The Banquet (1)

Julius stepped into his dorm room, the door clicking shut behind him. The faint scent of incense lingered in the air, a stark contrast to the chaos of the duel he had just walked away from. Elaine was seated on the edge of the bed, her silver hair cascading over her shoulders, her emerald eyes sharp and unyielding. She glanced up as he entered, her expression unreadable.

"Well?" she asked, her voice cool and detached. "Did you kill him?"

Julius smirked, tossing his coat onto a nearby chair. "Kill who?"

Elaine raised an eyebrow. "The boy you just fought. The one everyone's whispering about. Alex, was it?"

Julius chuckled, running a hand through his white hair. "Ah, Alex. No, I didn't kill him. Though I could have. Easily."

Elaine's lips pressed into a thin line. "Why didn't you?"

Julius tilted his head, his blue eyes glinting with amusement. "Because a god can do whatever he wants with his creations. And right now, I want Alex alive. For now, at least."

Elaine stared at him, her expression a mix of disbelief and irritation. "You're insane. You really think you're a god?"

Julius spread his arms, his smirk widening. "I created this world, Elaine. Every person, every kingdom, every blade of grass—it all came from me. If that doesn't make me a god, I don't know what does."

Elaine rolled her eyes. "You're delusional."

Julius laughed, a low, dark sound that sent a shiver down Elaine's spine. "Maybe. But it's a fun delusion to have."

He turned away from her, walking over to the wardrobe in the corner of the room. He opened it, revealing an array of luxurious outfits, each one more extravagant than the last. Julius hummed to himself as he began rifling through the clothes, pulling out a few options and holding them up to the light.

"What are you doing?" Elaine asked, her tone laced with irritation.

"Picking out what we're going to wear to the banquet," Julius replied, his voice casual, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.

Elaine blinked. "We?"

Julius glanced over his shoulder, his smirk returning. "Of course. You're my plus one, remember? And if we're going to make an impression, we need to look the part."

Elaine's lips pressed into a thin line. "I'm not your accessory."

"No," Julius agreed, pulling out a sleek black suit with silver accents. "You're my trump card. But that doesn't mean you can't look good while playing your part."

He tossed the suit onto the bed and turned back to the wardrobe, pulling out a deep emerald gown that shimmered faintly in the light. He held it up, studying it for a moment before nodding in approval.

"This will do," he said, turning to Elaine. "It matches your eyes."

Elaine stared at the gown, her expression a mix of disbelief and annoyance. "You expect me to wear that?"

Julius shrugged. "Unless you'd rather go naked. I'm not opposed to that, either."

Elaine's cheeks flushed with anger, but she didn't respond. Instead, she snatched the gown from his hands and stormed into the bathroom, slamming the door behind her.

Julius chuckled, turning his attention back to his own outfit. He held up the black suit, the fabric smooth and luxurious, with intricate silver embroidery that caught the light. It was bold, elegant, and undeniably **drippy**.

"Perfect," he murmured, laying the suit out on the bed. He began to undress, his movements unhurried, as if he had all the time in the world.

---

The next morning, the academy was abuzz with activity. The royal banquet was the event of the year, and the entire campus was alive with excitement. Carriages lined the streets, their polished surfaces gleaming in the sunlight, and the air was filled with the sound of chatter and laughter.

Julius stood in front of the mirror, adjusting the cuffs of his suit. The black fabric hugged his frame perfectly, the silver embroidery catching the light with every movement. His white hair was styled neatly, and his blue eyes gleamed with a dangerous light.

Elaine emerged from the bathroom, her emerald gown flowing gracefully around her. The fabric shimmered faintly, accentuating her figure, and the color brought out the sharpness of her eyes. She looked stunning, though her expression was anything but pleased.

Joseph stood by the door, his usual calm demeanor in place. He was dressed in a simple but elegant suit, his sword at his side. He gave Julius a nod as he approached.

"Ready, Young Master?" Joseph asked.

Julius smirked. "Always."

The three of them made their way to the carriage, the tension between Julius and Elaine palpable. As they climbed inside, Julius leaned back against the plush seat, his smirk never wavering.

"Relax, Elaine," he said, his voice smooth. "This is going to be fun."

Elaine shot him a glare. "Your idea of fun and mine are very different."

Julius chuckled. "You'll learn to appreciate it. Eventually."

---

The banquet hall was a sight to behold. Crystal chandeliers hung from the ceiling, their light reflecting off the polished marble floors. The walls were adorned with intricate tapestries, and the air was filled with the sound of music and laughter.

As Julius, Elaine, and Joseph entered, the room seemed to fall silent for a moment. All eyes turned to them, the whispers starting almost immediately.

"Is that Julius Vaelorian?"

"I heard he was disowned."

"Who's the girl with him? She's stunning."

