Chapter 190: 190: Disguise
Eden almost gasped at all the information he had heard. He couldn’t help but place a hand over his mouth in shock as he glared.
He couldn’t believe it. He just couldn’t.
Mr. Hugo was a monster—the opposite of the supportive father figure he had read about. And that was a complete shock.
And also, the idea of Adrian being sick was a bonus shocking news for him. It wasn’t mentioned in the novel, and all Eden could say was that the author hadn’t gotten to this part yet before he entered the work.
Eden didn’t know why Adrian wanted to kill the wizard of EL and meet the Emperor. And from the revelation he just got from these two, he could pretty much have a hint of the reason.
He clearly knew he might not live long because of some terminal illness, and so he wanted to strike a deal or something with the Emperor after bringing the head of the wizard of EL.
His head.
Adrian was sick—and obviously down with a sickness close to death’s door. And that was a discovery made by Eden that had him pitying the kid.
"I guess instead of reading about this twist, I’ll live through it instead," Eden muttered to himself. "Poor thing." He wondered how sick he could be while getting disgusted by how Mr. Hugo was using it against him.
But now that didn’t seem to be Eden’s main worry. What mattered to him now was that Adrian was about to be betrayed and killed. And he didn’t think he could let that happen.
Eden didn’t think he could predict this book anymore. He didn’t know if the book was going to save Adrian since he was a male lead or just kill him off.
And Eden didn’t want to sit down and just find out.
He needed Adrian. He needed the military power he controlled. He needed his power in general and...
For some reason, he couldn’t just sit back and watch him die.
It might be the human part of him speaking—or the good conscience part of him—but he knew he had to save him.
So he wasn’t going to rely on the book or the author. He was going to do the saving.
Marquis Dean had turned and walked back into the dark, taking another route back into the meeting hall where he took his seat beside Adrian again.
And Mr. Hugo had led the guards and dancers to the main entrance.
And while they moved, Eden played with luck again—casting his spell and magically dressing himself up in the red dancer attire as the ladies.
He was still himself—the "boobles" him—but now he was dressed in provocative female attire: pretty face makeup, red veils over his head and over his mouth, golden bead decorations dangling around the red fabric, crop-top-like attire that exposed his stomach and belly button, long, pull-like trousers, and some dangling golden bell beads around his legs that rang and jingled as he moved.
He looked like one of them—red in his attire, gorgeous in appearance, and alluring in movement. He also had a spell around him to make sure no one suspected his gender.
And so he walked with the other ladies from behind, following them as they made their way to the meeting hall.
Mr. Hugo had some of the guards guarding the entrance, and then some of them inside as Mr. Hugo left the dancing ladies at the entrance.
He then gave them their instructions: "...now go and do as you’ve been instructed. Don’t mess it up."
The ladies nodded and responded in unison, "We’ll do as you’ve said."
And so Mr. Hugo left them. He entered the hall through another entrance while the ladies made their way in through the main entrance.
Eden closely followed the ladies inside through the main entrance.
---
The meeting hall was lively.
The marquises there were drinking and laughing while talking about different matters. They were already done discussing political and serious matters, so it was time for them to have fun.
While they laughed, talked, and drank, Adrian sat there.
Mr. Hugo served him his drink, which he took and watched. He trusted Mr. Hugo in such an event, so he only took the one Mr. Hugo brought him.
And Mr. Hugo stood behind him, refilling his cup while bringing him his meals as well.
Adrian only watched and didn’t actively join in the fun. He watched as the once civil meeting hall turned into a brothel arena. The marquises were already playing around with the maids that served drinks and meals to them.
He only watched while drinking and eating what Mr. Hugo served him.
"Grand Marquis Adrian, aren’t you going to have some fun with us?" one asked.
"Hand him some ladies! This is his specialty, so he should also have fun and enjoy it," another commented.
"Or is he looking down on us tonight?" one added.
"I’m not in the mood," Adrian casually responded. The illness within him was slowly acting up, so he had to regulate himself. He even ate little of what Mr. Hugo served him and drank little.
"I wonder what’s wrong with the Grand Marquis tonight. Is he really not in the mood or just not satisfied with this event?" someone inquired.
"Never mind that," Marquis Dean said. "He might just not be in the mood, so let’s respect that." He turned to face Adrian. "You’re so young, yet have such grand achievements. Cheers to years of hard work and more years of success to come."
Marquis Dean raised his glass, and Adrian did the same. They drank together.
"I think Grand Marquis Adrian doesn’t want to have fun with us because he hasn’t seen the best part of tonight that Marquis Dean hasn’t shown yet!" a marquis sitting beside Marquis Dean said.
"Huh?"
"Is that so? What is it?"
Marquis Dean smiled as the person explained.
"Marquis Dean has worked hard this time around and brought in the best dancers from the Syan Kingdom, known for their immense beauty and riches. So he has brought the best ladies from there to serve and perform for us!"
Everyone in the room cheered and laughed excitedly.
"Is that so? Then why hasn’t he shown us?"
"I guess he’s saving the best for last indeed," one laughed.
"I’m already impatient. Bring them on—let’s have fun!" another cheered.
Marquis Dean smiled as he said, "Then I won’t keep you all waiting. Bring in the ladies."
Marquis Dean instructed as the dancers walked into the grand meeting hall.