[Possible Space-Time] Beneath the Feast (Part 2)

A little further away from Serie's table, at a round table, sat another group of people.

Clematis leaned back in the high-backed chair, one leg casually crossed over the other. He held a half-full glass of red wine in his hand, the deep red liquid gleaming under the light.

Gazella sat opposite him, cutting a steak on his plate with a silver knife. He was dressed in a black tuxedo, indistinguishable from the other guests, but his bow tie was loose, and the blade made a steady, subtle scraping sound as it cut across the white porcelain plate.

Lutine stood by the table, her arms crossed. She too was dressed in a black gown, its simple style and somber color complementing her lowered gaze and the strands of hair falling across her forehead. She stood motionless like a statue in the shadows.

Iris sat sideways in the chair, her elbows propped on the table, her palms supporting her cheeks. She wore her usual sweet and harmless smile, and her pale golden double braids cascaded smoothly over her shoulders. A glass of untouched juice sat beside her.

Gazella cut off a piece of steak, put it in his mouth, chewed a few times, and swallowed. He looked up at Clematis.

"Clematis, is it alright for us to sit like this, so openly and honestly?"

Clematis swirled the wine in his glass, his gaze sweeping across the brightly lit, bustling hall.

"You've got it backwards. The only place we can sit openly is here." He took a sip of his drink, letting the liquid linger on his tongue for a moment before swallowing. "After all, to make a move here first means to antagonize the Empire. Whether it's the Shadow Warriors or the Continental Magic Association —whoever breaks the peace of this grand event first will become the target of everyone's wrath."

Iris continued to rest her chin on her hand, her smile unchanged.

"What about the Magical Special Forces? Aren't we one of their targets as well?"

"That depends on Fres's mood." Clematis put down his glass, his fingers lightly tracing the stem. "That being said, Fres is utterly loyal to the Empire. She's unlikely to willingly turn the venue into a battlefield."

His gaze swept over the dancers twirling in the center of the hall, then over the silent figures in dark uniforms standing at the edges.

"The National Day ball is a symbol of peace and the empire's strength. If something happens here, it means the empire's power and deterrent force are declining. If I were her, I would definitely choose to eliminate all those in the way from the shadows to ensure the ball's outward perfection."

"As long as the battle remains hidden in the open, Fres will likely reap the benefits. After all, Shadow Warriors are meant to operate in the 'shadows,' not fight in the open."

"Therefore, this battle should take place silently beneath the surface. The Continental Magic Association, the Shadow Warriors, the Magical Special Forces. Regardless of who wins or loses, this grand performance tonight must come to a successful conclusion."

Iris blinked her large, clear eyes.

"I can't even imagine how chaotic things will be down here after this is all over."

"Those who survive to witness this chaos are the lucky ones," Clematis said, turning to her. "While you're here, hurry up and dance. For girls like you, so young and already standing here, even if you survive this, this level of courtly feast is probably a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."

"Eh~" Iris drawled, her smile sweet, "That sounds pretty good."

She turned her head to look at Lutine standing beside her.

"Lutine, would you like to go dancing?"

Lutine lowered her head, a few strands of her black hair slipping down with the movement. She glanced at Iris, then silently reached out and grasped Iris's wrist, which was resting on the table, as if to pull her up from the chair.

Iris didn't move, but her smile widened, her eyes curving into crescents.

"I was just joking. We're here to fight, aren't we?" Her smile remained, but the warmth in her eyes seemed to have faded slightly, and the lighthearted joking tone had disappeared. "Clematis, don't say things like that."

Clematis looked at her for two seconds.

I'm not joking.

Iris's smile faded. She lowered her hand from her chin, sat up straight, and placed her hands folded on her knees, which were covered with a snow-white tablecloth.

"Really? You want to tell me you're serious? You've only taught us how to fight, how to kill, how to complete missions. You've never taught us how to dance, how to enjoy ourselves in a place like this."

"How jarring," Clematis shook his head. "I taught you how to complete the task. So you just need to learn to Imitation the things around you as usual. Isn't that how your training has been until now?"

His gaze shifted to Gazella, Gazella was awkwardly twirling a small amount of side dish with her fork.

"When Gazella first arrived, he was like a country bumpkin, he couldn't even hold his knife and fork right-side up. Now, isn't he eating his steak with perfect poise?"

Gazella stopped moving, the fork hovering in mid-air. He raised his eyes expressionlessly and looked at Clematis.

"Do you want to fight? Besides, we're originally from the countryside."

Clematis ignored him and turned his gaze back to the dance floor. Several elegantly dressed couples were twirling to the soothing music, the women's skirts tracing graceful, full arcs.

"Just observe, Imitation, and immerse yourself in it. And when necessary, take the necessary actions. This is what we've always done, and this is our way of survival."

Iris was silent for a few seconds. Her gaze lingered on Clematis's expressionless face, then swept over the elegantly chatting nobles not far away, before finally settling on the crystal-clear glass of juice in front of her, which remained untouched.

"That's not what I meant," she said softly.

"But that's what I meant," Clematis replied calmly, even taking another small sip of his drink. "Frankly, I'm just like you; I don't know how to dance, nor do I find anything 'enjoyable' about it. But the mission requires it."

Iris suddenly stood up from her chair and slammed her hands on the table, which was covered with a thick tablecloth.

