The night was deep, the stars reigning over the ever expanding sky. As the rivers and mountains slept, the city tio thrive, lights glowing bright like the moon and stars above them, leaves rustling along the evening breeze.

  It was a massive city, four swords erected in the four cardinal dires, a fortified castle sitting at its heart. Such a castle shimmered with grad radiahe sound of ughter and music resounding in the air as the deliers burnt ever shtly.

  Luxurious dresses, expensive jewelry, fancy ptters, aravagant dishes. Such sights could be seen all over the pce, light footsteps reverberating throughout the massive halls as people danced around holding one another's hands.

  "Geous as usual, aren't you, Grey, Yuna?" ［Lisandra］

  "You don't look too bad yourself, Lisa." ［Grey］

  "Mou... What a half-hearted pliment..." ［Lisandra］

  Of course, our main characters were also part of such a grand ball. They had already dressed themselves appropriately, wearing elegant dresses to match the night, and apanying masks c their beautiful faces.

  Lisandra was wearing a crimson dress with dark tours embroidered all over it, a bck shawl c her arms and shoulders, evening gloves veiling her hands, and a red rose decorating her hair. To cover her face was a dark red mask with simirly red feathers tucked in one side.

  Yuna wasn't any less appealiher. pared to before, she was now wearing a light, blush-colored dress ced with elegant wavy designs, exuding an aura of purity and innoce. A pair white evening gloves and a white mask to match, decorated with blue gems by the borders.

  Lastly, there was Grey. Though he would usually wear dark colors in such events, tonight, he decided to go with white to kick things up a notch, wearing a white suit adorned with gold ces and embroidery. His mask was white like Yuna's only that it had golden patterns rather than blue gems.

  Well, it really didn't matter much what they wore, eae of them were geous. If it weren't for the masks c their faces, all eyes would have already been glued on them and things would have gotten troublesome.

  "Don't worry, Lisa, you look really pretty. I think bold colors like this suit you the most. I'm sure everyone would agree." ［Yuna］

  "Yuna... You really do uand me... Unlike a certain someone..." ［Lisandra］

  "Hey, what's that supposed to mean...?" ［Grey］

  "Hmph! Nothing!" ［Lisandra］

  The night tinued and as they walked down the corridors, more and more people headed ihe main hall, all wearing masks to cover their faces. Some were very simple while some were just over the top, standing out like a sore thumb.

  And unlike usual, there weren't any annous wheered the hall. It was a masquerade ball, after all. Everything would be pointless if the guarding knights just annouheir identities. The ball would be pointless.

  "Fufufu! Shall we head inside as well?" ［Lisandra］

  Lisandra on the lead, everyone soon headed ihe main hall and as soon as they did, many eyes fell towards them. They may have their faces hidden, but it doesn't ge the fact that they were beautiful.

  In fact, they were so eye-catg, many were frozen and speechless at the sight of them. Many youlemen and dies looked at them with rosy cheeks, wanting to approach them if they just had the ce.

  Of course, there were also the usual curses which were directed at Grey for heading oh two gmorous dies by his side. He's already used to it, but it was still a little unfortable receiving suumerous death gazes from the crowd.

  Grey, don't smile at other dies, okay? ［Yuna］

  Haha... I should be the one saying that. Your smile is just too dazzling, Yuna. I'm sure many men would pine for it. ［Grey］

  Oh, you... Mou... Don't say such embarrassing things so easily... ［Yuna］

  And there they go... It hasn't even been a minute sihey made their entrand they were already off to their own worlds. A pink and rosy atmosphere brewed over the two, blushing slightly as Yuna locked her arms inside Grey's.

  "You two... Please stop flirting beside me... Okay...?" ［Lisandra］

  Lisandra didn't eveo hear the telepathiversatioweewo. After going around with them for several days, she could already tell without even hearing. They were simply too much, making her want to barf from too much sweetness.

  Their entrance tihe musid chattering floating in the air as the people tio dahe other nobles made their entrance soon after them, filling the main halls with more and more people.

