บท 25: Not this time

"... I'm sorry, my lord, but when I heard you say those things to yourself, I couldn't control myself."

When Neonidas heard these words, he struggled to keep himself from laughing. Seeing Solara, who thought the insults and curses he hurled at the system were directed to himself, made it even harder to suppress his laughter. Yet, at the same time, he realized just how much Solara cared about him. This was an excellent opportunity for Neonidas. It seemed like a chance to make Solara fall in love with him, and if he succeeded, he could potentially control both Solara and Soren more easily in the future.

As previously mentioned, in this world, stat points didn't directly affect a person. Instead, they influenced one's soul and determined their potential and growth rate. For instance, Soren likely already had thousands of Mana stat points, and if Neonidas remembered correctly, Soren would have fifty thousand Mana stat points at his peak. Soren was that powerful. After all, he wasn't written into the novel as one of the strongest mages just for show.

Soren's potential was so immense that, even after just a month of training, he could probably defeat Neonidas with ease. However, in the original novel, Soren focused more on healing and enhancement spells, primarily because of the story's protagonist. But Neonidas was determined to make Soren specialize in destructive battle magic.

This was where the problem lay. A mage as powerful as Soren might not always want to remain under Neonidas' command or could even oppose him under certain circumstances.

That's why Neonidas saw the potential to use Solara as a means to control Soren. Furthermore, even though Neonidas refused to admit it, Soren, like Solara, had developed certain feelings. After all, even in the novel, Soren was depicted as someone who secretly enjoyed being dominated, which meant he couldn't exactly be described as entirely heterosexual. Moreover, it seemed Solara had significant potential as well. The key to controlling both of them lay in manipulating their emotions.

When Neonidas gently stroked Solara's cheeks with his fingers, she was visibly startled but didn't show any sign of protest.

"Thank you, Solara. I feel so lucky to have you by my side."

Upon hearing these words from her master, Solara's pupils dilated, and her face suddenly turned red. Though they might sound like simple sentences to an outsider, to Solara, they were like the most beautiful music she had ever heard. Her heart began to race with excitement, pounding so hard it felt like it might break through her ribcage.

"If you'd like, go and clean your face. Tear stains don't suit such a lovely face."

And there it was again. Neonidas had said something else that made her heart race like a rabbit's. Standing before him, she felt as though she were melting, her stomach fluttering with a strange sensation. However, the sound of a door opening quickly brought Solara back to reality.

"Enter," Neonidas commanded.

When Soren walked in and saw his sister standing unusually close to Neonidas, he paused for a moment in surprise. Solara quickly stepped back and hurried to the bathroom, and Soren realized something had happened, but refrained from asking any questions.

"You look quite sharp, Soren."

Hearing this compliment from his master, Soren smiled, quickly forgetting the odd scene he had just witnessed.

"Thank you, my lord... The ball will be starting soon..."

Seeing that Soren had something more he wanted to say, Neonidas paused for a moment, then realized what it was.

"Yes, you may sit at my table, but only if you behave yourself," he said.

Hearing this, Soren looked as though he might cry from happiness. At formal balls, it was traditional for couples to sit together at the same table. Additionally, those seated with the couple acted as witnesses to their future marriage. During the ball, Neonidas would be expected to sit with Allea according to this tradition, and Allea would bring two witnesses. Though initially insignificant, this custom had become an essential part of the world's culture over time.

Neonidas didn't have many people he would want as his marriage witnesses, anyway. Zalira might have been a reasonable choice, but close relatives couldn't officially serve as marriage witnesses.

Shortly after Solara returned from the bathroom, Neonidas began making his way to the palace ballroom.

Neonidas and Soren followed behind Solara, walking through the palace's massive corridors. The palace was a masterpiece of elegance and grandeur, with walls of white marble adorned with golden patterns. The warm light from crystal chandeliers sparkled on the stone floors, creating an enchanting atmosphere. Paintings and sculptures lining the corridors offered glimpses into the history and magnificence of the Empire.

As they approached the ballroom, the distant sounds of violins and harps grew louder. The palace's master musicians were treating the guests to a unique musical performance. When they arrived at the doors, two towering guards greeted them and slowly opened the grand entrance.

