The Divine Armor of the Old Century（Book 1）

Chapter 118

Essentially, this was a grand court ball, where forging connections took precedence over mere revelry. The true power brokers of Old Dunlin savored fine wines behind the scenes, while their heirs, the future rulers of Old Dunlin, mingled on the dance floor, acquainting themselves with those who would one day govern alongside them.

This was the realm of true nobility, a world inaccessible to common folk, even if hearing about it was considered a privilege.

Lloyd breathed steadily, striving to keep his movements minimal. His evening suit was a size too small, fitting him like a sack. If he moved too forcefully, he feared he might rip it to shreds like a beast.

In the hands of the servants, he had been transformed, appearing years younger, with skin pale as mutton fat jade and neatly groomed hair. For a moment, as he looked in the mirror, Lloyd almost fancied himself a lover boy.

Celyu stood beside him, holding his hand. But given their height difference, they looked more like a father and daughter, except this father seemed excessively youthful.

"You look like a penguin," Celyu murmured, speaking to Lloyd while staring ahead as if talking to herself. The white lining beneath his black suit indeed resembled a penguin's colors.

"You've seen penguins?" Lloyd recalled these creatures, discovered by explorers in the far south of the world.

"In books," she replied. "Though I think you look more like an Adelie penguin."

"And what are those?" Lloyd inquired.

"A type of penguin with peculiar behavior," she explained. "They often can't assess water dangers and will push their companions in first. If the pushed penguin survives, the rest dive in. If not, they scatter and find another place to swim."

Lloyd's face darkened.

Looking at Celyu's attire from his angle, Lloyd thought she resembled a large white rose blooming in her heavy white dress, or perhaps a figure planted atop a gigantic white cake, struggling to move, with a precious metal tray on her head. This amusing thought brought a faint smile to his face.

"Do you want to know what you look like to me?" he teased.

"Please, be serious," came a stern voice from behind. Yaway, the old butler, had been displeased since the beginning. Despite Lloyd being a reluctant choice, Yaway remained cautious, valuing the Stuart family's honor above all.

Lloyd dismissed Yaway with a glance and moved forward with Celyu. The ball was held at the very center of Old Dunlin, even more central than the inner city residences of nobles and the wealthy, in a grand estate near the Royal Area, hosted by Duke Salicado.

Old Dunlin was shrouded in secrets, from the mysterious Cleansing Mechanism, the Mechanical Institute, to the Furnace Pillar, all inaccessible to ordinary people. Thus, these were classified at the same level as the Platinum Palace, within the Royal Area, guarded by royal soldiers.

Near the estate, within the Royal Area, stood the Furnace Pillar's surface facility. The estate itself was surrounded by carriages and new automobiles, the cold winter night warmed by the festivities, with the air filled with the scent of vanilla and a dazzling array of colors.

Men and women flaunted their charms, their swirling gowns like flowers blooming in the winter, creating a sea of blossoms, with various fragrances assaulting Lloyd's nose until he nearly sneezed.

Despite the opulence, Lloyd felt a slight tremor of nervousness. He had seen grandeur before, guarding the Saint Naro Cathedral as a Templar Knight, which rivaled this in splendor.

The cathedral's grand organ climbed the walls like a metallic creature, and magnificent paintings adorned its ceiling. Thousands of candles burned in sacred silence, with only whispered prayers and hymns echoing through the ages. Saint Naro Cathedral was perhaps the largest church in the world, taking over six centuries to complete since the founding of the Seven Hills. Its vast labyrinthine interior housed the remains of every pope.