorish attitudes, and bad dispositions. Even I have a hard time pretending to like them, you know. 

Though, there were a few guys that weren’t bad. One of them was walking over right now.

“Eh? The ball’s only just started, Joseph, and you’ve already drawn such a crowd?” Said Gabriel, one of my best friends. His shoulder length hair and effeminate features had many mistaking him as a girl, only to find that he also has a mean right hook afterwards.

I shrugged at his comment, not sure what he had been expecting.

“You know that I can’t help it. I must have one of those magnetic personalities or something.”

Gabriel laughed.

“Right. I will admit that you tend to draw trouble to yourself, but I hesitate to call that ‘magnetism’. It’s more like this little thing called bad luck.”

“Please, I have the absolute best of luck. Especially when it comes to women. In fact, a few weeks ago…”

“We’ve all heard this story, Joseph. I still don’t believe it.”

“I swear, it happened!”

“Then, have you seen the girl you ran into since then? Even if it did happen, didn’t she get away from you as fast as possible?”

“……”

“Just face it, Joseph. You likely are not going to see that girl again. She’s probably left the palace by now. I mean, didn’t you say that you accidentally yelled at her?”

“Ugh. Fine. Maybe I will never see her again. However, just that one time struck me dumb. And I may have yelled at her, but that wouldn’t be enough to drive someone from the palace, right?”

Gabriel looked at me dubiously.

“Right. I think you are forgetting the pressure you tend to put out when angry. What do you call it again? Killing intent? That probably scared her off more than the yelling did.”

I paled slightly, panicking a little inside. Gods, what if Gabriel’s right, and I accidentally released some killing intent? I’ve used it to scare of seasoned warriors before, never mind a small and sheltered looking girl. She might have felt like she was about to die. 

“Never mind about that though.” Said Gabriel. “You have so many other girls around you, and I’m sure you will find a way to push that incident to the back of your mind.”

I sighed, and nodded. Perhaps that was the best thing to do, to immerse myself in the distractions around me, and forget about the whole thing.

In fact, I was just about to ask one of the noble girls around me to dance, when I caught a bit of movement by the ballroom doors.

I don’t really know why I had noticed it at first. Maybe it was because the ball had already begun, and the only latecomers now were the nobles who either didn’t care about their image, or were powerful enough for it to not matter. 

The Chamberlain, who was in charge of announcing to the court the names of each and every noble attending the ball, walked in through the door, and announced two immediately forgotten names.

I noticed that there were very few who were paying attention to the door at this point, for whatever reason. Though, a few of the older and more powerful nobles stiffened after hearing one of the names, for some reason.

I was about to return my attention to the people around me, when the two women walked into the ballroom. And, in that instant, all words and thoughts left me.

It’s her.

And, my gods, she’s looking at me with those golden eyes.

I could see a little frown appear on her face, and I recalled what Gabriel had said about my killing intent.

Thousands of thoughts flitted through my mind, with me wondering if the girl is afraid of me, who she might be, why she might be here, why she’s with the woman next to her, what sort of impressions she might have of me, what does her little frown mean, how old is she, and above all, who is she?

Gabriel noticed that I seemed a little absentminded, and stunned, and nudged me hard with his elbow.

“Are you okay? You look like your whole world has shattered, then rebuilt, only to be shattered again.”

“It’s her, Gabriel. The girl I ran into in the palace hallways, she’s here.”

“Oh, really? Where?”

“Door.” I couldn’t detail her location to him with any greater eloquence, since I was too busy staring at the girl unabashedly.

I heard Gabriel whisper next to me, and it took a moment for me to register what he had said.

“Oh damn. She’s cute.”

Then, he added onto that.

“But, she looks a little young, no? Though, she is shorter than you, so there’s that.”

Damn him, adding in that complex. I can’t help it that squirrel beastkin don’t grow to be very tall, though I can still be annoyed by the height of all my peers.

“You should go talk to her, apologize or something. You know, instead of ogling at her from across the room like a creep.”

Ah crap, he’s right. I broke my line of vision to her, abruptly looking away. Wait, how do I approach her now?!

Agh! I’m so nervous about all this! What if she hates me or something?

What should I do?!

No, calm down Joseph. You are the paragon of this generation. You can talk to a girl.

After reaching a point where I felt like I wouldn’t make a fool out of myself, I turned back to where the girl had entered with the other woman, intending to go talk to her. 

However, there wasn’t anyone there.

Gabriel, noticing the direction I was facing, and the loss in my face, simply chuckled.

“While you were wallowing about with indication, your little dream girl vanished into the crowd. I wish you luck in finding her again.”

I groaned, and made to join the large group of nobles spread out through the ball room.

It’s a pity I missed her name, otherwise I could find out more about her before offering a proper apology, and maybe even my hand in courtship.

You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

----------------------------------------

“So, why did you drag me to the center of the ballroom so quickly? Is there someone who you would rather not meet, Kai?”

“Yeah. There was someone who looked rather troublesome back there.”

Joan snickered at me a little, but it wasn’t anything particularly annoying to me. That kid looked like too much trouble, with all those rabid teenage girls around him. Apparently, he’s popular.

