Not a single person was left out tonight. The girls danced. The guys danced. Both Nobles and Commoners alike all joined in. It was a rare occurrence that zero discrimination took place. Father rules with an iron fist here. He is the Blood and Iron Chancellor after all.
Even if one Noble lashed out against another, they would have been shown where the exit was without a chance to even realize what happened to them. And with Captain Claire lurking about, she is known for her efficiency. Everything went off without a hitch, and they knew how to act due to Chancellor Osborne's presence. It wasn't just him either, the Great Houses who actively went against Father also stayed in their lanes. Father has been dishing out tweaks to all kinds of laws and rules in place lately, and his actions would eventually culminate into what is known as the October War.
It is where the Noble Alliance reaches their breaking point, with Rufus Albarea and Duke Cayenne leading the opposition, all so Duke Cayenne could claim his false birthright. Since I plan to claim Testa-Rossa in this coming year or two, that will thwart Duke Cayenne's plan. Granted, the civil war will likely take place. The Nobles' uprising is only a matter of time. There just won't be an undercurrent to give rise to the Infernal Castle. I'm sure Rean and Class VII will still have their roles to play.
Rean and Class VII experienced a civil war playing through their very own eyes.
The October War was part of a larger play at hand where it gathers all seven Divine Knights. It isn't just me who is going to do those trials. Crow is preparing to tackle the Azure Trials soon. The Steel Maiden already claimed the Argent Trials after her "passing" in the War of the Lions. That is what allowed her to live to the present day. I will let Rean claim the Ashen Trials so he gets Valimar. I have no intention of taking him. Rufus will do the Auric Trials, while Rutger will do the Palatinate Trials. Father likely has Ishmelga already too.
As for mine, the Vermillion Trials, while the entrance point might be located at Dreichel's Plaza with that inactive magic circle, Testa-Rossa himself was presently chained up all the way underground. The Infernal Castle wasn't situated in another phase space like the Aureole, or didn't manifest out of nothing like the Azure Tree. No, the Infernal Castle is slumbering deep within Valflame Palace! Lucifen Lied is the incantation to trigger its rise. That's why it is considered the Hexen Clan's most forbidden incantation.
Believe it or not, the Divine Knights aren't actually as autonomous as Archaisms that are crafted by Ouroboros, or the dolls Joerg makes in the Rosenberg Studio. Each one has a conscience, and they can converse and speak freely with their pilots! With Roselia's help back a decade ago, I was even able to have a short conversation with Testa-Rossa, deep within my own consciousness!
With my head held high and eyes filled with anticipation of what is to come, my second dance with Aurelia Le Guin came to an end. Seeing her proficient in dancing was a surprise, but at the same time, it wasn't. Unlike Princess Alfin and I, Aurelia had already received her etiquette training as a Noble, despite being away from her estate so often. Because of that, I let her take the lead, and we received quite the applause once the dance finished.
Nobles began to disperse from Esmelas Garden. I knew what was coming next. After all, Father extended an invitation to meet both Princess Alfin and I, likely to talk about said Vermillion Trials. With my continuation to improve my foundations, I think I will be able to tackle whatever that lurks within Valflame Palace. According to the Black Records and the documents of the Hexen Clan, the inside of the Infernal Castle changes its structure depending on who tries to claim it. Knowing that I'm from Planet Earth, I have no idea what's going to happen inside it.
In a way, the Infernal Castle's structure is much like the Recluse Cube, where the Cube attaches to one's consciousness, and then it takes shape, becoming reality. A byproduct of the Aureole, the Sept-Terrion of Space.
I feel much more ready to tackle the Vermillion Trials now than I was when it first appeared at Dreichel's Plaza. I have access to the Enigma II, the Second Genesis, a Familiar of my own, AI KeA, and many friends who are willing to support me in the endeavor, even though the Party size can only reach six people. Who knows, the Vermillion Trials may behave like the last Instance Dungeon I tackled where the Party limit temporarily increased from six to twelve. Only time will tell for that.
So much can be accomplished while in groups. Even Reverie has over fifty playable characters!
Presently, I have invited Zin Vathek, Kilika Rouran, Aurelia Le Guin, Emma Millstein, Kevin Graham. Including me, that fills out the Party limit. Father might try to bring in one or two people under him like Claire or Lechter. Then you have Ouroboros, and by extension, Renne. Though from the looks of it, Renne doesn't have an interest in the Vermillion Trials, something about letting me do my own thing. I don't want to disturb her newfound lease on life, being a student at St. Astraia and all. And that includes Sherryl too.
I can't help but be curious as to what Father wants to talk about later. Even if it is just for a moment or two, I want to converse with Father. Not part of the Vermillion Trials, but as one would do as father to son. Unlike Rean, I still see Chancellor Osborne as my father. That fact hasn't changed. As for Rean, he doesn't know that Giliath is his Father. Only the two of us do. While I did break it to Elise who I am, I kept Rean's identity out of the picture. To Elise, Rean is Rean Schwarzer.
Now that the party reached its conclusion, the reporters have already dispersed from Esmelas Garden. The overall dance itself lasted around an hour. Once that was over the Nobles took the time to socialize with one another. I happily chatted away with the girls and the guys, while Princess Alfin chatted up a storm with Musse and Elise, likely going how great the dance was. Because of that, the night passed by really quickly.
