On the following evening, Lances who had personally stepped out to greet his guests in the name of propriety gazed at the trio approaching before him and rolled his eyes so hard internally they nearly reached the back of his head.
Abso-lutely wretched…
Attired in exquisite garments with delicate, fragile features, Lances managed to paste together a semblance of a smile as he greeted them: “Welcome, Lord Xavier… and Huey.”
As for Frank trailing in the rear? A mere butler, thoroughly and completely ignored.
Xavier offered a slight nod of acknowledgment in return.
As for Huey, he remained glued tightly to Xavier’s arm, pressing virtually his entire upper body flush against the man’s side.
For tonight’s gathering, Huey had spared no effort in styling himself to absolute perfection. Even his platinum-gold heart-shaped tail had been meticulously polished over and over with specialty succubus heart oil, leaving it looking plump, milky, and effortlessly pinchable.
“Please, right this way.”
Turning to lead the way, Lances deliberately flashed his tail directly toward the trio in a blatant display of vanity. The black-velvet heart tip bobbed up and down with an alluring, rhythmic sway designed to capture any demon’s gaze.
With a deadpan expression, Huey flicked his gaze from the obnoxious, showy tail in front of him to the little tail hiding behind his own back. His platinum-gold heart tip had curled up tightly into a self-conscious little ball, stripped of its plumpness and milky sheen he was losing this battle on every conceivable front.
Unfortunately, among the three individuals trailing behind Lances, two were angels and one was a succubus. Aside from the utterly demoralized succubus, the pair of angels remained entirely immune to the visual appeal of Lances’s tail; if anything, both of them distinctly preferred Huey’s platinum-gold heart.
It was a textbook case of casting pearls before swine.
This “matchmaking banquet,” nominally styled as a social mixer, was orchestrated by the Soren family primarily as a strategic move to consolidate their sphere of influence. Blessed with sparse progeny, their lineage had produced a mere two succubus descendants across a millennium. Had it not been for Lances turning out to be such a prized asset, their household would have long since plummeted into the ranks of low-tier succubus clans.
Consequently, the Soren family felt compelled to leverage Lances to the absolute limit, seeking to secure a demon powerful enough to shield and sustain their clan until the subsequent generation of succubi matured.
Naturally, their initial target had been the Frost Demon Lord Caron; however, the moment Xavier’s formidable aura manifested in the Port of Hamura yesterday, their primary objective shifted instantaneously.
This formidable demon simply had to belong to the Soren family. If necessary, even the senior-generation succubi of preceding decades were prepared to mobilize collectively to lock him down.
Naturally, if the two succubi of this generation managed to net both Xavier and Caron concurrently, it would yield the maximum possible windfall for the clan.
Still… casting a covert evaluation toward the tall, imposing figure, the elder-generation succubus of the Soren family inwardly shook her head with a silent sigh.
Never mind, let’s just pin all our hopes on Lances.
“Would the three of you care to sample this ocean fruit wine? It’s a specialty exclusive to the Port of Hamura, quite difficult to procure elsewhere.” Lances retrieved three dark goblets from a tray balanced atop a goblin attendant’s head and offered them around.
So-called ocean fruits were flora harvested from the boundless, lightless depths of the sea. Nurtured by the dark energies permeating the abyssal waters, the wine brewed from them retained a heavy saturation of dark element energy, rendering it a beloved delicacy among Underworld denizens.
For angels, however, it produced the exact opposite effect.
Huey, on the other hand, adored the flavor profile of the brew, polishing off several consecutive sips. His pink little tongue darted out like an eager kitten’s to lap up stray drops, thoroughly enchanted to the point of narrowing his eyes in pure bliss.
Noticing Xavier’s lack of enthusiasm for the beverage, Lances opened his mouth to press further, only to catch a warning glare shot his way by his mother. Swallowing down his frustration with a bitter sting of humiliation, he turned to offer the three a soft, practiced apology: “Pardon me, I must attend to other arriving guests. Please excuse me for a moment.”
Before departing, he didn’t forget to flash Xavier a fragile, heart-wrenching smile. “I do hope the lord will grant me the profound honor of inviting me to dance the opening waltz.”
