Diego didn't come with them to Valor's ball — too boring for his taste. Noah was buried under administration work, and Isaac… well, Isaac was gambling again. No surprises there.
Hecate, on the other hand, was busy exploring every inch of her ship and pestering Blackbeard for pirate lessons. The two had apparently bonded over cannon specs and plundering philosophy.
Klaus blinked, his mouth twitching in disbelief.
"Is she seriously trying to start a Great Pirate Era now? What's next… finding the One Peace?"
He almost let out a wild laugh but held himself back — even if it physically hurt not to. So when the gates opened and the guards started shouting names, he let out a low, satisfied chuckle.
Phew. Works every time, he thought with a relieved smile… only to cringe a moment later, remembering his second nightmare.
Gods, I was so embarrassing back then. Crashing over every little thing, doing all kinds of deranged shit, leveling city, killing Transcendents, blackmailing a literal goddess... Meh, whatever. At least he had let out all the stress from constantly bottling up his urges.
Rachel hadn't come either — locked herself in the basement doing who-knows-what.
As for Belial… well, he was introvert. Klaus had a gift in mind for the boy too, but it wasn't his birthday yet. He'd have to wait.
Meanwhile Tatiana was dazzling to behold.
Her golden hair fell in soft, elegant dreads, adorned by a silver crown with curling horns, and golden wheat motifs that gave her the aura of an ancient Greek goddess of beauty. Her golden eyes sparkled with humor and a warm, captivating light.
She wore a long, flowing gown in shades of deep purple and gold. The bodice was fitted with a sweetheart neckline, embellished with delicate floral appliqués. The skirt was layered and airy, featuring a dramatic high-low hemline that flowed into a graceful, trailing train. Her sleeves were long and wide, adorned with soft ruffled detailing that gave her the appearance of something ethereal — a dream made flesh.
There was something impossibly romantic and otherworldly in her presence… the kind that made it hard for anyone to look away.
Klaus was visibly annoyed by the stares his sister was receiving. She was stunning — too stunning — and this wasn't the kind of place where he could simply kill people for gawking at her… unfortunately.
Still, a slow, devious smirk crept across his face. That works too.
He quietly activated his Ascended ability.
To the men, Tatiana remained as she was — radiant and untouchable — but to the women… she now appeared like any other ordinary girl. Not unattractive, just unremarkable.
And in mere seconds, the effect took hold.
The dazed, admiring looks on the ladies' faces sharpened into cold glares, their dreamy smiles replaced with scowls as realization dawned.
Suddenly, all those charming "gentlemen" who had been drooling over Tatiana found themselves in serious trouble.
Tatiana leaned gently on Klaus's shoulder, her fingers lacing with his, a faint smile tugging at her lips.
"So, my dear, wicked brother…" she whispered playfully. "What are you going to do about your fair lady?"
Klaus shrugged, feigning nonchalance. "It's not like I'm seeing Cassie for the fir—"
His words caught in his throat.
Woah... I— I... Damn.
Cassie stood on the second floor, surrounded by her cohort — but to Klaus, she was the only one in the room.
Her gown was a vision in light blue, flowing off her shoulders with sleeves like morning mist. The bodice shimmered with aquatic blue appliqués and subtle gold accents, like sunlight glittering across the surface of a tranquil sea. It gave her a look that was both delicate and regal.
The skirt cascaded in soft, layered waves — like a waterfall made of silk and dreams. The gown whispered of fairy tales and forgotten heavens, romantic and whimsical, light as air and endlessly graceful.
And her hair…
Her golden, silk-like hair was gathered into a gentle knot at the crown, loose and elegant. The rest flowed freely in soft, effortless curls that framed her face and spilled over her shoulders — a waterfall of gold touched by the sun. The look gave her an almost heavenly presence, blending effortless beauty with a quiet strength that left Klaus utterly speechless.
Klaus remained motionless, his eyes fixed on her.
Cassie was smiling softly, her expression serene as she spoke with her friends. Her crystal-blue eyes, clouded with blindness, wandered aimlessly… yet somehow, it felt like she could see more than anyone else ever could. There was something in her presence — calm and radiant — that made it impossible to look away.
Tatiana leaned in, wrapping her arm through his and smirking like the demoness herself.
"So?" she murmured. "My taste in fashion is still as majestic as ever, hmm?"
Klaus blinked, snapping out of his daze. He shook his head slightly, as if trying to dislodge the arrow that had just struck his heart. Then he glanced at his sister, his eyes narrowing with the weariness of a man who had known betrayal.
My sweet little sister… why are you like this?
Why must you be so cruel? Hmm?
Would it kill you to tone it down just a bit, so I don't have a damn heart attack in public?
His expression turned bitter as he sighed internally, muttering in silent resentment.
"Yeah… She's beautiful. I don't even know what more to say..." Klaus muttered, his voice softer than usual.