To my surprise, my dancing did not end with Aurelia. A third girl reached out to me asking for one. It was Musse. She didn't exactly hide her intentions. She wanted to find out what I all was to her, since I am now Princess Alfin's fiance. Just like with Princess Alfin, Musse's etiquette hadn't reached the point where they were learning dances and all of that. I say that, but Musse was quite the fervent dancer. She took the lead on multiple occasions to a rather fast-paced song.
Even with that, I was able to keep up with Musse's pace, and it was an enjoyable dance overall. As a result, Musse's Favorability reached 50%, while Princess Alfin's Favorability is quite literally at 95%. Hers just needs one final push. As to what that is, I do not know. It likely will just trigger on its own. I'm fine with that.
Musse was quite cheerful at the end of the dance. I had absolutely zero clue what was going on in her head, but Princess Alfin and Elise seemed to enjoy it, so I didn't press further. It takes a lot to satisfy someone like Musse, so I'm just glad I have her Favorability unlocked, let alone it being at 50%.
It didn't go all the way through this one event, so that meant there would be more opportunities to encounter one another in the coming future. Musse, and likewise, Elise, hangs out around Princess Alfin daily, so that won't be hard to manage.
Ending the night off was a dance by a fourth girl. Emma actually requested it, so I couldn't exactly turn her down. I know she has feelings for me like other girls do, but we're taking our time. She's too occupied with her own training, and the upcoming Vermillion Trials. I expect her to enter the harem at some point, just not now.
It was quite mentally taxing dancing with several girls. Musse's dance tired me out a bit, even though I had the Gamer System backing me up. Emma wasn't obvious to this, so she opted for another slow song. She didn't say much during the dance. Her glasses remained foggy, barely uttering a word. I took the lead for this one, and she followed me around. Emma wore a glittery purple dress that matched her plum-colored hair. Dancing with her was enjoyable. Emma's Favorability is reaching its breaking point too like with Princess Alfin. It won't be long now till I likely receive Emma's Blessing and Princess Alfin's Blessing.
Renne and Sherryl opted to not dance, but I didn't forget about Sherryl's request to speak with me later. Renne told me about it as well. That didn't mean I didn't talk with the two during the socializing afterward. According to Renne, the two of them actually confided with the rest of the girls a little about what happened to them inside the DG Cult. Likely not the full picture, but seeing even Renne in a dress that wasn't one she typically wore, they likely showed off what took place then. They succumbed to some injuries, but thanks to my interference, they didn't get the worst of it.
An experience that doesn't need to be spoken in words. Just play Renne's Door in Sky the 3rd if you want to experience it.
Instead, I am curious to see if the girls' opinion will change of me, after learning the fact that I played the role of rescuing them.
Nonetheless, once all the dancing was finished and the socializing was wrapping up, I wandered back toward His Imperial Majesty. Once Emma and I finished dancing, she took some steps backward, and enjoyed being alone. The rest, including Fie, danced with everyone else and the Nobles accepted it as a formal gesture. Turning them down would also be counted as slapping the face of His Imperial Majesty just like with Alfin and I earlier, as they too are considered his guests.
No roughhousing happened, and the event was overall, pretty enjoyable. But all fun things must come to an end eventually.
Even though Fie managed to dance once tonight, I quickly found her playing hide-and-seek, not wanting to continue dancing at all. I found her reaction to this pretty funny. That white dress really did wonders on her.
During this time, Empress Priscilla used a couple maids to take everyone out of Esmelas Garden, and bid farewell to all the Nobles. Some left drunk, and their respective butlers or maids had to make sure they managed to leave Valflame Palace without incident. Good for them.
Rufus and Jusis, likewise, exchanged pleasantries with us. It was enough for Jusis's Favorability to unlock and Rufus's to slightly increase. It wasn't much to note down, as it wasn't a lengthy conversation. Like everyone else, they were here to enjoy the festivities. I just didn't think Rufus would ask Aurelia for a dance. It was quite the sight to behold, and at the same time, it allowed me to catch my breath with all the dancing I had done up until that point.
During this, Jusis learned that I was none other than the foreign emissary attending Valflame Palace tonight. He remained cordial, but he just so happens to be another member of Class VII! With this, I've met Rean, Alisa, Laura, Fie, Emma, and now, Jusis. Only Gaius, Machias, and Elliot remain to be seen. If you include the transfers, Crow and Millium, I've met Crow already, but Millium isn't born yet.
That's right, Born. Both the White Rabbit and Black Rabbit are manufactured in the Black Workshop. They're akin to KeA, homunculi!
With any luck, Millium should be born in the next year or two, with Altina following in her footsteps. I have no idea what Father is going to do regarding Millium, but I wouldn't be surprised if she ends up tagging along with me, due to her position as an Ironblood. She will be much more free compared to Lechter, Claire, or Rufus...
I could only shake that thought away for now. I saw Empress Priscilla guide the rest of the Nobles out of Valflame Palace, while our group remained behind. Once Empress Priscilla returned, she guided our friends out next, only leaving behind Princess Alfin and I with His Imperial Majesty.
When our gazes met, I didn't back down. Let's get this show on the road, shall we?