I'm in Love with the Villainess!

Chapter 326: Nobles and Drama

"Please." Vredemann waved a hand. "Call me Vredemann. We’re practically family now."

Marcellus’s gaze flickered to Cael, then back to the older man.

"Are we?"

"You’ve been friends with my daughter and her partner for a while." Vredemann gestured between them. "That makes us allies, at least. Unless you’d prefer otherwise."

"I prefer to keep my options open."

"Wise." Vredemann’s smile didn’t waver. "Very wise."

Vance, who had remained silent until now, spoke.

"Cael."

"Father."

The two Ardens regarded each other for a moment, a silent exchange that seemed to carry more weight than words.

"The ball is progressing well," Vance said finally. "No incidents yet."

"Give it time," Cael replied.

Vance’s lips twitched. "Indeed. So, how are things between you and the girl?"

"Ahem..." Vredemann cleared his throat, cutting him off. "If you must speak about my daughter, do it when I’m not present."

The four of them stood in a loose cluster, the crowd giving them a wide berth. Other nobles watched from a distance, their whispers barely audible over the music.

"The emperor," Vredemann said, glancing toward the curtained windows above, "is watching."

"Let him watch, probably the most entertainment he has had in decades," Marcellus replied.

"Bold."

"Honest."

Vredemann laughed, a genuine sound that seemed to surprise even him. "I like you, Your Highness. You remind me of myself when I was young and foolish."

"And now?"

"Now I’m old and cautious." He glanced at his daughter, still holding court across the room. "Mostly."

The music swelled, and the crowd’s attention shifted, drawn by something near the dance floor.

A challenge had been issued.

Two young nobles, their faces flushed with wine and wounded pride, stood facing each other with their guns raised.

"I thought there was a rule against dueling at the ball," Cael said.

"There is," Marcellus replied, already moving toward the disturbance.

"Should we stop them?"

Marcellus didn’t look back. "Let’s see how far they get first."

"Do I have your permission to intervene when it gets too heated?"

"Very well, but no lethal action, Cael."

The two nobles’ shouting grew louder. Both were men, and behind one of them stood a woman, shoulders shaking as she cried, the very cause of the entire scene.

"How dare you choose him over me, Elizabeth?"

"Shut up, Gavin. You’ve known for a long time she liked you, but you did nothing. I simply took the initiative."

"You bastard..."

Before the argument could escalate further, Cael arrived on the scene. He raised his new revolver, aiming it at the man who seemed to be Gavin, while an orb of magic hovered above his other palm, ready to strike the rival noble.

"Relax, gentlemen."

The word hung in the air, soft and unhurried, but the effect was immediate.

Gavin’s pistol wavered. The other man, younger, his neck scarf already loosened, took a half-step back. Even the crying woman forgot her tears long enough to stare at the dark-haired noble who had appeared between them as though he’d been there all along.

"This doesn’t concern you, Arden," Gavin said, his voice cracking on the name.

Cael tilted his head, the orb of magic still hovering above his palm, the revolver still trained on him.

"You’re pointing a pistol at another guest. In front of the imperial family." He let the words settle. "Seems like it concerns everyone."

"She’s my fiancée."

"She’s standing behind him."

Gavin’s face flushed a deeper shade of crimson. The woman, Elizabeth, Cael assumed, had stopped crying long enough to slide her hand into the younger man’s. A small gesture, almost unconscious, but it spoke louder than any shouted accusation.

"Elizabeth." Gavin’s voice dropped, losing some of its bluster. "Please. We can still—"

"No, Gavin." Her voice was steadier now, though her eyes were still red. "You had three years. Three years of me waiting, of me hoping, of me making excuses for your indifference. I’m done waiting."

The younger man’s hand tightened around hers.

Gavin’s pistol dipped.

Cael lowered his revolver, though the orb of magic remained ready.

"Lord Gavin," he said quietly, "if you fire that pistol, you’ll miss. But I definitely wouldn’t."

"You wouldn’t."

"Try me."

For a long moment, no one moved. The music had continued playing somewhere behind them, oblivious to the drama unfolding at the edge of the dance floor. Nobles pretended not to watch, though every single one of them was watching.

Gavin’s hand shook.

Then, slowly, he lowered his pistol.

"Good choice," Cael said. The orb above his palm dissipated into harmless sparks.

"Screw this...!"

Gavin turned on his heel and stalked away, the crowd parting before him like water before a stone. His companion, a pale-faced man who had been hovering at the edge of the scene, scurried after him.

The younger man let out a breath he’d clearly been holding for too long.

"Thank you, Lord Arden. I don’t know what would have happened if—"

"You’d have been shot," Cael interrupted.

The man’s face went white.

Elizabeth stepped forward, her hand still clasped in his. "We should, we should find somewhere quieter."

"Yes," the man agreed. "Yes, we should."

"A gun, really?" His father laughed behind him, patting his shoulder.

"It’s a lot more fun that way," Cael replied.

"Cheers to that."

Beyond the scene, Evelina watched them with a faint smile, finishing her glass of wine as she scanned the hall for something to occupy herself with. While showing Cael off was her main objective, it still wasn’t the right time.

For now, she decided to mingle, letting the tension build among the ball’s attendees for the moment when they would finally steal the show.

"I’m surprised you’re alone, Lady D’Arclight."

Vivianne appeared in a vibrant green dress that matched her hair and eyes, her gaze restless as it roamed the hall.

"It’s intentional, trust me... As for you, I’m sure you’re looking for Illinalta?"

"Yeah. I have no idea where Kevin went. Phoenix even helped me look for him. He was supposed to be reserved as my first dance."

"Phoenix...?"

Evelina’s eyebrow rose at the mention of his name, a flicker of irritation already forming in her mind.

"Yeah. Is there a problem...? You seem troubled."

"Somewhat. Don’t worry, I’ll help you find Kevin."

Evelina offered, though it was less out of genuine kindness and more because she didn’t want Phoenix using Kevin’s disappearance as an excuse to get close to Vivianne.

"Walk with me. I’m sure we’ll find him together."