  The King and Queen were also already there, sitting ohrones as they watched their subjects have fun. They also wore masks to cover up their faces, but with them sitting ohrones, it really that much of a use.

  "Their Majesties sure are carefree, aren't they?" ［Yuna］

  "Well, they wouldn't be able to fit in even if they tried anyway. Father's void physique would stand out too much." ［Lisandra］

  "I see... That's right, isn't it?..." ［Yuna］

  He was a hulk of a man with rock hard muscles c his bodies, rich scarlet hair draping down his head and golden eyes glowing brightly. If there was an embodiment of the word "spicuous", the King would surely be a didate.

  It wasn't just his physique, but his voice as well. Much like King Ernes of Alfrione, he has quite the loud and boisterous voice. Ah a brain would easily reize him without even trying that hard.

  "Fufufu! Lahad, if it isn't too much to ask. Would you care for a dance?"

  "I'm very sorry, My Lady. But I already have a wife. She would really kill me if she were to see me dang with another dy." ［Gahad］

  "Lord Eliazar, did you grow more muscles again? You look much bigger pared to the st time I saw you. Hahaha!"

  "Well, His Majesty has been sparring with me quite often these past few weeks. It must have been because of that." ［Eliazar］

  "General Harold! Hahaha, it's been a while!"

  Well, it wasn't just the King, but a number of familiar figures as well. The Highest-rank officers of the army were especially popur, drawing in attention as they walked. Their features were simply too distinct for the people to notice.

  Not that it has much to do with Grey and Yuna anyways. As long as they enjoy the night and nobody bothers them, then it would be more than perfect. Grey was also looking forward to one of the King's annous sooner or ter.

  "My Lord, My Lady, would you like a drink?"

  Just as they watched the sery unfold, a waiter approached them, a rge silver ptter by his hand and a number of wine gsses sitting atop of it. They all had rid deep colors, clearly the highest qualities of wine.

  "I would like one, please." ［Lisandra］

  Surprisingly, it was Lisandra who got some wine for herself. She didn't eveate, extending her hand out and taking a little bit of a sip soon after. A bright smile shone on her face, looking like a kid who just ate her favorite dy.

  "Hm? Aren't you two going to get one for yourselves?" ［Lisandra］

  "No... Alcohol's not really our strong suit... Rather, I'm surprised to see you got a gss for yourself, Lisa. Don't get drunk on us now." ［Grey］

  "Fufufu! I might not look it, but I'm quite resistant to alcohol. It would take more than a gss or two to get me drunk. This isn't even that strong." ［Lisandra］

  "Wow... You really sound like an alcoholic right now..." ［Grey］

  It really was a surprise. Though she and Yuna would usually have the same tastes, they also differ from time to time. Yuna had tried some alcohol before and she didn't eveo taste it. The smell was too much for her to handle.

  The best the young dy could handle was the fruit wines made by the elves back at Grey and Yuna's wedding, one which barely had any alcohol tent. Well, not that Grey could bme her since he was also the same. They were hopeless.

  "So you haven't gotten drunk before, huh..." ［Lisandra］

  "Un, not yet... And I don't want to... I still don't know what I'm like when I'm drunk. It's better to be safe than never, right?" ［Yuna］

  "Yeah... That would be a problem..." ［Grey］

  Grey and Yuna said it so nontly, but it was actually a grave topic. Grey had gotten drunk before back when he was still oh, and he was simply knocked out unscious, waking up with a painful hahe day.

  The problem was with Yuna. It would be fine if she was the same as Grey, but if she was the type to get wild and rowdy when drunk, one could only imagihe havoc she could wreak with her power. It would be a disaster.

  "e on, Yuna. A gss wouldn't hurt, would it?" ［Lisandra］

  "Hmm... I guess you're right..." ［Yuna］

  Lisandra offered a gss of wine and Yuna took it hesitantly. The smell was still a little overbearing for her, but her curiosity was dictatio drink it. She quickly braced herself and exhaled a lengthy breath to calm herself.

