Valarie and Christopher were again paired up as they moved slowly while whispering something to each other. Some of the others were now seated and enjoying refreshments.
Amidst the pairs who were occupied with their partner evil moving their feet in perfect rhythm, there was a couple consisting of a green-haired gentleman and a beautiful blond lady.
"I never noticed when you arrived."
As Seth asked while waltzing along with his new partner, Serena, he saw the girl thinking for a bit before she responded.
"I arrived just after Royal Highness. I saw you were greeting them, so I didn't come forward to meet you. I met Laila-senapi tho. Ah, yes, my father was caught up with border security that's why he missed the celebration."
Serena hurriedly added to which Seth nodded. He has some ideas about Serena's father and how he concerns himself with the vanguards.
The outbreak of corrupted beasts has increased these days, undoubtedly, but Count Stephen finds it unsettling to leave any severe matter in hands of his soldiers.
Unlike Duchess Valarie, no province has such elite guards to protect the borders even when a Three Crown Temple breaks out.
"How are your injuries?"
Seth couldn't find any visual marks on her body. Well, the maroon black gown she wore didn't expose much of her skin but it gave Serena's personality a fierce charm.
Her hair unlike usual was braided and tied in a bun with a beautiful pearl hairpin keeping it intact. Serena seemed slightly mature but beautiful nevertheless.
"I-I am fine, thanks to you, Prez. I am more worried about you."
Seth was surprised to see the girl blushing just because he asked about her well-being. Well, taking the time they have spent in the Temple and how they have spent that period naturally would change her perception of him.
"I am fine thanks to you. If you didn't survive then the Vault would have never let us go."
Serena's eyes shone in surprise since she didn't know such a thing was set as a criterion and more so when they actually defeated the monster.
She thought that it was because they concluded the trial that made it possible for them to exit the Vault. But it seemed-
"Ah...before I forget."
Suddenly Serena halted, bringing Seth to pause as well before the girl took out a ring from her index finger.
It had a runic symbol embedded which meant it was spatial storage. Seth waited for the girl to explain as he stood wordlessly.
"This contains the rewards I found in the vault. Sorry, the scene was so chaotic that I....anyway, please take it."
Seth was stupefied for some seconds since he never expected her to be so honest about the reward and hand him such valuable things without hesitation.
After a little pause, he took a hold of the ring when he suddenly realized something as his query followed behind.
"Reward?"
"Yes, there are two things in there that I found in my grasp when I was exiting the Vault."
The procedure was the same as how Arata got the reward but Seth clearly remember that it was only one thing the boy received and that was his enhancement ring.
There could be only two reasons why Serena found two rewards. Either it's because they defeated two monsters or...
"Isn't it okay for you to have one? You helped me a lot in the Vault after all."
Serena jerked and shook her head vigorously before she declined soon after.
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"No, I don't deserve a reward, Prez. I ended up inside because of my own foolishness in the first place. You rescued me out was hefty enough of a reward, so please take these things. I owe you a lot already."
There were precious treasures in Seth's hand but his gaze nor his attention ever fell on those things. The reason was the girl in front who currently had Seth's undecided attention.
She....somehow seemed changed.
"Okay, then Prez. Since I have to use the teleportation portal, I would take my leave. Please forward my regards to Your Grace and Sir Christopher."
With a little bow and smile adorning her lips, Serena concluded before she turned to leave.
"Hey, Serena."
Hearing Seth's voice Serena turned herself with a perplexed frown and waited for him to speak.
Seth stood there for a second, hesitating about something but in the end, he shook his head and spoke his parting words
"Take care."
_________________...
The celebration continued for hours as the guests enjoyed their time chatting and feasting.
There were hundreds of dishes prepared. Cuisines of different regions and varieties of drinks to make the banquet memorable.
At nearly eleven at night, most of them left the mansion. Those from far away who couldn't afford Teleportation had their rooms arranged at nearby high-end motels.
Most of the guests were staying for the night and would be departing for their homeland by tomorrow morning.
Every member of the Albeck family has also retired to their rooms except for Seth who was handling the security and management of the guests.
He returned as well to find that Laila was nowhere to be seen nor her father which meant they returned with the portal.
'Well, it would be better to keep distance from her... '
He sighed. Seth wasn't afraid of Arata since he more or less knew the protagonist's weakness. Seth was more annoyed with himself.
His subconscious where still lingered the fragment of the previous owner and the number of memories he have retained recently were making it difficult for him to remain unfazed by Laila's presence.
But against his expectation, Laila was standing near the staircase which leads to his room. Since she was sitting on the stair with her sandals put aside, it seemed she was waiting for a while.
"Ah, Seth..."
Laila hurriedly got up from her seat before she tidied her dress but found Seth was not particularly paying attention to her appearance at all.
Without waiting for her to say anything else, Seth took a hold of her hand for some reason and started walking in a certain direction as he spoke in a stern tone.
"You have ten minutes? Come with me."
_________________...
A/N: - I want you guys to know that the previous Seth was pretty much yandere for Laila so MCs behavior despite him not wanting would be influenced slightly.
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