Her movements were light, but the chair legs creaked briefly against the smooth marble floor. The wine in the glass on the table swayed gently, creating delicate ripples.

Clematis looked up at her. His expression remained unchanged, but his voice deepened, carrying a clear sense of disapproval.

"Iris."

Iris raised a hand, palm forward, making a clear and restrained "stop" gesture. Then, she moved that hand to her ear, her fingertips slightly curled, tilted her head, closed her eyes, and focused all her attention on hearing.

Her sweet smile vanished, replaced by a calmness that came with being fully engaged in work, devoid of all emotion. Her pale golden eyelashes drooped, casting two quiet shadows beneath her eyelids.

A few seconds later, she lowered her hand and opened her eyes.

"Alright," she said, her voice steady. "Then I'll do as you say. Just now, I 'carefully observed' the surroundings."

She turned around and walked briskly towards the side door of the banquet hall.

"I'll be right back. Reconnaissance and eliminating potential threats from the perimeter are part of my job."

As she spoke, she turned her back to the three people at the table, casually waved her hand, and the hem of her pure black skirt drew a neat arc at her calves.

Lutine watched her retreating figure, then looked at Clematis.

Clematis picked up his glass and took a sip. The deep red liquid slid down his throat, and he put the glass down, the bottom of it touching the table with a soft "tap".

Go and cover her.

Lutine nodded without a word, then immediately turned and slipped into the crowd like a silent black shadow, following behind. The hem of her long dress brushed against the smooth ground, making almost no sound.

Iris walked to the side door and pushed open the heavy door, which was carved with vine patterns.

The night breeze immediately carried in the cool scent of the plants in the courtyard. Lutine quickly followed, arriving just as she stepped out of the doorway and into the spacious corridor illuminated by moonlight and hallway lamps.

"Please don't go out alone..." Lutine's voice was even lower than it was indoors, carried away by the wind.

Iris turned her head and gave her a smile, a smile that was as sweet as ever, even with a touch of playful "you caught me!" She reached out and naturally took Lutine's slightly cool hand.

"I know, I knew you'd come. See, now that we're together, it's not considered 'going alone,' right?"

Her fingers were slender, yet her strength was steady. Lutine didn't struggle, letting her pull her along as they walked side by side into the outdoor corridor.

The corridor was spacious, with smooth stone slabs paving the floor. Thick stone pillars were arranged at equal intervals, supporting a dome carved with intricate patterns. Magic lamps hanging between the pillars emitted a soft light, casting long, intersecting stripes of shadows on the ground.

The night breeze ruffled their hair and skirts. Soft music drifted faintly from the distant courtyard, mingling with the melody inside the hall and becoming indistinct.

Lutine lowered her voice, almost whispering, "Did you hear something?"

"Hmm." Iris released her hand, put a finger to her lips in a shushing gesture. She kept her head slightly tilted, her steps light and slow, like a cat approaching its prey. "Although Clematis said there wouldn't be any open fighting... well, there are some formidable figures approaching the venue right now."

She tilted her head, the tip of her pale golden braid lightly brushing against the fabric of her clothes over her shoulder with the movement.

"He seems to be a very warlike type. Judging from the rhythm and weight of his footsteps, and that... unintentional 'aura' he exudes."

Lutine's sharp gaze swept across the corridor ahead. Deep within the shadows of the pillars, the light was dim, and her vision was obstructed by layers of shadows and stone pillars, making it difficult to see clearly.

"Serie's bodyguard? Is he on the list?"

"I don't know," Iris answered readily, almost as if it were a given. She lowered her hand and instead gently bit the tip of her index finger, as if unconsciously rubbing it, or perhaps trying to focus her thoughts. "I don't have X-ray vision to see behind the pillar."

"However," she loosened her teeth, leaving a faint tooth mark on her fingertip, "If we do nothing and let them swagger close to the core area, it will definitely interfere with the mission. We need to go and 'confirm' first."

Lutine nodded.

"That certainly needs to be confirmed," she repeated, her tone calm and matter-of-fact.

The two said no more and continued walking forward, the sound of their heels hitting the stone slabs so softly that it was almost drowned out by the sound of the wind and distant music.

In the shadows about a dozen columns away, Ubel and Lanto were walking side by side.

They walked slowly, but in unison, maintaining a tacit rhythm. Ubel's ivory-white tuxedo gleamed softly under the corridor lights, while Lanto's white suit was crisp and sharp. Occasionally, the lenses of his glasses would precisely capture the faint light of distant lights, flashing a few cool, star-like points.

The two barely spoke, silently passing through the varying shades of shadow cast by the Roman columns, like two white figures darting between light and darkness.

After walking for a while, as they passed under a particularly dim corridor lamp, Lanto suddenly spoke. His voice was not loud, but it sounded clear and calm in the empty, echoing corridor.

Where are your reins?

Ubel turned to look at him almost simultaneously, a familiar, seemingly perpetually playful and nonchalant smile instantly curving his lips. His purple eyes shone brightly in the dim light, like jewels hidden in the shadows.

"I don't know--" she drawled, her tone light as if discussing the weather, but every syllable reached Lanto's ears clearly.

She leaned a little closer, lowered her voice, and whispered:

"Why don't you look for it? Maybe... it's in your hands?"