V2 Chapter 16

The hall was large, many places were gorgeous and decorated well. It was in the form of an all you can eat buffet—there were hundreds of dishes and sweets being displayed on the snow-white tablecloths spread on the tabletop, and waiters skilled in etiquette were distributing glass gallantly as they walked.

All of the people participating were aristocrats and nobles of the Northern Demon Border. It was only people wearing glittering showy clothes with an atmosphere of mutual understanding of civil officers and military officers—though, among them, those military officers had conceited personalities because of the principles they believed in, the civil officers stood in relief and realized that the military officers were of a higher standing.

Music continues to flow into the hall. It must be said that when the midnight arrived, the hall was even more lively and exciting. Everything seemed exactly like the beginning. The entire scene of the dance hall was busting with fiery energy.

And also, it was finally time for the greetings circle to dance with beautiful noble ladies and masculine men to the ladies liking—a very fantastical sort of Group Dating Meetings, as most people hold some hope of forming romantic partnerships with a high ranking, and powerful people as motives.

Elegant music resounded in the hall which wiped out the delicate atmosphere. The soft sound of wind and string instruments began to flow.

At the center of the hall, Men who took out their flowers began to dance freely. At the enthusiasm of the hosts who had prepared an evening of live music, the young men immediately responded. With the bravery that was hundred times greater than facing an enemy in a war, they took the hands of the girls they had grown closer to or has interest in and proceeded to the center of the hall.

They fluttered like butterflies, but the people dancing in the hall, Cian just can’t help but want to laugh out loud.

Most people dancing flutteringly, full of elegance and style were like people wearing Halloween costumes, with most having beast-like bodies—truly a fascinating and epic scene that even movie directors of Hollywood barely used it.

A combination of fairytale and horror…

Many tried to approach Cian giving him quite a trouble—but he refused them all with a good smile. Thus, many gave up reluctantly. He wasn’t that good dances, although he had a good athletic ability and flexible muscles, but dancing is not only that—heart and talent also have its share. He never had the chance to dance in formal events like this, and he had never thought he would have the chance of experiencing such…

Rather than being a joke in front of this people, might as well enjoy the scene of this fairytale-horror like scene…or so he had decided. However, fate has something else store for him…

As a royalty, he (Aanuel) had been firmly taught manners on how to act at a ball, so provided proper procedure was observed he was unlikely to leave the hall before it ends. And so, he was stranded. Without anything to do, he busied himself with drinking wine and beverages out of immense of his own satisfaction. He happily and enjoyably stuffed himself with lots of food.

It continued in this manner until he felt that he had restored his vitality from this tiring event. Then, he started to eat the myriad of dishes which were brought up in a leisurely manner. However, he was also offering the dishes to the two beautiful women in a very diligent manner at the same time.

"Dear, come and taste this one. This is indeed a good item. Your feminine aspects will get nourished, and your heart will be healthy by eating this. It can even make you more attractive by nourishing your skin. You obviously don't need this too much, but how can a woman take offense in being more attractive…" Sibylla smiled and giggled in amusement as she continued to watch his beloved husband-to-be acting like a small child. Not only her stomach but also her heart was full and satisfied~

"My dear Ruka, stop being so stiff and enjoy your night. No one needs a servant here. So come, eat this one. This one can enrich your blood. Your face has been looking pale for the past few days. It makes me very sad…" Hearing Cian’s words, Ruka’s face turned beet red. Pale? Sad? Whose fault do you think it is that she looks extremely exhausted these past few days?

However, she would never say that or complain! After all, it was also her joy being entangled with her beloved master, that even his fiancée wasn’t able to have at this very moment…! She even hopes every night to sleep together with him, whether he would eat her or not, it doesn’t matter as long as she can feel his warmth and smell his scent every day~

"My beloved fiancée, try eating this. This one is delicious. You chew a little to test it… Um um… isn't it very chewy? The smell is also good, it can raise one’s appetite…!"

"Ruka, don't just eat the vegetarian food. Try this Snake Stew. This is very delicious… there’s also turtle stew, you really need it! It melts into the mouth the moment it enters. It's very rare and delicious…"

You need it your face! Ruka bit her lips as she thought of the reason why her beloved master had even bother to stand up from his chair and look for this specific dish just for her to eat it. She suddenly felt a mix of dread and excitement as to what will happen tonight…!

“Well, well, isn’t this Your Highness, Second Prince… how have you been?”

A voice of a woman floated around from the crowd, Cian who was enjoying his time with Ruka and Sibylla, suddenly felt his entire body go numb as if his bones had gone limp. The reaction of the surrounding crowd was even worse; some people experienced shivers all over their whole body. Although Cian had not stayed in this world for a very long time, he had already met numerous women of peerless elegance, their voices, and their beauty was nothing more beautiful than anyone could imagine. Sibylla who was gentle and beautiful, her older sister; Oriel pure and cold, The Demon Empress, who outclasses almost all the beauties he had seen in two worlds without a problem, and Ruka who was faintly discernable.

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But this voice… If anyone heard this voice, they would realize what was meant by gentle and lovely to the bones. This tone of voice could almost hook away somebody’s soul. As if with magical powers, it stimulated the nerves of the entire body of a man… As well as their lust.

Cian turned his head and look at the source. The woman who produced that voice slowly walks towards their direction, attracting everyone’s eyes. Immediately, every pair of eyes was firmly attracted to the woman’s body, even Cian was also startled.

