Chapter 720
Chapter 720
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 720
Chapter Title: The Party
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In conclusion, Lydia's female taming session ended in a complete flop.
It wrapped up without any proper ejaculation or climax.
"Ah, looks like we wasted too much time. I'll be back."
The reason was that she had to attend the ball where the secret auction was wrapping up.
As the owner of the Solidus Merchant Group, Lydia couldn't just bail on it at will.
"Okay, then what should I do while you're gone?"
"Stay put here nice and quiet. Or do you want to tag along?"
"Can I really do that?"
This wasn't so much a question born of desire to go as pure curiosity about whether it was actually okay.
After all, wasn't it a secret that absolutely couldn't get out—that Si-woo was under Lydia's thumb?
It was classified info that both he and Lydia had to protect.
"We've got Brísingamen. Just join as my partner. It's an unknown artifact, so no one will see through it. And even if they get suspicious, who would dare dig into my partner's background?"
"Hmm..."
"Picking a partner every time is such a hassle. They all get clingy right after the ball, wondering if something might drop."
Lydia brushed it off casually.
She seemed like the type who enjoyed walking a fine line rather than sticking to a perfect plan, so there was no need to doubt her intentions.
A ball for high-ranking officials...
There was no real need to go, but curiosity was definitely piqued.
Even if Lydia had a thrill-seeker's vibe as a witch, she wouldn't handle matters tied to her own profits carelessly.
Not someone running a merchant group this size.
Staying cooped up in the room meant just going with the flow.
Attending the ball carried a bit of risk, but the chance to gather all sorts of info made the choice straightforward.
"Sounds good. I'll come along."
"Smart choice. Grab your clothes and follow me."
And so, Si-woo made his debut at a ball for the first time in his life.
2.
The ball was held in the salon on the top floor of the Almak Club's north wing.
They called it a ball, but it was really just a social gathering or amusement get-together in disguise.
"I planned this one myself, and it's gotten pretty popular."
Lydia tilted her chin up with a smug little smile.
"Officials are basically rivals or enemies even among their own kind, right? But ever since Hexennacht came along, they don't guard against each other as much and can actually face-to-face without issue."
"True."
"Wouldn't you be curious? To meet infamous ones, brutal reputations or not, or those you've only ever fought over interests with from afar—all in a safe spot."
Si-woo got it.
He himself had decided to tag along out of curiosity about who would even show up.
If even he, who barely knew any officials by sight, felt that way, it was no surprise for long-time players in witch society.
Before entering the ballroom through the massive doors, Lydia paused for a moment.
"Heading in. You ready?"
"Yes."
Lydia wore a stunning black dress with bold exposure. As her escort, Si-woo's outfit was a sharp tailored tuxedo.
For reference, even with Brísingamen, his golden eyes were covered by an eyepatch.
"No need to tense up so much. Your tie's a bit off."
"Oh, thanks."
"Let's go."
With Lydia straightening his bow tie, they pushed open the grand doors and stepped into the ballroom.
The moment the doors opened, a dreamy waltz melody from a tuxedo-clad orchestra flowed elegantly, mingling with spreading conversations and laughter blooming like vibrant roses everywhere.
Tall, handsome waiters in crisp uniforms bustled about, their shoes clicking on the floor as they balanced silver trays of champagne and assorted finger foods.
A vast hall with five massive crystal chandeliers hanging in a row.
Amid the hazy smoke from cigars and hookahs drifting thickly, witches enjoyed the party in their own ways.
Right in front of the central staircase carpeted in red was a dance floor where pairs of witches or witch-and-male danced lively steps to the waltz.
Some lounged on sofas scattered around, guzzling booze. Others ignored prying eyes and shared deep, lingering kisses with waiters.
A glamorous yet somehow decadent vibe.
No real frame of reference for such a full-on ball, but it probably wasn't much different from ones in Gehenna.
"Up those stairs are private rooms. Soundproofed perfectly. Bar's over there, massages that way. Come on, this direction."
Even as the host entered, the witches just glanced over—no big fuss.
If anything, eyes lingered on Si-woo.
"...I'm getting a ton of stares."
"You're the first slave I've ever brought as a partner. Plus, Lesias here is tall. Just act natural."
