Some would call the Bael Clan the true rulers of the Devil Empire, as their founder, Zekram Bael, was without a shadow of a doubt the most important figure in the Ars Goetia. It was an open secret that his son, the current head of the Bael Clan, was little more than a figurehead; Zekram's influence as an elder was arguably greater than even Sirzechs Lucifer's, making him the 'king in the shadows,' so to speak.
In truth, the only thing the current head of the Bael Clan excelled at was hosting parties like this one. Parades of devils who could barely tolerate one another on a good day were now exchanging empty platitudes for the sake of appearances; professional musicians were doing their best to fill the castle with classical music that no one truly cared about; servants dressed in formal attire were tasked with circulating trays of food and drinks; and there, at the center of it all, was the youngest Bael, welcoming the most distinguished guests while his brother, the oldest son and actual heir, was somewhere else.
Only the wealthiest families could ever afford a gala of this caliber. While I personally found the whole thing so tedious that even spending entire days cultivating in absolute silence sounded preferable, I had to admit that the view was quite enjoyable.
"Do not start any fights," Sona warned, glaring at me.
I still had mixed feelings about having Sona as my chaperone for my social debut in the Underworld. On one hand, it was nice to have the opportunity to bond with my fiancée while she was wearing a pretty, yet simple, dress that fitted her like a glove; on the other hand, I was pretty sure that my parents had literally paid her to do this.
"The same goes for you."
"I swore on my life that no harm shall befall thee as a result of my own hardships on this moonless night... even if I still miss my hat," Valerie replied, her slender fingers playing with the hem of her lovely dress as she avoided the other girl's warning glare.
I gently patted her back in an attempt to comfort her. My parents had not allowed her to bring her witch hat to the party—a pain I could empathize with, as my cultivation robes had also been forbidden.
"Shinra, you are in charge of ensuring that Ravel Phenex doesn't attempt to force a fight between her brother and anyone else," Sona ordered her Queen, who simply sighed and accepted the impossible mission. "Gasper Vladi, you will accompany her for extra protection."
I offered Tsubaki and my Junior Brother a nod of appreciation for even trying. Ravel had been quite insistent about slapping fools like a proper Young Mistress; sure, those weren't her exact words, but they were close in spirit.
My mother told me to enjoy my time at the party and interact with as many high-raking people as possible, but I was starting to wonder if that was even possible in the first place. Did people actually have fun at parties?
Acting like an indifferent and graceful Young Master in front of so many people could be a tiresome chore. It was a burden every person in the party shared, as they were all expected to put on airs to save face in front of those of similar status. To be honest, it was likely worse for them; they lacked my natural grace, peerless attributes, and inherent superiority, making their façades a hassle to maintain for more than a minute.
"Does anything interesting ever happen at these parties?" I asked.
"No," my attractive fiancée idly replied, making me wince as she didn't bother to soften the blow. "And that should be considered a good thing, as it means nothing went wrong."
Being right really sucked, didn't it?
"Want to play some chess when we get back?" I asked her.
"That does sound enterta—"
She was interrupted by the sudden appearance of Shinra Tsubaki, who was panting slightly after seemingly running all the way here in high-heeled shoes. The girl really should focus on her body cultivation a little more.
"Sona-sama! We failed to contain Ravel!" she exclaimed. "She is on the floor below, trash-talking a bunch of young devils. Gasper is currently doing his best to ensure that nobody can actually get close to her."
It seemed that my little sister was indeed acting like a proper Young Mistress. It was a good thing I had come prepared, having spent the whole night thinking of new phrases that included the words "bully," "vomit blood," and "nine generations." Now, I only needed to go down there and slap some lesser Young Masters to establish the new pecking order. That was how a real Young Master should interact with others during social events.
"Please, stay here until I return," Sona sighed, almost dragging her feet as she followed her Queen.
I offered her a noncommittal hum. Knowing my luck, it wasn't as if the situation wouldn't escalate and drag me in even if I stayed here with Valerie.
Speaking of Valerie, the moment Sona left she took a red rose from a pot nearby and studied it for a few seconds before nodding to herself. If she really wanted flowers, she could just ask me to grow a flower bed at her feet.
It was hard not to smile at the sight of my Moonshine gracefully approaching me with a red rose in her mouth. The way she bent a knee and took my hand reminded me of our first meeting when she proposed to me. Alas, comparing this to the first time I met her would be foolish. Gone was the tragic figure who could only be described with the word "fragile"—one who would have broken under the softest embrace.
"My king."
The ghostly red, colder than death, of her eyes had been replaced by a vibrant crimson that reminded me of an apex predator.
"My queen," I replied in kind. "Despite knowing my status, you dare to ask me for a dance?"
I couldn't see fear or determination gleaming in her eyes. Perhaps it was well hidden, but it brought me comfort to think she was simply doing this because she found it fun.
"For one, and then a thousand more," she announced for the whole room to hear.
Stifling a laugh, I helped her to her feet. After the MC fiasco, a bit of corniness was appreciated.
"Such impudence; however, this magnanimous Young Master will allow it."
"Then let's enjoy the tango to our hearts' content."
Tango? It shouldn't be that hard. I was fairly certain that at least two of my heaven-defying techniques were named after it.
Since some lesser devils were watching, I figured I might as well give them a show to remember. Their petty sneers would soon turn to applause and praise—if they knew what was good for them.