With fascinating steps and head elegantly lifted up, she carried a teasing smile as she looked at Cian. All the people’s gazes did not concentrate on her face, but instead were firmly fixed on her body, unable to move away for a very long time.

“…Blue Bird…” Cian didn’t need to dig on his memories as the immediately appeared within his mind as if it was a reflex action. His body started trembling… whether it was fear or not, Cian was uncertain but it was surely not because of joy.

“He he, my dear prince, it seems like you still remember this poor woman. This servant is honored~” A hint of teasing could be clearly heard on her voice, causing Cian to have a goosebump.

This was some sort of bewitched voice, a woman with a devilishly gorgeous body, probably around her early thirties, a bit younger than his mother. Among the women that Cian had seen, no one has the same impressive body curves like her, no, it should be that only the Demon Empress could be compared to her.

“Why are you here…?” Cian bit his lips. This is probably not fear, in fact, he as well was confused as to why he was feeling apprehensive about this woman. He can only think that it was not his, but Aanuel’s deep fear that was engraved in his bones, resurfacing without his control. Now, he was certain, there were only a few in this world that he truly fears, and the woman in front of her was one of them…!

Blue Bird… Cian didn’t know if this name was her real name or not though. According to Aanuel’s memories, Cian had met her a few years ago within the forest lake, taking a bath. He took several liberties from her, angering this woman—but never did he know at that time, that this woman was the infamous Blue Bird that was only said to second only the Demon Empress!

In fact, the Demon Empress; Sitana, wouldn’t take the initiative to anger her or be in conflict with her. Poor Aanuel, he had only known that after he was beaten black and blue by her and was even treated as a servant for an entire month as a punishment—that was the first case, where he was treated as missing and aside from Sitana, no one knows what had happened. Sitana, fortunately, came and managed to reach a compromise…

Aanuel had deep fear towards her, as well as hatred from that humiliation he had suffered from that one month!

But why is she in the Northern Border?!

“…haven’t seen for a while, it seems like you still haven’t changed, your highness…” Blue Bird chuckled in amusement as she watched as Cian stood in front of her fearlessly, or probably something like that—with her perception, how could she not see his body slightly trembling, but even still he was holding himself pretty well, not wanting to yield or show weakness. She knows that this wasn’t intentional, but a deep-seated fear engraved within his bones—seeing this, Blue Bird’s eyes sparkled, not in contempt or scorn but recognition.

With her status, nothing can attract her eyes. If she wanted, she actually could contend and shake Sitana’s throne, as she was also one of the direct descendants of the Demon Lord bloodline, specifically, the fifth Demon Lord—she has one of the most potent and dense bloodlines of the Demon Lord Lineage. However, she disdains the world and mundane affairs and never likes taking responsibilities—being an empress and ruler is like a bird inside a cage, is what she always likes to say.

She wouldn’t care as long as the Demon Empire still stand strong, she wouldn’t intervene in any affairs.

However, a few years ago, whether he didn’t know or not, a boy actually appeared taking liberties on her(peeking on her taking a bath and shamelessly intruding) which quite anger her but at the same time felt interested—it’s been so long since someone had dared blasphemed against her, making her felt funny.

This runt actually has such guts…?

Yes, he’s ignorant…but even ignorance has limits.

Killing him would've been easy, but she couldn't do that, even if that was the first time she had seen the boy, she knows who he was, not because she recognizes him but because she can feel the dense Demon Lord Lineage within him. She could beat him up, but she mustn't beat him heavily. And, reprimanding was useless against such a shameless boy. And so, she could only punish him by turning him into a servant and tortured him like one, making things difficult.

In fact, even those with cruel masters torturing their servants seemed lukewarm compared to her. However, she never tortured him physically but spiritually and mentally—she did this, not only because of his sins but a part of it was also because he was Sitana’s very precious baby boy…!

Although they barely have interactions with each other, but she and Sitana always had a silent rivalry towards each other. Although she can’t hurt him physically, making him suffer by other means is actually not an impossibility!

However, what made her surprise was that, no matter what she does to him, the boy would never succumb and fell in despair!

He was a debauchee, a worst good-for-nothing, weak little ant… but comparing with pride and stubbornness, he was actually much harder and tougher than any powerful and strong men. In fact, even Lucifalion, he was not as impressive as this boy—

He feared her, that’s a fact—but letting him fall in despair and humiliation, that was hard as ascending into the heavens!

A month, she had done many things—she was even more demonic compared to Cinderella’s step-mother and step-sisters combined by a hundredfold, but the boy still held on until Sitana had found them and took him away! She could even still remember the look of hatred and anger, as if saying ‘I’ll remember this! Just you wait’ at the time he left, making her amused.

Since then, she had grown interested in this boy—and as expected, even with her lessons, the boy still didn’t change, even becoming a man with five vices that any good for nothing people cannot be compared with.

However, suddenly something happened…

He changed…

Blue Bird couldn’t understand what had happened for him to change so suddenly… his power even alarmed her. Other than the Demon Empress, Blue Bird was one of those who truly know what was happening in the Demon Empire, high and low…

Seeing Blue Bird’s appearance, the dance hall turned solemn and silent. Here, not one didn’t recognize her. Even if she turned to ash, everyone would still be able to recognize her!

With dread, there was also fear…!

What is she doing here?

What had rattled her nest that she came out?!