Chapter XXV: Things Like This Are Sometimes A Need.

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As Donovan left the terrace, a young woman wearing an asymmetrical red dress walked past him. She had blonde hair that had been braided and bunned on the back, fair colored skin, and red eyes that looked like rubies. She wasn't exactly well endowed, but neither was she flat-chested; if anything, she had just the right amount of curves for a lady her size.

While they passed by one another their eyes met, and it wasn't long after their eyes meeting did she come to a complete stop and glance over her shoulder at him.

Donovan didn't do this, and had continued on his way, but he did think of her for a fleeting moment.

"She had pretty eyes." Is what he thought of her.

As he thought this, she was pulled out of her thoughts by her father, Lord Phenex.

"What's this? My daughter comes to me with such a serious expression, but the moment she sees the Black Knight it's replaced by a curious one? Did he perhaps catch your eye and make your heart skip a beat, Razelle?" Is what her father asked upon seeing her stop and look at the Black Knight as he walked away.

"No." She answered almost immediately in a stern tone as she looked forwarded and put on the serious look she had when strutting into the terrace, tinges of red decorating her cheek. "I was just surprised to see the Black Knight here."

"Oh, how disappointing." Lord Phenex stated with a sadden expression as he shook his head miserably. "It would have been interesting if he did, but I guess he just isn't your type."

"Father, that's not it, I-"

"Really? So he is your type?" He questioned with renewed interest and excitement in his voice.

"Father..." She started in a slightly irritated tone as her face became a little redder. The Black Knight had most definitely caught her interest, but she wasn't interested in him in that sort of way. She was just interested in his origins and how he came to be His Highness', Black Knight.

"Alright, alright. I'll stop teasing you, for now."

The words 'for now' did not go unnoticed by his daughter who couldn't help from having this dreadful feeling of regret.

She had came to have a serious conversation with her father, but if he was going to tease her, than she'd rather not speak to him at all.

Nonetheless, Razelle pushed the regret she was having to her side, and said. "Father, the reason I come before you is because I want to know if it's true."

"What's true?" Lord Phenex rebutted with a confused look on his face.

"About you stepping down, and me becoming the Head of the Phenex Household!" She declared passionately.

"Oooooh." Was what he said in response upon hearing this before saying. "Yeah, that's true. You're going to become the new leader at the end of the year."

"Why?" She demanded with uncertainty in her voice and a confused look.

"Why? Well, it's because we're getting to that time where I step down, and the next generation takes control." He stated with a small shrug of his shoulders.

"I understand that, but why am I inheriting the title and not Rizezoth? He is older than me-"

"And is being wedded to Lady Gremory's firstborn daughter which means he cannot become Lord Phenex of House Phenex, he will become Lord Gremory of House Gremory." He interrupted in a stern tone.

"And before you bring up Razzoth, let me remind you that he is a Dark Knight, and currently serving under the Black Knight Lord Fane, so he is unable to become the Lord of our household." Lord Phenex quickly added in the same stern tone as before.

"I know, but still, for me to become the next head..." She began in a baffled voice as she looked down at the ground. "I-, it's just something I didn't expect to happen, at least so suddenly. I mean, I figured I would most likely become the next in line, but I didn't think it would happen so soon."

"Yeah, with it being official that your older brother will marry Lady Gremory's daughter, it is confirmed that you'll be my heir." Lord Phenex stated with a smile.

"I, I will not disappoint you, father." She affirmed as she did a graceful curtsey.

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After returning to the ballroom, Donovan ran into a few nobles who engaged in small talk with him before approaching Lady Nyx who was surrounded by three extreme beauties.

One of them was a well-endowed woman with crimson red hair and slitted eyes who wore a white and light blue dress that suited her perfectly.

Another had black angel wings, luscious black hair, and magenta-colored eyes. She wore a pure black dress that went down to the ground, and gave off this serious mother-like feeling.

The third and final beauty had long black hair with brown skin, light brown eyes, pointy ears, and a beauty mark that was underneath her left eye. She was slightly taller than all of them, and wore a super dark purple dress that had golden accents on it.

Upon him approaching the four females, Lady Nyx greeted him in a somewhat affectionate manner.

"Fane, my dear, how are you? Are you enjoying the party?"

"I'm doing fine, and I guess so." He answered indifferently. He then asked a question of his own. "Who are these three ladies?"

With a smile, she answered and gestured to each one. "This is Lady Gremory of House Gremory, Lady Sitri of House Sitri, and Lady Dantalion of House Dantalion."

"How do you do, my lord?"

"It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance."

"I have heard much about you, my lord."

The three greeted with polite bows of their heads.

