That night, every guest there have wondered about about him.
How could a man, a lowborn perfectly intellectual person, carrying the same red blood as his ancestors, could be so stupid to think that they could best a noble?
Luke's thought was the same when he heard that man in black cape.
"Get down! I won't repeat myself."
Obviously, this person was not invited to this party. Hell, it was a hundred years too soon for him to be in this palace. but you cannot say that to his face.
as brash as his appearance may be, this thug held a piece of metal in his hand that fueled his words.
A semi-automatic gun. a marvel of engineering at the same time a weapon of aggressors. This place is now under attack, a fact that changed everyone's expressions in an instant.
They were in an age of war with These, so it's possible they were behind this.
'Regardless...'
He was not to be trifled with. The same could be said to his four other accomplices that followed him.
Bang.
Silence fell over the entire palace after that gunshot.
The dancers stopped dancing. The only music they heard was yelling by their aggressors as they intended to take this whole place as hostage.
All the guests who gathered there gave a surprised look in Luke's direction. Nova looked down the entrance hall from above. Earl Hidan followed with other main guests.
As everyone's focus fell onto them, the attackers had everything they wanted.
they had nailed the timing just right. It was critical because they were planning for this night for a while now.
Fortunately, they had their first hostage near the window.
"Stay where you are, or I will kill this girl."
"...!"
Luke had no words to say.
Natalie has pushed him out of harm's way. Her reflexes from swordfights played a role here. But she was not fast enough to escape herself.
"Kyaa!"
Or was she?
Natalie screamed like a helpless maiden.
Now she was in the attackers' clutches. The two accomplices of the big guy held her at point blank to the barrel of his gun. Meanwhile Luke tried to get up but was forced down again, staining his fine clothes. and worst of all, the goddamn wine in his hand was spilled on the carpet, he was looking forward to that drink.
With five uninvited interlopers, this party was considered a dud in his book--not that he cared much for it in the first place.
As insane as his current situation he was in, Luke did not seem a least bit concerned. He even had his usual uncaring attitude around him. He looked emotionless as always.
'This stunt I don't know whose idea these guys have pulled...
...will not last long.'
his thoughts repeated.
'Again, how can these people be so stupid to attack an earl's mansion?'
To his right, in a distance above the elevated floor near the stairs, Luke saw his mother, Nova, standing with others. She had the same cold look in her eyes.
'She's bothered by this. But delighted just the same. It's not everyday you see fools trying to attack a noble house during a gathering.'
***
The first thing you should know in these situations is knowing who you're dealing with. Luke had that field covered.
The five people covered in face masks, visible dark eyes and hair, not to mention their unruly accent, clearly meant these people are no uncommon bandits. organised criminals plan better than this. You can't just barge into a mansion, guns blazing and expect people to obey you—absolutely not if it belongs to a highborn. A smarter man would avoid them for a lifetime.
"Do we have everyone's attention then?"
However it was a notion which this person clearly ignored and mistook weapons for power.
Every noble here is born with that power. They have been trained to use their wealth and status to get everything they want, and fear was not among them.
Few guards from outside came barging in but froze instantly when they saw hostage
"On your knees! now! I want every guard to drop their weapon."
But no one listened. The guards drew out their swords while others who arrived soon held their spears tighter.
"I said drop your blades and get on your knees! I really will kill this girl."
Every one of his accomplices pulled out even bigger rifles aimed at a different guest---one of them being Luke.
his orders fell on deaf ears. Luke even tried to get up again after they moved into the center of this hall. No one broke the silence except these attackers.
There was a reason.
No one actually felt they were being threatened at that moment. It was that simple.
Hidan, lord of the house and tonight's host, was infuriated that someone crashed into his home.
"Bastard filth! Who let you in? Where are the Guards?"
Hidan shouted.
All the guards surrounding the action moved into action. Outside, they were cutting off the escape routes. The head gatekeeper moved in, drawing his sword.
