At this time, nearing midnight, Night Sky had long since drawn its curtain.
Lichtenstein Castle and the surrounding mountains were shrouded in thick fog and the shadows of moonlight.
Basic Level Hall.
The chill of late autumn tried to seep through the castle's thick stone walls, but the warmth from the fireplace held it back. Everyone in the banquet hall was enveloped in a warm and lively atmosphere.
At the far end of the banquet table, near the entrance to the chapel, Earl Parocas stood tall. His figure was lonely and stern, and his unique oppressive presence made the surrounding air unusually heavy.
"..."
He clearly knew Earl Parocas was coming, yet still acted as though he had never once taken him seriously.
A sense of confusion, a feeling of having been let down by reality, and the ridiculous sensation of being fooled into boxing with air made Earl Parocas laugh at himself.
He had never seen such an arrogant lowly creature.
But it was interesting.
Clearly, not everyone at the banquet table was as graceful and composed as the black-haired, green-eyed man seated at the head.
The only ones with decent acting skills were the cold young man with grayish-white hair and sunglasses hanging halfway down his face, and a female demon with gray hair and a red dress, wearing a seductive smile. The two of them looked as though they truly were not afraid at all.
The others revealed varying degrees of nervousness through tiny movements. Their uneven acting exposed the humans' empty bravado in full.
"Why does your expression look so serious?"
Lanchi raised his glass and asked the uninvited guest, Earl Parocas, with a smile.
He had no intention of reprimanding Earl Parocas for barging in without permission and disturbing their dinner party.
"One of my