Peace Isn't Always An Unequivocal Boon

As Arthur approached the ballroom, an unfolding scene caught his attention. The sight depicted Lola, his supposed fiancée, engaged in a physical encounter with a man. Strangely, he didn't find anger welling within him. His lack of affection for Lola made her actions inconsequential. Her physical attributes didn't arouse his desires, being rather unremarkable.

Yet, an unfamiliar sensation began to stir within him.

"What is this recent sense of inferiority I've been experiencing? Could it be linked to that man over there? While I didn't catch a glimpse of who aided Alea's escape from my grasp, I believe it might have been him... Perhaps that's the reason for my heightened perception of inferiority. I refuse to accept this," he mused softly to himself.