The attacker cracked a nerve there. He was angry as well. When he planned this, this was not the kind of reception he was expecting. He thought people would be terrified of him. They will be on their knees and at his mercy. then he will rob this place by taking everyone hostage. After that plan his escape without the guards catching him.
In contrast what he got was silent nobles staring at him, his threats unheard and looked down upon.
Bang.
"Dammit stay where you are! we are taking this place in our control."
'As if,' Luke thought, glancing at Hidan. 'No way he's gonna let that happen. not to mention...'
He looked over at his mother again. A cold sensation came over his spine.
'he's nowhere near as scary as her.'
The big guy fired another shot to the ceiling again, cracking the silver chandelier and part of overhead design.
"Dont forget I have a hostage here."
The guards stood still again.
This got even less response from the guest. they might as well be treating him like a show.
Yes, they were surprised the moment they thought someone attacked this place out of nowhere, but that didn't last long. Everyone returned to their normal state of mind after they saw who and what's happening.
'I almost feel bad for these guys.'
"I don't know who you are but you just made a big mistake."
Hidan walked closer down the stairs, approaching him.
"Do you think you will get away with this?"
***
To those who wonder what these attackers did wrong, the answer came in the latest issue of the newspaper the day after—where they explained the stupidity of commoners in detail.
'I can already imagine the headlines.'
Luke thought as he stepped backward, silently slipping among the guests.
He was not alone though. Many young men, including the guards were waiting to the right opportunity. They had worried expressions on their faces, which is right, considering these people have already taken a lady hostage.
Hidan glared at the men with weapons aimed at his guests.
"I will not tolerate this any longer. I will give you one last chance, you will drop your weapons right now and surrender. You will be put through death without suffering."
The man was serious. He meant every word he said. Some might mistake that for arrogance, for example, like this big guy with small wit.
"You're the lord, eh? don't you see what i have in my hand? or maybe it will sink in after a few victims fall to the ground bloody."
Sadly, again, they did not know who they're dealing with.
"Die!"
The man who had aimed at Natalie pulled the trigger and, for the third time, a bang resounded in the great hall as silence fell over again.
"Kya!"
the maiden in question screamed helplessly. But no one moved to save her. Luke, the man supposed to save her in these situations stood still, sighed, slowly closed his eyes, tired of this farce.
'Just get this over with already,' he thought. 'How long is she going to pretend like that?'
Within a minute, the bandits witnessed something incredible—or perhaps it was too fast for them to see.
'Let's hope she doesn't make it too hideous.'
After the fire was shot, they saw Natalie's lips curl into an ominous smile. she is not even a least bit worried. The guy who held her had his arm twisted into a strange angle.
immediately launching into her second victim, she buried her fist into his face, staining her white glove in a bloody red mess. disarming his weapon, throwing at the big guy as a distraction, she grabbed a fork at the nearby table and lodged into that man's skull through his right eye.
"Aargh! my eyes!"
'See, now that's what a maidenly helpless cry really sounds like. She needs to work on that.'
Before she moved on, the other two guys were taken care of by the guards. One had a spear through his chest and the other knocked unconscious.
When Luke opened his eyes, he made a mental note to not ask how they got into that state.
"Had enough?"
Luke asked her. She was removing the stained gloves as she gave him a displeased look. The crowd of guests burst into cheers and roars of applause.
"Bravo. I never doubted her."
"Right? those guys were doomed when they took her hostage."
"It would've lasted longer if not for the guards interfering."
The maid gave her a pair of spare gloves. She wore it and returned to Luke's side.
Now everyone knew why Luke did not move to help her. she never needed it. She was never a hostage. So was this party and everyone here. These people hardly look at commoners as a threat. and for good reason.
That reason lies in the power they hold.
As Natalie came closer, Luke looked at the silky skin near the center of her collarbone, nestled in her skin, there was a gem. The gem gleamed, resting her untapped strength.
'That... is the kind of power that separates elites of our society in this world.'
Luke's eyes narrowed.
===