NOVEL NEXT CHAPTER 129 - Masquerade Theme.
Alex walked briskly down the corridor, his boots clicking softly against the marble floor. The grandeur of the castle—its towering walls and intricate chandeliers—barely registered in his mind as he focused on the conversation unfolding within him.
Sophie's voice chimed in his head, sharp and tinged with concern.
[Are you sure about that?]
Alex's brow furrowed, though his lips curled into a faint smirk. 'About what?' he replied silently, his tone light despite the weight of the discussion.
[About telling her so many things. You know that Anos might read her memories, right?]
Alex's steps slowed slightly as he passed an ornate window overlooking the castle gardens still filled with guests and vendors alike. The sky was darkening, but the light mana bulbs kept the area alive.
He stopped, glancing up at the moonlit scene. 'I did it so he could read them,' he admitted. 'If Anos learns about me knowing the future—which he most likely will—it'll intrigue him. The more curious he is, the less likely he'll want to kill me outright.'
Alex didn't just reveal so many things to Eris without a reason. He knew that she was going to keep thinking about it, and the demon lord, Anos Voldigod, who always keeps her trapped in the temporal loop, would of course notice it.
If he did, it wouldn't be hard for the guy to find out the content of his conversation with Eris.
But now that Anos already knew about Alex's great affinity with time, he would probably think that Alex is a regressor or such. That was what Alex wanted since he knew that just being a bit interesting wouldn't keep him alive when his plans for Keryu, another subject of Anos's interest, started to unfold completely.
This was a sort of insurance for Alex—something he could use later.
Sophie's voice, then softened, tinged with both understanding and skepticism. [And what do you plan for Eris?]
Alex resumed his stride, his hand brushing against the smooth, cold surface of the wall as he spoke. 'I'm still not sure. She... she was one of the few heroines I actually liked in the novel's plot. I couldn't bring myself to kill her.'
When Alex became aware of the novel's plot—when Sophie gave him the knowledge of the plot—Alex felt like watching an animation.
In that plot, there were not many characters he liked, but Eris was among the ones he liked.
Her devotion to Keryu was commendable. It was shown as the purest love there could be. Alex liked her as a character.
He wouldn't call it love, but he still liked her enough not to kill her when he could prevent it from happening.
But then Sophie's voice came, laced with tease. [Are you going to take her then?]
Alex's lips pressed into a thin line. 'I don't know, Sophie. For now, I just want to prevent her relationship with Keryu from solidifying. Once that happens, there's no undoing it. The system will ensure that.'
Sophie's response came after a beat of silence, her tone serious. [That's true. Keryu's system has that function—almost like brainwashing. It's why none of his women ever complained in the story, no matter how many others he brought in.]
Alex's jaw tightened as his hand curled into a fist. 'Exactly. That's why I called her pitiful.' He sighed, his shoulders relaxing as he continued, 'She was the first. She gave everything to him, yet he didn't even think to ask her before dragging someone else into their lives. He made her into something she never wanted to be.'
Sophie's voice grew softer, almost a whisper. [Aren't you doing the same thing?]
After all, Alex already had two women, and he seemed to be going for the third already.
But Alex froze mid-step at those words, his eyes narrowing. 'I am not,' he said firmly, his voice tinged with frustration. 'I would never date a girl that either you or Zahara disapproved of. Even Mira—that kiss was in the heat of the moment. If either of you had a problem, I'd back off.'
Alex knew that he was also making a harem. He wasn't a hypocrite to say otherwise, but he still wouldn't accept being compared to the guys like Keryu.
He wouldn't turn to every girl he found to be beautiful. If he were like that, then he wouldn't have saved Zyrrak and instead gone for the girls who were against him like Keryu had tried to do.
In reply, Sophie's giggle echoed.
[I know. I was just kidding,] Sophie replied, her voice laced with affection. [I don't need anyone to tell me what you're thinking.]
Sophie, who had lived as his girlfriend in the past life, knew better than anyone how picky Alex was and how much he cared about her opinion.
Alex's gaze softened at Sophie's words, his stride becoming more relaxed. 'But I mean it, Sophie.' A serious light passed through his eyes as he added, 'Please, never let it become what I abhor. I don't ever want to neglect any of you.'
Alex did think that he wasn't like Keryu, but the fear of his fragile mind turning around still lingered, and that was why he made this request to Sophie.
[Don't worry,] Sophie quipped, her tone brightening. [Now that I can materialize in the real world, I can just cut off your thing if you start using it recklessly.]
Alex's lips twitched, a chuckle escaping him despite the tension. 'Ha… haha…'
The mental exchange ended as Alex approached the grand double doors of the ballroom. Before he could enter, a tall, masked butler stepped into his path, bowing respectfully. Alex's sharp eyes took in the man's attire and the subtle insignia of a blue dragon coiling a torch, embroidered on his lapel.
That mark belonged to the imperial knight.
Alex cocked an eyebrow. "Has it started?"
The knight nodded silently, reaching into his coat to retrieve a sleek black mask and a silver ring. He handed them to Alex before stepping aside with a bow.
Standing before the doors, Alex examined the mask in his hand. It was plain and unassuming, yet its craftsmanship was flawless.
He recognized the subtle enchantments woven into it—designed to cloak energy signatures and thwart inspection skills. A grin tugged at his lips as he slipped it on.
The ring followed, sliding onto his index finger. The moment it settled, a surge of magic enveloped him, and his attire shifted. Gone were his fancy clothes selected by Vanessa, replaced by an impeccably tailored black suit and trousers.
The fabric shimmered faintly under the light, exuding an air of mystery and elegance. Explore more at empire
With a final glance at his reflection in the polished metal of the door handle, Alex pushed the doors open.
The bustling hall fell into view, alive with muted conversations and the soft clinking of glasses. Men and women moved gracefully across the polished floor, their faces hidden behind identical black masks. The uniformity of their attire made it impossible to distinguish one person from another.
Alex's grin widened as he stepped inside, his gaze sweeping over the room. Every detail, from the shimmering chandeliers to the soft notes of a string quartet, was exactly as he had envisioned.
The masquerade was in full swing, and Alex couldn't help but admire his handiwork.
The last function of the day was finally starting.
"Let the fun begin," he murmured under his breath, his grin turning into a sly smile as he melted into the crowd.