  'Fufufu... I wonder how drunk Yuna would fareー Eh...?' ［Lisandra］

  Lisandra was curious at first, but suddenly, an ominous premonitio inside her heart. Nothing good ever happens when she feels such a feeling, all fibers of her being screaming danger as Yuna readied herself to drink the gss of wine,

  Just imagining the whole of Avalon being frozen and encased in deep, blue ice as Yuna prances around with a bottle of wine in her hand was more than enough to make her shudder. It would be a total nightmare if such were to happen.

  "Wait! Yuna! On sed thought, why don't we stop it here for now, okay? Let's not push ourselves too much. I know you have the smell," ［Lisandra］

  "Hm? It's okay, I hahe stench." ［Yuna］

  "No, it's fi's really fine! Umm... Waiter, please take these back. We'll just have some e juid some snacks, please." ［Lisandra］

  "Lisa, are you okay? You look pale..." ［Yuna］

  "O-Of course! I'm fine! I'm just a little hungry." ［Lisandea］

  In fact, she was not fine. She was so scared out of her mind that it felt like her soul left her body. There was a trace of panid urgen her heart, only calming down now that the gsses of wine have been taken away.

  Lisandra possessed the 3☆ ability "Danger Sense", which as the name suggested, lets her sense danger. She had been using su ability in jun with her experieo avoid a troublesome situation since young, but it was only now that she sensed such impending sense of trouble. It was scary.

  'Grey! Never let Yuna drink alcohol! Got it?!' ［Lisandra］

  Lisa screamed from the bottom of her soul as she looked at Grey dead in the eyes. The tter didn't uand much, but he could only barely guess what the former was talking about, simply nodding soon after.

  Soon, the waiter returned, and in his ptter were a number of bite-sized desserts and alssses of lemonade. And sine had too much i it, Yuna did a little bit of ice magiove them. She smile shtly as she snacked,

  "Mmn～! Your mas are the best! I could eat these all day!" ［Yuna］

  "Fufufu! I'm gd to hear that. Just don't drink alcohol, okay?" ［Lisandra］

  "Hm? Sure...?" ［Yuna］

  The princess was just making sure. Even if the waiter had already gone, she still shouldn't calm herself down and made sure Yuna doesn't drink any alcohol. It was only when Yuna enjoyed her sweets that she could breathe a sigh of relief.

  "Oh, it seems like Father and Mother are looking for me. I will be ba a while. Why don't you two enjoy some snacks over the serving table?" ［Lisandra］

  "Un. I would love that." ［Yuna］

  "Good. Then I will be back shortly." ［Lisandra］

  The Princess loft soon after, bringing her gss of apple juice with her, leaving Grey and Yuna behind. But the two didn't feel any less lonely as they were greeted by a plethora of wonderful dishes as soon as they turned around.

  There were the luxurious main dishes, side dishes, desserts, chilled refreshments, and many more. It was the perfect time since Grey and Yuna have yet to have their dinner and were getting quite a bit hungry as well.

  They soon took a pair of ptelets and forks of their own and asked for some servings from the servers, happily enjoying their meals soon after. The meat was tender and juicy, the crabs were seasoned well, the sads were tasty, and so was everything else. It was a good dinner.

  "Oh! I just found something delicious. Grey, I'm going to get some." ［Yuna］

  "Don't wander off too far. Some strange men might t to you" ［Grey］

  "Fufufu! You worry too much, Grey. I take care of myself. I'll be back before you know it." ［Yuna］

  There wasn't a mio waste. Whilst humming to herself, Yuna cheerfully headed towards the other end of a serving table and grabbed a pair of tongs for herself, happily pig a few meat rolls for her and Grey to enjoy.

  Meanwhile, as Grey enjoyed his meal, an unfamiliar series of footsteps echoed in the air. He turned around and saw a young dy heading towards his dire, a gss of wiwirling in her hands. Her face was cealed by her mask, but he could tell she was beautiful... She was trouble.

