Chapter 13: Royal Ball Disaster, Secret Identities, and the Return of the Chicken Knight

The invitation was suspicious.

Gold-trimmed paper. Magical seal. Smelled like lavender and lies.

But Myra was already halfway into a ballgown by the time I said, "This is clearly a trap."

"Oh no, absolutely. But it's a fancy trap," she said.

Liria crossed her arms. "We're going in disguise. No using your real name."

"Fine," I sighed. "I'll be… Chad."

Mimi gagged. "No. Try again."

"Akari?" I offered.

"That's your 'cool anime OC' name," Liria said.

"Fine. 'Lord Pancakeus the Third.'"

"Acceptable," they all agreed.

---

We arrived at the royal palace wearing borrowed clothes, slightly burnt from Rina's attempt to iron with fire magic.

Inside, the ballroom was gorgeous: chandeliers of floating crystals, a floor so shiny I slipped twice, and nobles sipping sparkling fruit juice like it was gossip fuel.

And there, standing at the top of the grand staircase...

Was Prince Alaric.

Tall. Blonde. Smiling like he just won prom king and a war.

He pointed directly at me.

"There! That's the villain I've been searching for!"

Everyone turned to stare.

I waved awkwardly. "Good evening."

---

Guards surrounded us.

But before they could pounce, a blur of feathers crashed through the stained glass window.

BA-KAAAAWK!

"FEAR NOT, CITIZENS! FOR I—THE CHICKEN KNIGHT—HAVE ARRIVED!"

It was him.

The hero I once accidentally created by giving sentience to a chicken-shaped helmet.

Now he wielded a frying pan and justice.

"Chaos King!" he crowed. "We meet again!"

"…Do we have to?" I asked.

"You stole my destiny! My thunder! My seasoning salt!"

---

The ballroom turned into a battlefield.

Guards chased Liria (who kept freezing their pants), Myra danced-battled nobles, and Rina summoned an army of spoon golems.

Meanwhile, the Chicken Knight and I clashed in the center, our weapons ringing out like dinner bells.

"Your evil ends tonight!" he cried.

"I just came for the free snacks!"

Our duel reached the dessert table.

In a moment of panic, I grabbed a cheesecake and flung it like a ninja star.

Direct hit.

The Chicken Knight fell.

"...Delicious," he whispered, then passed out.

---

As we escaped through a hidden passage, Mimi asked, "Why does this always happen when we try to party?"

"Because fate is allergic to us," I said.

We emerged into the night, glittery, bruised, and somehow more famous than ever.

Myra looked at me and smiled.

"You know… for a villain, you're really bad at being bad."

I smirked. "Guess I'm just chaotic neutral."

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[Next Chapter: Final Chapter — The Last Pancake, The Ultimate Wish, and A Villain's Happy Ending (?)]

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