Casual Heroing, Chapter 245

THE GENERAL!?! 🫡🫡🫡

Next chapter comes out on March 1st!

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Chapter 245 - Important People

Cornelia Valeria Novafamilia's words, crisp and cold in the warmth of the celebration, cut through the murmurs of the assembled guests like a knife.

"I don’t touch food that was made by Humans," her voice echoed with a disdain that left no room for doubt or misinterpretation.

In front of her stood Joey, holding the silver platter more like a shield in battle and less like someone offering food at a banquet. However, Joey tried to put on his usual charm: "It wasn't a Human who made this, [Lady] Cornelia. It was your people, supervised by the [Princess] herself. I'm just bringing you the fruits of their labor," he countered. "You don't care about the [Princess]'s work, milady?"

The room, already thick with the undercurrents of old prejudices, seemed to hold its breath. Cornelia's stare, sharp and calculating, met Joey's gaze.

[General] Aurelianus, standing a respectful distance away, watched the exchange with a keen interest that belied his outward calm. He had anticipated some maneuver from Cornelia to undermine the Human and embarrass him publicly, but the boldness of her rejection surprised even him. His gaze briefly met those of his subordinates—Tizius, Caius, and Sempronius—who returned a look that mirrored his curiosity. They, too, understood that this was a pivotal moment. What would Cornelia do next? Refuse Joey Luciani’s offer and, by proxy, the [Princess]? Or would she acquiesce and lose face in the process?

Aurelianus had half-expected the Human to retaliate, to throw the platter at Cornelia in a defiant gesture that would certainly earn him a swift retribution, possibly even imprisonment—again. The presence of [Prince] Brutus only added insult to injury, making the thin ice on which the Human treaded even thinner.

As the [General] pondered the ramifications of Joey's potential actions, his thoughts darkened. Humans, he mused, would never truly be accepted among the Elves. Their history, marked by conflict and conquest, was too steeped in blood and mistrust for such a reconciliation. Yet, even as he resigned himself to this bleak outlook, a strange movement caught his eye.

The crowd around Joey shifted.

...

“It seems like my Grandmother was right to relinquish the role of host to me tonight,” Diana announced, her voice carrying clearly through the room. [General] Aurelianus, ever vigilant, subtly checked his hidden truth-stone bracelet for any sign of falsehood. The device vibrated gently against his wrist, signaling a lie in Diana's statement. His eyebrows lifted slightly in surprise, but his expression remained impassive.

Without missing a beat, Diana reached for the pastry on Joey’s platter. With a smile that was both disarming and diplomatic, she lifted the pastry and turned to face the assembly. “Tonight, we shall celebrate our heritage and the goodwill of the Royal Family and two of its greatest members, [Prince] Brutus and [Princess] Laurealia!”

Biting into the pastry, Diana’s smile widened, her eyes meeting Joey’s with a spark of connection.

As if on cue, a [Waiter] approached, bearing two cups of wine with the elegance and precision that characterized the service of the Valeria estate. Diana accepted the cups. Offering one to Joey, she raised her own in a toast.

“Green blood in our veins!” she exclaimed, her voice ringing with conviction and pride. The toast was a traditional Elven salute, and it resonated through the ballroom. Joey, caught in the whirlwind of the moment, found his cup raised in tandem with Diana’s.

The response from the guests was immediate and unanimous. “Green blood in our veins!” they echoed.

...

[General] Aurelianus stood amidst the throng of the ballroom's elite, his gaze sharp as the evening's events unfolded before him. He took in the strong smells of the food, the flowers, and the perfume that circulated throughout the ballroom. A lifetime ago, he had dreamed of nothing other than moments like this—to mingle with the highest spheres of the Elven diplomacy. Back then, he couldn't imagine what mighty figures he could have met once he managed to enter ballrooms like this one. He had always suspected that the greatest heroes, the strongest Elves, hid behind the tall double doors of the nobles' estates.

But the sad truth was that there was nothing like that. Time and time again, once a new door had opened, he jumped through it, waiting for heroes and great people to appear in front of him. But every time, only slobs with a few handed-down levels and titles waited on the other side. At best, he could find ruthless calculators like Cornelia. But not once in his life had he entered a party, looked at a man, and thought, 'This is the leader of a company of heroes.'

"It seems like there’s going to be a change in attitude toward Humans," Tizius, his [Strategist], remarked.

The [General]’s frown deepened. Two Humans had somehow made it to the Day of Blooming festivities. But what really made his heartbeat faster was seeing a Human not just accepted but celebrated. Parts of the shouts during the toast weren't for the [Princess], for [Lady] Diana, or for Cornelia. They had been for Joey Luciani.

There was the Fleshweaver's group, one of the strongest - if not the strongest - Named Adventurer groups in Epretos. Each of their members was a menace on their own, much less when they fought as a team. But even compared to them, the [General] felt like this was a first in his life.

Around the Human stood characters who could be pitted against the Fleshweaver's team. He saw Tullia, the Dancing Vanguard who stood close to Joey Luciani with her husband, the Singing Blade—a man whose reputation was whispered with a mix of reverence and fear. The Human spoke lightly with them, chatting about the night as if it were the most natural thing in the world. Petra Iulia Gelida, the Blade of Epretos and a part of the Fleshweaver's group, had already interacted with the Human; the [General] couldn't help but wonder who had grown stronger between her, the strongest [Swordsman] in name, and Chrysantus, the Singing Blade, who was much craftier and reserved than her when it came to displaying capabilities.

