FB: Chapter 101 – The Capital Ball

I adjusted my dress. Thankfully it wasn’t too poofy. As someone with strong martial achievements, I could wear a slim dress. We now had a noble team which included a fashion consultant. The cost of a social mistake was far greater than hiring someone to keep track of this nonsense.

My dress was a dark red, again since I came to power with martial ability and in the Coliseum. There was a dark green underlayer and gold stitching since those were the colors associated with myself. The guild emblem was made into a silver necklace I was wearing. Silver since I was a minor noble but had some status. Gold or platinum jewelry would be seen as trying to act above my station. Since it was just a decorative necklace, I was still able to keep my main pendant on beneath my dress.

The cleavage was conservative as possible. I wasn’t going to the Capital Ball to find a noble husband. I was going because I had received an invitation. My hair was done up in a tight bun to show that was choosing to be conservative with my dealings as well.

While I enjoyed dressing up, I preferred slimer clothes that I could move freely in. The dress was constricting, even if there were discrete slits at the base so I wasn’t trapped if combat broke out. I wouldn’t be doing any gymnastics in the dress but I could freely move about. Also, all the joy I might have gotten from dressing up was ruined by the people who were attending the event.

The Nobles present who were horrible scum who liked eating children. Other players who were with opposing guilds hoping I would make a social screw up so they could capitalize on my mistake. And the worst of all, the Human Emperor who was a massive asshole. Who had something planned for sure.

As a lowly Viscountess, I had to show up quite early. The times for showing up for the Capital Ball were based on an individual’s noble title. This was the kind of thing that wasn’t included in the invitation which my noble team had worked out.

I arrived in a carriage with my honor guard. They went to wait with the rest of the personal guards with instructions on how to behave and get information from other guards. They had been allocated 50 platinum for information gathering purposes. A bit much, but better to have the money on hand if it was needed than be found lacking. I went to the elevator that led up to the floating Imperial Palace and went up with my plus one who was Henry. He had taken it on himself to memorize all the necessary information about any nobles I might meet at this event.

“Approaching, Baron Gilago, his town specializes in mining and metal production for tools. Quant Z has been buying tools for our mining expansion,” Henry said quietly at my side.

Since the man was a Baron, I waited for him to greet me first which he did. “Greetings Viscountess Blight. I have to say your last purchase was quite appreciated.”

“Thank you, Baron Gilago. The quality of the metal for your tools is well known and at reasonable prices, how could I refuse,” I replied politely.

“Indeed. Well, I look forward to future cooperation, especially since you succeeded in your quest. Very few people succeed in such a difficult quest, so it is nice to see someone triumph and restore their name and honor before the Imperial Court,” he said.

“Thank you, Baron,” I replied.

“Ah, it looks like it is my turn to enter.” He left my side and moved to the herald where they were calling the last of the Barons to enter the ballroom. I followed behind him. I could have waited a bit, but I was indicating I was a lower ranked Viscountess compared to my peers in the nobility who held the title longer.

If I tried to put my martial achievements as the basis for a higher social rank, that would invite trouble from the NPCs. These small social interactions were all that I had studied for the last three days to prepare for this event. Nobles looked for the smallest details to take offense at, especially during a social event.

“Your titles to announce,” the herald asked me. I gave over all the titles I wanted announced.

“Announcing the arrival of God Slayer, Divine Champion, Viscountess of Halfenbrook, Foxy Blight and her companion Henry,” the herald called out. The first title turned heads as several people looked at me in surprise. I strode down the stairs into the massive ballroom as everyone stared up at me.

“Viscountess Jezabelle Black, she has had seven husbands who have all died in accidents. She is key socialite in noble circles and is quite proud of her appearance,” Henry told me quietly as the woman approached me.

“Viscountess Black, thank you for coming over to greet me. Your choice of fashion is far superior to my conservative choices,” I greeted her with a smile.

“Viscountess Blight, that first title is a brave one to declare publicly. Some people might take offense,” the woman said as she looked me over.

“I am a martial woman. After my successes against the dark gods, I saw no reason to hide such a title. I do have another title, that I haven’t declared publicly that I recently earned.”

“Oh, what title could that be?” she asked. For a socialite, I had to give her some gossip she could chat with others about. If I didn’t she could easily make up something to get me into trouble. I needed to play nicely with the Imperial Court or the Human Emperor would have an opening to take action against me if enough nobles complained.

“Adversary Of The Dark Gods. I have offended several. I am a bit of brute in that regard,” I stated.

“Oh, how intriguing. Perhaps your title is not as grasping as I thought. I look forward to your exploits,” Viscountess Black stated. I inclined my head towards her as she left, not saying anything else. As the social superior, she had the right to the last word in our conversation.