Upon hearing those words, Huey choked on his wine, instantly triggering a violent, hacking fit of coughing.
Cough, cough-cough my lord, cough
The poor little succubus coughed so hard his entire face turned a brilliant shade of crimson.
Surging with worry, Xavier reached out immediately to pat him rhythmically across the back. “Take your time. If you enjoy this wine so much, I shall instruct Frank to purchase a generous stock for you to take home.”
Fingers clamping tightly onto Xavier’s other arm, Huey fought to suppress the lingering tickle in his throat and declared with absolute solemnity: “My lord! You are forbidden to dance the opening waltz with him!”
At gatherings of this nature, if a demon actively invited a succubus to dance, it signaled clear romantic interest and an explicit intent of courtship.
“Alright, alright, I won’t dance with him I’ll dance exclusively with you,” Xavier replied offhandedly, pouring a glass of water and guiding it toward Huey’s lips as he coaxed gently, “Here, take a sip of water.”
Soothed and thoroughly appeased, Huey proudly twitched his little tail, eagerly accepting sips of water directly from Xavier’s hand.
“So, you’re the one stepping into his crosshairs.”
A tall, statuesque succubus materialized before the trio unannounced. Unlike the vast majority of his kin, his striking, sharp facial features radiated an aggressive, unrestrained brilliance blazing like a roaring bonfire that exuded an intense wave of formidable presence.
Sweeping an appraisal up and down Xavier’s frame, he drawled in a lazy, husky baritone: “Looks like you’ve already reeled in a little succubus.”
Frowning, Huey scanned his memory banks before offering a hesitant guess: “You must be… Lances’s older brother, Herman?”
“Mhm.” Herman grunted out a nasal affirmation, confirming the deduction.
“A word of advice…”
Herman’s gaze drifted in a slow loop between Xavier and Frank before locking firmly upon the latter. “Correction my advice is actually directed at you: do not entangle yourself with the succubi of the Soren family. We resemble venomous vipers slithering through the brush; once we sink our fangs into you, we will cling relentlessly until death parts us.”
Before Frank could process the warning, the tall, flamboyant succubus abruptly leaned forward, bringing the bridge of his high nose close enough to brush against Frank’s.
This succubus was actually a full head taller than him?!
“Heh, fancy a demon reducing himself to serving as another demon’s lackey.” Herman canted his head, his nose grazing Frank’s burning, reddened cheeks as their breathing mingled closely. “Whatever possessed a succubus to take a fancy to the likes of you?”
“I don’t need any succubus sniffing around me!” Shoving Herman backward with a forceful heave, Frank flushed a bright, delicate shade of pink from ear to ear as he sputtered indignantly, “My entire life belongs solely in loyalty to my lord!”
“Have it your way, then.” Shrugging off the shove with effortless balance, Herman offered an unbothered, nonchalant sweep of his hands. “I’ve delivered the warning; whether you choose to heed it is entirely your concern.”
Leaving as breezily as he had arrived, Herman strode off into the crowd, leaving behind a thoroughly flustered and humiliated Frank.
He! Frank! The premier assistant to the Grand Archangel! Never—not once in all his years—had anyone dared to tease him in such an utterly brazen manner!
Fuming with suppressed rage, Frank completely pushed aside any rational caution regarding the heavy dark-element saturation contained within the ocean fruit wine; grabbing a goblet, he tilted his head back and chugged the contents down in a single, reckless gulp, following it up with several more consecutive rounds until he had drained the pitcher with furious bravado.
“Your butler… is he entirely alright?” Huey asked, casting a worried look toward Frank. “The alcohol content in that ocean fruit wine is not to be underestimated.”
“He is quite capable of managing himself,” Xavier replied, shooting a disdainful glance at his thoroughly inebriated subordinate before tugging the young succubus a step closer. “Stay back; don’t let his fumes rub off on you.”
Obediently nodding, Huey resumed nibbling at his wine, warmly urging Xavier to join him: “Are you truly not going to sample any? It really is delicious.”
Yielding to the expectant gaze of the little succubus, the Archangel raised his glass and took another polite sip.
“Quite acceptable.”
Though he still failed to discern any nuanced flavor profile, agreeing with the young demon’s assessment remained the safest conversational protocol.
