190. The Queen's Gambit
Justin, displaying more confidence than he felt, took Myrelle by the arm as they joined the flow of people heading toward the ballroom.
As he crossed the threshold, his attention was drawn to the ceiling—an opposite of the daytime scene in the banquet hall. Instead, it was a moving night sky, complete with a moon and several planets.
He couldn't help but observe. He noticed one world that was mostly water with a few larger islands, alongside a dry planet that, while still possessing water, was predominantly mountainous and arid. He wondered if that one was Solanis—it certainly fit his own experience. In addition, there was a lush green planet with vast oceans, a planet mostly encased in ice with a narrow habitable band around the equator, and finally what appeared to be a barren, dark gray planet with a few small oceans.
And of course, there was Eyrth itself, with the continent configuration Justin already knew.
The planets glided across the ceiling, clearly enchanted—a masterwork of both magic and artistry, while stars shone in the sky.
Myrelle watched Justin knowingly. "It always captures my attention. Seeing it for the first time is the best."
By now, dancing had begun. The string section in the corner played a lively waltz, and all the masked couples created a mysterious atmosphere. Justin took a moment to observe, cataloging every move. He focused on a pair of particularly graceful dancers who seemed to float across the ballroom. After a few seconds, he felt confident he knew their movements well enough to avoid making a fool of himself.
He faced Myrelle with a smile, placed his right hand on her lower back, and gently took her left hand.
Myrelle's eyes met his through her mask, and though he couldn't see her features clearly, he could tell she was smiling. Justin awaited the right moment and began to dance, flowing across the ballroom as if he had been born to it.
Myrelle's eyes widened behind her mask as she laughed. "Mr. Talemaker," she said, "you are full of surprises, aren't you?"
Justin chuckled. "You wouldn't believe it, but goblins make good dance partners." She chuckled lightly and, after about thirty seconds, ventured again, "Tell me this isn't your first ball."
Justin realized that, like during their dinner conversation, he was displaying abilities far beyond expectations.
"It's merely an ability I possess, my lady," he replied, without elaborating further.
"I've heard of social mimicry abilities. They can be quite powerful."
"Indeed, they can," Justin said. His Level 14 boon, Chameleon Charm, was classified as rare. He often wondered if he had made the right choice compared to the other option at that level. However, it had helped him not only in this situation but also in blending in with the Fyrspawn on Solanis. It would only be more beneficial in the future.
Thankfully, she didn't press further. They went through several dances before retreating to the refreshments table for some cordial. Several times, they encountered the raven-masked man and the swan-masked lady, both skilled dancers, along with the sun and moon-masked couple.
Compared to the dinner conversation, Myrelle was right: this was the easy part. Whenever the dance changed, Justin needed only to watch for a moment before he could follow along well enough. While he wasn't an expert or the best dancer, it was sufficient to blend in. That was how Chameleon Charm seemed to work—it made you just good enough, with the rest of the skill-building relying on your own talent and willingness to master things.
He was surprised when a lady approached Myrelle—the silver fox-masked woman who had greeted him at the palace door—while Myrelle was taking a break. Then, that same woman approached him, seeming to glide across the white-marbled floor.
"Care to dance?" she asked.
Justin was taken aback by the offer. He knew it wasn't proper decorum for a woman to ask a man to dance, but perhaps the context of the masquerade made it acceptable.
But he instantly knew the proper response.
"Of course, my lady," he said.
Once again, he went through the motions with her, keeping things as chaste as possible while she peppered him with questions.
"I noticed a lot of the lords and ladies discussing you. You made quite the entrance with that construct of yours."
Justin nodded. "Yes, my lady. My construct has accompanied me on many adventures."
She laughed lightly. "Properly registered, I noticed."
A strange detail to mention, but Justin decided to run with it. "Of course. You wouldn't believe it, but one of the city guards stopped me in front of the Aurelian Tower and nearly fined me."
The woman laughed, genuinely amused. "Well, it's good they're doing their job. But they can sometimes be a bit overzealous."
Justin smiled. "And do you have much experience with the Queen's guards, my lady?"
She offered a mysterious smile, softly shaking her head. "I don't want to sound strange, but I have connections, shall we say, with the Department of Arcane Vehicles. It wasn't too difficult to figure out who you are based on your plate number."
Justin resisted the urge to stiffen at the unsettling nature of this. Instead, he forced a smile. She was testing him in some way, knowing this was wildly inappropriate while trying to gauge his reaction.