I handled one person after another as nobles slowly entered the ballroom. Henry kept me on track to politely greet the nobles I spoke to in order to not screw up the social interactions. It was a bit much to use my plus one for such a reason, but it was better to give this small offense than make a mistake and a larger offense. It would have been better to memorize everything myself, but it was far too much since I had to memorize the social interactions and traps of the Imperial Court.

Between conversation partners, there was a sudden silence as a NPC Earl slapped a player Baron. The player stumbled back. “You have offended me sir and my wife. I demand satisfaction! Grovel on the floor like the pig you are and ask for my forgiveness, half your wealth, or face my Champion in a duel,” the Earl declared. Everyone moved away as they watched the spectacle.

“I only complimented her beauty, I did nothing wrong!” the player shouted. That was a big mistake. One does not comment on the plus ones who were brought along unless they were introduced by the main guest. Complimenting the wife of an Earl implied he wanted to have intimate relations with her. This was the exact kind of social screw up that I wanted to avoid.

“You heard his tawdry words!” The Earl was clearly hamming up the offense to take everything the Baron had.

“Indeed. He has issued a grave offense, a duel is granted,” Prime Minister Verus was there like magic. In fact it was probably magic. The man was depraved as the Human Emperor, he just preferred blood sport instead of yanking a person’s leash. More physical suffering, less mental suffering. One does not reach over level 400 as an NPC unless they are very capable of combat and Prime Minister Verus was rumored to be a premier duelist handling challenges directed at his Divine Majesty since the Human Emperor couldn’t bother with every little insult and nobles were needed to kill other nobles.

“Bring out the penalty swords. Baron Hands, do you request a Champion?” Prime Minister Verus asked the player. The man desperately looked around and his eyes landed on me.

“Foxy Blight, help me, a hundred platinum,” he quickly said. Everyone turned to look at me.

“Using my first name and not my title. I am insulted. Earl Hexenchomp, I would like to be your Champion to put this disgrace in his place.” If I didn’t say this then all the nobles would look down on me. I needed to defend my honor.

“The requested Champion has declined, Baron Hands will fight personally. Earl Hexenchomp do you wish to invite a Champion?” Prime Minister Verus asked.

“I would see the skill of someone who holds the title of God Slayer myself,” he declared. I went into the open space that had been cleared and took up the offered penalty sword from a servant. Baron Hands looked like he was about to piss himself as he picked up his penalty sword.

The penalty sword canceled out the absolute level advantage, skill shards, and other equipment. If you were killed by it, you would lose half your levels or fifty levels whichever was more. If you dropped to level one, then your character was erased. If it was an NPC they were permanently killed. The nobles didn’t mess about with insults. The higher you climbed the bigger the fall.

I took the penalty sword and moved across the open area from Baron Hands and brought the sword up vertically and then pointed it at him, adhering to the standard greeting for a noble duel with penalty swords. Baron Hands nervously brought his sword up.

“Fight!” Prime Minister Verus called out with a grin. I rushed forward without hesitation. Baron Hands tried to block. I knocked his sword away and stabbed him through the mouth and out the back of the head. He sharded instantly. There was a round of applause that was quite loud. Killing someone without making a mess by sharding them was seen as quite impressive. Titles still came into play with penalty swords. All that bonus melee damage added up.

“Baron Hands has perished permanently. His title is seized by his Divine Majesty along with half his wealth. The remaining half will be granted to Earl Hexenchomp for the insult given,” Prime Minister Verus declared to another round of applause. A servant came to collect my penalty sword while I made my way to Earl Hexenchomp.

“That was well struck Viscountess Blight, but he was pissing his pants already,” the Earl said first, showing me a small amount of respect.

“Thank you for your kind words. If a noble speaks like a commoner, then it is no surprise they should be removed. While I may be a bit uncouth, I do try and fit in,” I replied.

“Haha, indeed. I would be honored if you would dance with me during the ball,” Earl Hexenchomp said.

“It would be my pleasure, Earl Hexenchomp. I can only hope my martial skill translates to my dancing skill,” I said with a smile.

“We shall see Viscountess,” he said. I gave a curtsy since he was clearly dismissing me. Henry let me know that the player was from the Navy Guild of the US. That would be a headache. I told Henry to send them an explanation after the ball. After the last few people showed up, it was time for the guest of honor.

“All rise and pay homage to Emperor Catan Shadam Ixxion the Twelfth, Supreme Ruler of the Human Empire, Duke of the Imperial Capital, Protector of the Realm, and Divine Saint of the Trinity!” I quickly knelt along with everyone else.

It was an inside joke that the herald always told people to rise when they should kneel. That was why the call went out ‘all rise’ and then ‘pay homage’. A person could remain standing, but that would invite the direct attention of the Human Emperor, which no one wanted. It also meant people sitting should get off their asses to quickly kneel and pay respect.