Without wasting another breath, I intertwined my fingers with Valerie's, my other hand capturing her waist to pull her into an intimate embrace.
"I will follow your lead," I whispered into her ear.
Since I had no inkling of the mundane steps required, it was only right for a figure as magnanimous as myself to grant my little wife the chance to display her brilliance. I would simply surrender to the flow of the moment and use my qi to enhance my movements, lettingmy true essence take over while enjoying the graceful form of the woman in my arms.
Valerie did not reply with words; instead, she began her lead, her every movement acting as a mantra that guided my own. We were locked in a close embrace, allowing her—the conductor of this symphony—to strike my feet in the correct direction whenever my rhythm faltered.
The wind began to sing with emotions that only I could hear but never fully understand. To an outsider, our synchronicity was flawed—I occasionally trampled upon her feet when she attempted to spin me—but with every invitation she offered, the dance began to feel less like a chore and more like the Heavenly Dao itself: natural and inexorable.
The surrounding flames giggled, spiritual fires manifesting of their own volition to join our rite. A spin, an embrace, a retreat; it was clear as day that this was a chaotic improvisation. Yet, the dance never ceased. I looked at Valerie and saw that she wasn't looking at me; she was simply... smiling. Her aura grew bolder by the breath, her Qi fluctuating with a newfound freedom.
What did my own expression look like? I neither knew nor cared; that smile made my chest feel a fraction warmer than usual. And so, I continued the dance.
The tempo stopped mattering as our bodies became lighter and our moves bolder. It was hard to say if I was even following her anymore; the distinction between "lead" and "follower" had vanished, and I couldn't even claim we were performing the same dance. Before I pulled, she was already leaning in; when she stepped, my own foot had already paved the way.
Life itself was dancing.
A bewitching melody, a song from a higher realm I had never heard, saturated the hall, but I ignored it to focus solely on the woman before me. The world outside faded into insignificance. Part of me wondered if Valerie also could heard this "Song of the World" before I shook my head at the useless thought. At this moment, music was mere noise to anyone with a modicum of common sense.
For a heartbeat, the melody reached a crescendo, threatening to overwhelm us, but I couldn't hear it as I was too busy hoisting Valerie into the air. For a fleeting second, there was nothing left emptiness, yet that void was swiftly filled by sound of giggle that escaped her lips.
By the time the music ceased, we were both drenched in sweat, our breath ragged. This "tango" had been more taxing than most of my battles.
"WHAT HAPPENED HERE?" Sona yelled.
Only then did I take a look at my surroundings. Broken pieces of tables and chairs were scattered across a nearly empty room covered in black ashes; there were also a few flowersbeds blooming across the walls. Apparently, I had another breakthrough while dancing, which was exactly what one would expect from a peerless Young Master like myself.
I could see a hot redhead pointing an accusing finger at me from her hiding spot behind a stone pillar. That tattletale!
It wasn't my fault that the Bael Clan didn't account for a peerless Young Master experiencing a sudden breakthrough when they built this place. In a way, I was the victim here.
"My apologies?" Valerie stopped glaring at the tattletale for a second to focus on Sona, who wasn't amused in the slightest.
In situations like this one, it was expected of a brave young man to stand fearless and face his fiancée's wrath, making full use of a heaven-defying charisma to defuse the situation. Fortunately, I was a self-aware, cowardly Young Master who didn't care for trifles such as dignity or honot.
Nodding to myself, I gently pushed my little moonshine toward a very angry Sona and mentally prayed for her success, all while casually dodging a heel aimed at my toes.
"The Sun King and I unleashed a primordial chorus upon this ballroom," Valerie explained, standing tall before the few people left in the room. "Passion unknown to us—the bane of youth—bloomed beneath our sore feet and ended this room. Hence, nothing remains here but a single regret of mine."
In a display of absolute confidence, she gracefully took Sona's hand and kissed it with perfect decorum.
"Would the fairest of the water nymphs be willing to partake in a dance with this lowly queen?" Valerie asked.
Sona simply deadpanned at the question.
The only sound in the room was the muffled squealing coming from the redhead still hiding behind the pillar. I suspected the girl was waiting for things to calm down before making her entrace in a dignifying manner, something that I couldn't critize... mostly because there was a high chance she was the Red Devil Emperor's little sister, and I knew better than picking a fight with someone with someone who reached the legendary Exalted Realm.
"Riser," Sona said, her voice more monotonous than I had ever heard it. "Could you give me one reason not to ask my sister to freeze the lower half of your body?"
"Because asking her for a favor isn't worth the effort and price?" I offered.
"Yes, you are probably right." She nodded, wearing a thousand-yard stare. "I... think I need a minute. Please, deal with the devils heading our way."
It was heartwarming to see the girls I was interested in getting along so well. My fiancée even allowed Valerie to drag her toward the catering tables to share a meal, meaning that the chances of one of them stabbing me in my sleep in a fit of jealousy diminished quite a lot.
"Well, well, well, if it isn't the little groomed, traitorous bitch." A boisterous voice called out—a voice that, for some reason, didn't sound important at all. Based on the notes I prepared for today, this guy should be Zephyrdor Glasya-Labolas, the current heir of his clan and a lesser Young Master. "I see that Sitri finally decided to show off her boytoy to us."
My fiancée's left eye twitched in a somewhat unhealthy manner. She turned and smiled at me ever so sweetly.
"Riser, forget everything I told you. Just be yourself and have some fun."