It seemed many nobles were like that—they understood the rules but enjoyed bending them to see how rivals or potential romantic partners reacted.
"Then it seems the game is up, if you already know who I am."
"That's the thing," she said, still smiling. "While I know your name, I still don't know who you are." She was still smiling. "I know nearly every house in the queendom, but yours is one I've never encountered before. I've discreetly asked a few other lords and ladies here, and none have heard of it either. Don't worry, I didn't say anything that leads back to you. But from what I've gathered from your conversation partners, you're based out of the Wildwood, west of Mistwatch. Count Reynard, unfortunately, could not be here this evening, but I assume he is your suzerain lord?"
Justin was wary of a verbal trap, but in the story he had hashed out with Alistair and Lila, that was Count Reynard's purview. There was only one possible answer. "Yes."
"And what barony are you under, my lord, if I may be so bold as to ask?"
For the first time since arriving, Justin found himself at a loss for words. There was no way to evade this question, and the dance showed no signs of ending. He suspected that even if the dance were about to conclude, she would insist on another.
"A lot of this is in flux," Justin said somewhat weakly. "You know how it is in the western Hinterlands. Things have been shifting a lot lately, especially with Count Valdrik's ascension."
"You have a point there," the lady said. "But don't worry, you're not in trouble. Your secret is safe with me. You're just a curiosity, is all. I don't want you to take it the wrong way."
Justin recognized the threat in these words: I know your secret, and if you get on my bad side, I can expose you for who you are.
"No offense taken, my lady."
"You know," she said, "a noble with an unusual past can be an advantage. It makes you harder to pin down."
"Yes. That makes sense, my lady," Justin replied.
She simply smiled as the song ended. "Thank you for the dance, sir."
She left him there, and Justin felt a bit flustered. Fortunately, he was experienced enough not to show any distress. Within seconds, Myrelle approached him.
"And who was that?" she asked. "She asked me for permission, but even for a masquerade, it's quite brazen for a lady to ask a man for a dance."
Justin shrugged. "I'm not sure, but she seems to know a lot about me without ever having seen me, even with this mask on."
"All part of the game," Myrelle said. "Especially on nights like this, people are more willing to say things behind a mask that they wouldn't otherwise. If she approached you, I wouldn't take it too seriously."
Yes, Justin thought, but she knew exactly who he was. Or at least hinted that she did.
The plate on Atlas's side had been a huge oversight, and she, standing on the front balcony, had seen it. Clearly, she was someone of importance. He had seen her socializing with just about every noble, and she had been able to gain the information about Atlas's plate rather quickly. Now that he was on her radar, he felt a bit sick. But that was part of the risk of coming here.
The real question was, why would she target him if he was seemingly an unimportant noble?
He kept these questions in the back of his mind as he continued to dance with Myrelle.
Several other ladies approached Myrelle, asking to dance with Justin, perhaps inspired by the Silver Fox. To his surprise, she was quite gracious about it. He kept the dances to just one number. He also noticed several others switching partners here and there, so it wasn't completely strange.
Justin wondered what was drawing them. His charisma was probably higher than anyone's here, and perhaps they sensed it. He had also undergone a complete transformation in his appearance and capacity to project warmth, despite how he felt inside. It shouldn't be surprising that people found him interesting, even when he wasn't trying to incite it.
He realized he needed to learn much more about channeling his charisma. Right now, it felt a bit out of control. Just as a mage could cast a fireball at will, he should be able to "cast" his charisma in certain ways—either keeping it subdued and blending in or drawing attention.
He wondered if this would work, so he decided to experiment. He aimed to blend in rather than stand out as he had before. To his surprise, fewer people approached him, and even Myrelle went off to take a break and speak to some other nobles.
"This is kind of weird," Justin muttered to himself.
Next, he decided to strike a pose and channel his charisma, projecting his full power while radiating an inviting warmth. The effect was almost immediate. Several heads turned his way, and within moments, a noble engaged him in conversation, insisting on having a drink.
Justin said some polite, declining words before once again toning down his charisma to a level where he could blend in more.
"This is kind of insane," he said. It had never occurred to him to do this consciously, and maybe it was just the moment's setting, but it was remarkable that he could grab attention using only his will.
This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.
Justin contemplated the implications in his mind as the clock edged closer to midnight. In five minutes, the unmasking would begin. There was one final dance, and then the nobles gathered in the center of the Starlit Ballroom, chatting animatedly.
