I Became the Villain Alpha's Omega (BL)

Chapter 264: The Unwanted Spotlight

The grand ballroom fell into a synchronized, breathless silence the moment the imperial herald’s heavy gold-capped staff struck the polished marble floor. In unison, the nobles sank into perfectly timed, deeply practiced curtsies and rigid salutes. The sheer force of their collective voices echoed off the high, gold-leafed vaulted ceilings in a booming, practiced choral chant.

"Glory to the Sun of Auzelian!"

With the formal opening out of the way, King Alderon stood up from his golden throne on the elevated royal dais, drawing himself up to his full, imposing height. Beside him sat Crown Prince Yerel, looking like a flawless, untouchable statue in his pristine white and gold coat.

"Nobles of the Auzelian Empire," King Alderon’s voice rang out, carrying a heavy, echoing authority across the silent room. "Tonight, we gather to celebrate a monumental victory. The northern borders have been secured, and the dark threat that loomed over our kingdom has been utterly dismantled, again, by those who protect our gates."

The King’s sharp gaze swept over the crowd until it rested firmly on the Northern faction.

"This triumph belongs to the unmatched valor of the North," King Alderon declared loudly. "The Crown officially commends Duke Zarius Zaltrane and the brave soldiers of the Northern Army who fought bravely on the front lines. Despite the heavy, unforgiving toll on his health, His Grace still led his troops to absolute victory. Your unwavering loyalty has brought glory to the empire once more."

The moment the words left the King’s mouth, Cherion felt Zarius subtly shift his weight. To the rest of the ballroom, the Duke still looked like a terrifying, unyielding giant, but Cherion felt the deliberate, heavy lean of Zarius’s broad shoulder pressing against his own.

Cherion didn’t miss a beat. He stepped in seamlessly, subtly widening his stance and offering his arm to anchor the massive man with a steady, graceful posture.

"Furthermore," King Alderon continued, gesturing toward the foreign delegation sitting nearby, "we are deeply honored to be accompanied tonight by Prince Gillian and Princess Iryna of the Solaric Empire. This victory marks the beginning of a prosperous and enduring relationship between our two great realms. Let the music play, and let the celebration begin!"

A loud, thunderous round of applause rippled through the ballroom as the King took his seat, and the herald signaled that the mingling hour had officially commenced. Almost instantly, the heavy silence broke, replaced by the clinking of glasses as waiters in pristine white coats flooded the floor, carrying silver trays stacked with crystal flutes of champagne and rich, dark wines.

As the crowd began to move and chatter, Cherion could feel a suffocating, burning intensity boring into the side of his face. He didn’t even have to look up toward the royal dais to know exactly who it was. Yerel’s eyes were tracking his every movement with a desperate focus. Cherion kept his chin high and his eyes straight ahead, deliberately ignoring the Prince’s existence. He focused entirely on guiding Zarius through the forming crowds, keeping up the illusion that he was supporting his "ailing" fiancé.

Before the lower-ranking nobles could even gather the courage to approach the intimidating Duke, the crowd near the center of the ballroom suddenly parted.

Marquis Avery, followed closely by the Marchioness and their son, Derrick, walked with purposeful, elegant strides straight toward them. The surrounding gossips instantly went quiet, straining their ears to catch the interaction.

"Duke Valtrane," Marquis Avery greeted, offering a deeply respectful, genuine bow that lacked any of the usual high-society fakery. "It is an honor to see you tonight."

"Marquis," Zarius rumbled back. His voice was low, raspy, and carried a faint trace of feigned exhaustion that perfectly played into his facade, all while keeping his hand resting protectively near Cherion’s waist.

The Marquis then turned his full attention to Cherion, his stern expression softening into profound, genuine gratitude. "And Lord Cherion. I have been waiting for this evening simply to look you in the eye and thank you properly. You saved the Avery house’s future. To help my son back at the gathering... I am forever in your debt."

Derrick stepped forward next. He looked healthy, sharp, and remarkably well-recovered in his formal high-collared coat. He gave Cherion a deep, solemn bow. "I never managed to thank you properly amidst the chaos the other day, Lord Cherion. My life belongs to your kindness."

Cherion offered a warm, casual smile, completely brushing off the heavy weight of their praise with an easy wave of his hand. "Please, there is no need for such formality, Lord Derrick. I am just genuinely happy to see you standing here so healthy and whole tonight. Just promise me you’ll keep an eye on the banquet food, we wouldn’t want you choking on any dry pastries tonight."

Derrick let out a sudden, hearty chuckle at the reminder, the heavy high-society tension completely melting from his shoulders as he nodded in amusement.

Marchioness Avery stepped a half-step closer, her eyes gleaming with absolute admiration as she looked at Cherion, then glanced up at Zarius. "Your Grace, you must be incredibly proud," the Marchioness praised openly, her voice carrying beautifully across the quieted circle of listening nobles. "Lord Cherion is not only remarkably capable, but his elegance and grace put the entirety of the Capital to shame. The North is truly blessed to have him."

Cherion’s smile turned a little more private, a soft, human amusement coloring his features as he felt Zarius’s large fingers subtly tighten near his hip, a silent, deeply proud possessiveness radiating from the giant man.

After a few more warm, lighthearted exchanges about Derrick’s recovery, the Avery family bowed and took their temporary leave to mingle elsewhere. The moment they stepped away, the quiet murmurs of the surrounding crowd exploded into a flurry of frantic, shocked whispers. The snobbish Capital nobles who had spent months gossiping that Cherion was just a discarded, disgraced pawn were completely speechless.

Cherion quietly swirled the wine glass he had picked up, taking a small sip as he enjoyed the visible confusion on the faces around him. It felt incredibly satisfying to watch their fragile high-society logic shatter right in front of him.

But before he could say anything to Zarius, a clear, authoritative voice sliced through the ambient noise of the ballroom, calling out from just a few paces away.

"Duke Valtrane, Lord Cherion."

Cherion turned his head toward the sound. Walking away from the royal dais and heading straight toward them were Gillian and Iryna. The Solaric princess had a sharp, highly intrigued smile on her face, and her eyes were locked onto Cherion with an intense curiosity that instantly drew the eyes of the entire room.