Nox slowly set the small hors d’oeuvre back onto a silver tray.

’Ridiculously expensive... and it tastes like absolutely nothing.’

As the nobles continued discussing land, taxes, and family fortunes, he let out a quiet sigh.

Then something completely captured his attention.

At the far end of the enormous hall.

Standing beside one of the Church’s massive pillars.

A woman with completely white hair stood there with an unsettling calmness.

Her blue eyes seemed to gaze upon the world from a place of absolute superiority.

She wore an elegant white gown adorned with black and blue details, looking more like a queen than an ordinary noblewoman.

But she wasn’t the one who stopped Nox’s thoughts.

It was the person standing beside her in chains.

A thick silver chain encircled another woman’s neck.

White hair.

A short black dress reinforced with pieces of armour.

Metal boots.

And a sheathed katana hanging at her waist.

The woman drank straight from a bottle of wine without the slightest concern for the stares she received.

Nox narrowed his eyes.

’No way...’

He recognised her.

She was the exact same woman who had appeared in the abandoned tavern.

The one who had fought the Inquisitors.

The one wielding a bladeless sword who had literally frozen the ground beneath her feet.

Now she stood there in chains.

As if she were nothing more than an ornament.

The strangest part was that nobody seemed shocked.

The nobles walked past both women.

They greeted them.

They looked upon them with profound respect.

Some even bowed their heads slightly before the woman in the white gown.

Meanwhile, the chained woman kept drinking her wine with a thoroughly bored expression.

As though the entire event irritated her beyond words.

"Do you know her?"

Tessa’s voice pulled Nox from his thoughts.

"You could say that... we shared a bottle of liquor in the tavern of an abandoned village."

The redhead followed his gaze.

Her expression shifted for only a brief moment.

"Don’t stare at them for too long."

"Why?"

"They’re members of Frostgard’s royal family."

Nox looked at them again.

The woman in the white gown was smiling.

But that smile...

It didn’t convey happiness.

It conveyed dominance.

As though absolutely everything in that room belonged to her.

◇◆◇

A short distance away...

Misty smiled politely while three young nobles attempted to impress her.

"My family owns more than four hundred hectares of farmland."

"That’s nothing."

Another proudly raised his wine glass.

"My father was recently granted full administration over a nearby town."

"I even own my own vineyards."

Misty nodded with a flawless smile.

"How impressive."

"Isn’t it?"

"It must be incredibly difficult managing so many properties."

The three men immediately began trying to outdo one another.

Meanwhile, Catherine stood beside the dancer, listening to the entire conversation.

Her smile nearly vanished.

’Showing off... again.’

One of the men stepped a little closer.

"And where do you ladies live?"

Misty answered before Catherine could.

"We’re relatives of the Pyrell family."

"Ah..."

The three men suddenly looked even more interested.

Catherine discreetly studied the expensive watches, rings, and gold chains they wore.

’Just one of those pieces of jewellery... would’ve fed my siblings for months.’

She quietly clenched her fists.

Then she remembered Misty’s words.

’It’s just a costume. Breathe. It’s only a game.’

She took a deep breath.

As she exhaled...

The tension gradually faded away.

"Are you alright?"

Misty asked without taking her smile off the nobles.

"Yes."

The cat girl smiled much more naturally.

"Much better."

◇◆◇

Senna was chatting with several elegantly dressed women.

"I’m terribly sorry for your loss."

"Miss Tessa was an exemplary heroine."

"I can’t imagine how much you’ve suffered."

Senna slightly inclined her head.

"I truly appreciate your kind words."

Though deep inside...

She knew perfectly well that her daughter was still alive.

That made the entire conversation unbearably awkward.

Only a few steps away, Tessa remained firmly attached to Nox’s arm.

It wasn’t an affectionate gesture.

It was strategic.

Walking beside a man discouraged most noblemen from approaching her.

The redhead studied every face around her with unmistakable contempt.

’They’re all smiling. They’re all pretending. They’re all applauding the people who destroyed our lives.’

Nox felt Tessa’s hand tighten slightly around the sleeve of his suit.

"Don’t get nervous."

"I’m not nervous."

"You lie pretty badly."

The girl let out a soft laugh.

"Maybe."

◇◆◇

Suddenly...

The lights throughout the enormous hall began to dim.

The conversations gradually died away.

Everyone’s attention shifted towards the massive double doors leading to the Church’s main sanctuary.

The doors slowly opened.

A profound silence settled over the building.

A man walked forward with absolute composure.

He wore a long white robe embroidered with delicate golden patterns.

His white hair reached the middle of his back.

His hands remained clasped behind him.

And upon his face rested a gentle smile.

Far too gentle.

The entire crowd burst into applause.

"It’s Saint Gabriel!"

"Your Holiness!"

"What an honour!"

The man offered a slight bow.

"Thank you."

His voice was warm.

Almost comforting.

"Beautiful occasions such as this Night of Candles are only possible through the blessings of the Gods."

The applause grew even louder.

Gabriel raised one hand toward the side of the hall.

"And, of course... thanks to the unwavering support of our beloved Queen, Helen Hailborn."

Every eye immediately turned towards the woman in the white gown.

Queen Helen.

She smiled with flawless elegance.

Holding the chain around the white-haired woman’s neck with only one hand.

As though she were walking a pet.

Helen offered a graceful curtsy.

"I would never have been reunited with my beloved Dawn... my daughter..."

Her voice was sweet.

"...had it not been for the extraordinary work of Saint Gabriel’s Inquisitors."

The crowd erupted into enthusiastic applause once more.

Nox looked at the chained woman.

Then he understood.

’That woman... is Frostgard’s princess.’

The warrior slowly raised her head.

Her expression remained utterly indifferent.

She didn’t even seem to hear the praise directed at the Church.

She simply finished the bottle of wine in one long gulp.

Then she casually dropped the empty bottle onto the floor.

A servant immediately rushed over to retrieve it.

As though it were the most normal thing in the world.

Dawn let out a long yawn.

Then, with perfect calm, she picked up a pale blue mask resting on a nearby table.

She slowly placed it over her face.

And fell silent once again.

Nox felt Tessa grip his arm tightly.

Very tightly.

The demon glanced sideways.

The redhead was trembling.

Not from fear.

From rage.

"Tessa?"

"That man..."

Her voice was barely above a whisper.

"...that damned Saint... he’s the one who turns women into heroines."

Nox continued watching Gabriel.

He was still smiling.

Still speaking with complete serenity.

As though he were the kindest person in the world.

But something inside Nox...

Didn’t trust that smile.

Not even a little.

Gabriel slowly extended both arms toward the assembled guests.

"Welcome, everyone."

The remaining lights dimmed even further.

Only the countless rows of candles throughout the hall remained illuminated.

The Saint smiled once more.

"The time has come..."

He paused briefly.

"...to officially begin the grand Night of Candles."