Whispering as they went, Lydia snagged a champagne flute from a passing waiter, sipped, and moved on.
As she passed, a few witches approached her.
"Nice partner. What's his name?"
"Right? This is Lesias. Just tamed him—super cute."
"First time seeing a witch this tall."
Not so much deference to a superior, more like curiosity toward a noblewoman flaunting a new designer bag.
And maybe that was just an opener, because the red-haired witch cut straight to business.
"Oh, mind if we chat a sec? Starting a jewelry crafting venture on the surface side—want to propose a partnership and investment."
"Have a seat and wait a bit. Let's dance at the next song."
"Sure."
Si-woo shot her a look screaming, 'Don't just leave me here!' but Lydia just lightly shoved his back.
Shouldn't have come.
He panicked inwardly but played it cool and sat on a nearby sofa.
Didn't want to just sit there dumbly, so he lit a cigarette and calmly scanned the room.
Figured an officials' party would have moderates vs. radicals in tense standoffs or something brutal.
But no—everyone was leisurely chatting or enjoying the party?
Minus some raunchy stuff in the dim corners, it was a pretty standard ball.
As he anxiously awaited Lydia's return, the worst unwanted event happened.
"Hello."
Someone spoke to him.
She was barely 150 cm tall, if that.
Without heels, probably 147-148 cm.
Her curly golden hair full of bouncy waves and gentle light-green eyes evoked a meek little lamb.
She looked more suited to pajamas than a party or evening gown, and sure enough, she wore a comfy-looking dress.
One odd detail: a staff taller than her, curved at the tip with a brass paperweight dangling.
"Hello."
"Mind if I sit?"
"Go ahead."
Her youthful apprentice-witch vibe put Si-woo at ease without thinking.
Shouldn't judge by looks, but she lacked that dangerous official aura.
Might even be an exile.
Hexennacht wasn't officials-only, after all.
Once seated on the sofa, her feet not touching the ground showed just how petite she was.
Of course, as a spirit body, her proportions were fine—her head wasn't comically tiny, even exaggerating.
"Your height caught my eye, so I said hi."
"I'm Lesias."
"Nice. Never heard that one before."
"Low hierarchy."
For reference, "Lesias" was forcibly taken from Tiresias of Greco-Roman myth—the one cursed by a snake to live both male and female lives.
Anyway, the dissonance was wild.
From Si-woo's side, his male voice came out raw, but to others, it sounded female.
"Were you born this big?"
"Pardon?"
"Your height."
"Yes."
"Got it. No special secret then."
"That's right."
The witch eyed him with fascination.
"And your name, milady?"
"Psyche Tigarden."
Tea Garden for a name.
Unusual even among witches' quirky namings.
Oh well.
No conversation risking exposure, but he just wished Lydia would hurry back.
"You don't know me, do you?"
Psyche said it while swinging her legs and watching his reaction closely.
"Pardon?"
"Everyone else jumps when they first hear my name. You didn't."
Famous witch?
As he tilted his head, Lydia returned from chatting with a group.
No idea what she was scheming, but right now, her face was a relief.
"Oh? Lady Tigarden. What brings you without notice?"
"Got bored, dropped by."
"Enjoying yourself?"
"Great ball—love the music lineup. Could use more sweet desserts, though. Chocolate fountain would be nice."
"Noted for next time."
Psyche hopped up.
"See you next time."
She gave Si-woo a little wave, tapped off with her staff, and left.
Only after her figure vanished down the hall did Lydia speak.
"Lucky you. She's a witch you hardly ever spot."
Lydia used polite speech publicly regardless of hierarchy or age.
But her extra deference to Psyche was obvious.
That piqued Si-woo's curiosity about her identity.
"Who is she?"
"The famous Witch of Aries."
"...Her?"
Even Si-woo knew that moniker.
The Witch of Aries was one of the legendary old witches.
She'd been hailed as Cliport's leader once.
And for some reason, slaughtered countless Cliport members before vanishing.
Her name spread far for those feats.
"She came to the city right after Hexennacht started. She's backing the moderates now."
"She can do that? Isn't she a traitor?"
"Sure, but ancient history. Back then, killing each other was just normal."
Si-woo absorbed Lydia's shrugged words, gaining a valuable lesson: in witch society, judging by appearances could be dangerous.