  "Excuse me, My Lord. Are you perhaps by yourself right now?"

  "Ah, no... I have a panion. I'm just waiting for her to e back." ［Grey］

  "Oh my, how could she leave such a handsome man behind. Would it trouble you if this lonely dy joins you on this fine night, My Lord?"

  "Hahaha. I'm afraid I 't, My Lady. But I'm sure there would be plenty of young men around here who would gdly do so. I'm sure they would be delighted if such a fine dy were to ihem." ［Grey］

  "Fufufu! That may be the case, but I don't think any of them could match up to you, My Lord. Am I perhaps not worth your time...?"

  Grey tried to chase her aolitely as he could, but the young dy was just as difficult of an oppo. She kept on lingering around him, drawing closer and closer to Grey as if they were very familiar with one another.

  "My Lord, wouldn't you spare this young dy just a bit of your time?"

  "My Lady, I think you've gone far enough. I already have a fiancée so I don't think it would be appropriate for us to spend some time together." ［Grey］

  "But you're still not married, aren't you? I'm sure I could ge your mind if we just spend some loime together. Wouldn't you agree, My Lord?"

  "Hahaha. You sure have a good sense of humor, My Lady. But aren't you going too far? I believe it would be in your best i if we stop this right now." ［Grey］

  "My～! How scary～!"

  Grey doesn't know whether it was because she was tipsy or because she was just pin ceous, but even when he ged into a harsher tone, he still couldn't chase the young dy away. She was a real maer.

  g g Langg.....

  A spooowards the ground, a series of metallic sounds dang in the air. At the same moment, fear and terror crept trey's back, his heart swallowed by a great sense of danger he had never felt before.

  Grey turned around, and surely enough, Yuna was there. There was a smile on her face, but it was not the same smile he was familiar with. A sileerrifying smile which was enough to make even demons tremble in fear and kneel before her.

  "Y-Yuna, I... I expin..." ［Grey］

  Grey tried to make up an excuse, but Yuna simply walked past him. The sound of her footsteps only stopped when she arrived in front of the young dy who was trying to seduce Grey, wearing gleaming with a dangerous glint.

  "Excuse me, but erhaps, are you doing?" ［Yuna］

  "Huh...? Who are you?"

  "Oh dear, how rude of me to not introduce myself... My name is Yuna, an S-rank adventurer of the party 'Aster'." ［Yuna］

  The tone in her voice was pletely different than it usually is. The cheerful and adorable young dy was no more, and all that was left was a jealous and irritated fiancée who was brimming with killing i, stares sharp as daggers.

  "An S-ranker... Aster... Ah! You must be one of those Heroes of Alfrione I've heard so much! I didn't think I would meet such honorable guests today,"

  "Yes, I do get called that sometimes, and... I also happen to be the fiancée of the man you were sedug just now." ［Yuna］

  Yuna's words weighed down like a mountain on the young dy's shoulders. She didn't eveo use her aura, but her intimidation was already high enough that even High-Rankers would feel fear and suffocation when subjected to it.

  To the eyes of the young dy, it seemed like the Devil was in front of her, ready to retrieve her soul. She was so scared, she immediately became sober when Yuna pressured her, her whole body trembling in fear.

  "Now... You wouldn't mind giving us some space, would you?" ［Yuna］

  "Y-Yes! I-I'm so sorry...!"

  A single request which was also a threat. The young dy quickly scurried off when Yuna said her piece, and those who were also aiming frey quickly shifted their eyes away when they met Yuna's eyes, not wanting to face her wrath.

  Yuna then heaved an exasperated sigh and the tension in the air was no more. She then turned around to Grey, a pouting expression painted on her face as she puffed her cheeks. It was hard to believe she was the same dy from before.

