Kai fastened the top buttons of his shirt in a hurry.

He needed to make sure the shirt covered his chest.

Mira had left a distinct red bite mark right over his collarbone during their private meeting, and he knew Eevy would ask too many questions if she saw it.

He grabbed his stolen coat off the back of the chair and slipped it on quickly. He stepped out into the quiet hallway.

Eevy was leaning against the stone wall.

She looked him up and down with sharp, observant eyes.

"How did the talk go?" Eevy asked.

Her voice was full of quiet curiosity.

"It went well," Kai replied, adjusting his sleeves.

"She is going to get us a meeting with the king’s inner circle at dawn. But here is the problem. We have bigger things to worry about right now."

"What do you mean?" Eevy frowned.

The door opened before Kai could explain the situation.

Mira stepped out into the hallway.

Her dark grey dress was straightened out, but her hair was still a little messy.

She did not seem to mind the loose strands falling around her face.

"Let’s move fast, or the guests will complain," Mira said.

She walked past them with a renewed sense of authority.

"The Duke is doing the honour moment right now. Everyone needs to be present in the same room as the guest of honour, or it is considered a deep insult to the host."

The three of them walked down the grand staircase together. The heavy doors to the main ballroom were wide open. The room was already a loud, chaotic party.

People were laughing and drinking heavily.

The energy of the crowd had shifted drastically since the Millennium arrived.

Kai stepped through the doorway.

His gaze was automatically pulled toward the centre of the room.

The red dress stood out like a warning sign against the boring sea of yellow and blue silk.

He looked at Millenia Raviel.

But he immediately froze in his tracks.

He did not go unnoticed.

Millenia was already staring directly at him.

Her ruby eyes were locked right onto his face through the busy crowd.

She was watching his location before he even walked into the room.

’What the hell is this?’ Kai thought to himself.

’My mask is still on. She cannot see my face, and my level is far too low to stand out in a crowd like this.’

He forced himself to look away from her. He stepped into the crowd, blending in behind a group of loud merchants.

Eevy stayed close to his side, keeping her hands near her hidden weapons.

The Duke stepped up onto a small raised platform.

He was a middle-aged, handsome man with greying hair and a very expensive silk doublet. He grabbed a silver spoon and clinked it against his crystal wine glass.

The sharp ringing sound cut through the chatter, making the loud room go silent in a matter of seconds.

"Ladies and gentlemen," the Duke announced with a wide smile.

He held his glass high in the air.

"It is with great honour that I introduce you to our most esteemed guest. She is the jewel of the Western Empire. Please welcome the endless beauty, Lady Millenia Raviel."

The entire room erupted into loud clapping. The nobles cheered and raised their glasses high.

Kai kept his hands at his sides, but he nodded his head along with the crowd to blend in.

Millenia offered a perfect bow.

She smiled at the Duke.

The man looked like he was ready to hand her the keys to his entire vault just for that single look.

Lord Halton bumped into Kai’s shoulder.

The feathered hat sat crooked on his head, and he smelled heavily of sweet wine.

Lady Beatrice stood right next to him, fanning herself with a bitter expression on her face.

"There you are," Lord Halton laughed, slapping Kai on the back.

"I was wondering where you ran off to. Have you ever seen a woman like that? I would trade my entire shipping fleet just for one dance with her."

"She is wearing far too much red for an evening gala," Lady Beatrice muttered under her breath.

"It is very desperate if you ask me."

"But...," Kai replied, offering Lady Beatrice a polite smile.

"She has the entire room looking at her right now, so the dress is doing its job perfectly."

"I hear she is looking for a new business partner in the capital," Lord Halton whispered, leaning in close to Kai.

"The Duke thinks he has her locked down, but a smart man might find an opening tonight."

’A smart man would run out the front door right now,’ Kai thought to himself.

He watched the succubus charm the room without even trying.

The musicians in the corner picked up their stringed instruments and started playing a slow, elegant waltz.

"My friends," the Duke called out over the music.

"We are all trusted allies inside these walls. There is no need for privacy among such good company. Let us remove the masks and enjoy the evening face to face."

The nobles began pulling their silver and gold masks off their faces.

They handed them to the passing waiters.

It was a clear power move by the Duke.

He wanted everyone to see exactly who was attending his private party, forcing them to pick a side in the political games.

Eevy looked at Kai nervously.

She reached up and unclasped her metal mask, letting it fall into her hand.

Kai reached behind his head and untied the silk strings.

He pulled the silver half-mask away from his face.

The crowd began to pair up for the dance.

Men offered their hands to the ladies in silk dresses.

Kai intended to grab Eevy and move toward the back of the room, far away from the centre of attention.

The crowd suddenly parted in front of him.

The chatting nobles stepped aside, making a clear, wide path on the marble floor.

Millenia Raviel walked right through the middle of the room.

She ignored the Duke.

She ignored the wealthy merchants reaching out to greet her.

Her crimson dress dragged beautifully across the stones.

She stopped right in front of him. Millenia was tall, and her red eyes practically glowed in the light of the crystal chandeliers.

"Shall we dance?" she asked softly.