Chapter 626: Chapter 627: Goddess Why If you go looking for trouble... then trouble would follow you. Humans always craved drama, perhaps that was why man was described as warlike. But sometimes we wanted peace... there was only so much smoke we could want... especially if we felt like we had wronged someone. Or maybe... stolen their really expensive spatial ring and abandoned them in a dungeon completely nude. Damon went quiet... however, he wasn’t the only one. It was as if everyone had been forced to hold their breaths for a moment. He turned his eyes in that direction... the direction everyone was looking... and for a moment, it was as if the world had lost all color. There was a woman walking into the venue. Her shoes were high, judging by the soft clicking sounds they made, but that was just the beginning. She wore a pale golden dress with long white sleeves, and a veil that covered her hair and half her face, leaving the world to solely gaze at her alluring crimson eyes. The veil was light and transparent, as if she was only giving a glimpse of her beauty while refusing to reveal the whole thing. Her lips looked red beneath the veil, creating a desire to steal a kiss from her... even if she was unattainable. She was adorned with light jewels and gems that only added to her beauty. This woman was Abellona of Valtheron. Words did not do her justice. Spending all day describing her beauty would be pointless. No words would ever be enough. Damon knew that much. He had seen all of her, inside and out. And because he had, he knew it was better not to get involved with this dangerous woman. He came here to have a slightly chaotic evening... not to court death. No, actually he didn’t mind courting death—courting Abellona was just more annoying. ’Why is she here... she hasn’t shown up in any of these gatherings for the past half a month...’ He had gotten that information from Renata, so he was sure she would not come. But what could he expect. "Dammit, my shitty luck. Of course she showed up when I did." He paused, taking another look at her. His eyes couldn’t help but stop at her hips and long legs for a moment. ’She’s kinda hot though... like... hmm... wow...’ He made sure to keep that thought to himself. Damon figured this was the perfect time to escape. He was wearing a hood, but this was Abellona of Valtheron—she would recognize him if he wasn’t careful. Naturally, as the bootlickers moved to introduce themselves like stars to the moon, Damon was going against the tide, eager to escape. "It’s the third princess... Princess, do you remember? I am Viscount Fina Elebmern!" "Princess, welcome, it’s an honor to see you again." "That’s the third princess. She looks more beautiful than I heard." He would have turned into a shadow, but she already knew he had that ability, so he avoided doing anything that would give him away and get her attention. "Please don’t see me... please don’t see..." "Ooh goddess, if I make it out... I will be a devout believer. Please... forgive my past transgressions... I was wrong." Damon had never been so desperate. So he fell back on his old habits of praying to the goddess, even if he was sort of a heretic now. He slowly began to walk away, giving Matia the mental instruction to make sure he didn’t stand out. She remained still with a small nod of her head. She was his shadow, though she didn’t really know what he did... but she had a few ideas. He took slow, steady steps, pushing away from the people moving toward her until he could almost see one of the grand doors leading outside. "I made it... made it! Goddammit, I’m free..." He almost teared up at his good luck. "Thank you goddess, you are amazing..." He began muttering thanks to the Goddess of Doom. This was really his day... his situation couldn’t get worse. "How dare you try to leave..." Damon heard a wretched voice call out, loud enough to get the whole hall’s attention. His body shivered slightly... he gritted his teeth. ’Damn it, goddess, I knew it. I knew I should have prayed to the Unknown God. This is why I quit worshipping...’ Damon didn’t stop walking. "I am speaking to you, commoner... how dare you turn your back on me." The guards at the door crossed their spears, blocking Damon’s path to the exit. He sighed. There was no escaping this... he really was going to face Abellona now. Damon turned around slowly, trying to make his build bigger than before, using shadow armor to increase his proportions without anyone noticing. The prince turned to Abellona, then smiled. "Dear sister... would you mind being a witness? Being a warrior yourself, and a member of the imperial family..." She narrowed her brows, her gaze still on Evangeline. Then she smiled without looking in Damon’s direction, though her ears caught the sound of his footsteps approaching. "Greetings, Lady Brightwater... it’s been too long. The hunting festival, I believe." Evangeline nodded with a practiced smile. "It is a pleasure to see you again, Princess." Damon stood behind Evangeline, which actually caught her by surprise. Damon was not the type of person to stand behind anyone if he could help it. ’What’s up with him...’ Evangeline sighed, feeling the need to introduce Damon fall upon her since she had the appropriate rank and status. Especially since Abellona was staring at him as if she wanted to punch a hole through him with her eyes. "This is the Ascendant Demon Grey." Damon gave a curt nod to the princess without saying anything. Which was rude, but this was Damon, so Evangeline could only sigh. Renata gave a simple greeting, while Matia just nodded without a word. With that out of the way, Waton glared at Damon, thinking he had gotten a backer with Abellona present. "I challenge you to a duel during the War Games... what say you?" Damon nodded his head in acceptance, hoping to get it over with. Waton narrowed his eyes. "Speak up. Are you afraid? You need to verbally confirm your acceptance." Damon gritted his teeth... right, that was a thing. "Cat got your tongue? If you’re scared, just kneel and I’ll show mercy..." Evangeline glanced at Damon with a frown. What was wrong with him? Damon was already feeling victimized, while Abellona’s eyes narrowed suspiciously with each passing second. "Ahem... ahem..." he cleared his throat. "I accept..." he spoke in a deep and husky voice unlike his own. Waton narrowed his eyes, feeling Damon was mocking him. "What happened to your voice? Why are you talking like that?" Damon took an even deeper tone. "This is what I’ve always sounded like... what do you mean..." Evangeline glanced at him. Was he trying to humiliate the prince even more? She grabbed him. "Excuse us, Your Highness... he’s already accepted. That should be enough. See you in the War Games." Damon turned around while Evangeline pulled him along. "Stop..." Abellona called out. Then her eyes narrowed angrily. "Take off... your hood." Damon bit his lips. ’Goddess, why... why...’