Finally, one lady removed her fawn mask and spoke. She was an elegant woman in her early fifties, with silver-streaked black hair swept into an elaborate style and sharp, intelligent brown eyes that seemed to take in everything at once. Her bearing was unmistakably regal, exuding the poise that comes from a lifetime of command.
The crowd gasped. He heard several murmurs of "Princess Lorraine."
She was likely a sibling of the current queen.
"Thank you for coming to our little masquerade," she said. "It's important and wonderful when all the nobles of the kingdom can gather, enjoy some diversion, and make connections. This leads me to my next point—it's hard to truly connect with someone unless you can see their face. Our faces tell the stories of our lives, and it's said that if you look long enough, you'll know everything about a person—not in fact, but in feeling, emotion, and spirit. They say the eyes are the windows to the soul, and much can be read just by looking into someone's eyes."
The others nodded knowingly at this, and Justin watched her closely.
"Strangely," she continued, "these limitations make masks enchanting on evenings like this. We can be freer, rising above conventions in a way that wouldn't be possible otherwise. But now comes the final hour, and the great revealing is about to begin. I hope you've made some lovely friends, and please stay to discover who is who—even if some of us couldn't make it to the end of the evening without revealing our true nature."
Several heads turned toward a rather large man whom Justin figured could not be hidden by a mask if you knew him in real life. He gave an understanding laugh while others chuckled.
"And now, on the count of three, I'll time it so that when the clock strikes midnight—" There was a moment of whispers followed by silence. Finally, the lady spoke again. "One... two... three!"
Everyone chanted together. They removed their masks, and Justin was slow to do so. Cries of surprise and delight erupted as the nobles looked at each other, some exclaiming, "I knew it!" while others said, "I would have never guessed in a million years!"
Instantly, Justin scanned the room for familiar faces. He spotted the young nobleman with the sun mask—a devilishly handsome young man with a strong, aristocratic face and a hint of superiority.
When their eyes met, the young man approached, offering a sympathetic smile.
"Lord Tennyson," he said. "And you are?"
"Mr. Talemaker," Justin said simply. This Tennyson was obviously a lord, so at the very least a baron, count, or earl, so now Justin had to observe usual decorum and be at least somewhat subservient. He gave a slight bow, just enough to avoid being mistaken for an insult.
The moon lady approached—a pretty young woman with skin as pale as the moon mask she wore.
"Lady Celine Margot," she said enchantingly, offering a slight bow.
Justin nodded. "My lord and lady, it is a pleasure to make your formal acquaintance. Thank you for the inspiring discussion during the meal; I hope this isn't our last meeting."
"Indeed," Lord Tennyson said. "I wasn't merely polite when I mentioned my desire to adventure with you, Mr. Talemaker. You're clearly a man of great experience, and I don't want you to think that your status prevents you from associating with someone like me. I admit I overstepped my bounds, and as a gentleman, I must apologize. It's not something my father would have taught me to do."
Despite his words, Justin could see from his face that they were just that—words. Something expected of him, but not genuinely meant.
Justin nodded appreciatively. "No offense taken, my lord. I would be happy to join any adventuring party with you. It's not just about expanding my connections at court; you genuinely have much to offer."
Justin didn't intend to take him up on the offer.
Lady Celine seemed delighted by this prospect. "Oh, wonderful! I knew you two would get along once the masks came off."
"Yes," Lord Tennyson said. "These masks have a way of altering one's personality. Some say they reveal the true self, but I hope that wasn't the case. Mr. Talemaker, I eagerly look forward to adventuring with you, though I'm unsure how to reach you."
"I just moved to the city," Justin replied, "so things are still in flux. I'm currently renting a simple apartment. If you let me know where to find you, I can send a letter."
Thankfully, Lord Tennyson seemed open to this. Justin wasn't sure if the young lord was genuine in his offer, but by phrasing it this way, he put the ball in Tennyson's court without forcing anything awkwardly.
"That sounds like the perfect plan, Mr. Talemaker. A pleasure to finally meet you."
Just then, Justin checked on Myrelle, but she was already talking to some other noble ladies.
At that moment, a figure approached her—a tall, imposing man with graying temples and an aristocratic bearing. There was something calculating in his smile.
"Lady Myrelle," the man said, his voice carrying quiet authority. "I trust you've enjoyed your evening?"
Myrelle's posture stiffened almost imperceptibly, but Justin easily noticed. "Lord Hammond. Yes, quite thoroughly, thank you."
Justin had already positioned himself beside her. Lord Hammond's gaze shifted to him with polite interest that didn't quite reach his eyes.