Elaine's pointed ears, though hidden by the Veilstone Pendant, seemed to twitch at the attention. She kept her head high, her expression cold and unreadable, but Julius could feel the tension in her posture.

Julius, on the other hand, reveled in the attention. He walked with confidence, his smirk never faltering as he led Elaine and Joseph through the crowd.

As they made their way further into the hall, a familiar figure stepped into their path. Duke Alaric Blackwood, a tall, imposing man with sharp features and a commanding presence, stood before them. Beside him was Arthur Blackwood, his son, and Yurei, Arthur's servant.

"Julius Vaelorian," Duke Blackwood said, his voice deep and resonant. "I didn't expect to see you here."

Julius tilted his head, his smirk widening. "Duke Blackwood. A pleasure, as always. Though, I must admit, I'm not surprised to be here. After all, it was you who invited me."

The Duke's eyes narrowed, his interest piqued. "You? You're the one behind the Golden Compass?"

Julius spread his arms, his smirk turning into a full-blown grin. "Guilty as charged. Lucien Dross, at your service."

Arthur's jaw tightened, his grip on his sword hilt tightening. "You're lying."

Julius's gaze shifted to Arthur, his blue eyes glinting with amusement. "Believe what you want, Arthur. But the Golden Compass is mine. And if you're not careful, I might just take over your family's business next."

Arthur's face flushed with anger, but before he could respond, Julius turned to Yurei, his smirk softening into something almost genuine.

"Yurei," Julius said, his voice smooth. "It's been some time. How's life treating you?"

Yurei blinked, clearly caught off guard. "I... it's been fine, Lord Vaelorian."

Julius chuckled, pulling a small, elegant business card from his pocket and handing it to Yurei. "If you ever get tired of working for Arthur, give me a call. The Golden Compass could use someone with your skills. Better pay, better hours, and no arrogant young masters to deal with."

Yurei stared at the card, his expression a mix of surprise and confusion. Arthur's face turned red with anger, but Duke Blackwood raised a hand, silencing him.

"Enough," the Duke said, his voice firm. "This is neither the time nor the place for such discussions."

Julius inclined his head, his smirk never wavering. "Of course, Duke Blackwood. My apologies."

The Duke studied Julius for a moment, his expression unreadable. "We'll speak later, Vaelorian. I have... questions for you."

Julius's grin widened. "I look forward to it."

As the Blackwoods walked away, Julius turned to Elaine, his smirk softening into a more genuine smile. "See? I told you this would be fun."

Elaine rolled her eyes, but there was a flicker of amusement in her expression. "You're insufferable."

Julius chuckled. "And yet, you're still here."

Elaine didn't respond, but Julius could see the faintest hint of a smile tugging at the corners of her lips.

---

Julius led Elaine and Joseph through the banquet hall, his smirk never faltering as he greeted various nobles and dignitaries. He made a point of name-dropping the most important figures in the room, his tone casual but calculated.

"Ah, there's the royal family," Julius said, nodding toward a group of elegantly dressed individuals. "King Alden Belmont and Queen Seraphina. And of course, their daughter, Princess Sophia. Lovely girl, though a bit too idealistic for my taste."

Elaine raised an eyebrow. "You know the royal family?"

Julius chuckled. "I created them, remember?"

Elaine rolled her eyes, but Julius continued, undeterred.

"And over there," he said, gesturing toward a tall, broad-shouldered man with a scar across his cheek, "is Gareth Ironfist, the famous adventurer. He's slain more monsters than most people have seen in their lifetimes."

Elaine glanced at the man, her expression unreadable. "Impressive."

Julius smirked. "Not as impressive as me, but close."

As they continued through the hall, Julius's gaze landed on a group of nobles gathered near the center of the room. Among them was his father, Lord Cedric Vaelorian, his expression cold and unreadable.

"My dear father," Julius said, his tone dripping with sarcasm. "Looking as thrilled as ever to see me."

Elaine glanced at Julius, her expression softening slightly. "You're not going to talk to him?"

Julius shook his head. "Not yet. Let him stew for a while."

Finally, Julius's gaze landed on the group he had been waiting for. Standing near the far end of the hall, surrounded by a group of elven guards, was Merlin Ambrosius, the legendary Sorcerer King. Beside him stood the Windrider Clan, their silver hair and emerald eyes marking them as the elite of elven society.

"There they are," Julius said, his smirk widening. "The real reason we're here."

Elaine's eyes narrowed. "The Windriders?"

Julius nodded. "And Merlin himself. This is where the real game begins."

Elaine glanced at Julius, her expression a mix of curiosity and apprehension. "What are you planning?"

Julius chuckled, his blue eyes glinting with mischief. "You'll see."

With that, he led Elaine and Joseph toward the group, his smirk never faltering as he prepared to make his move.