Author's note: Nothing new, but thanks for waiting as always!
And don't worry, folks, there will be a fight scene later on.
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Upon arrival, the entire group was let by the guards. When they entered the ballroom, everything was quite opulent.
Lydia grinned as she said, "I've been to a few banquets, but this one is seriously smashing!"
"You're telling me!" Isuzu chimed in.
It wasn't long before Siegfried emerged from the crowd, having taken notice of his daughter and her allies. He smiled as he said, "Marie, my dear daughter. I am very gladdened that you'd be here."
"And with some friends, to boot."
Marie smiled back, and told the others, "I guess we may have to part ways for now because we all have our reasons being here."
"Aren't you gonna ask him to dance with you?" Lydia asked.
Given that she was mentioning Patroklos, Marie sighed. "Maybe..."
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After having some food and drinks they would then split into the following groups: Patroklos and Marie, Z.W.E.I. and Viola, and Greed and Malice. Lydia, Helen, Elizabeth and Isuzu had chosen to go solo.
Greed and Malice had no interest in dancing with other women at the moment (but they would if given their chance), as both men were at the table filled with the same treats and drinks provided for everyone.
"So how did your deal with Liz go?" Malice asked.
"She was really reluctant, but I was able to sweet talk her into relenting. She's even told me that one of the ingredients she used is lavender, and we know that lavender more than just soothes the soul."
Both men grinned as they began to try and slip the aphrodisiac into the drink that Marie had consumed, hoping to drink more again. However, they flinched when they heard Tristy approaching them.
"Are you trying to mess around?" she asked them.
"Uh...no, we, uh...we weren't!" Greed exclaimed.
Malice had attempted to hide the vial, but Tristy was quick to take it, and said, "You should've known better than to play games like that."
The brown-haired man groaned as Greed clenched his fists as she left, but Malice managed to say, "But hey, at least we can try to score some chicks here."
"Chicks?"
Initially, Greed was still mad, but sighed as he gave in and followed his lead. "Yeah, whatever."
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"I have a feeling I've been to a ballroom dance before..."
Viola said those words as she kept her eyes on Z.W.E.I., as well as developing a faint but warm smile. "Yes, that's right! When I was a little girl, I would take up dancing lessons! Have you ever taken such lessons before?"
He shook his head, as an indication of 'no'. "But lately, I had been taking notes on ballroom dancing. Especially since Tristy had been pestering me about my love life." he replied.
"With me?"
Z.W.E.I. took a deep breath, and said, "...Yes."
Viola smiled as she leaned into kiss him, which was much deeper compared to the previous ones they had from the past few months.
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On the other hand, Patroklos said to Marie, "You look pretty good in that dress. Then again, so do the others of the Mad Hearts Neo."
"Lydia insisted she wear something that resembled a tuxedo, so we had to oblige. Plus, Elizabeth's and Isuzu's clothing are more...unique since they're from America and Japan, respectively." she told him.
He then asked, "And what's that around your neck?"
"It's Freyja's torc. She wanted me to wear it at the banquet, and I was happy to do so."
"I see..."
"You, on the other hand, look incredibly dashing. No wonder the girls around here are almost drawn to you like bees to honey."
When she spoke those words, Patroklos chuckled. "Thanks, Marie. I haven't come across a compliment this sincere until now." he said.
Marie smiled, before the two continued to dance together.
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"Isn't it beautiful?" Freyja asked.
Athena smiled as she replied, "Yes, very."
Both were outside the ballroom, concealed in cloaks but also admiring the festivities happening inside. They smiled as they watched the crowd of dancing people in the middle of the room, before the former asked, "Tell me, Athena..."
"Mm?"
"Have you ever laid with a man before? Or even a woman?"
Freyja's question caught Athena offguard at first, but she sighed as she said to her, "I never had. I've been always chaste, through and through. Unlike my brother, who's had many lovers, including Aphrodite, to Hephaestus's chagrin."
Suddenly, they heard someone walking, and keeping themselves covered with their cloaks, they kept still as he looked over at them.
"Excuse me, sir, but are you leaving?" Athena asked.
"Oh no, no. It just so happens that I've been quite enamored with Sir Schtauffen's daughter and her friends." he replied.
Both goddesses were surprised, and Freyja inquired, "Is that so? How did you get here, exactly?"
"I may have not gotten an invitation, but I've heard both a celebration and a feast is occurring tonight. So I had to get there and indulge. And perhaps find a very wealthy woman whom to take as my latest lover." he told them.
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An hour or two ago...
As Dampierre entered the castle, and arriving at the ballroom, he was pleasantly surprised as to how beautiful and sophisticated everything (as was the rest of the castle) was. Whilst looking for potential 'customers' in Germany he had heard of an exquisite party, and was more than happy to take the chance.
He sipped some wine as he admired the beautiful women present, including the Mad Hearts Neo. He would catch a glimpse of Helen, only to realize that she was way too young for him.
Another prospect was Lydia, but he had mistook her for a man due to the opulent tuxedo-esque suit she had on. When it came to Marie, he was quite disappointed that she was dancing with Patroklos (though she did take a break to have a conversation or two).
Dampierre eventually settled for Elizabeth and Isuzu, but he chose to go for the former. He then saw that she was in a conversation with Marie, and the blonde American was seemingly sad.
"You made a what?" Marie asked.
"Greed wanted me to make an aphrodisiac to slip into a drink. He...he said he had an unrelenting interest in you, and you said it yourself that you didn't like him." Elizabeth replied.