"And this must be your companion for the evening?" Hammond's tone was perfectly cordial. "I don't believe we've been introduced."
"Mr. Talemaker," Justin said, offering a respectful nod.
"Ah, yes. I've heard whispers about our distinguished visitor from the Hinterlands." Hammond's smile appeared warm, but Justin could tell it was practiced. "How refreshing to have new perspectives grace our gatherings." He turned back to Myrelle with gentle familiarity. "My dear, I do hope you'll save time for our usual discussion about the charity foundation. Your father mentioned you had some innovative ideas about expanding our reach into the outer provinces."
The reminder was subtle but pointed. Hammond had established relationships with both Myrelle and her father, regular conversations that Justin was clearly not part of.
"Of course," Myrelle replied carefully. "Though perhaps we might discuss it when we're both less... festively distracted."
"Naturally," Hammond agreed, his smile unwavering. "Though I confess, I worry about you venturing so far from familiar circles. These are complex times, and one never knows what... complications might arise from unexpected associations." His gaze flicked briefly to Justin. "I'm sure Mr. Talemaker understands the delicate nature of reputation in our society."
"Indeed I do," Justin replied evenly. "Which is why I ensure my conduct reflects well on any company I keep."
"Commendable," Hammond said with apparent approval, before returning his attention to Myrelle. "Your father would be proud of such principled thinking, my dear. He often speaks of the importance of strategic discretion in all our relationships."
Justin kept his face interested, but underneath, he wasn't being particularly subtle. The subtext was clear: your father and I discuss your choices, this Mr. Talemaker is not worth usual social graces, and your choice to consort with him may not align with our mutual interests.
"Lord Hammond," Myrelle said, "I believe I saw Lady Beatrice looking for you earlier. Something about the upcoming charity auction?"
Hammond's smile remained perfectly in place. "Ah, yes. Duty calls, as always." He inclined his head to both of them. "Mr. Talemaker, a pleasure. I do hope we'll have opportunities to become better acquainted. Myrelle, until we speak again."
As he departed with unhurried dignity, Myrelle let out a quiet breath.
"Well handled," she murmured.
Just then, Justin came face to face with the raven-masked man, now without his mask. He was relieved to see it wasn't Count Valdrik. Scanning the faces around him, he confirmed Count Valdrik was absent—unless he had quickly left the ballroom while Justin was engaged with the other lords.
"Couldn't help but overhear part of your conversation, Mr. Talemaker," the raven-masked man said. "Allow me to introduce myself. I am Lord Blackwood."
The man's eyes were firm as he offered his hand, which Justin shook firmly. Myrelle, noticing the conversation, returned to help facilitate.
"Lord Blackwood," she said, "this party went off without a hitch. Everyone seems to have enjoyed themselves, and we appreciate your role in this."
Justin recognized she was saying this for his benefit, signaling that he was an important person very close to the royal family who helped with events like these. He had already gleaned that much; he just needed to figure out who he was exactly.
"Of course," Lord Blackwood said, giving her a slight bow. "It's not easy being the advisor to Queen Eleanor, but someone has to clean the stables."
Myrelle laughed. "Well, that is one way to put it, my lord."
"And you, Lady Corrin," he said, "ever the adventurous spirit. I should have guessed it was you, but I must admit, you did such a good job disguising your voice and mannerisms that I didn't expect it. Perhaps I shouldn't be surprised." He turned his attention to Justin. "And Mr. Talemaker, it was a pleasure to make your acquaintance this evening. You're clearly a man of experience, and I hope this isn't the end of our relationship."
Justin tried to read Blackwood's intents with his Insightful Gaze but, curiously, found it quite difficult. The man must have had some ability to prevent this, or perhaps a very high Charisma attribute himself.
"I wholeheartedly agree," Justin said. "Belmora is a large city, much bigger than my hometown in the Wildwood."
Justin internally winced—he shouldn't have mentioned where he was from, as it might invite further questions. Fortunately, Lord Blackwood appeared distracted and ready to engage with other nobles.
"I mean this, Mr. Talemaker," Lord Blackwood said. "I will reach out to you, for you're a young noble trying to make your way in society, and I am Duke Blackwood, chief advisor to Queen Eleanor herself. Of all the contacts you can have in the city, none is likely greater than mine."
Justin blinked. "Lord Blackwood, I don't understand what I owe this honor to, but I'm grateful for the privilege. Of course, I would like to gain your acquaintance. I don't see what I can offer you in return, but I'll do my best."
