My esoteric uncle Jules

Chapter 171 The Unexpected Disaster at the Ball

Jules tensed up instantly.

Is this an assassination attempt? So urgent?
However, the expected attack did not occur. The servant simply cleaned his room and then left with his tools and trash.

However, in his perception, the tide of blood did not go away, but instead took root in his room.

Jules entered the room, scanned the room but found no signs of life, and narrowed his eyes.

That sound still exists.

He looked in the direction from which the sound of the tide came from, and there was nothing there except a mirror covered in dust.

The previous servant seemed to have wiped the mirror casually, but not very carefully, and a lot of dust remained on the edges.

Jules crouched down and carefully examined the mirror.

It looked ordinary, without anything unusual, simply faithfully fulfilling its function as a mirror, reflecting his face.

But when he gazed at the mirror, he always felt a sense of familiarity.

If I had to put it into words, it's somewhat like the sharp edge that tore through the sea of ​​blood on that day at Stonehenge.

It is somewhat similar to the concept of sharpness he has given it, but it is purer than his.

It seems to be more specialized in killing.

"Something interesting..."

Jules' lips curled slightly.

Is it someone monitoring you? Or is it a "killer" lying in wait, ready to eliminate you at any moment?
However, it is not advisable to alert the enemy at this time—after all, my main task here is to gather intelligence and lie in wait.

With that in mind, Jules stopped paying attention to the mirror and simply began to enjoy life.

He buried his face in the soft bed and couldn't help but sigh:
"It's more comfortable than modern ones..."

Jules lay quietly on the bed, motionless, for a long time.

Of course, he never actually fell asleep; he kept his eyes closed and pretended to be asleep, but his mind was always on guard against the mirror.

To prevent the mirror from suddenly changing its shape, he deliberately adjusted his lying position so that he wouldn't be reflected in it.

However, after waiting for at least one or two hours without seeing any change in the mirror, Jules lost interest in exploring it.

At this moment, there was a servant standing at the door, ostensibly on guard, but actually monitoring him, making it inconvenient for him to leave the place.

Why think so much? Let's have some snacks first, otherwise we'll have to wait until the dance tonight to eat...

……

“The ‘trace’ has been successfully delivered into his room, and he seems completely unaware.”

Inside the room, Uriel knelt on one knee, reporting to Prince Dor.

He had expected to see approval on the prince's face, but instead he saw the prince frown.

"Who told you to do this?!"

Prince Dorr's tone grew increasingly stern, and Uriel broke out in a cold sweat as he retorted:
"Isn't this the usual practice? For such dangerous targets..."

Prince Dorr bent his fingers, intending to tap the wooden table several times, but his fingers ultimately did not fall.

After a long pause, he said calmly:

"You did nothing wrong. However, that person is not simple. This move may alert him."

Uriel lowered his head even further and said:
"Then...should I go and retrieve it?"

"No need. Since it's already been sent in, let's proceed as planned."

Prince Dorr raised his head, his gaze passing through the floor-to-ceiling windows to the distant view of the estate, obscured by greenery.

"Make sure there are no problems at tonight's ball."

……

Just as the moon began to peek over the horizon, there was a knock on Jules' door.

“Mr. Jules, Mr. Uriel has sent me to take you to the ball.”

Upon opening the door, an elegantly dressed butler bowed to Jules.

But the butler's brows immediately furrowed:

“Oh, Mr. Jules, this outfit is not very suitable for the ball. It makes you look a little... well, not quite in line with your status.”

Jules lowered his head and glanced at his clothes—not exactly shabby, but at least they were clothes he had specially bought.

It's fair to say that, aside from those gorgeous evening gowns, this outfit is already top-of-the-line.

"This outfit doesn't work? Then let's change into something else."

The butler breathed a sigh of relief and said respectfully:

"Please come with me. The manor has gowns suitable for the ball, which will surely suit your status."

Jules nodded and followed behind the butler.

Walk through the manor's long corridor. Oil paintings hang on both sides of the corridor, and candlelight flickers, illuminating the gilded decorations.

Along the way, many noble ladies and gentlemen gathered in twos and threes, chatting quietly and laughing crisply.

The young ladies caught sight of Jules, their eyes flashing with curiosity as they whispered among themselves, while the young gentlemen scrutinized him with appraising eyes.

Jules remained calm and unconcerned, but his eyes secretly scanned the surroundings, taking note of the layout of the manor.

