The Hero Became a Succubus, and the Only Way to Level is to… What?! Chapter 523 – The Ehmvier Ball (Part 2)

Several brave n approached Kanae and Gretchen, asking them to dance. They declined every advance. Gretchen actually disliked formal functions, and Kanae wanted to ingrain her daughters' happiness into her mories for a little while longer. However, the commotion between the Hillertons and Kellers were growing more disruptive. Both couples and their adult children butted heads from the sa table Kanae had left them earlier, sotis erupting in loud outbursts. Loud enough over the music, too.

"Excuse , Gretchen. I'm going to exert my influence as the Commonwealth's empress…" Kanae rose to confront them.

"They have my condolences." Gretchen bowed her head.

Kanae pushed through the crowds to reach the bickering noble families. This was practically a soap opera drama now. They were raising their voices and talking past each other. Soone was one shove away from getting into a fight, and the Hillertons were more than likely to lose against centaurs.

"Your cider swill is an insult to every living person's palette!" Mason Kellers growled.

"And you know nothing about wine. I'd rather buy those cheap bottles from the general store than drink your slop! What do you even make them with? Rotten oranges?" Marius Hillerton fired back.

"How dare you?" The centaur man recoiled in offense.

Marius' wife Alona picked up a glass of wine from a passing servant and splashed it all over Jenniel Kellers, staining her green dress a shade of red. Silence fell upon the group and surrounding onlookers. For a mont, there was peace in just the slow romantic dance music in the air. Then rage and fury bubbled over, and Jenniel lunged for Alona.

"Stop. All of you." Kanae exerted a Mass Charm over both families before they ca to blows.

"Y-Your Majesty?!" Everyone involved gasped.

"My girls are having the ti of their lives right now. Their happiness is my top priority, and I will do anything to make sure nothing ruins their night. This may be a party held for all of you, but I think you forgot that I'm the host. So, what will it be? Continue this fight and incur a succubus' wrath? Or return to enjoying the party?" she asked.

"B-B-But they ruined my wife's beautiful dress!" Mason cried.

Kanae produced a wand from inside her dress just in case for this occasion. Parties had a habit of causing a ss sotis. She waved the wand in Jenniel's direction and casted Prestidigitation. The wine and stain vanished. It looked like she had never been splashed at all.

"That's incredible, Your Majesty! Thank you!" Jenniel sighed with relief.

"Of course." Kanae smiled, then pointed to the exit. "Now go out and cool your heads."

"What?'

"Wait, no!"

They cried in protest as the Charm compelled them to walk towards the door. Kanae followed them out, taking a glance back at the dance floor to be sure everything was fine. Outside in the cool of night, much fewer people were about compared to inside. It was mostly those who wanted to get so fresh air, or so that wanted to take a walk around the courtyard's landscaped gardens. Light from lampposts and moonlight gave it an ethereal makeover compared to how it looked during the day.

When the Kellers and Hillertons had stepped out of the castle, Kanae released them from Charm. They looked apologetic, but not quite done with their quarrel yet. If she even looked away, they were probably going to start fighting again.

Kanae folded her arms. "None of you will be getting any land from the crown if you keep acting like children. If anything, I should give you both the sa plot of land just to force cooperation."

"Your Majesty, our orchards are in decline! Ortesia has stopped regularly purchasing cider from us. We've been closing orchards left and right across the city-states, and more in the coming months!" Marius Hillerton explained desperately.

"And how is going after more land in the Commonwealth supposed to help?" She glared.

"L-Land is cheaper here, as are your taxes. We're hoping to tap into the markets in Highgreen, Talahurah, and Artaggon," he said.

"Hah. That's what you get for relying on Ortesian markets. Our wineries are actually growing. Demand for Kellers wine grows. We need the land to et that demand." Mason sneered at his rival.

Kanae loosened up a little. They were getting sowhere now, rather than trading verbal blows.

"Hillertons, I have an idea. You could be exporting to Savir. They aren't reclusive anymore. Their deserts don't really make it feasible for orchards, so they rely on goods outside the country. It's a long journey and might be more costly, but there isn't any competition in Savir for cider. The crown can loan you to keep your orchards open, and Zadris can connect you with Rown Company and the East Saviran Trade Association," Kanae explained.

"I… truly? I suppose… that can work, Your Majesty. You would do that… for us?" Alona Hillerton blinked back tears.

"If it will stop this fighting, or course." She nodded.