Tatiana chuckled, rolling her eyes before pinching his scarred cheek. Watching his lips curl into a smile — if you could call it that — was oddly unsettling. The deep scar twisted along with the grin, giving it the look of a deranged sneer.
She sighed internally. Poor thing…
Her brother had once been so beautiful, to the point women envied his face. Now? Now he was horrifying.
Well… not quite.
He had become something else entirely — handsome, yes, but in a more mysterious, dangerous, almost predatory way. An unsettling presence, like a storm hiding behind calm clouds. It suited him better, honestly. At least now, no one would mistake him for a pretty noble girl.
And more importantly — no one could recognize him.
Even with his signature white hair, that jagged scar distorted everything. No one would ever guess that the man standing beside her was once the dangerous Heir of the Immortal Flame Clan.
She sighed quietly. Will the day ever come when they wouldn't need to hide?
When others would cower in their shadow instead?
She didn't know if such a future was even possible. All she knew was — she was tired. Exhausted, really. Maybe she was even looking forward to war, if only because it meant an end to waiting. If they won, she would finally live the way she wanted. And if not… then she'd die on her own terms. Peacefully.
Her gaze shifted to Klaus, who was still observing Cassie. The girl in question looked a little restless, her sightless eyes blank, but Tatiana could tell — she was searching. Maybe not with her eyes, but certainly with her abilities.
"Nik," she said softly. "The beauty of a woman doesn't lie in the clothes she wears, or the shape of her figure, or the way she combs her hair. True beauty is seen in her eyes — the doorway to her heart. The place where love resides."
She smiled gently. "And even if she's blind… even if her eyes wander without direction, sooner or later they'll find you — just as yours found her... Think about it."
Tatiana eventually left him alone as she spotted her fiancée. MoonVeil, as graceful and composed as ever, greeted her with a serene smile. The two women exchanged a few soft words before slipping out of the ballroom for a quiet walk beneath the moonlight.
Klaus remained still, unmoving in the shadows.
Her words lingered in his mind like stubborn echoes, tugging at thoughts he'd buried long ago.
He sighed, jaw clenched.
Admit it.
Come on, you pathetic bastard. Just admit it.
He looked up, his violet eyes dull and conflicted.
The truth clawed at him — ugly and raw.
You approached Cassie because of how she looked.
Not because of her heart. Not because of anything noble or meaningful.
Just... her beauty.
As shameful as it was, that's where it began — the soft curve of her lips, the porcelain smoothness of her skin, the delicate grace in her every gesture. Something in her purity had stirred his darkest desires.
And so, like the twisted man he was, he decided to seduce her. Exploit her innocence. Manipulate her inexperience.
Not out of love. Not even out of cruelty.
Just because he wanted to.
Why do I do all this messed up shit?
Why can't I act like a decent human being for just one goddamn day...?
He grimaced, dragging a hand through his snow-white hair.
Sure, he had told Cassie truth once — on their first date, even. But he'd wrapped the truth in playful words, in that usual nonchalant tone that let him pretend he wasn't serious. That way, she could laugh it off. Dismiss it. Pretend it was a joke.
So it didn't count.
Not really.
And now, when his feelings were real—when he loved her—he felt too ashamed to ever say it outright. To admit that it started with nothing but lust. With the kind of selfish hunger he was too used to.
He bit his lip, suppressing the guilt that twisted inside his chest.
[Law of Original Sin]
His gaze drifted to the glowing runes etched into the deepest part of his soul, visible only to him. The words burned there like a curse.
He stared at it with bitter resentment.
Why is it...
Why is it that you won't let me have something pure? Something untouched by the filth of your damn sin?
His jaw clenched.
He wanted something beautiful to remain beautiful. Something innocent to stay untainted. He didn't want to ruin her too.
Bloody hell...
He scoffed in frustration and vanished from the corner of the ballroom, reappearing on the high balcony above. The cold wind bit at his face, but it was a welcome distraction.
Klaus leaned on the rail, staring at the night sky.
Tatiana had told him that because she knew.
Of course she did.
Cassie wasn't the first woman he'd seduced. Not even close.
His fingers dug into the stone railing.
"Fucking headache..." he muttered, eyes narrowing as he tried—and failed—to suppress the shame pressing against his ribs like a vice.
"You seem a little conflicted, young man."
Klaus blinked in surprise and than closed his eyes to calm himself. After that, without looking back, he chuckled pleasantly.
"It is an honor to meet you... Saint Madoc."
While he appeared calm and polite, deep down Klaus was holding back an overwhelming urge to kill him, right here and now. Even if he couldn't win, it wouldn't matter. He wanted nothing more than to make his life as miserable and humiliating as possible.
It was you who hunted me... And it was because of you that Nadia died in the Dream Realm... forgotten and afraid...
You killed my mother, you loathsome bastard...
Sooner or later, you will die for that.