At the end of the corridor was a spacious dressing room. The butler pushed open the door, and inside were several men's evening suits neatly arranged.

The outfit included a black and white tailcoat, a silk vest, and an elegant bow tie.

"Mr. Jules, this way please."

The butler pointed to a black tailcoat and smiled:
"This set should suit you; it's simple yet elegant."

Jules didn't really care which outfit he changed into, since his purpose wasn't actually to attend the ball.

He quickly changed into an evening suit and stood in front of the mirror to adjust his bow tie.

The black tuxedo seemed tailor-made for him, making him appear even taller and giving him a cool yet mysterious air.

The butler complimented:
"You look so much more elegant in this dress. You'll definitely stun everyone at the ball!"

Jules shrugged, unmoved by the flattery—he had no desire to be the center of attention.

"Let's go first, I'm starving."

Upon hearing this, the butler's lips twitched slightly.

This distinguished guest seems different from everyone else.
While everyone else was thinking about the beautiful encounters at the ball, this person was only thinking about eating.

But since the other party was personally instructed by Lord Uriel to be treated well, he had no choice but to calm down and smile:
"Please come with me."

After confirming that the dress was correct, the butler led Jules out of the dressing room and toward the ballroom.

Even from a distance, melodious music could be heard coming from the direction of the ballroom, and the manor lights gradually came on, making it look lively and bustling under the night sky.

Inside the ballroom, the magnificent chandeliers cast a soft glow, and the crystal decorations refracted a myriad of colors.

The long table was laden with exquisite treats, such as sandwiches, cream desserts, and sparkling champagne.

Servants carried silver platters, serving red wine to the attendees.

The nobles, all dressed in their finest attire, chatted and laughed, while a band played a lively waltz in a corner.

The butler led Jules through the crowd to a seat by the window.

Uriel was already waiting there, dressed in a dark blue suit, with his usual haughty smile on his face.

Upon seeing Jules arrive, he rose to greet him:

"Mr. Jules, please have a seat!"

Jules didn't stand on ceremony and sat down directly opposite him.

As soon as he sat down, Uriel asked:

"How do you feel about this ball? This is His Highness the Prince's doing; few in London can compare!" Jules glanced around the hall, nodded slightly, and replied perfunctorily:

"It's quite lively, and the decorations are nice."

He had no interest in the ball itself.

For him, the ball, with its many people and distractions, was a perfect opportunity to move around the estate in a discreet manner.

The whereabouts of Lolita and Matilda must be found as soon as possible. Uriel and Prince Dor are both on guard against him, and the longer it is delayed, the worse it will be.

Uriel chuckled and handed over a glass of champagne:
"Come, try this wine, it is worthy of your status."

Jules took it, took a small sip, and nodded in response.

"not bad."

His gaze swept across the hall without making a sound.

The ball soon began according to schedule. The band played a solemn opening dance, and the guests rose to their feet, with the gentlemen inviting the ladies onto the dance floor.

Skirts swayed, footsteps twirled, laughter and music mingled, creating a lively yet orderly atmosphere.

Jules noticed several guards standing outside the hall, their eyes occasionally sweeping across the crowd, clearly keeping watch.

"The defenses are a bit too tight... Do we have to use the Moth Cloak?" He couldn't help but frown.

To be honest, he really didn't want to wear the moth cloak here.

No matter how useful this thing is, it's only at level one, and it's completely suppressed by the creations of the Law of the Lamp.

Prince Dorr himself is suspected to be a high-ranking Lamp Transcendent, and he doesn't want to gamble!
Sometimes, no matter how fancy the mystical methods are, they are not as direct as physical methods.

Jules rubbed his somewhat shrunken belly and decided to get something to eat.

Since there's no chance for now, we might as well eat something.

He hadn't eaten much all day, so this was a good opportunity to replenish his energy and prepare for the mission ahead.

Jules headed straight for the food area, where long tables were laden with exquisite pastries and a variety of fine wines, their aromas filling the air.

But his gaze quickly settled on a plate of ham sliced ​​as thin as cicada wings.

He didn't care about his image, picked up a piece, put it in his mouth, and chewed it carefully.

After a moment, Jules nodded in satisfaction.

"tasty."

He muttered to himself and reached out to take another piece.

As for possible toxins in the food? He was joking. Even the ghoul toxins from before hadn't harmed him in the slightest; he didn't believe the food served to the nobles here could contain toxins even more terrifying than those.

Just as I was enjoying my meal, a clear, crisp female voice came from the side:

"I didn't expect there would be someone who cares more about these snacks than I do."