“Right?” Beaming happily, Huey hugged his goblet. “Have another couple of sips.”
In this manner, the Grand Archangel was successfully coaxed by the little succubus into consuming upwards of half a glass of the potent brew.
“You, you actually let the lord drink wine?!”
Emerging from his stupor, Frank let out a shrill, piercing shriek that echoed with the haunting timber of a terrified fowl.
“What is the matter now?” Huey inquired, blinking in utter bewilderment. “Is the lord forbidden from consuming alcohol?”
Tilting his head to inspect Xavier, Huey noted that his facial expression remained entirely unaltered.
“It’s over, it’s completely over.” Refusing to answer, Frank simply buried his head in his hands and crouched on the floor, muttering a frantic stream of disjointed lamentations: “I am truly cursed why did I ever touch that alcohol? I should have been keeping a strict eye on the lord instead oh, god, oh, gods above “
“Frank.”
As Huey stared in mounting confusion, the man’s deep voice sliced through the air, carrying a distinct edge of chilling frost.
“You are being excessively noisy.”
Dark-golden pupils devoid of emotional warmth locked downward upon the cowering subordinate, instantly freezing Frank into absolute silence. Clamping both hands tightly over his mouth, the terrified assistant didn’t dare release so much as a single breath.
“My lord?” Huey probed anxiously, stepping closer. “Are you feeling unwell?”
Lowering his gaze, Xavier stared speechlessly at the adorable little succubus standing before him. Without uttering a word, he stepped forward, reached out, and firmly seized the plush, milky-white platinum-gold heart-shaped tail resting against Huey’s backside, muttering:
“I am quite well. There is no need for concern.”
Well, his demeanor certainly didn’t seem entirely normal… Trapped by his captured tail, Huey lost his footing and toppled directly into Xavier’s welcoming embrace, lifting his chin to stare blankly into the striking, handsome face above him.
While they remained comfortably settled in their little corner, poor Frank was suffering on the floor with cramped legs, lacking the courage to stand or even attempt speech, desperately praying that no other attendees would wander into their vicinity and trying to figure out how to brief his superior once sobriety returned.
Unfortunately, the universe routinely ignored angelic prayers.
The swell of soft, seductive orchestral strings announced the commencement of the ballroom dancing. Embellished in their finest, alluring succubi pulled their chosen partners out onto the polished floorboards, spinning and swaying in tight embraces amid the dim lighting to whisper sweet exchanges.
Sometime around then, Lances made his reappearance having changed into a striking black leather crop top that barely afforded a modest coverage above his navel, crisscrossed over his chest with slender black silk ribbons. His micro-shorts hugged his rounded hips with provocative brevity, and his sleek tail swayed with deliberate, hypnotic grace, advertising the flawless black velvet heart tip to the surrounding crowd.
“Lord Xavier.”
Swaying seductively, Lances glided right up to Xavier, casually choosing to look past the young succubus tucked securely against the man’s chest.
“Might I have the absolute honor of inviting you to dance our opening waltz?”
Total, absolute silence descended across the immediate vicinity.
A collective cohort of covetous demons glowered with murderous jealousy toward the fortunate stranger singled out for the invitation, only to deflate sheepishly the moment they sensed the sheer magnitude of his internal pressure.
Such a breathtaking succubus could only ever belong to the most formidable of lords.
As for Huey, who was currently residing within Xavier’s arms? He was conveniently edited out of the collective consciousness of the onlookers. After all, no sane demon would willingly surrender an alluring black-velvet heart tail in exchange for a platinum-gold counterpart.
Lances wore a mask of supreme confidence, resting secure in his irresistible personal magnetism. The only individual who remained internally panic-stricken was poor Frank, who was still huddled on the floor with his eyes squeezed shut, refusing to witness the impending disaster.
The man holding the succubus slowly raised his head, rubbing a thumb across the soft platinum-gold heart tip clutched in his palm. His dark-golden eyes burned with the fathomless depth of a bottomless vortex.
The rich, cello-toned voice resonated outward, dripping with unmistakable, razor-sharp arrogance.
“You? You are scarcely worthy to invite me to dance.”