I Became the Villain’s Master - Chapter 117

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Chapter 117

I marveled at the ballroom’s transformation. Instead of tailcoats, the gentlemen wore riding attire, while the ladies donned dazzling dresses and jewels.

‘This event seems really formal.’

The Holy Festival was just another form of social gathering. Once the chosen partners received their handkerchiefs and departed for the monster hunt, a smaller, more intimate social scene would unfold among the ladies—a flurry of speculation on the victor, hushed gossip, and subtle power plays.

The thought of participating made my head throb.

‘I’ll just stand still like a tree,’ I decided.

Calming my racing heart, I glanced around.

‘Has Aria arrived?’ I wondered. She would be with Terrion this time, but her absence worried me.

‘Is she alone, like at the ball?’ The image of Aria trembling, surrounded by jealous noblewomen, like a scene from a third-rate novel, made my temples ache.

‘How dare they treat Aria like that!’ I wouldn’t stand idly by this time. I couldn’t bear to see tears welling in her rabbit-like eyes.

‘I have to help her!’

As I scanned the faces of the noblewomen, my eyes locked with a pair of intensely glaring ones.

‘Why is she looking at me like that?’ The look was a silent death threat, sending shivers down my spine.

‘But I haven’t done anything wrong!’ I felt unjustly targeted. However, I was here as Kiris’s partner. I couldn’t show any sign of intimidation. So, thinking of it as an initiation, I offered a smile.

The effect was dramatic! The sharp glare widened in disbelief.

‘Scary!’

Involuntarily, I lowered my head, feeling overwhelmed by her aura. The noblewoman, with a triumphant smirk, turned away. Thankfully, she didn’t spare me another glance.

‘Does she want to be friends with me? I should ask her if we get a chance to talk later!’

As a pacifist, I preferred resolving things through conversation. In any case, escorted by Kiris, I became the focus of countless gazes.

“I seem to be attracting more attention than at the ball,” I remarked.

“Mistress, does that displease you? Shall I take care of it?”

“No, I love it! I’ve always enjoyed being the center of attention,” I quickly reassured him, subtly restraining the volatile Kiris. Who knew what chaos he might unleash?

‘I’ll kill them all,’ he muttered under his breath.

How could I know if he was seriously contemplating ruining noble families? Thankfully, Kiris simply smiled and led me to the grand hall where the nobles were gathering.

“Oh…” I gasped, taking in the magnificent space, designed like a ballroom. True to the Holy Festival’s woodland setting, the vast hall had been erected within the forest, its interior far more luxurious than I had anticipated.

‘How did they even hang those chandeliers?’ I wondered, gazing at the illuminated fixtures above.

“Please call if you require anything,” a servant said respectfully, recognizing the Tower Lord, before retreating.

‘It’s like a picnic.’

While we waited for the other nobles to arrive, Kiris led me to the head table. “Sit beside me.”

“Oh, no, but…”

“It’s fine.”

I was about to protest more vehemently, but a fallen noble disobeying the Tower Lord would have been even more out of place. Just as the curious and hostile stares intensified, I compromised, taking a seat near Kiris, but not directly beside him.

“Tower Lord, you have arrived.”

“It seems the Duke Eckart has yet to arrive.”

The other nobles, sensing the shift in power, began to flock around Kiris. He acknowledged them perfunctorily, his gaze never leaving me. However, my view of him was soon obstructed by a group of noblewomen.

“Oh my, we heard the Tower Lord was bringing a partner, and we assumed it would be… the other one.”