The leader was taken aback, and said, "Well, I'm certain to be extremely careful. If he messes up, then I'll be all the more happier."
Elizabeth smiled, cheering up from her words. The two girls eventually left, with Marie returning to dance, and Elizabeth having some macaroons.
As she took a bite from one that was red-colored, she was unaware of someone walking up to her. She turned and asked, "Excuse me, but who are you?"
"I am Lord Gio Dampierre. And as you can see, I've taken quite a fancy to Schwarzwind's party." he replied.
"Dampierre, eh? You seem to be a very eccentric man, given your appearance."
"And tell me, madame, what is your name?" he asked, stroking his mustache with a grin.
"Elizabeth Hancock. Now, why are you here besides coming to the banquet?" she asked.
"You are quite the appetizing woman, I'll admit. Are you from outside of Europe, I assume?"
"The fact that I'm outside of Europe? Yes, that is correct."
"But...appetizing?" she blinked as her calmness gave way to being quite flustered, and blushed as she cleared her throat. "Y-You're not trying to flirt with me...are you?"
"Hmmm..."
Dampierre briefly cupped his chin, before replying with, "I believe so."
"Honestly, I'm...not really that interested in you. Granted, I do think my heart belongs to someone." Elizabeth told him.
"Hmph!" Dampierre scowled as he briefly crossed his arms, and asked, "So, who is it, then?"
"I'm not telling you, as it is a mere secret. But chances are, it might happen, or it might not."
As she resumed eating, Dampierre was left annoyed by what she had told him. He would then chat things up with other women, who'd turn him down as they had other commitments to take care of, before taking his leave from the ballroom.
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"You've tried to flirt with one of the Mad Hearts Neo?" Freyja asked. Both she and Athena were quite bewildered with what Dampierre had brought up to them, and very much so. "More specifically, the leader?"
"Of course not, you buffoon! I went with the other blonde, the beauty that dressed as...as, uh...hmmm..." he replied, before he recalled what Elizabeth had worn. "A mercenary, I believe?"
"She's from the Americas, sir." Athena told him.
"Heh, figures."
As Dampierre leaned a little closer to Freyja, unbeknownst of her true identity, asked, "But I guess I got lucky again, haven't I?"
"Excuse me, but are you trying to hit on me?"
Her inquiry made him raise an eyebrow, and he replied, "I believe so. Now, if you can remove that cloak, I would love to see what you look like underneath it."
"You probably never read up on Norse mythology, have you?" she asked.
"What?! For your information, I HAVE read up on it...maybe." he said, looking rather annoyed.
"Then perhaps I shall give you a lesson as to who I really am." Freyja told him. "Come to the courtyard, and I will gladly fight you!"
Dampierre just grinned, as he replied, "With pleasure. Just keep in mind, though, that I am a gentleman."
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Exiting outside, Freyja was first, followed by Dampierre. When she turned to face him, she said, "Allow me to reveal to you who I am!"
Removing her cloak, her appearance, clad in her battle garb, as well as her gauntlets, took him by surprise. "You...You're a goddess, are you?" he asked. "Oh, this is even better than I thought!"
Freyja raised an eyebrow, and told him, "An actual goddess, whom Hildegarde von Krone and Marie Schtauffen looked up to as their mentor, both in the past and present!"
Her opponent was more than happy to unveil a pair of daggers, encased in spring-like coils. "Surprised by what I wield?" Dampierre asked.
"Daggers? With springs attached?" Athena asked under her breath from a distance, having hidden behind a pillar. She was the last to arrive, but had no interest in fighting.
The red-haired goddess let out a faint chuckle, and as she charged for him, she exclaimed, "You just couldn't possibly best anyone with such silly things!"
She would successfully pull off the attack, a punch from one of her gauntlet-covered fists. In response, Dampierre asked, "Oh, really?"
With his weapons now carefully concealed, he delivered the next few hits to her on the upper body. Freyja grimaced, but she continued to press on regardless if she'd win or not.
A series of punches from her, as well as a kick or two, brought Dampierre temporarily down for the count. He grinned as he lunged and provided a combo of his own, ensuring she suffered the same as he.
He continued his momentum, and after another couple of attacks, feigned cowardice, an indication that his Critical Edge was in the cards. Luckily, for Freyja, she'd narrowly dodged him.
Dampierre was just about to turn to face her when he greeted with the same three uppercuts that was one of her most defining attacks. Once he took those hits, he seemed very miffed by how she outsmarted him.
"Now tell me that you are sorry for trying to pick up on any of the Mad Hearts Neo!" she told him.
Begrudgingly, he'd get up, and replied as he dusted off his clothes, "Fine. I'm very sorry for having tried to court any of them, even without their permission. But I'll also admit...for a goddess, you are quite fearless!"
Freyja crossed her arms as she grinned, before her clothes changed to her normal garb, and her gauntlets temporarily vanished. "I'm fearless? Goodness, I didn't expect a compliment from a mere mortal such as yourself."
"Are you trying to court a goddess?" Athena asked as she emerged from behind the pillar. She was clearly befuddled by Dampierre's interactions with Freyja, and he just smirked.
The Greek goddess just blushed as she left the courtyard, and this left the other two completely alone. He stroked his mustache as he winked at the red-haired goddess, before saying, "Perhaps next time I come here, I might expect a little bout of passion from a mythological beauty such as yourself."
"So be it." was her confident response.
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Up next is the the finale of Chapter 13!
With love for my fans,
Chrissy