Supreme Warlock System : From Zero to Ultimate With My Wives

Warlock Ch 248. I'm Here to Look Pretty

"I'm sure Victoria's heroes have many tales to share," Lord Veyrin said, his tone dripping with polite disinterest. His gaze flicked to Evelyn and Cassius, clearly deciding they were the ones worth addressing. "It's rare for outsiders to contribute so meaningfully to our affairs." 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ𝓋𝑒𝑙.𝑐𝘰𝑚

Cassius inclined his head slightly. "We were just in the right place at the right time. Victoria made the calls; we followed through."

"And yet," Veyrin said, his eyes narrowing slightly, "she seems quite… attached to your group. That level of trust is hard-earned."

"It helps when you get the job done," Evelyn said smoothly, her tone polite but firm. She wasn't about to let this turn into an interrogation.

Damian stayed silent, his expression neutral as he let them take the lead. His role here was simple: stand, smile, and look like an apprentice who knew his place. And it worked. The nobles barely glanced his way, their attention fixed on Cassius and Evelyn.

That was fine by Damian. He didn't want the spotlight. If they dismissed him as insignificant, all the better. The fewer questions directed at him, the fewer chances to slip up. It was a win-win situation.

What wasn't a win-win situation was the distinct lack of edible food at the party. Damian had avoided the earlier dishes for obvious reasons, but now his stomach was starting to remind him that it had been a long day. He shifted slightly, glancing around the room as Evelyn smoothly fielded another round of thinly veiled questions.

The only thing stopping him from outright sighing in frustration was Henry's arrival. The butler appeared like a well-dressed miracle, a tray of actual food balanced effortlessly in his hands. Behind him, other servants carried similar trays, discreetly distributing them among the non-vampire guests.

"Apologies for the delay," Henry said, his tone as calm and measured as ever. "Lady Victoria thought you might prefer something more… suitable."

Damian didn't waste any time. He reached for the tray, grabbing a plate and nodding his thanks. "You're a lifesaver, Henry."

Henry inclined his head slightly. "It's my duty."

Damian started eating—casually, but with a level of enthusiasm that betrayed how much he'd needed this—Evelyn shot him a look. Her smile didn't falter as she turned back to the nobles, but there was a clear 'are you serious?' glint in her eyes.

Cassius, on the other hand, smirked, his voice laced with dry amusement. "Nice to see someone's making themselves comfortable."

Damian shrugged, popping a piece of bread into his mouth. His gaze literally said 'Hey, you're the ones doing the talking. I'm just here to look pretty.'

One of the nobles—Lady Emara, if Damian remembered correctly—arched an eyebrow at his comment but said nothing. Her attention remained on Evelyn, who was deftly navigating a discussion about magical techniques.

Another noble, a younger vampire with an air of forced confidence, frowned slightly as he glanced at Damian. "It's rare for an apprentice to attend such events. You must be quite talented."

Damian swallowed his bite of food and smiled politely. "I'm lucky to have good teachers."

The younger vampire didn't seem entirely convinced but nodded nonetheless. "I see. Well, I suppose every great warlock starts somewhere."

Damian nodded, letting the remark slide without comment. He wasn't here to argue. His focus returned to his plate.

Evelyn caught his eye briefly, her expression a mix of exasperation and amusement. "Enjoying yourself?"

"Immensely," Damian replied with a grin, taking another bite. "You're doing great, by the way."

She rolled her eyes but didn't respond, instead turning back to answer another question from Lord Veyrin about their recent mission. Damian tuned it out again, his attention shifting back to the room as a whole. He scanned the crowd, noting the subtle undercurrents of tension that threaded through the celebration.

Not far away, he caught sight of Aria. She was speaking with a group of noble vampires and Victoria, her posture relaxed but her gaze sharp. She hadn't looked in his direction again—not yet, at least—but her presence was enough to keep him on edge.

Cassius leaned slightly toward him, his voice low. "Still watching us?"

"No," Damian said quietly, his tone clipped. "But she's keeping tabs."

Cassius smirked. "Good thing you're blending in so well."

Damian snorted softly, shaking his head. "Yeah, because eating while you two play diplomat is really drawing attention."

"Keep it up," Evelyn said, her voice barely audible as she glanced his way. "It's the most harmless thing you've done all night."

The evening wore on. The conversations grew less pointed and more superficial. The nobles, satisfied with their obligatory pleasantries, began to drift away, leaving the trio with a bit more breathing room. Damian finished his plate, setting it aside as he stretched slightly.

"Well," he said, his voice light, "that was… something."

Evelyn sighed, brushing a strand of hair from her face. "At least it's over."

Damian smirked as he leaned against the nearby table, his plate empty but his hands still full. "Not quite," he said, his tone light. "You guys still look like you're carrying the weight of the world on your shoulders. Here—take a break."

Before either Cassius or Evelyn could respond, Damian grabbed two plates from a servant's tray, expertly balancing them as he walked over. He held one out to Evelyn first, his grin widening. "Must be tiring, being that famous."

Evelyn blinked at him, then let out a soft laugh. "You're unbelievable."

"I know," Damian said, his tone mock-serious. "Now, take the food before I start feeding you like a toddler."

With a roll of her eyes, Evelyn took the plate, her expression softening slightly. "Thanks."

Damian turned to Cassius next, thrusting the second plate toward him. "And you, oh mighty warlock, should also take a break. You've been dazzling the crowd all night."

Cassius took the plate, though not without giving Damian a pointed glare. "You're enjoying this way too much."

"Me? Never." Damian chuckled, his grin turning mischievous. "But seriously, next time, I'll make sure you get to be the mysterious apprentice while I soak up all the glory."