Extra's Abyss-Chapter 24: Banquet[2]

Noctis looked at his reflection, fixing his suit and making sure it was perfect. Since it was time to attend the party now, glancing at his phone on the table displaying the time.

[25th October, 5:09PM]

He let his hair fall freely as it reached till his neck, his bangs covering most of his eyes and little of his face.

Nodding to himself, "Nice, this black suit makes me look good with my decent-looking face." He wore a black suit with a matching inner shirt that complemented his smooth black hair.

Ericka's voice called me from the outside as Noctis was admiring the quality of his suit, "Nox, are you done? We have to leave now!"

Noctis took one last look at his reflection before putting on his watch and grabbing his mobile. He stepped outside wearing his watch. He looked ahead, his eyes landing on his Aunt Ericka.

She was wearing an elegant red dress that complemented her fair skin and blonde hair perfectly. Her red dress had gold embroidery in the shape of roses, matching her warm golden eyes.

Noctis paused for a second before he walked towards Ericka, his gaze fixed on her presence. "I thought women were the ones who took the most time to get ready, and there's y—" He got cut off as a hand smacked his head.

"I dare you to complete that sentence, brat!"

Ericka's warm smile sent goosebumps across his body, taking a step back. Noctis's lips twitched as he quickly spoke, "Aunt, you look gorgeous! The red dress along with the gold roses really matches well with your beauty".

Ericka nodded her head, feeling pleased. She eyed Noctis, looking at him from head to toe. Before she could compliment him back, Noctis spoke again.

Noctis raised his head a little, his blue eyes looking through the bangs, "Lira really chose a good suit; it really makes me look cool.right?"

looked at him with a complicated gaze. Lira wasn't the only one who noticed Noctis's peculiar way of undervaluing his own appearance, but she didn't point it out for now and went along with him.

'Just what happened to you, Nox?' Letting out an exhausted sigh, she walked towards the vehicle waiting for them.

Noctis followed behind Ericka, stepping into the back seat of her car.

The vehicle drove towards their destination as both of them talked casually behind, Noctis nervously about meeting his friends, Ericka making fun of him as usual, nearly 30 minutes later.

The vehicle came to a stop at the entrance of a huge mansion of white and blue color; it was a little smaller than Duke's mansion.

Both of them got out, instantly catching the attention of the other guests attending the party. Noctis walked with his Aunt Ericka; the guard let them in without looking at the invitation, as he had already been informed by someone higher than them.

Noctis could hear murmurs about him and his aunt; ignoring them, he walked ahead, confident on the outside while screaming on the inside.

"Hey, isn't that..."

"Yeah, it's him or her, damn..."

"His entire family is..."

"Hey, shhh, don't talk about that! dude."

"Yeah, even if the head is gone, he's legitimately the new duke till he reaches a certain age."

"Who's that besides him?—-"

"Huh, you don't know? , dude, that's her—"

"Huh, who exactly...?"

"Dude, it's her!"

"Fuck you, dude, just say the name, bitch!"

"The Berserker Angel, dude! also rip...."

"Huhhh? Shit! Fuck me, I am so dead...."

On the other hand, Ericka blew off every single person who was murmuring about her and Nox. She only calmed down when she noticed Nox walking beside her silently with confidence radiating off him.

SFor some reason, feeling proud, Ericka decided to overlook them for the time being.

Noctis was far from being confident; he was literally having cold sweats, feeling dozens of gazes piercing him.

Soon they entered the mansion; the interior was luxurious and elegant, with chandeliers hanging from the ceiling and marble floors gleaming underfoot.

As he mingled with other guests, Noctis observed that the attendees were around his age or slightly younger, often accompanied by their older siblings. The absence of adults in the gathering puzzled him.

He looked at his aunt with a confused look on his face, although it was half covered with his hair. Ericka knew what he wanted to ask: "The adults have their own circle in a different room; here is your field box."

Feeling Noctis's hand gripping hers and trembling slightly.

Placing her hand on his head, she gently said while giving her best smile. "Nox, I know you can do it, and don't worry, everything will be fine, I am sure."

Hearing her words, Noctis pulled his hand back and lightly said, "Thanks, Aunt." The next second he turned around and walked towards an empty table.

Ericka looked at his back before she shook her head and walked towards to a corner, where there was a way leading to another room.

After taking a seat, Noctis glanced at his dark blue ring on his left hand—a storage ring with a space around the size of a normal car.

He didn't forget to bring a gift for Clara; it's her birthday, after all. Although he didn't know on whether or not she would accept it, despite him ignoring her for a year.

Letting out a sigh, he remembered when he held his aunt's hand just a few seconds ago, he wasn't thinking straight.

He wanted someone to be there with him. Although it's been nearly a year since he came to this world, he acted like it was nothing, but he was really scared all the time.

He had almost died during the assassination attempt that occurred within a week of his arrival in this world. Yes, he said it doesn't matter to Brad and Lira, but it was to let them not worry about him.

Till now, he always wore a mask on his face, pretending to smile all the time, be confident, and face things head-on with a calm mind.

His Aunt Ericka, Brad, and Lira—they were all here for him. This was his new family. Did he feel guilty about leaving his old family? Yes, he knew this was wrong, but he had to let it go now.

Because, he—

Noctis snapped out of his deep thoughts as he felt someone lightly slap his back; wondering who it was, he nervously looked behind him.