Anyway, after having successfully disappeared, Joan made the brilliant suggestion that we go to where the food was set up, and get busy appearing to be too busy eating to dance with any hopefuls. After all, she was only here because of some business the Royal family apparently had with her, and I was here because of her sadistic personality. We didn’t want to dance.

Thankfully, we were spared the indignity of having a bunch of young nobles sit with us at the table.

No, it was to oldest and likely the most influential nobles who came over, and sat down. Most of them probably know exactly who Joan is, and how much power she holds. For this reason, they had decided that the best way to rise to greater power themselves, was to get to know Joan better. As for me, I was mostly ignored.

It was a bit of a curious thing, actually. My horns, eyes, and coloring are in full view, and nobody seems to be curious about it. Hell, they barely even glanced my way, after introductions at the table were made.

Oh well. At least that means I’m able to eat in peace, while Joan is being bombarded by conversation and questions. How unlucky for her.

Eventually, the moment that most the nobles were waiting for came.

The chamberlain walked to the center of the hall, and all talk died down in his wake, until the entire ballroom was silent.

“I am pleased to announce the presence of his Royal Majesty, King Zao, and the Royal family—Queen Amelia, the First Prince Ulysses Zao, the Second Prince Idarus Zao, and Princess Jasmine Zao.”

Off to one side of a large table overlooking the whole ballroom, a door opened, and a small group of people streamed out, headed by a man with grey hair and wolf ears. By his side walked a beautiful woman with feline ears of some kind, and luminous emerald eyes. The first prince shared in his father’s sub-race and coloring, with the same grey wolf ears and strong face. The second prince took after his mother, and the princess her father, like the first prince.

While they looked dignified, I also got the feeling that the King would be more than willing to take a joke, and might even make some himself. More than that, he looked happy, if a little tired and worn down. But, sovereignty tends to do that to people.  His wife and kids looked bright and intelligent too, adding to the overall feeling I got from him—that of a capable, and good king.

He reached the center seat at their table, and stayed standing.

“Welcome friends, nobles, possible business partners, to this annual ball of mine, thrown in celebration of First Prince Ulysses Zao’s day of birth, and the passing of another year. Now, I am not one suited for speech-craft, so, I will simply ask you to enjoy the evening, and have a good time.”

With that, the king sat down, and some waiters brought him and the rest of his family food and wine, baring the young princess, who only got water with her food.

The ball seemed to come into full swing at that point, now that the VIP’s had arrived. In fact, after they had finished their food, the princes and princess descended onto the ballroom floor itself, and were almost immediately roped into dancing with near strangers. The King and Queen stayed where they were, apparently satisfied to simply watch the proceedings. Or, at least until the king scanned the crowd, and alighted his gaze upon Joan, who stared right back at him with a characteristic smirk on her face.

“Right then. That’s my signal, now. Thank you all for keeping me company, but I have someone else to see.” She said to the table we sat at, before standing up.

“Come on Kai, I want you to meet Greg.”

“Greg?”

“The King, Greg Zao.”

“Huh? His first name is just Greg?”

“No, that’s the nickname for another name ten-thousand time more embarrassing. Honestly, the old king had such a terrible naming sense.”

Wow. The more you know, I guess…

As we walked up to the Royal’s table, there were a few furtive glances thrown our way, but nobody bothered us in an overt way.

Two seats were ready for us, right next to the King and Queen, who smiled at Joan in a warm way. They glanced my way briefly, before turning their attention back to Joan. I guess her presence was enough to let me stay somewhat inconspicuous here.

“It’s good to see you, Joan. You so rarely come to our side of the palace, though I do not blame you for that. If I could stay away from the politics, I would.”

Joan laughed.

“Then, just give the throne to your eldest. He looks ready enough.”

The king shook his head slightly.

“No, he’s not nearly ready enough yet. Though, nobody ever truly is, I guess.”

At this moment, the Queen chimed in, looking at me this time. I was a little surprised that someone was actually paying attention to me this time, instead of Joan. 

“Pardon me, but would you be willing to introduce your little friend, Joan? I’m curious as to why you’ve dragged her to this event of ours.”

“Right, I was just about to get to that. Greg, Amelia, might I introduce to you Katariah Silver, whom I have taken into my ward?”

“How unlike you, Joan. Normally, people do not interest you. Is there something special about Lady Katariah?”

“Why don’t you ask her yourself, seeing as she is sitting at this table with you?” said Joan, redirecting their attention to me, since they had been dictating their questions to her.

The King had the grace to look abashed, while the Queen seemed to shake herself mentally.

“Sorry.” Said the King, “Joan’s normally the one we ask any questions, since she knows so much. I apologize for the discourtesy.”

“It is no problem. Joan’s presence is at fault here, I think.”

There was a tinkling laugher from the Queen, who was amused at my statement.

“Well then, what can you tell us about yourself, young lady? I will admit I am a little curious now, rather than simply doing this on courtesy alone.”

I smiled, and replied.

“Again, My name is Katariah, but I prefer to be called Kai. I am a Demon who was saved from near starvation by Joan’s daughter Anhara, and brought to the palace afterwards.”

Ah. The King and Queen seem a little shocked. I think Joan downplayed the significance of me being a Demon slightly, when we first met.