Upon Frize’s realization of horror, he realized that they were too filthy to even try on clothes. So, he forced them to go to the inn and clean up before they tried on their new attire for the week.

At the shop, the clerk nearly fainted from being able to deal with such beauties in her normal days of dealing with obese and hideous nobles. The less fortunate weren’t able to afford the store’s outrageous prices.

Gorgeous women with flawless skin and luxurious hair that felt like soft silk, slim bodies, and supple curves. Nearly every color they wore looked absolutely amazing on them!

Handsome men with clean cut jawlines and V-shaped broad backs, sinewy muscled bodies... The suits they put on looked as if they were cut specifically for them to wear.

Not to mention the adorable child! What innocent, pure blue eyes? Smooth, soft magenta hair that curled around a cherubic face with freckles sprinkled across his tiny nose. He looked like a little sir in his fine clothing.

She nearly had a heart attack upon seeing them! She could’ve died a happy woman that day.

A blessing, truly a blessing after working in this terrible place for two years! How many old men did she have to wrap the tape measure around only to have it sink into their rolls.

The clerk had no problem with them being overweight and hideous, but they were also lecherous men! They had groped her many times even with their wives standing there watching.

She was pushed to the absolute edge.

Anyway, her not wanting them to leave and Frize’s pushing lead to them spending an unnecessary long amount of time inside the tailor’s.

After the grueling process of Frize making the try on multiple, seemingly thousands, of outfits, the sextet headed to a restaurant.

Now, they were seated at a table inside yet another dramatically grandiose restaurant with crystal chandeliers and tables made from rich wood, all of the silverware was freshly polished and reflected all the light off them.

It was a marvelous place.

Erebus swirled the red wine in his glass around with his signature bored expression.

For him, he had no interest in excess finery and eloquent talk. Sure, he stayed in inns that cost more than some people would ever make in a year, but it wasn’t because he thought everything else was below him. It was just because their beds were comfortable!

He wasn’t interested in political and economic issues either. He also didn’t really care about social problems either.

Engaging in a simple conversation with someone and it ending up all over the newspapers was not amusing at all. He couldn’t understand the celebrities. Why on Eirlok would attending these rigid parties where everything is supposed to go all according to a meticulously drawn out schedule be entertaining?

He sighed to himself and took a sip of his wine.

Vyne and Frize were talking about something that Erebus could care less about... Weryn, Tear, and Lilian were all talking excitedly for the ball that they would be attending...

Whenever either of the two groups attempted to pull Erebus into their conversation, he would respond with a minimal answer that could barely be considered one at all.

The reason why they were in the restaurant was because they were waiting for Frize’s associate to come meet them. Erebus wished that the woman and this damn ball would hurry up and come so he could get out.

Even though, he had existed for thousands of years when a year felt like only a minute when he wanted something time passed incredibly slow!

Erebus resisted the urge to slam his head on the table multiple times. The snobby laughter that could be heard from the other tables made him want to claw his face off. It was obviously fake laughter and more of a mock than anything.

“Sorry for being late,” a musical voice spoke breathlessly. All the heads at the table turned to a pretty elf.

Moss green eyes with beautifully drawn rose vines were created with kohl on their edges that continued to perimeter of her face as if they were growing out of her eyes. She had smooth gray skin and a rope of glossy black hair swung from the crown of her head. Her ears were rather pointed, meaning that she came from a prestigious lineage.

She wore what looked to be simple traveling gear, but it was easy to tell it was made of expensive materials. A pair of shorts that revealed powerful legs, a cropped top, and slightly muddied boots.

Glowing red vine tattoos twisted around the exposed flesh of her arms and legs. The strength that she possessed was clearly visible in the tone of her body to the prideful aura she gave off.

She didn’t fit in with the extravagance of her surroundings, she looked like she was ready to go hunt and murder a vicious beast.

“Seira.” Frize smiled at the beautiful woman and kissed her hand. “Your lateness is already forgiven.”

