Chapter 286: And You Girls Can Come
’’Raegar Blackwood!’’ Dahlia shouted from the hallway. ’’You must attend the ball with me, we’re annoucing the engagement!’’
After greeting all the girls and getting healed by Zahara, he decided to rest thanks to using his skill constantly, taking a tough toll on his body. The aches weren’t going away and the pain persisted even when the Half-Elf healed him. Now he had the empress on his case about attending a noble party.
Raegar had said no when she brought it up but now the entire Vaelthorne, Blackwood and the rest of the noble family’s were attending. Most were coming to try meet him, others came for the supposed annoucement. Rumors spread around the empire about her finding a man to marry.
No one knew it was him thanks to everyone knowing keeping it a secret as it will cause scandals thanks to the age difference but Raegar didn’t care and stood up, summoning his daggers to make sure he had them on hand. Seconds later, Dahlia appeared in the room, her brown hair flowing down her back, it matched the black dress she was wearing.
He looked at her with a knowing smile. ’’You do know the bloodbath that will happen once news of us gets out?’’
’’Can you and your Fusion Knights handle it, husband?’’ she retorted, a cheeky smile spreading across her face.
’’Of course,’’ Raegar responded. ’’Plus the girls will be helping me, especially Yuki, she was trained for stuff like this.’’
When the cat woman heard this her face lit up as a dagger appeared in her hand. ’’That’s right, young master. We all can help you wipe out those rotten noble houses bringing down the empire.’’
’’That’s brilliant!’’ Selene suddenly exclaimed. ’’Annouce it at the party then see who schemes before sending our husband in to cut the head off the snake!’’
Everyone looked at the red-skinned Demoness and agreed with nods as Dominique added. ’’The top famalies are corrupt, they deal with bandits, outlaws and slavery. There’s no place in Dawnfire for that stuff.’’
The group agreed once again as Dahlia’s smile widened even more. ’’Good! I’m glad we agree. I know our engagement was quicky but by the time school comes back around we’ll spend time together, after all it must feel strange being around the empress.’’
’’Not really,’’ Alice added. ’’Especially with Rae and his crazy powers.’’
’’And the powerful knights,’’ Drusilla jumped in with a pretty grin crossing her face. ’’I never knew he’d get them but they’ll help us in the fights.’’
’’Where did you get them from?’’ Yuki asked the question everyone was thinking.
Raegar scratched the back of his head and answered. ’’From the previous Fusion King, Arthur said his now passing everything over to me. The only thing I have to do is find the soldiers and knights.’’
’’And the Gates help with that, I assume?’’ Dahlia asked.
’’Yes,’’ he responded. ’’Maybe I have to clear more but I have about five hundred Fusion Knights to call upon and two Fusion Knights.’’
’’Interesting,’’ the older woman mumbed.
Yuki looked fascinated and the girls excited. That’s when Lilith spoke up from the corner. ’’I know where you can find some.’’
Raegar’s gaze snapped toward the dark-haired Devil and remembered their alliance. He used Flash Step to appeared in front of the young woman. ’’Where?’’
’’There’s a desert down south with a Gate deep in the dunes,’’ she revealed.
’’Good!’’ he exclaimed. ’’Once everything calms down, me and you are going down there, Lilith.’’
Raegar glanced at the others with a charming smile. ’’And you girls can come.’’
Everyone lit up but Yuki interrupted. ’’I’ll stay here, someone needs to guard Dahlia.’’
’’She can come,’’ he responded. ’’We won’t be gone long, plus with the groups help I can clear the Gate even faster then the previous one.’’
’’Alright, I can come using my other disguise,’’ the older woman said.
Following that, Raegar turned to the seven and spoke. ’’About those dates, we can pick up with Dahlia as me and Domi went last.’’
The girls agreed but Selene complaied. ’’It will take long before my turn arrives, can we do two dates a day?’’
’’A morning one and night?’’ Zahara suggested. ’’We can switch around, making things fair for everyone.’’