Aurelianus's strategic mind churned as he considered the implications. Joey Luciani was suddenly at the center of a confluence of power and influence that could not be ignored. The Human had done what few could—he had rooted himself deeply in the fabric of Amorium.

Seeing the Archmage of Shadows fawn over the Human, the girl who had once been dubbed the greatest magical promise of Amorium, while so many others just circle around him, prompted the [General] to reassess his position.

...

Despite the beauty surrounding her, Lucinda felt a growing sense of isolation. From her vantage point, she watched Joey and Diana with a mixture of admiration and a pang of something else—something that felt uncomfortably like envy. The snippets of conversation floating through the air only served to deepen her unease.

"Did you see Joey with Diana? They seem quite taken with each other," commented a guest nearby, their voice tinged with intrigue.

Another responded, their tone ripe with speculation, "How scandalous it would be! The future of the Gens Valeria, the Scarlet Hunter, and a Human? Can you imagine?"

A third guest added with laughter in their voice, "Oh my, the city wouldn’t talk about anything else for years!"

And yet another chimed in, perhaps a bit too thoughtfully, "Forgive me if I say this, but that Human doesn’t look half-bad standing beside Diana. They cut quite the figure."

Each word felt like a tiny cut on her skin, letting droplets of blood paint her feelings. She watched as Joey and Diana shared a joke or something. They smiled at each other.

Come on, don't be like this, Lucinda thought. You know Joey's just doing what he's supposed to be doing here.

Lucinda's gaze drifted between the pair and the rest of the room, her fingers tightening around her drink. She forced a smile, but it did little to ease the knot of discomfort in her stomach.

She found herself thinking, 'She’s very beautiful,' with a sigh that felt like surrender. Another thought intruded – a memory of a promise made in jest but now heavy with implication, 'I did tell Joey that the third time he left me alone to talk to a girl, I’d leave.'

Her eyes wandered to the far entrance, considering the weight of her own words. Was it time to leave? To step away from this evening that had started with such good promise but now seemed to be slipping through her fingers like grains of sand?

Just as the thought began to take root, a familiar face caught her eye. Flaminia was making her way toward her, a smile brightening her features. She gestured towards Lucinda's drink with a playful nod before offering a platter laden with exquisite pastries. "If you think the drink is good, wait until you try this," Flaminia quipped. "I snagged some food early. No way I'm queuing like the rest. If we're behind the making of the food, we might as well dine like royalty, no?"

Lucinda couldn't help but let out a genuine laugh, momentarily swept up by Flaminia's infectious energy. She reached for a pastry and popped it into her mouth.

"So, are you jealous?" Flaminia asked suddenly, her tone shifting as both women turned their attention back to Joey and Diana. The question caught Lucinda off guard, nearly causing her to choke on her pastry.

"What?" Lucinda managed, her surprise evident.

"Jealous, Lucinda. Are you jealous?" Flaminia repeated, her gaze piercing.

"Why do you ask?" Lucinda responded, deflecting.

"Because Joey is chatting up the heiress of a noble family who seems a bit too keen on his company," Flaminia explained with a nonchalant shrug. "She even joked about them exploring the Dungeon together. Honestly, Joey's just being polite. Diana did save him from a potentially embarrassing situation."

"I'm not jealous," Lucinda stated firmly, though her voice lacked conviction.

"You are, but it's understandable," Flaminia reassured her, sipping from her drink. "If it were me, I'd be eyeing that bitch's pretty neck too. But here's the thing: Joey would give up any treasure for you. That's how taken he is. You're strong and ambitious, and you challenge him. Stop doubting yourself. The more you hesitate, the more you risk. Be the person Joey fell for; challenge him, make him squirm. He'll be dreaming of you tonight."

Lucinda felt her cheeks heat up at Flaminia's blunt words, a mix of embarrassment and newfound determination stirring within her. Before she could respond, Flaminia's voice rose, drawing Joey's attention from across the room. "Hey, Joey! Your date's out of drinks! What kind of gentleman are you?"

Joey's gaze found Lucinda across the crowded space, his expression shifting from confusion to understanding. He excused himself from Diana, his steps carrying him back to Lucinda with an apologetic smile. "Told you," Flaminia murmured, preparing to leave them to their moment.

However, their reunion was cut short by the sudden appearance of [General] Aurelianus, who intercepted Joey with a seriousness that commanded immediate attention. A discreet bubble of silence enveloped them as the [General] whispered something urgent. Joey's reaction—a mix of surprise and concern—spoke volumes of the gravity of the situation.

"That's the [General]," Lucinda whispered, a knot of worry forming in her stomach.

"Rotten roots," Flaminia swore, her confidence replaced by uncertainty.

As the [General] finished speaking, Joey turned to Lucinda and Flaminia, his voice carrying a sense of urgency. "I'll be back. This is… I'll be back. I'll explain later."

The dazed look in his eyes left Lucinda and Flaminia watching in silence as Joey, followed by [General] Aurelianus and his subordinates, disappeared behind a side door, leaving more questions than answers in his wake.