“I see, thank you,” she laughed and took her seat next to Frize. “A pleasure to meet you all, I am the Dark Elf Seira.”

The quintet went around and introduced themselves. Her eyes widened when she realized she was sitting with not one, not two, but three dragons. And also a member of the thought to be extinct race of High Humans, a demon noble, and a necromancer beastwoman!

Inside, she was freaking out. She managed to keep her exterior relatively calm, though.

“You all will be helping us, then?” Seira asked calmly while crossing her legs. “Thank you.”

Erebus opened his mouth to say something that would more than likely embarrass the woman, but Frize cleanly cut him off before he spoke, “They were more than happy to assist.”

More than happy? He wanted to scream loudly and run away.

The others smiled and nodded stiffly.

“Ehm, let’s move to somewhere more private,” Seira said in a whispery voice. “We need to discuss.” She glanced around nervously.

Everyone stared at her.

What was with this idiot! How was it possible to be so obvious of what she was doing?

“Stupid girl, don’t do that,” Vyne said in an ice cold voice. “Are you trying to make it so glaringly obvious what your intentions are? Undoubtedly nearly everyone here will be attending the ball. Act normally, don’t speak loud enough for everyone to hear but don’t whisper either. You’ll just draw attention.” He took a sip of his wine. “And if we leave so soon after you come, it’ll become even more apparent.”

He muttered something incomprehensible under his breath. It was along the lines of the idiots he had to deal with...

“Ah, sorry, I’ve never done something like this before.” Seira looked down with an embarrassment expression.

“Obviously.”

Stone cold! Erebus’ subordinates were only kind to their master, anyone else was nothing less than a nuisance in their eyes.

The only reason they treated Frize with some respect is because of his position. And also, insulting him would be bad for them!

Without a doubt, that man was capable of killing them all easily.

“Anyway, I can use a low amount of my magic to deceive the others around us. If anyone tries to break the illusion, I’ll know.”

The area around them distorted for a second, it was hard to even notice that such a thing had happened, before returning back to normal.

“Wow.” Seira’s mouth gaped slightly. “Amazing.”

Frize turned to the others. “You’ll have to forgive her her cluelessness, she is rather sheltered in her clan.”

“What’s your standing in your clan?” Lilian questioned with a blank expression.

The other woman blushed a little, pink spots appeared on her gray cheeks. “P-Princess.”

“Oh? I see, so your clan is using you to get on better standings with the dragons, eh?” Vyne laughed.

Her face paled. “Um...”

“Stop teasing her,” Erebus said.

His subordinates, who all wore mocking expressions, ceased their laughter and their faces shifted to one of indifference.

A smirk pulled at the corners of Frize’s mouth. Of course, he knew that her clan did not send their Third Princess out of the goodness of their hearts. He knew that she was there to better the relationship between dragons and that specific clan of dark elves.

To them, it would be great if she came back pregnant with his child. She was supposed to seduce him, but Frize already saw through that and dodged all of her terrible attempts.

The woman couldn’t even seduce a cow.

She had a pretty face, but when she started her moves it made people want to scream and run away in terror.

Anyway, the fact that Erebus’ subordinates would blatantly point out what he would never say was amusing to him.

He could see why Erebus kept them around now. A constant source of minor entertainment.

“So, how exactly are you planning to get the suspects to confess to their crimes?” Erebus asked, swirling his wine again.

Frize answered, “Well, we’re hoping that they’ll confess when asked. If not, we’ll resort to more painful methods.”

Vyne perked up instantly. “I can handle those methods!”

“They’re going to fight back,” Frize said, clearly ignoring Vyne’s words. “We dragons are prideful, after all. They can’t just let their reputation to be destroyed publically.”

This is why I’m glad you came, now I don’t have to fight, Frize thought the rest to himself.

Erebus’ face remained impassive, but his voice held obvious excitement, “Then, let’s make it an embarrassing spectacle.”