I passed with honors and after a long chain of praises from the instructor, I headed off to the tailor. My first formal public appearance as John Gray had to be a special one and I had just the perfect design in mind.
The city was busier than usual, and the staff brought in by the Vassals could be seen all around spending money lavishly at the request of their masters. The amount of bows I received also greatly increased and my reputation seemed to have spread further.
I asked around the city about the best tailor and they all seemed to point to the same shop, [La Maison Vert]. The owner was a magic seamstress from a different land, said to be blessed by Rhapso herself.
She sounded like the right choice for the classy masterpiece I had in mind.
I arrived at the high-class shop after a short walk.
The tailor was an older woman with a darker complexion.
"I have to attend the ball tonight, so I need something special," I got straight to the point.
"Oh, gods above! You're a beautiful creation, you'll need something to match that and your large frame! Let's get straight to work!"
She practically pushed me into a backroom and began designing an entire outfit for me. Her movements were swift and precise like a swordmaster holding a treasured sword. The final design was based on any input I managed to sneak in.
A BIT LATER.
I was dressed in a beautiful, classy 3-piece black suit. It fit me perfectly and came with its custom coat.
"It was a joy to work with such a model!" the tailor rejoiced.
"How much do I owe you for this masterpiece?"
"Nothing, just tell everyone at the ball where you got it!"
"Then I'll tell them all, even the elders if I see them!"
"Come again!"
After a few more words I headed off home with the suit in its carrying bag.
.
.
THE NEXT NIGHT
The others were ready, as usual, Alexander was dressed in an eye-catching outfit. A white and gold suit. A flying car had been sent out to the mansion and we got in.
"You look dashing, Johnny boy!"
"You look..bright," I looked for a way to compliment his outfit.
"It's the best way to draw the attention of the vassals, I have a few names I must get under me!"
He started another one of his rants. Thankfully the journey to the ball's venue wasn't a long one.
The grand ballroom was an imposing sight as I arrived, the towering arches and massive glass windows reflecting the soft glow of the evening.
'Let's tango!'
Inside, the hall was bathed in golden light, the brilliance of crystal chandeliers shimmering against the marble floors. The room itself was an echo of the Gray family's wealth, every inch exuding elegance and power. Heavy curtains of deep burgundy lined the walls, and polished mirrors reflected the splendor, making the space seem even grander than it was.
This was the heart of the Gray family's empire, where allies and vassals gathered to witness and celebrate, but also to watch, to judge.
I stepped in, the rich fabric of my tailored suit moving with me. The dark black was so finely woven it had a subtle sheen, and every detail had been crafted to perfection—from the sharp cut of the shoulders to the embroidered silver that ran along the cuffs, a mark of my rank as the eldest son of the Solus direct branch.
It was meant to silence any doubt, to remind those gathered who stood at the top of the Gray family. But of course, no matter how fine the suit, no matter how high my status and talent stood, I could feel their eyes, the weight of their judgment. They would never forget my status as a bastard son, a quarter earthling with hair and eyes marred by a curse.
'Children's matters.' I found the politics of the family laughably childish.
Jean's arm linked with mine.
"Oh gods above!" I exclaimed unconsciously.
"Stop!" She said in a low voice, acting coy.
She was breathtaking. She wore a deep emerald gown that draped effortlessly over her frame, the silk catching the light with each step. Her blue hair was swept back into an intricate twist, revealing the soft line of her neck, and her blue eyes shone as if reflecting the very gown she wore. She moved with such grace, drawing all eyes in the room.
She was beauty incarnate, a painting only the combined force of the gods and their brushes could create, a beauty not even Davinci could recreate. The stares of the women turned to her with envy and the men turned to me with anger, cursing my good looks, talent, and status.
"I missed you," I said as I attempted to steal a kiss.
"Mind your manners, we're in front of others. It's only been a bit since we last saw each other," She dodged me and pinched my ear.
"I'd miss you, even while holding you in my arms,"
As we made our way deeper into the hall, the whispers began, as they always did. They thought I cared about them, or perhaps they wanted me to. It made no difference. The murmurs danced through the air, just faint enough to avoid confrontation.
"One of the three monsters…"
"The bastard son… Can you believe it? He's wearing the Solus sigil! He thinks himself a full-blood.."
"He may be at the top now, but he'll never be the leader…"
The comments were subtle, hidden behind smiles, or exchanged between sips of champagne, but I didn't care about them. The vassals nodded politely when our eyes met, but the disdain lingered in the depths of their gaze. To them, I was an interloper, a reminder of something impure in their perfect world.
The fact that I now stood at the head of the younger generation, as the greatest talent didn't erase my origins, not to them.
I was more focused on Jean, every time I looked at her, she stole my heart and breath away.
As we moved past clusters of the Vassals, she turned her head slightly toward me, a faint smile playing on her lips, as if she knew the effect she had. It wasn't just her beauty—it was the way she carried herself, the way she belonged at my side, in this world of power. In her eyes, there was no judgment, no hesitation, just a quiet strength that fueled my own…