"I'm doing good, and it's nice to meet you three. Unfortunately, I'm not the greatest when it comes to," He stated before pausing to think of another way of saying manners. "etiquette. I'm still a little new to nobility and haven't had much time to learn the proper ways to address nobles."

"We've heard," Lady Gremory stated with a sly smile. "Lady Nyx has told us much about you, and how you spent most of your days at the Demon King's castle honing your skills with a blade instead of learning proper manners."

Donovan said nothing at this, but he did give a quick glance at Lady Nyx who gave him a wink in response.

"Is that so?" He then questioned as he looked at the redhead, a trace of interest in his voice.

"Oh yes." Lady Dantalion affirmed with a grin of her own and amusement in her voice. "The tales she has told us has been most interesting, don't you agree Lady Sitri?"

"Mhm, they are indeed very interesting tales." Lady Sitri agreed with an enthusiastic nod.

Now more intrigued about what Lady Nyx has told these ladies, Donovan diverted his attention to Lady Nyx, but before he could ask her what was on his mind Lady Gremory asked him a question.

"Is it true that you have captured the former Princess Camillia's heart? Lady Nyx here had told us earlier that she has become infatuated with you."

"It is true, but I wouldn't say infatuated with me." He answered reluctantly as he diverted his gaze to Lady Gremory. "I would also like to point out that I'm not the only reason why she gave up her claim to the throne. She, at least from what she says, really wants to see the outside world, so that's one of her reasons why."

"Uh-huh, so do you plan on recuperating her feelings?" Lady Dantalion curiously questioned.

"No, I have no intention of doing that." He told her after a quick second of thinking.

"Really?" Lady Gremory questioned.

"Yes." He affirmed.

At this, the three ladies gave each other looks, but before any of them had a chance to say there thoughts on the matter, Lady Nyx spoke.

"It's because Fane here has his eyes on someone more, mature."

"Oh really?"

"Is that so?"

"Oh my."

Were their responses to this information. Meanwhile, Donovan narrowed his eyelids a bit and gave Lady Nyx a sharp look.

Unfortunately for him, Lady Nyx ignored his cold stare and instead focused on the question Lady Gremory was asking her.

"Who is this more mature person you are referring to? Is it His Highness?" Is what she asked with curiosity in her voice.

"No." Donovan quickly answered before Lady Nyx could. "I do not have those types of feelings for her."

"Oh, and why's that?" Lady Gremory questioned, traces of curiosity in her voice.

"I just don't." He told her in a neutral voice as he shrugged his shoulders.

At this, Lady Gremory hummed softly.

"Then are you interested in Lady Nyx?" Lady Sitri asked after a couple of seconds.

Donovan said nothing at first, for he had noticed Lady Nyx staring intently at him with a touch of anticipation in her eyes. He had no plans on lying, but he felt like if he had answered that question immediately then he'd hurt her feelings, so he took a few seconds to answer that question.

"While I do find Lady Nyx to be a fascinating person, I do not see her in that way. To be honest, I see her more as an older sister who likes to mess with me in a good way." He told them with a straight face and slightly red cheeks.

Upon hearing this declaration, Lady Nyx's cheeks became slightly red as the other noblewomen attempted to find out who had caught Donovan's eye.

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"Well then, that was an interesting night, don't you think?" Lady Nyx said out loud upon returning to the Demon King's castle via teleportation.

"It was interesting, yes," Donovan affirmed with a small nod. "however that was only because of you saying things that they didn't need to hear."

"Oh, and what were those things they didn't need to hear?" Lady Nyx cheekily asked with a hint of curiosity in her voice.

"My love life." He answered with a reddened face. "You telling them things like that was unneeded and is just going to cause me problems."

"Now that is something I disagree with, Donovan." She stated in a serious tone, which had caused him to give her a dubious glance and see that there were no traces written on her face.

"Why's that?" Donovan questioned in response.

"Isn't it obvious? It's because you're the Black Knight. You're our kingdom's Hero." She declared, she had a serious look in her eye as she said this.

Donovan replied with a small frown. "So? What does that have to do with telling them about my love life and other things similar to that?"

Lady Nyx sighed upon hearing his question, and said, "Because it's good for others to focus on other things, instead of thinking about the war that is happening right now."

At this, Donovan said one of his go-to lines. "I see."

Meanwhile, Lady Nyx continued to talk. "Yeah, I'd rather have them thinking about who it is your in love with rather than thinking about the possibility of losing their loved ones in this conflict."

"... That was very thoughtful of you then." He told her after a few seconds of silence. "However, I'd still appreciate it if I was told in advance about these things, so I can at least prepare."

Lady Nyx giggled in response to this information before saying, "I will do my best!"