’’That sounds good to me,’’ Raegar smiled. ’’Me and Dahlia will go out tonight, then I’ll take Selene and Drusilla out tomorrow?’’
The group reluctenly nodded and everyone got back to relaxing as the empress dropped into his lap but that didn’t stop him drinking some sake, the older woman teased. ’’Becoming a drunk, handsome?’’
’’No, empress,’’ he replied, smirking. ’’I just like the taste, plus it makes me feel relaxed.’’
Dahlia’s face lit up as she leaned in, whispering. ’’Thank you for remembering my turn was next, I do look forward to us going out to explore the capital.’’
Raegar nodded with a smile as Dahlia rose, taking his hand with a playful tug. "Come on, handsome. Let’s get ready for our date."
The girls around them lit up with excitement, thrilled for the older woman. They knew she’d cherish their night out in the city and wished them a great time as she doesn’t get out of the palace much. Following that, she led them through the corridors, saying hello to all the maids passing by.
After ten minutes, they reached Dahlia’s bedroom before stepping inside as she finally spoke. ’’Let me have a bath, there’s one next door if you’d like one.’’
Raegar agreed and entered the door she pointed at. Once in the hot room, he felt the mist closed in. He stripped out of his clothes, groaning thanks to his exhausted body but he didn’t let it bother him as he stepped into the warm water. It washed across his form, relaxing him even further,
As he reclined in the steaming bath, the warm water lapping gently against his skin. The chamber, with its marble tiles and flickering lantern light, seemed almost too grand for his unassuming self, a reminder of how far he’d come. To steady the churning in his stomach, he pulled out some sake, uncorking it with a soft pop.
The first sip slid down like liquid silk, he took another, deeper pull, then leaned back against the tub’s edge, staring at the steam rising in lazy curls. ’’Going out on a date with the empress?’’ he muttered to himself, a half-amused, half-incredulous chuckle escaping his lips. ’’I guess that’s what happens when you’re the main character in a novel and fate throws you into the throne room instead of the tavern.’’
The words hung in the humid air, a self-deprecating nod to the absurdity of it all. Raegar wasn’t one for destiny’s spotlight. But with Dahlia’s confident smile still fresh in his mind, he couldn’t deny the pull of something greater. Shaking it off, he set the bottle aside and submerged fully, letting the water cleanse more than just the grime of battle.
Emerging refreshed, he grabbed a cloth and began scrubbing vigorously, first his broad shoulders, scarred from countless skirmishes, then down his toned arms and torso, rinsing away the remnants of sweat and dust. The routine grounded him, a simple ritual before the unknown.
Towel-dried and invigorated, Raegar searched through his storage. a few weathered cloaks, a dagger or two, and the essentials of a wanderer’s life. There, folded neatly at the bottom, was the perfect outfit he’d nearly overlooked, a finely woven shirt of linen, its collar embroidered with subtle silver threads that caught the light just so; a pair of fitted trousers in gray; and boots.
It wasn’t finery fit for a king, but it would make him look smart, respectable. A man who could stand beside an empress without fading into the background. With a satisfied nod, he began dressing, the fabric settling comfortably against his skin as anticipation built for the evening ahead.
Hr stood before the polished mirror, its slightly warped surface reflecting a man he barely recognized. The shirt fit him like a second skin, its subtle silver embroidery glinting faintly under the lantern’s glow. He adjusted the collar, smoothing it with calloused fingers, and tugged the charcoal trousers into place, ensuring they sat just right.
The boots, now laced snugly, gave him a grounded stance, their polished leather catching the light with a quiet confidence. Raegar stepped back, giving himself a final once-over in the mirror. The man staring back wasn’t the scrappy wanderer who’d stumbled into this imperial drama, nor was he some preening noble.
He was something in between, battle-hardened but refined, ready to face whatever the night held. A flutter of nerves returned, but this time, it was laced with excitement. Dahlia’s playful handsome echoed in his mind, and he couldn’t help but wonder what she’d make of him now.