  "Dummy! I told you not to smile at other dies! You dummy!" ［Yuna］

  "But I didn't though... I was just eating dinner..." ［Grey］

  "Hmph! Excuses! You were smiling at them! I know it!" ［Yuna］

  She pounded Grey's shoulders again and again, trying to vent out her frustration. But deep inside, she was actually a little scared that Grey would get stolen from her. Just thinking about it again really makes her irritated.

  And just as all predit was over, a familiar set of footsteps echoed in the air, a young dy with scarlet hair and blue eyes drawing closer at them, chug ever so softly to herself as if there was no tomorrow, clearly having fun,

  "Wow～! So popur～! I'm so jealous～!" ［Lisandra］

  "Lisa, you should have helped if you were watg..." ［Grey］

  "No way. I will be the one in trouble if I did. I don't want to deal with drunk dies, you know? They are very bothersome." ［Lisandra］

  "Wow... What a real friend you are..." ［Grey］

  She was firm in her beliefs, not wanting to involve herself in something more trouble than it's worth. And, she already knew how head over heels the two were for each other. She khey could resolve the problem one way or another.

  And as she reunited with Grey, her eyes shifted left and right, looking for a certain something. But no matter how she looked, she didn't find what she was looking for. She could only heave a sigh as she gave up.

  "Are you looking for someone, Lisa?" ［Yuna］

  "Yes... I was looking for the champion, but I don't see him anywhere. It seems like he didn't attend the masquerade ball this year again..." ［Lisandra］

  "The champion... Is he strong?" ［Yuna］

  "Strong...? Of course, he's strong! He's very charismatic as well! He's the inspiration of every young swordsman, including myself! Did you know..." ［Lisandra］

  It was but a simple question, but it quickly escated when Lisandra started fangirling over the champion, firing strings of words like a mae gun as she sang praise after praise for the man who was not even there.

  His white hair, his green eyes, his skills with the sword, his graceful movements, and many more. Lisandra was the most excited and chatty Grey and Yuna ever saw her to be, even doing strange gestures as she praised him.

  "But... He isn't here again..." ［Lisandra］

  However, such excitement was quickly over when she remembered her idol didn't attend the masquerade ball once again. She was down in the dumps, Yuna patting her on the back to lift her spirits up.

  "Hahaha. You were just so lively before. Is something wrong, Lisa?" ［???］

  "This voice...!" ［Lisandra］

  An unfamiliar voice rang the air, Lisandra's head turning around almost immediately. A young man adorned with scarlet hair and golden eyes made his entrance before them, Lisandra's eyes sparkling brightly soon after.

  "Brother Lionel, you made it! How is your body?! Are you okay?!" ［Lisandra］

  "I'm fine, Lisa. And the masquerade ball only happens once a year, so the least I could do is attend. Why? Do you not want to see me?" ［Lionel］

  "No! Not at all! I really, really missed you!" ［Lisandra］

  "Hahaha. I'm gd to hear that." ［Lionel］

  Despite the mask c his face, Lisandra quickly knew who the man was. He was the sed prince who is usually resting inside his room because of his illness. It was also the reason why Grey and Yuna never met him.

  Though Grey and Yuna have heard a lot of things about him from the stories Lisandra told them. She has always admired her older brother since she was young, and was also the reason why she aspired to be a swordsman.

  It was a warm aiful se, however, such warmth soon disappeared from Grey's eyes, repced by shock soon after, his eyes opening wide. And the reason was her than....

  -----------------------------------

  [Salferine]

  [Name] Lionel myr Lantre Graystone

  [Race] Human

  [Sex] Male

  [Age] 25

  [Status] Healthy

  [Mana Capacity] 2,176 [Mana Quality] B

  [bat Power] 3,852 [Threat Level] A

  [Attribute] Earth    [Magic Proficy] High (56%)

  [Css] Swordsman   [on Proficy] Advanced (76%)

  [Physical Enha] 78%

  [Ability] Telekinesis (4☆)

  -----------------------------------

  ... What he saw...

  "Grey, is something wrong...?" ［Yuna］

  CHAPTER 312 END