[Lifespan Remaining: 25 days, 11 hours, 59 minutes.]
Taking a public carriage, Noct arrived at the venue well after most of the other guests got there.
Well, it took quite a bit to travel, namely since the venue was located at the very edge of the noble district, a bit further away from Central Hall and Baron Altaire’s main residence.
Noct stepped out, trying his best to look the most "intern" he could, while presenting his invitation letter to a well-dressed man at the reception hall.
"You’re...representing the Witch of Black Ice?"
Noct scratched his head awkwardly. "Aha...I don’t look quite the part, do I?"
Still, the fact that he had an invitation letter that looked legit at all was enough for the receptionist to let him through.
They walked the venue’s halls for a while before stopping at a large set of double doors made of elegant marble before the man pushed it open and announced:
"Representative of Lady Lenia Eis, Percival de Pickwitt, has arrived."
’What the hell is this name?! Ahh...there goes my plan of lying low...’
At the mention of the witch’s name, hundreds of banquet attendees turned their heads to get a glimpse. And just when Noct had taken a single step inside, he was already assaulted by everyone trying to gain favor with Lenia.
Noct wasn’t sure how many "My family were newly promoted nobles," and "The witch seemed to like me, so she gave me a chance," he could give to all the questions, which were mostly the same.
But after being swarmed for a while, a familiar figure swooped in and managed to save Noct from his peril, like a knight in shining white armor.
"Excuse me! I’d like to speak to him, if you don’t mind."
Technically, her armor was red, and so was her hair...but he was glad she managed to save him regardless.
"You know, out of all the disguises you could’ve chosen. You pick that?" Aurora asked, trying to hide a smile while pulling Noct away. "Maybe something less—"
"Yeah well, I didn’t have any other choices."
With the crowd finally giving him some room to breathe, Noct took the opportunity to examine the venue.
The reception hall opened into a much larger space than he had expected. Several enormous chandeliers hung above the central floor, illuminating rows of tables arranged along either side.
Most of the guests had gathered in the open area between the tables. There was technically enough room to dance, though everyone seemed more interested in finding someone important to speak to.
Though what Noct focused his attention on most was the second floor that overlooked the main hall, its balcony extending along three sides of the room.
"Let’s get out of the spotlight," Noct pointed to a staircase that led upward nearby. "I really don’t want to talk about my fictional parents anymore."
"Were they at least nice people?"
"Don’t even."
By the time they reached the second floor, the conversations below had blended into a much more tolerable hum. Noct rested one hand against the railing and let out a quiet breath.
"Finally..."
From up here, he could actually see the guests properly.
Or rather, he could see what they had chosen to cover their faces with.
A woman under the nearest chandelier wore a white mask decorated with long peacock feathers. Beside her stood a man whose gold mask had been shaped into a lion’s face. There were birds, flowers, and several designs so elaborate that Noct wondered how their owners could see anything at all.
"Is this a masquerade?"
Aurora stared at him. "You’ve only just noticed?"
"Yeah," Noct sighed. "That makes it a bit easier for me to blend in."
He then reached into his pocket and used the raven mask that he had taken from that one carnival stall before putting it on.
"Won’t they ask about the witch’s representative?"
"It’s a masquerade party, no one knows who anyone is," Noct waved her off. "It’ll be fine. All they need to know is that he’s present."
But as he paid closer attention, there was something purple drifting around the feet of the guests below.
At first, he had mistaken it for the color of the carpet. But the haze shifted whenever someone walked through it, curling around their shoes before settling close to the floor again.
It covered much of the hall, particularly around the tables and the base of the staircase. A faint scent reached upstairs as well, prickling at his skin softly, but it didn’t hurt or anything.
’Some kind of incense?’
He wouldn’t put it past Faust for decorating this ridiculous banquet with an even more ridiculous decoration.
Noct followed the source, finding out that it was being emitted by a small ornamental pedestal. A violet crystal inside a silver holder, spilling out purple vapor that he doubted anyone actually paid attention to.
Upon leaning closer, he discovered that it was actually a mana crystal. And the entire place was decorated in this stuff.
’They’re really using mana crystals to make the floor look pretty, huh? What a waste. Should give them to me instead...’
But before Noct could wander any further, Aurora grabbed his sleeve and pulled him back. "So what’s the plan?"
"You know, I didn’t think you’d even be here."
"Well, I had to attend. Faust was already suspecting you’d be involved since I showed here," Aurora explained. "Supporting Amelia doesn’t mean I can openly refuse to hear Faust’s proposal. Let him think he still has a chance to convince me."
"Mmm. Then for now, let’s just go around and chat to the attendees," Noct nodded. "They’re bound to know more information than we do."
Though upon scanning the entire area, Noct realized that both Baron Altaire and Faust were not present. "Hey, where are our main players?"
"Apparently, they’re going to arrive last."
"Do you even know why Faust is holding this banquet to begin with?"
But even as Noct asked the question, a part of him already knew the answer. Faust already knew about the deadline from Amon, and this party really...was just a symbol of victory.
A triumphant celebration from a brother who already knew—
That he was going to win no matter what.