CHAPTER 78: EXPRESSIONS.

-----------------------------------------------------------------

RAINBRIDGE ESTATE- CENTER OF THE BALLROOM.

*SWISH*

*TAP*

"I am still quite surprised you asked me for a dance, even though you have the option of picking many more beautiful noble-born ladies, who are dying to dance with you. My lord."

Cyra said, locking eyes with Lord Phames. Their hands clasped, fingers intertwined as they twirled and waltzed in the heart of the ballroom, surrounded by the elegance of the moment.

"You are mistaken…"

Lord Phames said, pausing momentarily as he skillfully guided the dance. With a graceful movement, he gently pushed Lady Cyra away.

*WHOOSH*

"What is he doing?!..."

Cyra thought in her mind with a surprised expression after she was pushed. She realized her balance was thrown off by the sudden push and she was going to fall. Strangely, she wasn't scared, as she could still feel Phames's touch, through her gloves.

Just As Cyra's fingers were about to slip from his palm, Lord Phames, with impeccable timing, gracefully swept her back towards him, causing her to spin into his embrace.

*SWOOSH*

*BAM*

"Hehe."

A quiet giggle escaped Cyra's lips, caused by a burst of excitement and thrill she felt. As she glanced up into Phames's gaze.

"... There is no lady in the hall more beautiful than you, my lady. Which is the reason I asked you for a dance, instead of the other 'more beautiful' noble-born ladies."

Phames continued, his eyes locked onto Cyra's, capturing the gleam of her excitement as their gazes intertwined.

"..."

Stunned by Phames's words, Cyra turned her face quickly to the side, hiding her flushed expression.

"Kyaaa! Is this the first time a man my age has ever called me beautiful? Does that mean he likes me? Why did his eyes seem redder than usual? No, no, no, Cyra, stop dwelling in your delusions. He's a young lord from one of the four Great noble houses; you stand no chance. He's likely just being polite and I can't be distracted by feelings of romance when I haven't fulfilled the purpose I came here for. Don't lose sight of your goal, Cyra!

Cyra collected herself, regaining her composure, and met Phames's gaze once more with a serious expression.

"Ahem, thank you for the compliment, Lord Phames, but I cannot accept those words."

Cyra said composedly, declining Phames's words with a firm yet polite tone.

"???"

Phames had a surprised expression upon hearing Cyra's words, but it faded away quickly.

"And why can't you accept those simple words, my lady?"

Phames asked with a polite tone but with an unpleased smile.

"Lord Phames might not know this since you are a man, but 'simple words' can cause a lot of trouble when said carelessly."

Cyra replied as the music in the hall ceased, halting their dance.

*TAP*

*THUD*

"Thank you, my lord, for bestowing upon me the honor of sharing this dance with you. However, if you'll pardon me, I regretfully cannot partake in the second dance. I must seek out my sister."

Cyra expressed gracefully, executing a respectful curtsy before swiftly turning and taking her leave.

*TAP*

*TAP*

[HOHOHO, IT SEEMS YOUR CHARMS DID NOT WORK ON THIS ONE, HUH? I GUESS EVEN WITH A HANDSOME FACE YOU CAN'T GET EVERYTHING. GUESS YOU HAVE TO TRY AGAIN.]

A voice said to Phames in a mocking tone through telepathy.

[YOU ARE RIGHT.]

Phames replied.

[HUH!?... WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOU TODAY? IT'S THE FIRST TIME SINCE WE'VE MET THAT YOU'VE AGREED WITH ANYTHING I SAY.]

The unknown said with a surprised tone after Phames agreed with his words.

"Interesting, even with my abilities weakened, it should be impossible for her to resist my charms after looking into my eyes for so long… Hehe, lady Cyra it seems you hide some interesting secret too. I guess I shouldn't expect less from someone serving that princess."

Phames thought in his mind with a menacing smirk. As he raised his hand, and placed his palm over his nose and mouth.

"Though our meeting was brief, I hope we get to meet again very soon, my beautiful lady. Sniff, sniff."

Phames added, inhaling Cyra's lingering scent on his palm.

[HEY! ARE LISTENING TO ME?]

The unknown voice asked with in loud and annoyed tone.

[WHAT IS IT?]

Phames asked, with an annoyed tone.

[NOTHING REALLY, I JUST WANTED TO TELL YOU THAT 'SHE' JUST ARRIVED AT THE BALLROOM. GOOD LUCK, BYE.]

The unknown voice said quickly, in a hurried tone before going silent.

[WHAT!? HEY! WHY DID YOU NOT TELL ME SHE WAS COMING HERE?! AND WHY DID SHE COME?! HEY! AERED! WHY AREN'T YOU ANSWERING?]

Phames yelled through telepathy in an angry and panicked tone.

"DAMN! He ran away… I Can't believe that lunatic came here of all places. There might be a big incident within these halls tonight. I just hope she's not hungry."

