"How is he?" asked Saint Maria as she looked out of the window. Niki was silent, admiring her dress. They were dressed for the gathering, and seeing her beauty made it less tedious.


    "The answer you want is that he is alright," Niki said. "However, he seems to have realized that we were following him. Everything we saw might just be an act."


    Niki knew that it was no act, but he needed to give her the right mindset about people. Saint Maria cannot go on trusting everyone, and it was what Master Edward wanted from him. However, he was not doing it for that old monster but humanity as a whole.


    "It was not an act, even if he knew that we were following him," she smiled. "The fool cannot act even if his life depended on it."


    "You are too trusting of him," Niki warned as he saw her walk to open the drawer and wear a mask that was inside. "What is that?" he frowned.


    "The ball today is about peace between races, so it helps if everyone wore a mask," said Saint Maria. "This is also, in a way, a tradition to uphold equality."


    ''...she is so annoying,'' Niki had to admit this. Her ideas about peace and whatever were more like sick delusions that she needed to survive. ''I bet she feels good when she says them, but it is marginalizing the sufferings of war victims.''


    However, if she wanted him to wear a mask, then it was even better for him. Niki did not want his face to be known by the nobles of these kingdoms. It was already troublesome on its own that Lucas saw his face.


    Niki had a mission, and it was to sneak into Celestia using his powers. This might allow him to bypass the Law of Selection and gain Val''s powers directly.


    It was one thing to hate the gods and another to steal from them. His n might indeed make him the banished of Celestia, but he did not care, as it was never kind to him.


    "Wear your mask," Maria asked of him, handing him a ck mask that covered his nose and eyes. Niki sighed as he ced it on his face, and it turned out to be an enchanted item. "Don''t worry about it falling off."


    Saint Maria smiled at him from behind her white and gem-embedded mask. Itplemented her dress and earrings, giving her an angelic aura.


    They left the mansion and headed toward the ball, but Master Edward did not apany them. When Niki asked the princess, she said that he did not like such events and he would rarely attend.


    The ball was hosted by the lord of this city, a name that Niki did not bother knowing. The dining hall was grand, and food tables lined every side, with the middle opened for chitchat and dancing. Small gardens mottled the mansion, allowing the people inside to stand beside them and chat.


    "The Rosian Royal Family is here," announced the herald of the ball. All eyes turned to look at them, and Niki realized another role of his: to help the princess on such asions.


    The job was bing increasingly annoying, but it would be over in a few days, as long as his ns seeded. A part of his n and one of its essentials depended on today''s performance.


    "Wee, honored guests," said a suspicious guy in a mask who came forward. "I am the host of today, Lord..." and that was the end of Niki''s interest. Instead, his interest was in the guests, who were flocking their way like doves.


    "Greetings, your highness."


    "Princess Maria is as lovely as always."


    "An honor to meet you atst," said a man who the crowd allowed through. It was none other than the priest that Niki saw in the vision. "I expect to see you in the ritual in a few days," he said with a creepyugh, kissing her hand.


    "I shall attend indeed," she smiled oblivious, although Niki could tell that she was forcing it. "I learned a lot about Lord Vyxas'' great deeds."


    As the conversation went on, Niki stood in the background. A few people noticed him, and they could all tell that he was a new retainer of her highness.


    Nobles of the Bestial Kingdom did not care a lot about him, as they did not know the kingdom''s internal affairs. Then, however, Rosian nobles began to notice him, as a retainer of her highness was the desired position by almost all young men.


    "Hello there," said a person in a mask, and Niki almost rolled his eyes at him.


    "You are talking to the wrong person," said Niki as he looked at the princess. Lucas mirrored Niki, and his gaze lingered on the princess before sighing.


    "As beautiful as ever," muttered Lucas. "Again, I feel like she is the sun that I must not approach."


    "You are the bastard of the Rosia Kingdom and the most hated young man in this generation," said Niki. "She is the princess admired by all and one of the best candidates to inherit the throne. A sun indeed, and you are a wingless bird."


    "A wingless bird can fly if the wind guides him," smiled Lucas with hope, but Niki only shook his head. "Am I too ambitious?" he sincerely asked.


    "No one is too ambitious in a world where any ambitions can be realized," said Niki. "However, I do not think that associating with the princess will lead you anywhere good."


    "You are warning me from her instead of warning her from me?"


    "I warned her from you too," Niki said, standing with his back straight. "I believe that nothing good wille out of your feelings."


    "The future is unclear," said Lucas as he threw his hands behind his head. "No one knows what will happen from now on."


    "You are quite sure, despite living in a world of demons and gods," Niki turned to him mockingly. "The future is clear to many, but it can be rewritten. That is more urate."


    "Oho," said Lucas. "Well, it seems that you are also going to be hated if I keep talking to you. I will go drink outside if you want to find me."


    "You are too young to drink," Niki frowned, and Lucas took it as a joke, heartilyughing as he left. Niki sighed at how vain the nobles were.


    Then, he turned back toward the crowd. The masks fit them so well, and Niki preferred them over their faces. At least, they were wearing masks instead of changing their faces into one, which was far creepier.


    ''I don''t think she will miss this chance,'' Niki scanned the crowd, but there were no signs of his target. ''I guess she has yet to arrive.''


    Niki turned to leave the ball and walked toward the second floor, going toward a balcony. It was a safer ce to avoid mingling with the nobles and an excellent view to finding his target. A waiter arrived to offer him drinks, and Niki took one.


    ''Alcohol,'' Niki stared at his reflection. ''I hated it before, and I hate it now. It seems some things never change,'' he thought to himself and wondered again why anyone would choose to lose their mind.


    "Hello, mysterious retainer," said a voice from behind him. Niki turned to look at the woman, and she was in her mid-twenties. "Do you want to share a drink with me?" she flirtingly smiled.


    "I am underaged, young miss," said Niki to the masked woman, and she froze. It was no wonder that his words were a surprise since most noblemen did not care about such a thing.


    "Then I can teach you a thing or two," she walked over to him and ced her hand on his neck. rms rang in Niki''s mind as the feeling of intimacy terrorized him.


    "Remove your hand, or you won''t have one," he said harshly, and the woman flinched at his re. A primal fear made her tremble as she met his crimson eyes.


    "Insolent brat..." she was fuming, and Niki realized that it was too hasty to threaten a noblewoman like that. Their ego was quite abnormal. "Do you think that you can..."


    "There you are, Lyle," a voice broke their conversation, and it was no other than the princess herself. "I need you with something. Do you have a minute?"


    "Yes, your highness," Niki stepped away from the woman and bowed to the saint, who turned toward the woman.


    "Can I help you, Miss Abagail?"


    "Ah, no," the woman shrunk back. "I will take my leave now," she hurried to run away from them, and the two watched her until the princess sighed.


    "I am sorry, Lyle. This happened because she wanted to use you and gain information on me. This woman is one of my brother''s followers, and she is bent on prying into my life."


    "I understand as much, your highness," Niki said before asking. "Is there anything you need me to do? I could have handled that situation."


    "I know," Maria smiled. "However, my uncle contacted me about you. His friend wants to attend the ball, and he wants you to apany her.. Ah, there she is."