Alona fell into her husband's arms. A weight had lifted off her shoulders. Even the Kellers seed relieved and happy for them, especially since their focus on Savir ant less competition for land in the Commonwealth. With that problem resolved, Kanae was about to return inside until two furious n, a dark elf and common elf, stord outside with their hands on the hilt of their rapiers.

Petyr and Vesh followed them out, with the forr grinning. Kanae had a bad feeling about this and chased after them.

"Petyr, what's going on?" Kanae asked.

"These two gentlen are from distinguished families vying for a bachelorette's hand in marriage. One insult led to another, and now they seek to fight it out in defense of their honor. I've co to serve as a witness and referee," Petyr explained.

"You didn't think to diate them into talking it out instead?!"

"And miss out on this fun? Not a chance."

Both n squared up in a spacious walkway.

"Last chance, Martin. I'm trained in Ortesian fencing." The dark elf sneered.

"Lot of good that did them during the war, Von. In case you forgot, they lost!" Martin laughed.

"There will be three rounds. The first to draw blood twice is the victor!" Petyr shouted, and both of them drew their rapiers and clashed.

The tallic clangs rang through the night. This commotion turned out to be a lot more violent than the last one and attracted just as much attention. Neither of them gave an inch. They parried and deflected each other's attacks in a fluid dance but with the bite of a striking snake.

Ortesian fencing had long been integrated into standard Radevic training for its knights. Kanae recognized the snappy thrusts and use of the cup-hilt to glance off blows. Normally, Von's skill would have earned him a victory. Opponents' strikes that glanced off the shell left them vulnerable to a riposte. However, Martin was an exceedingly agile duelist. He dodged ripostes and counterattacks like a boxer avoiding punches, dipping, weaving, and turning his whole body to keep from being hit.

Watching it all a step in front of the audience was a young high elven woman in a pink gown. She held a fan up to her face, unable to contain her bemused smile.

"Let guess: you're the one they are vying for?" Kanae walked up and asked.

"Penelope Fairwind, Your Majesty." The pretty woman curtsied. "What a dreadful affair, that they would fight rather than curry favor in a civil manner."

"Why not stop them then? They would probably listen to you, since you're the one they're interested in."

"Why would I do that? I find it flattering that those two would shed blood for ." She flashed an even bigger smile.

High elves… Kanae rolled her eyes.

Penelope added, "And besides, I am not interested in either of them."

"What? They are fighting for you!" Kanae exclaid.

"I'm courted by a fine gentleman from Radevic. Martin and Von are rely passing entertainnt," she said.

Kanae pinched the bridge of her nose and sighed. Just then, the dueling pair both caught a slice on one cheek. Their bout intensified. Desperation kicked in, and they tossed their training and skills aside. Von tackled Martin to the ground. They rolled to a stop and wailed on each other. Punches, kicks, and bites to the hand. A tooth clattered up to Kanae's feet.

Still, Petyr didn't stop the fight. She revelled in their barbaric turn instead. Both of them were bruised and bloodied. They pushed off the ground, rising unsteadily to their feet. Neither of them were barely able to keep their fists up, and as the two approached to make another attack… they fell forward unconscious.

The peanut gallery started booing. Kanae almost thought about healing them, but if they regained consciousness, they were just going to fight again.

"Guards, bring these n to the infirmary," Kanae said.

"Yes, Your Majesty!" Four guards rushed over, two to each man, and carried them off.

"To say I'm disappointed would be an understatent. For your next ball, I urge you to consider gladiatorial fights," Petyr suggested.

"You were part of the problem… Vesh, control your woman," she groaned.

"There's no controlling Petyr…" The incubus rubbed the back of his head.

Kanae followed the guards to the infirmary. They tossed both n onto separate cots, and she casted Flash Heal to restore their more superficial injuries. A doctor took a look at their wounds and concluded that they had just passed out from exhaustion.

"Ugh… What happened?" Von stirred awake.

"Thank you, Doctor. I'll take it from here." Kanae smiled.

The human man bowed before taking his leave. Martin awakened soon after. The two of them sat upright, saw each other from the adjacent cots, and fury erupted all over again. Kanae chard them first, freezing them in bed.

"No more fighting. You both will be saddened and relieved to learn that Penelope Fairwind isn't interested in either of you. There's no need to fight for her hand anymore," Kanae explained.

"Penelope who?" Von squinted.

"We weren't fighting for a woman, Your Majesty. We were… Wait, why were we fighting again?" Martin pressed a hand to his head.

"What do you an, why? You… sothing… Huh…" He squeezed his eyes shut in thought. "A high elf woman talked to us earlier. Pink dress. Next thing I knew, I had my rapier in hand and wanted to slice Martin up."

