Noble Gathering

Edmond quickly noticed the surprise on Damien's face, and the amusement in Damien's reaction brought a small smile to his lips. The peculiar boy then led them inside the vast mansion, which was about three times larger than Edmond's own home.

Outside the mansion, carriages adorned with lavish details stood, some even fancier than Edmond's. As they followed the boy through the grand halls, the sounds of classical music filled the air, creating a tranquil atmosphere.

The music felt oddly familiar to Damien, reminiscent of the classical pieces he often listened to back home, though it wasn't quite the same.

The walk was lengthy, but soon they arrived at the door from which the music emanated. The boy gracefully opened the large door and gestured for them to enter.

As the door swung open, Damien was hit with a wave of nostalgia; for a brief moment, he felt as if he had returned home. The scene before him reminded him of his younger years, attending similar events with his father and brother, and later, hosting gatherings with the country's elite.

Inside, the room resembled a grand ballroom, filled with elegantly dressed men and women engaged in conversation, enjoying the evening while sipping wine.

It had been a while since Damien had tasted wine, and the sight of the glasses in the guests' hands caused a lump to form in his throat. He could almost savor it from the aroma wafting through the air.

Edmond entered the room gracefully, with Damien closely following. A servant, noticing Edmond's presence, immediately approached and handed him a glass. Edmond seemed quite popular, as many eyes subtly shifted toward him upon his arrival.

"What was that thing?" Damien asked, glancing back at the strange boy as he walked away.

"It's called a Demi-human; don't pay them any mind," 

Just then, a handsome man with a well-toned physique approached them, arms wide open. They embraced before leaning back for a firm handshake. Damien took note of how they greeted one another in this world.

"Christopher, how are you?" Edmond asked as the two exchanged pleasantries.

"I'm doing well. I heard you got married! Where's your gorgeous wife? Don't tell me you didn't bring her along,"

"Sadly, she wasn't feeling well, so I decided to let her rest," 

"Oh, I see. Don't tell me she's already pregnant! You work fast. I didn't even know you were getting married until the day before. I'm guessing most people here don't know, and you're telling me you already have a bun in the oven? Well played!" 

"Unfortunately, it's nothing like that. She just has the flu. My wife's family is very private, which is why I hadn't informed anyone about the wedding," 

"Secretive, huh? Rumor has it that that greedy old pig has been trying to marry off his daughter to a wealthy nobleman for a long time," Christopher said with a mischievous smile. "But hey, rumors like that aren't to be trusted, am I right?"

"Indeed you are," Edmond replied, unfazed by Christopher's chatter.

Just then, everyone's attention was drawn to the door of the ballroom, which opened once again to reveal a striking figure stepping inside.

A young girl who looked no older than Damien entered the room. She was absolutely gorgeous, wearing a beautiful black dress. Her long white hair cascaded down to her feet, drawing the attention of everyone in the hall; she was almost like a doll that had come to life.

Edmond seemed particularly entranced by her. Looking at him, you wouldn't guess he had recently married. But there was something more behind his gaze, as if he weren't looking at her but past her. Damien was intrigued, unsure if it was love Edmond felt for the girl or something else entirely.

The girl entered with a bright smile that seemed to light up the room as she surveyed her surroundings. Edmond subtly said his goodbyes to Christopher and approached her.

Damien didn't budge; one look at Edmond told him it was best not to follow.

"Is this why he didn't bring his wife? Sneaky bastard," Christopher mumbled. He then turned his attention to Damien. "Hey, kid! Who are you? I haven't seen you before. What exactly are you to Sir Edmond?"

"I'm Sir Edmond's new attendant. My name is Lucas."

"Really? What happened to the bearded guy? His name was Victor, I think."

"You seem to know a lot, Sir Christopher," Damien commented, purposely ignoring Christopher's question. "Is it maybe your job?"

"My job to do what exactly?"

"To know stuff."

"To know stuff? Hah! Did your master tell you that, or are you just that smart?"

"He didn't need to; it was way too obvious, given the way you kept asking questions. Every time you open your mouth, a question comes out. Anyone would find that suspicious."

"You'd be surprised how many don't. But I see your point in calling me out. I'm not going to get any useful information from you, am I?" Christopher relented with a sigh. "Well, if that's the case, I better get going. See you around, kid."

"At least he's smart enough to know when he can't win," Damien mumbled as Christopher walked away.

Damien watched from a distance as Edmond continued his conversation with the girl. Though everyone seemed interested in her, none of them approached her except for Edmond.

What Damien thought was their interest suddenly became clear: they weren't interested in her at all; in fact, they were wary of her. This seemingly innocent girl, who looked like she couldn't hurt a fly, had a hall full of powerful mages sweating.

He observed from afar as they chatted. From a distance, it didn't look like they were discussing anything interesting—just the usual pleasantries, it seemed. But perhaps they were just putting on a show.

They were soon interrupted by the Demi-human boy, the same one who had escorted them inside. Damien couldn't hear what they were saying, but shortly after, they began to leave the hall.

Damien continued to watch from a distance as the three of them exited.