The Imperial Palace's ballroom was a work of art. The vast hall stretched as far as the eye could see, supported by massive gilded columns. The ceiling was adorned with frescoes depicting the legendary history of the palace—gods, heroes, and great victories. A colossal crystal chandelier hung from above, its hundreds of candles reflecting light across the room, illuminating every corner of the magnificent space.

At the center of the hall, a beautifully crafted marble floor immediately drew attention. In the very middle, the Imperial emblem was inlaid with gold. The view from the windows surrounding the hall was nearly enchanting; the gardens outside sparkled under the moonlight.

Luxurious tables prepared for the nobles lined the edges of the hall. Each table was adorned with handcrafted lace tablecloths and jewels. The food and drinks served were among the rarest delicacies of this world. Waiters, with their white gloves, moved gracefully, offering impeccable service.

As they entered the hall, Neonidas observed people engaging in conversation and dancing in their extravagant attire. Women wore silk dresses embellished with pearls, while men presented a noble stance in embroidered jackets. Everyone greeted one another with elegant gestures and polite exchanges. However, beneath this refined atmosphere, Neonidas was well aware of the rivalries and intrigues that lurked.

While Soren admired the surroundings in awe, Neonidas made his way to his designated, overly luxurious table. he saw that the table was elegantly prepared, with silver cutlery, diamond-cut wine glasses, and a stunning floral arrangement.

Neonidas was aware that all attention was on him from the moment they stepped into the hall. He walked forward with a composed demeanor, fully aware of the impact his presence had on those around him. Soren followed closely behind, while Solara trailed more hesitantly. The murmurs spreading through the guests were a testament to how quickly Neonidas' influence had grown.

Shortly after, silence fell over the hall. The orchestra began to play a livelier, more cheerful melody. The dance floor was ready for couples, and just then, a breathtakingly beautiful woman entered, accompanied by Duchess Lyranna. Princess Allea wore a green dress that complemented her eyes, and the emerald necklace around her neck sparkled under the light. Her grace immediately captivated everyone in the hall. The dress, hugging her slender waist, perfectly highlighted her nobility and beauty. As she smiled softly and greeted those around her, Neonidas' gaze became fixed on her. When the princess stepped into the hall, it felt as though the entire room revolved around her.

Moments later, the princess began walking toward Neonidas' table. At first, she appeared surprised upon noticing the two individuals with long white hair who looked strikingly similar. However, she maintained her composure and calmly sat beside Neonidas. Duchess Lyranna followed suit, taking her place beside the princess.

"You look exceptionally elegant today, Your Highness," Neonidas said, catching the princess off guard.

Although she had noticed that Neonidas had changed, she still struggled to fully accept this truth. The Neonidas she once knew, who stammered when speaking to her, couldn't even meet her gaze, and whose hands trembled with nervousness, were gone. In his place stood a man who now spoke while looking boldly into her eyes, a confident smile gracing his face.

"You look quite elegant yourself, Duke Neonidas," she replied.

Neonidas made a point of showing his satisfaction with Princess Allea's response. He gave a slight smile and bowed his head. His confident demeanor surprised not only the princess but also Duchess Lyranna at the table.

"Thank you for your kind words, Princess. However, no matter how elegant I may appear, I pale in comparison to your radiance tonight."

"You truly have changed, Duke Neonidas."

"Yeah.... I've been hearing that quite a lot these days."

At that moment, the music began to play in a more romantic, danceable style. Just then, Neonidas saw out of the corner of his eye that the man had stood up. For the first time in this life, an angry expression appeared on Neonidas' face.

The man, with blue eyes, black hair, was tall, and extremely handsome. The main male character of the story and the hero of humanity. Cold and harsh to everyone, but turning into a dog when it comes to the woman he loves, the perfect man of every woman's dreams. He was now heading toward Princess Allea, and according to the original novel, he was about to invite Princess Allea to dance, which would be an extremely embarrassing situation for Neonidas. The princess would not be criticized for dancing with another man instead of her fiancé; instead, Neonidas, who allowed his fiancée to dance with another man, would be the subject of mockery. Of course, that was the case in the original novel, not here.

Neonidas slowly turned toward Allea, extended his hand with a confident smile. "Princess Allea, would you share your dance with me on this beautiful evening?"