Jules turned his head and saw a young woman standing beside him.

She wore a dark blue silk dress adorned with delicate silver beads, her chestnut hair styled in an elegant updo, a faint smile on her face, but her eyes held a hint of curiosity.

She has an elegant demeanor and is clearly of noble birth.

Jules chewed on his ham, glanced at her indifferently, didn't reply, and continued to pick up a piece of cheese and put it in his mouth.

The woman seemed somewhat surprised by his coldness, but her smile deepened.

"Sir, you don't seem to have much interest in the ball? Surrounded by so many beautiful women, you're only interested in eating."

"I'm hungry," Jules said succinctly, his eyes still fixed on the food.

This ham is indeed quite delicious.

As for these desserts—forget it, they're a bit too rich.

He wondered if these old white men had lost their sense of taste; after eating all these desserts, they probably would only taste plain water when drinking sugar water.

The woman chuckled and took a step closer:
“My name is Elena, from the Cassano family. And who are you? Judging from your dress, you have an extraordinary air about you, but I have never seen you at any noble ball.”

"Jules, just a nobody." He simply gave his name, picked up a glass of fruit wine, took a small sip, and still didn't look at her much.

"How could an unknown person be invited here..."

A flicker of interest crossed Elena's eyes, as if she had spotted an interesting prey.

She gracefully picked up a pastry, took a bite like Jules, and said with a smile:
"You're so aloof, it doesn't seem like you're here for a ball—come, how about I invite you to dance? The dance floor is much livelier than this table."

She extended her slender, fair hand, making an inviting gesture.

Those around who witnessed this scene couldn't help but cast envious glances.

However, Jules merely frowned and refused without hesitation:
"No jumping."

Elena was taken aback, clearly not expecting such a straightforward rejection.

Several nobles nearby heard this and cast surprised glances at them, whispering among themselves.

Her face flushed slightly, but she quickly regained her smile, and her tone became lighter.

"You're very direct, but a ball should always have some fun; just eating is rather boring."

"I find eating quite interesting."

Jules put down his wine glass and prepared to take another piece of pastry.

Just as the atmosphere became a little tense, a deep male voice broke in.

“Mr. Jules, Miss Elena is one of the highlights of the evening. Why don’t you do her a favor and dance with her?”

Jules turned his head and saw Uriel.

At this moment, Uriel was dressed in a dark suit, his face full of smiles, but his eyes held a hint of probing.

Jules felt a slight unease, knowing he couldn't act too eccentrically at this moment, lest he arouse Uriel's suspicion.

He hesitated for a moment, then nodded.

"Okay, one song, but I'm not very good at it."

Elena's eyes lit up with surprise. She gave Uriel a grateful glance and then gracefully extended her hand.

“It’s alright, Mr. Jules. I have a wealth of experience. Just follow my lead.”

Jules, expressionless, took Elena's hand and followed her onto the dance floor.

The melodious sound of a waltz echoed in the hall, and the nobles around them danced gracefully, their skirts and gowns intertwining, the candlelight making the dance floor look like a dream.

Despite his reluctance, he maintained a steady pace, simply spinning and stepping to Elena's rhythm.

Elena chuckled softly:
"Mr. Jules, you said you weren't very good at it, but your dance steps are very steady. Where did you learn them?"

“Just some casual practice,” Jules said calmly, his gaze occasionally glancing in Uriel’s direction.

Uriel stood at the edge of the hall, holding a wine glass, his smile undiminished, but Jules had the feeling that the other man was observing something, and that his attention was not entirely on him.

Elena glanced at him in the direction of his gaze, a sly glint in her eyes, and whispered:
"You seem to care a lot about Lord Uriel? Don't worry, he just likes to keep an eye on the newcomers at these kinds of balls."

Yule's eyes flashed and he said:
"Oh? Have there been many balls like this lately?"

Elena took Jules' hand, lifted him up, and with graceful steps, chuckled softly:
"Yes, that's true. His Highness has only started holding balls more frequently in the last few months."

In recent months... Jules caught a whistle and became alert after identifying the keywords.

But he simply glanced around calmly, keeping his questions to himself.

This sight startled him.

He noticed that many of the noble young masters around him were staring at him, as if they wanted to devour him alive.

Even worse, while still dancing with his female partner, his gaze was already fixed on him.

“This…” Jules’s eye twitched.

What an undeserved disaster...

(End of this chapter)