"The time has come... to officially begin the grand Night of Candles."

Saint Gabriel’s voice echoed throughout the vast hall.

Every conversation came to an immediate halt.

The doors to the main sanctuary slowly opened completely, and instead of knights or nobles, a group of people began walking toward the centre of the Church.

They wore tattered clothes.

Patched coats.

Worn-out boots.

And each carried a small lit torch in their hands.

The contrast with the rest of the hall was striking.

While the nobles wore glittering jewellery, luxurious fabrics, and expensive perfumes, these people bore the unmistakable marks of cold and hunger upon their faces.

A murmur spread through the crowd.

"They’re letting these people in again?"

"How unpleasant..."

"Watch your purse."

One masked woman clutched her handbag tightly as she stepped closer to another.

"These street rats can rob you with the blink of an eye."

Nox heard every word.

He casually turned his head.

And spotted Catherine a few metres away.

The cat girl held a skewer of shrimp in one hand.

With the other...

She had just slipped a small leather purse into the folds of her dress with flawless ease.

Nox let out a quiet chuckle.

’Well... it’s awful to admit... but that woman isn’t exactly wrong.’

As if she had felt his gaze, Catherine discreetly gave him a thumbs-up.

Then she resumed eating as though absolutely nothing had happened.

◇◆◇

The people from the poorer districts walked toward the enormous circle of candles in the centre of the hall.

One by one, they lowered their torches.

The flames slowly spread from candle to candle.

Within seconds, hundreds of tiny flames illuminated the vast Church with a warm orange glow.

The entire crowd burst into applause.

"How beautiful!"

"The heroes shall never be forgotten!"

"Glory to the fallen!"

Tessa clenched her teeth.

Her fingers nearly tore through the fabric covering Nox’s sleeve.

’They abandoned us... they left us to die... and now they think they can honour us with a few candles.’

Her jaw trembled with rage.

"When those candles go out..."

she whispered.

"...I’m going to kill Saint Gabriel."

Nox kept his eyes fixed ahead.

"No."

Tessa immediately turned toward him.

"No?"

"Not yet."

The redhead frowned.

"Why?"

"Because we’re surrounded."

Nox subtly gestured with his eyes.

Knights.

Guards.

Inquisitors.

Armed nobles.

Servants.

Enemies were everywhere.

"If we attack now..."

he continued.

"...we’ll be dead before we ever reach the doors."

Tessa took a deep breath.

She knew he was right, even if she hated admitting it.

"Then..."

she asked.

"...what do we do?"

A faint smile appeared beneath Nox’s leather mask.

"I have another target."

"Who?"

The demon subtly shifted his gaze toward the far end of the hall.

Queen Helen was speaking with several nobles.

Only a few metres away...

Her daughter, Dawn, remained chained.

"I’m not interested in the Queen."

Tessa followed his gaze.

"...I want to speak with the Princess."

The heroine raised an eyebrow.

"Her?"

"Yes."

"What for?"

"Because if we can free her..."

Nox paused briefly.

"...she could become an ally."

"And if she refuses?"

He smiled in a way that sent a chill down Tessa’s spine.

"Then we’ll take her hostage."

The redhead stared at him for several seconds.

Then she couldn’t help letting out a quiet laugh.

"Now that..."

she said.

"...actually sounded like something a demon would say."

◇◆◇

Several servants began circulating through the hall.

They carried fresh trays laden with wine.

Cheeses.

Meats.

Fruit.

And elaborate hors d’oeuvres decorated with almost absurd extravagance.

Nox picked up a glass and handed another to Tessa.

"Come."

"Now?"

"It’s the perfect time."

The two of them slowly made their way toward the edge of the hall.

Meanwhile...

Misty was still surrounded by the same group of nobles.

"...and I also inherited an entire estate."

"My family owns three mines."

"I even have a carriage imported from the south."

Misty smiled with flawless elegance.

"How fascinating."

’How insufferable.’

Only a few steps away, Catherine seemed to be having a much better time.

She sampled everything she could find.

"What’s this?"

She picked up a small pastry.

"This is amazing!"

Then another.

Then a glass of wine.

And while nobody was watching...

Another purse mysteriously disappeared.

’Old habits die hard.’

◇◆◇

Senna glanced discreetly toward her daughter.

She watched Tessa walking away beside Nox.

A hint of concern crossed her face.

’What are they planning...?’

But before she could follow them, two women approached once more.

"Mrs Pyrell... my deepest condolences."

She smiled politely again.

"Thank you very much."

◇◆◇

Helen finished her glass of wine.

"Please excuse me for a moment."

She handed the chain fastened around Dawn’s neck to one of the guards.

"I’ll be away for a few minutes."

The knight bowed his head.

"Don’t worry, Your Majesty."

"Keep a close watch."

"The Princess isn’t going anywhere."

Helen smiled.

"Not with those chains."

Then she disappeared down one of the corridors.

The guards remained perfectly still, convinced that nobody would be foolish enough to approach.

◇◆◇

Nox and Tessa stopped beside a nearby table.

They picked up a pair of glasses of wine like any other guests.

The Princess remained leaning against a pillar.

Drinking straight from yet another bottle.

Bored, without even bothering to look up.

Tessa stood quietly beside Nox, appearing to accompany nothing more than an ordinary nobleman.

But in reality...

She was watching every movement around them.

Nox leaned casually against the wall, ending up only a few inches away from Dawn.

He didn’t turn his head.

He didn’t even look at her.

He simply spoke in a completely casual tone.

"What would you give..."

he asked.

"...to take those chains off?"

For several seconds...

There was no reply.

Then...

The Princess laughed.

"That was a good joke."

She took another swig from the bottle.

"Sounds like something impossible."

Nox remained silent.

"Even if someone managed to free me..."

she continued.

"...we’re inside a Church."

She lazily gestured around with the bottle.

"Knights, Inquisitors, Saint Gabriel, guards, armed nobles... where exactly would I go?"

She smiled half-heartedly.

"Nice attempt at a joke."

Tessa pretended to be looking elsewhere.

But she kept track of every person who passed nearby.

No one seemed to be paying them any attention.

Perfect.

Nox spoke again with the same calm tone.

"I’d share another bottle of whiskey with you."

Dawn stopped drinking.

"...just like we did in that abandoned tavern."

The Princess froze completely.

Very slowly...

She turned her head.

For the first time that night, she looked directly at the man wearing the black top hat.

The mask concealed part of his face.

The makeup hid his skin.

But that voice...

There was no mistaking it.

A slow smile spread across Dawn’s lips.

"I knew it..."

she whispered.

"...I knew I recognised that voice."

Her blue eyes sparkled with amusement.

"So, the famous Demon of the Mountains..."

The bottle slowly lowered from her lips.

"I never imagined I’d run into you at the most boring party in the entire kingdom."

A faint smile appeared beneath Nox’s mask.

"I never imagined I’d find you wearing a chained collar."

Dawn laughed again.

The chains rattled softly.

"Believe me..."

she replied with unsettling composure.

"...that wasn’t part of my plans either."

Without taking her eyes off him, she added in a voice barely above a whisper,

"And now..."

Her smile became far more dangerous.

"...tell me what kind of madness you’re planning."