"Oh, it's not just about give and take, Mr. Talemaker. And it's not all about titles and roles. It's about experience, and you clearly have quite a bit." Then Lord Blackwood gave a conspiratorial smile. "After all, how can I not be interested in a man whom the queen herself chose to dance with?"
Justin's eyes widened, and he noticed someone looking at him from a distance. She held her silver fox mask in her hand, a woman perhaps in her early forties, with regal high cheekbones, deep green eyes, and auburn hair not far from his own. She offered a small smile, and Justin bowed as low as decorum allowed.
It didn't seem the queen wanted to speak with him, yet the fact that she had danced with him nearly gave him vertigo. Now, it made sense why she had broken decorum; as the queen, she could do as she pleased. The other ladies asking for a dance hadn't merely been about his charisma; they had been following the lead of their liege, perhaps having guessed her identity.
"Yes, I can see why that might be," Justin said.
"Until later, Mr. Talemaker," Lord Blackwood said.
They lingered for about ten to fifteen more minutes, with Justin not only meeting the people he had spoken to but also several other lords and ladies eager to get to know him.
By the end of the evening, he had invitations to two birthday parties and three upcoming soirées, with several lords and ladies even inviting him to join their adventuring group after learning he was Level 20, which apparently was quite rare among the aristocracy for someone of his age.
As he escorted Myrelle away, even she couldn't stifle a yawn or two. He shook his head in disbelief.
"The queen herself," Justin said.
"It's quite the honor," Myrelle said. "But she's also very good at playing host."
"And to think I considered refusing out of politeness to you. If I hadn't seen her talking to you first, I might have done it!"
"Be glad that you didn't, Justin. I never would have guessed; her mask was quite simple, but perhaps that was the point."
"I have so many invitations to things that there's no way I can satisfy them all."
"A lot of it is just politeness," she replied, "but you did make quite the impression tonight, Mr. Talemaker. The court of Belmora may have to revise their views on wayward nobles from the western Hinterlands after this."
Justin chuckled, though half-heartedly. "Maybe so. Well, it's quite late. I think it's time I escorted you back to your estate."
Myrelle nodded. "Yes. Thank you for coming at the last minute. The evening was enchanting."
Once outside, Justin summoned Atlas and received an experience notifcation.
[1,000 experience gained. Your experience stands at 25,825/29,000.]
He had gained significant experience, which wasn't surprising given the social situations he had to navigate and the stakes involved. Not to mention, he had gracefully handled a dance with the queen herself, enduring her incisive questions.
As if summoned by his thoughts, Myrelle broke the silence as Atlas navigated the quiet streets.
"I have to ask," she said. "What do you think the Queen's game was tonight?"
Justin considered this carefully. "Honestly? I'm not sure she was playing a game at all. At least, not specifically with me."
"Oh, she was definitely playing something," Myrelle said. "The question is what. Queens don't dance with unknown provincial nobles by accident."
"Maybe she was just being a gracious hostess?"
Myrelle's soft laugh carried disbelief. "Justin, she took the time to ask someone about your construct's registration, even memorizing the plate, and got her answer within an hour or two. That's not casual interest or hospitality. She chose to investigate personally, in the most public way possible."
The implications of that settled over Justin like a cold cloak. "You think she suspects me of something? Like what?"
"I think she's curious about something. Whether that's your background, your intentions, or simply why a supposedly minor noble from the Wildwood carries himself like he's seen the world..." Myrelle shrugged. "But perhaps you made an impression on Duke Blackwood and he shared his findings."
"But that doesn't explain why she'd memorize Atlas's plate to the point of doing some digging of her own."
"I don't think it's out of her character at all. Atlas definitely attracted attention, and it's easy to imagine the queen becoming curious and committing the plate to memory. It's said Queen Eleanor never forgets a face or important detail."
Justin felt his stomach tighten. "That's not encouraging."
"It's not necessarily discouraging either," Myrelle said thoughtfully. "If she suspected you of anything truly problematic, tonight would have gone very differently. This felt more like... evaluation. The question is whether you passed or failed her test."
"And your assessment?"
"Well, Duke Blackwood wants to cultivate your friendship. I'd say you at least avoided failing spectacularly." She paused. "Though I suspect this won't be the last time the Crown takes an interest in your activities."
The real question was: what would she do with the information? It was hard to believe she would take a special interest in him, at least for now. However, the fact that she knew who he was—and that he didn't quite fit into her view of the world—was concerning.
But that was a problem for another day.
After all, Justin had a business to build.