", too! Everything's so foggy," the other wondered aloud.

Were they chard before? This had to have been the work of a succubus. Panic set in. Kanae rushed out of the infirmary straight for the ballroom. The gown didn't make for great material to run in. She skidded to a halt from a side hall. Inside, everyone was still enjoying their evening. Nothing out of the ordinary.

The slow dance music ended at last, and everyone applauded the musicians. Suvee was jumping up and down as she clapped.

"For the next piece, the cello shall take center stage. I hope you all are enjoying your evening, because we're about to kick it up a notch!" an oddly familiar voice announced.

Kanae felt a chill run down her spine. She pushed her way towards the musician's stage. The cello's bass rumbled through the ballroom with an orchestral flare. Whoever they were ripped into it like a guitar. Only one person played instrunts like that.

As soon as Kanae pushed through, she found a dark elven woman seated on the stage. The bow in her hand ran across the strings with grace and precision. Her lone performance filled the ballroom with music. Long hair draped down to her chest, and her lips stretched into a taunting smile.

Labelle, the Mistress of Debauchery!

"Everyone, get outside! NOW!" Kanae shouted.

"And skip out on my Crescendo?" Labelle tapped the bow on the cello's strings. An ear-piercing shriek rippled outward, shattering glasses and plates, knocking people off their feet, and whipping the drapes into a frenzy.

Kanae withstood the magic and pressed forward, step after step. Labelle switched up her performance. She drew the bow back and forth in quick successions. Blades of vibration cut through the air, shredding into her dress.

"Is that all you've got? I'm more sturdy while standing thanks to Lion's Pride!" Kanae bood.

"Ahhh! I've missed you, bitch!" Labelle shuddered, kicking her chair back and ripping into her cello again.

"Enough of your cacophony." Gretchen descended on the Mistress of Debauchery from behind, fully dressed in Holy Armant and wielding a sword-sized tuning fork.

Labelle cackled at the top of her lungs and threw her arms out. Gretchen slamd into the succubus, foot to her throat. However, she offered a sly smirk and disappeared into thin air.

"What happened?" Gretchen asked.

Kanae looked left and right. She found no one except panicked guests. Lilith shuffled Raphael, Suvee, and Kanade to safety. anwhile, Zadris ushered people towards the exit. An explosion rocked the upper landing, raining rubble over a side entrance.

"No!" Kanae cried as debris buried her daughters. She ran over to start digging, but her hands passed through stone as if it was fake. An illusion?

"Edina, what are you doing? Stop!" Gretchen shouted.

When Kanae whirled around, Edina in her ghastly partial-lich form bore down on the high elven half-succubus. She swung her combined Pillar of the Damned and Scythe of Soul Reaping for the kill. Gretchen narrowly escaped decapitation.

"Nice try, Labelle. I know that's you. I'd recognize your grating voice anywhere! Now die and be risen as my minion!" Edina fired a quick necrotic bolt that slamd into Gretchen's arm, causing her limb to fester.

"That's clearly not Labelle!" Kanae yelled, only for the ballroom to transform into a jungle. "What… What is going on?" Wildlife growled from every direction. Wind coursed through her hair. She backed up into a tree and felt the bark against her wings. Everything felt real to the touch.

Trees crashed heavily from behind. A giant troll pushed aside trees and stared down at Kanae. She dashed away as it reached for her. The world transford again, and she over the ocean. Blue tides as far as the eyes could see and not a strip of land in sight. The waters beneath her feet bubbled, and a gargantuan whale leaped into the air.

Kanae flew up to avoid it, smashing into sothing hard. She collapsed down onto the hard floor, staring up at the ceiling of the ballroom. When she sat upright, the high elf woman nad Penelope was standing in front of her. The blonde hair shimred, giving way to curly black locks. Porcelain skin turned ashy and gray. Crown horns of the Queen-Mother wreathed her head.

Wrapped in an opaque teal cloak, the succubus had on a red and blue jester's cap. Every little movent jingled the bells on each tip. Tight red and black diamond pattern stockings ended in sharp stilettos. A big red ball rested on her nose. She stretched her arms out in a patronizing bow.

"Greetings! I am Jester, Mistress of Farts— I an, Farces! Drats, I'm still getting used to my own introduction. You have a nice party going on here, Your Majesty. But it looks like you're in dire need of a clown, and I am just your gal!" Jester flashed an ear to ear grin and squeaked her red nose.