"Announcing the grand arrival of Lord Roland Rainbridge, the esteemed heir of House Rainbridge!... Oh, and accompanying him is Lady Anna."

—---------------------------------------------------------------------------

MISTY PEAK ROYAL PALACE-THRONE HALL.

"We have all arrived guild master."

Giles, Nyx, Gunter, Blaze, The Gentleman, and Vlad all said simultaneously as they went on one knee, showing respect.

*SWOOSH*

*THUD*

"Rise"

Helena commanded, casting a cold glare from her throne as she looked down at them.

"Thank you, Guild master."

They expressed as they rose from their knees.

*SWISH*

"…"

Helena silently observed Giles, Nyx, Gunter, Blaze, The Gentleman, and Vlad for a while, assessing their strengths. Upon finishing her observation. Her expression changed.

"Huh? What does that look mean?"

Gunter and Blaze thought in their minds as they noticed the guild master's disdainful gaze, which caused their heart to sink.

"How pathetic…"

Helena said her voice cutting through the silence, as her disappointment is evident.

"You disappoint me, as expected. I anticipated some improvement from at least one of you, but it seems I overestimated your abilities. A pity, but hardly surprising. What did I expect from weaklings."

Helena said with an annoyed tone and a hint of disdain. Her eyes, narrowed with disgust as she glared down at them.

"…"

Hearing the guild's master's words and seeing her expression, Giles, Nyx, and The old Gentleman, frowned, as they felt anger swell within them.

"That tone of speaking and gaze... is just like those of an aristocrat... Why... why! do you always staring at me we those eyes!"

Giles muttered silently, staring at his feet as flashes of images with multiple eyes glaring at him appeared in his mind.

"No! Stop it! I am no longer that weakling. Now, I am strong."

Giles affirmed in his mind, looking up and meeting the guild master's gaze.

"...I hate those eyes."

Giles muttered those words as he saw the Guild's master's gaze again. Disgust and hatred could be seen written all over his expression.

"Hehehe…"

Vlad giggled silently to himself, with an expression that seemed to be enjoying the spectacle.

"This crazy bastard is giggling to himself in this situation. Why the fuck am I beside to crazy shit?"

Gunter thought in his mind with a creeped-out expression after hearing Vlad's silent giggles.

"I wonder why they are getting angry? The guild master is right. Compared to her we are nothing but bugs to be stomped on."

Blaze thought in his mind as he noticed Giles, Nyx, and the Gentleman's expression.

"Oh... from your expressions it seems you three don't agree with my words. well... Then. I will just have to show you how weak you are."

Helena said with a threatening tone and expression.

"Grace! I do not like the expressions these three have, Change it."

Helena commanded with a cold tone.

"YES, MY LIEGE!"

Grace responded, turning her gaze to the three men.

*WHOOSH*

"Huh!?... How dare she look down on us this much! What does she think this bitch can do to two-fourth and a third class Grandmas…ter."

Nyx thought in his mind, then he noticed Grace had vanished from his sight. He looks to his right and notices the shocked expressions of Vlad, Gunter, and Blaze.

"What the fu-"

Before he could finish his words a palm appeared, grabbed his face. Lifting him off the ground.

*WHOOSH*

*GRAB*

"!!"

Giles and the old gentleman who saw Grace's the speed Grace moved at, reacted quickly by distancing themselves out of caution.

*WHOOSH*

"How is Grace able to move that fast?!"

Giles and the old gentleman thought in their minds with shocked expressions.

"Keuk!... what's with this strong grip? It feels like my head is about to pop! Arghhh!"

Nyx thought in his mind as he yelled from the pain.

"Let go of my face you fucking bitch!!"

Nyx yelled as he pulled out his 'Twin sorrows' and thrust them towards Grace's head.

(Twin sorrows: a pair of dark-colored daggers, with their blade the shape of an oversized nail. And on its hilt made out of Dark wood a carving of a teardrop.)

*SHING*

*WHOOSH*

"Please, be quiet,"

Grace said with a calm tone, as she slammed Nyx's head into the ground causing a thunderous impact.

*WHOOSH*

*BANG!*

Nyx unable to deploy his mana to strengthen his defense due to Grace's surprising speed, felt a hundred percent of the impact, from his skull behind being slammed into solid ground.

If Nyx was prepared for the attack the outcome of the battle between Nyx and Grace would have ended differently… At least that was the last thought Nyx had before his eyes rolled behind his head, losing consciousness.

*******************************************

TEN MINUTES LATER.

*SWOOSH*

*BANG*

*BANG*

Giles and the old gentleman are thrown, beside Nyx, bearing serious injuries. With their consciousness slipping almost slipping away. But as they looked up with their dazed sight they saw the guild master crouched over them with a chilling smile.

"Now that is a more appropriate expression."

They heard her say as she conjured a strange golden cup.