"Hey, Raymond, do you have any condoms? Or maybe lube, whatever I can use," Finn said as he stepped out of the private room.
He looked a bit of a mess. His hair was slightly disheveled, his blouse uneven as he adjusted it, and his pants sat awkwardly on his waist as if he had rushed out too quickly. The hall outside was loud, crowded, and thick with noise, mixing with laughter, drunken shouting, and the unmistakable sounds of pleasure.
Finn glanced around, scanning the hall, searching for Raymond, but he was nowhere to be seen.
'Where is my friend?' he thought as he continued searching the place.
The hall was dimly lit with hanging lanterns that cast a warm glow over polished tables and expensive carpets. Nobles lounged everywhere, some sitting, some standing, some sprawled carelessly with goblets in hand. Women moved between them, laughing softly, whispering, or clinging to arms and laps. The smell of alcohol, perfume, and sweat hung heavily in the air.
Just as Finn spotted a knight standing near one of the pillars, someone tall and armored in familiar colors, he felt a small sense of relief. From behind, the figure looked close enough to Raymond's build.
Finn moved closer, weaving between tables, about to tap the knight's shoulder.
At that moment, a noble was busy digging a naked lady, completely unaware of their surroundings. Finn tried to sidestep them, but his foot slipped, due to the he floor was wet.
He lost his balance and crashed straight into the noble.
"Hey, what the fuck!" the noble snapped. He looked about Finn's age, his face flushed from alcohol and irritation, clearly angry at having his fun interrupted.
"Oops, sorry about that, you can continue your porny act." Finn said quickly, instinctively stepping back. He turned slightly, already preparing to leave the noble and the woman to continue whatever they were doing.
But the noble was drunk, and drunk nobles were rarely forgiving. The woman, who had been trying to please her lord, was shoved aside without care as the noble surged forward. His foot slammed into Finn's side before Finn could react.
The kick sent Finn stumbling backward.
He crashed hard into the knight he had mistaken for Raymond.
The knight lost his footing and fell, slamming into a table and then into a group of nobles who had been drinking loudly and enjoying themselves. Goblets tipped over. Wine splashed across expensive clothing. Chairs scraped loudly against the floor.
"What the…" Finn froze, speechless.
For a brief second, time seemed to slow.
It felt like kindergarten all over again, except instead of children, this time it involved a hall full of drunken horny nobles.
The knight struggled to stand, but in his fall, he had knocked into three nobles, two immediately rose to their feet. Their expressions were sharp, cold, and dangerous.
Even the noble who had kicked Finn froze the moment he realized who they were.
"Looks like the night has ended," one of the nobles said calmly.
He had green hair and a small mole on the right side of his eye. His voice was not loud, yet it carried across the hall effortlessly.
"Who is your lord?" he asked.
The knight straightened himself and bowed deeply, his head lowered.
"I'm sorry, my lord. I was pushed. I didn't mean to," the knight said quickly, his voice tight but controlled.
Only then did Finn realize something.
This knight was not Raymond. Finn opened his mouth, ready to step forward and explain what had happened, ready to admit that it was his fault. But before he could speak, he noticed something that made him stop.
The hall was completely silent, the moaning, the laughter, the music, the pleasures, all of it had vanished. Every noble and every woman had turned their attention toward the scene unfolding at the center of the hall.
Judging by the looks on their faces, these nobles were not ordinary figures.
Finn swallowed. He decided to stay quiet and watch how the drama would unfold.
"Are you deaf, slave? Or did a cat cut your tongue?" the second noble demanded.
His hair was dark, and he looked far younger than the knight he had just insulted. His tone was sharp, cruel, and filled with arrogance.
"Who is your lord?" he repeated.
"I'm sorry, my lords. Please spare my lord," the knight begged, dropping to one knee. "I will take responsibility for whatever damage has been done. Please, spare my lord."
"Alright then," the green-haired noble said calmly. "Take out your sword and fall on it. That is how much responsibility you take."
A wave of gasps spread through the hall.
Some nobles immediately looked away. Others quietly stood and slipped toward the exits, unwilling to be involved in whatever was about to happen next. Even those who remained grew tense, their expressions stiff.
The knight did not hesitate.He drew his sword, the metal rang sharply as it left the sheath. He raised it slowly, his grip steady, preparing to end his own life without complaint.
'Is he really going to do as he said?' Finn's chest tightened.
Before the blade could fall, a voice spoke from behind the two nobles.
"This place is a temple. My temple. I do not want blood spilled here."
The voice was calm. Almost gentle.
Everyone turned, looking at the third noble seated, lounging comfortably as if the chaos meant nothing to him. He wore a charming smile, one so captivating it felt unnatural. It was the kind of smile that could make people lower their guard without realizing it.
His hair was golden-brown, long and neatly tied back into a ponytail. He stood up, the two nobles who had been acting in charge immediately fell silent, bowing their head.
"I like this kind of loyalty," the man said. "Taking an oath seriously, even if it costs you your own life. You are willing to die for your lord."
His eyes shifted briefly in Finn's direction.
"Your lord, however, is such a coward that he cannot even step forward to defend you. And yet, you are still willing to keep his name clean."
He stepped closer and placed a hand lightly on the knight's armor.
"Everground needs loyal knights to defend this kingdom," he continued. "I would have let you go."
For a moment, it seemed like mercy had been granted.
Then he smiled again. "But rules are rules."
He produced a small bottle from his sleeve and held it out.
"Take this. It is a slow death, but at least it will not spill blood."
The liquid inside the bottle was unmistakable. Poison.
The knight accepted it without hesitation.
He uncorked the bottle and drank it in one motion.
"You shall be remembered for your loyalty, knight," the noble said, tapping his shoulder.
No one dared spoke, they watched as the knight fell to his knees. His body trembled once, twice, then slowly collapsed to the floor. His eyes lost focus as his life faded away.
"Silence for the dead," the green-haired noble said, making the sign of the cross. "May God bless his soul."
Then the charming noble clapped his hands together. The sound echoed through the hall.
"What happened? Why is everyone silent?" he said loudly, his tone cheerful. "Go back to what you were doing. Tonight, everything is on me."
He spread his arms wide.
"Fuck any bitch you desire. Drink the most expensive liquor."
His smile widened.
"Your duke is here to pay for it all."