Chapter 621: Chapter 622: A Rival Renata passed him the ring, her fingers glowing faintly as she used her magic to turn its seal to zero. Damon held the ring in his hand, weighing it, feeling its faint hum of power before peering into its contents. There were many things inside—magic artifacts glimmering faintly, crystals pulsing with sealed energy, documents carefully folded away, stacks of zeni... lots of zeni. And then, oddly personal things: her clothes, trinkets, and even unmentionables she obviously didn’t want anyone snooping through. But none of that interested Damon. His gaze sharpened the instant he found what he had been looking for. A large tent, folded neatly inside the spatial pocket. He smiled lightly, satisfaction flashing in his eyes. Yes—this was his goal, Abellona’s magic tent. The very thing that had made him go green with envy when he first laid eyes on it. ’I knew it. I knew it would be in her spatial ring...’ Perhaps someone needed to remind this bastard that he had just stolen from the Valtheron Empire’s third princess, Abellona of Destruction. That was not something to be celebrating. But thieves didn’t care about such things. They cared only for whether they got what they wanted—and Damon had. "Good job, Renata. Good job. This is why I kept advocating to keep you alive." Renata’s lips curved happily, her chest swelling with pride. "I am grateful, my lord." Lilith sneered at the sight of her fawning expression and Damon’s shameless satisfaction. "You’re the one who wanted her dead. Do you have a selective memory or something?" Renata frowned, her face tightening with disgust. "Shut up. After trying to kill me, you shouldn’t be talking." Lilith’s mouth fell open, scandalized. "Wha... what... that’s not what happened! Aren’t you misremembering a little too much? I was the one who saved you—" Damon reached for Renata’s hands, his face softening with a sad expression, as though her words struck his heart. "Thank you, Renata. She would have tried to gaslight me into thinking I was going to kill you... but I would never." Renata nodded softly, leaning toward him with an almost reverent gaze. "It’s alright, my lord. I’m here for you." Lilith’s lips quivered. The two of them were truly insufferable. This was exactly how Damon became the moment he gained even a little support—dramatic, impossible to reason with, wrapped in his own twisted sincerity. "Right... you’re the type of person to let power change them." Damon raised his hand slightly, eyes half-lidded in mock solemnity. "Money too. I let money and power change me." Lilith sighed, dragging a hand down her face. At least it was always lively when he was around. "Speaking of money and power... there’s a preliminary ball today. For the young elites of the empire—mostly stars from different academies and nobles." Renata gave a thin smile, nodding slightly. "This is a reoccurring event. It has been going on for the past week. Not all the participants will attend, but it is a good place to scope out the competition... and make new connections." Damon sighed, pressing a hand to his forehead as though a headache had just bloomed. "I hate networking. Well, no surprise. I am a loner without many friends. If I’m ever a social butterfly, it means I have ulterior motives." Lilith’s lips curved knowingly. "It’s a good thing you have ulterior motives. You aren’t in top shape, so why not acquaint yourself with your enemies..." She twirled a lock of her hair slowly around her finger, her expression softening into a seductive smile. "Maybe even spend a nice evening with a beautiful lady to get your mind off things. Like a date..." Damon glanced at her, his smirk widening. Her expression made it obvious what she was insinuating. He understood perfectly well. "You don’t mean... ahh, I see. I understand. You’re right—we really haven’t spent that much time together." Lilith’s smile bloomed. Her heart gave a faint flutter—until the bastard continued. "Renata, this would be a great night for us to know each other better." Lilith didn’t give him time to finish. She launched herself onto the bed, hands wrapping around his throat, strangling him with a furious snarl. "I know you did it on purpose! You’ve finally ragebaited me!" "Ha... hel—wait! You didn’t make it clear enough! I can’t read minds!" Damon gasped, trying to pry her hands off. Lilith’s face was flushed red, her cheeks puffed out in rage. 𝓯𝓻𝒆𝙚𝒘𝓮𝙗𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝒍.𝙘𝓸𝙢 "This should be clear enough. Is this clear enough?!" Renata wasn’t about to let Lilith have her way. She dove between them, spreading her arms wide to shield Damon, her eyes blazing with defiance. "Can’t you take your rejection with some decency? He doesn’t want you anymore. Beat it." Lilith’s eyes narrowed dangerously, cold fury flashing in them. Damon peeked his head out from behind Renata’s shoulder, wheezing. "I didn’t say that. I’m suicidal, not insane... at this particular moment." Renata, however, wasn’t letting it go. "Don’t patronize her, my lord. I will happily go with you. In fact, I insist." Damon froze. "Ahh... wait, what?" "Ohhh, I see now. She had ulterior motives too..." Yes—Renata’s words carried their own scheme. It wasn’t detrimental to Damon, but it was a deliberate attempt to undermine Lilith. This was no longer just an argument. It was a competition, and the prize was Damon himself. "My lord knows how much trouble you’ll cause if he goes with you. Your status is a problem, being a duchess and all..." Lilith sneered, her lips curling with venom. "Admit it—you’ve always wanted to get your hands on him. Shameless, slutty demon." Renata and Lilith bickered fiercely, tugging Damon between them—pulled left and right, from one bosom to another. He wasn’t complaining; either side had a very soft destination. Why would he have qualms with it? Their argument was escalating, voices rising, when suddenly a soft set of footsteps approached. A deep shadow fell across Damon’s figure, silencing the chaos. He looked up. Matia stood at the edge of the bed, her presence cold and imposing. Through the visor of her helm, her icy blue eyes glowed faintly, like two shards of frost burning in the dark. Then, in a rare act of free will, she reached up and removed her helm. Her long black hair spilled free, contrasting against her pale skin, her features as delicate and lifeless as a porcelain doll—yet breathtaking in their beauty. She pointed at Damon. Then at herself. Damon stilled, caught not by her beauty, but by the fact that she—his shadow—had expressed a desire. She didn’t need to speak. She was his shadow; he would always understand her, even without words. And Damon understood. He leaned back slightly, chuckling under his breath. "You want me to go with you..." There was a small, genuine smile on Damon’s face. His eyes, focused solely on her, softened in a way Renata had never seen directed at her. Seeing that look, they both realized this was for the best. "Alright then." He rose from the bed, his movements smooth, and bowed with a noble flourish. "Lady Matia Faldren... will you be mine for the evening?" She nodded once, taking his hand. Damon raised it to his lips, kissing lightly, a gesture true and sincere. Her expression shifted as she turned her face toward Renata and Lilith. For the first time, she smiled. The two women glanced at each other, a sudden realization dawning on them both at the same time... She was also a rival.