Rise of the Cosmic_Emperor

Throughout the carriage ride to the Baron\'s residence, Hal tried to engage Eva in conversation and continue what they had been discussing the day before but Eva looked preoccupied as she twirled a lock of her dark hair in her fingers.

"Hello? Anyone home?" Hal was sitting opposite her in the carriage and moved his face closer to speak directly and garner her attention.

Eva started, 

"Sorry, I was just lost in thought" she said.

"Anything you can share?" Hal asked tentatively.

Eva\'s head snapped up and she looked him in the eye with a strange expression.

Hal continued while he held her gaze, 

"Of course, I\'ll understand if it is too sensitive for you to talk about." He told her.

Eva shook her head slowly, 

"I just can\'t get it out of my head that you are being so cavalier with dignitaries like Lady Penelope"

"Dignitaries, huh? Well, now I didn\'t know that" he told her with a sigh.

"If you had, would it have changed anything?" She asked with her eyes a little wide.

"Honestly? No, it probably wouldn\'t have changed my actions.

However, I am quite the peaceful fellow. \'Make Love not war\' is what I always say." Hal said and if Grimoire could perform a face smack, it would have.

\'Shameless!\' It groaned.

How could it not understand the innuendos in those words?

Hal ignored it.

Eva however looked incredulous, 

"\'Make Love not War?\' What does that mean?"

Hal shook his head lightly and chuckled, 

"Nothing really. Just a personal philosophy of mine. It really works.

Eva covered her mouth with her hand while she giggled. Even if she wished to stop the amused sound, she knew she would not be able to.

This young man was just too charming.

And young was the keyword here because from what she had heard about Hal from her \'source\', he was not yet in his thirties and might still be a teenager.

Her preconceived notion with regards to his cultivation was that he was quite talented but at most was at the Cosmic Armament Realm. Which considering where he was supposed to be from was a kind of a stretch.

His successful punch to Arlet was termed as him taking advantage of a lapse in attention of the much more powerful runemaster.

It was the main reason she was so surprised with his unabashed confidence and casual attitude in a city where those who could kill him as easily as breaking twigs roamed.

That said, she was still quite focused on remaining casual with him as his fate was not completely certain.

It was why they were here today after all.

It was all so that Hal could finally meet her sister.

...

Soon they arrived at the residence and Hal could tell that by the standards of the Barony, it was the height of luxury.

It made him think of Sapphire city and the eventual change his actions would take.

After all, with the cultivation techniques he had blessed them with, they would continue to cultivate and then surpass the status they had been given.

At such a time, the fact that someone was playing a role would not be able to be contained anymore.

However, that was not particularly worrying to Hal.

All that was in a possibly distant future.

Anyway,

The Baron\'s residence was packed with guests and even someone like Hal who only just arrived could tell that they were mostly not from the city. Many of them had tells, be it a crest or a symbol or maybe the County\'s coat of arms. 

In fact, not only those from the Cruz county were present as Hal could spot dignitaries from neighboring cities from the Three other counties in the Silva Duchy.

He alighted from the carriage and like a gentleman, he held Eva\'s hand and helped get off the carriage.

It was an action Eva would normally have been hostile towards as she was not particularly a fan of such gestures, however, it was as though Hal had completely disarmed her.

Not long after their arrival came another carriage which Hal recognized as the Luxury ride of Lady Penelope.

She alighted as well with the dutiful aid of her guard who caught Hal\'s eye and frowned. His actions after that were as though to prevent his charge, Lady Penelope from seeing this rude miscreant.

Although Hal would probably have taken offense to the name-calling because while he had undoubtedly been rude, he had not really acted like a miscreant.

Despite the guard\'s best efforts which were hindered by him not being allowed to make physical contact, Lady Penelope caught Hal\'s gaze which was appreciating her beautiful gown.

She smiled at him and went on ahead into the residence while Hal looked on and thought he caught a slight exaggeration in the swaying of her hips.

She was subtly seducing him and he found that he appreciated it.

He looked to Eva by his side and she looked like she was only just releasing the breath she had been holding.

"That was stressful" She said while holding her chest.

Now that they were out of the carriage, Hal allowed his eyes to look over the beautiful sky blue gown she was wearing which clung snugly to her moderate curves.

Not just that, Eva had done herself up just so she looked so much more beautiful that evening. It was moderate but nice.

"I would be remiss if I did not tell you how beautiful you look. You\'re just wow"

Eva blushed and cleared her throat, 

"Thank you. You look quite dashing yourself." She said as Hal held out his arm to her which she grabbed and let him steer her towards the hall where the party was really taking place.

While they moved, Hal thought he caught someone glaring at him and it was a man he recognized as one of the guards that had come to Eva\'s side the day before.

However, this time he was out of his guard wear and into a luxurious-looking martial attire studded with silver stars, that said he was someone of status. Who clearly had the hots for Eva.

\'That was fast\' Grimoire piped.

\'What was?\'

\'You just got here and you already have a jealous rival and he is quite handsome too\' it said.

\'First off, he\'s not a rival. Someone like me does not have rivals. I\'m way out of his league for that. 

Second, jealousy is kind of an everyday thing for me now. It\'s the curse that comes along with being blessed with a face like mine. Which by the way can also be a blessing and a curse depending on the occasion.\' Hal said.

\'You really love yourself, don\'t you?\' Grimoire said.

\'I prefer to say, I am proud of myself and love the benefits it brings me.\' Hal said smugly.

\'No, you just love yourself\' Grimoire said and made a mental appropriation of the shaking of the head.

\'Whatever\' Hal shrugged.

He and Eva were finally inside the Hall and Hal marveled at the architecture which was quite stunning.

He also let out his Astral perception a little and it was enough for him to view the numerous Runes and Arrays etched into the Hall alone but he retracted it quickly as if another Runemaster caught wind of it, it would most likely be considered spying.

"I need to find my sister. Mingle for a while. I\'ll be right back" Eva said and left soon after.

Hal wanted to call out to her on how he did not particularly feel comfortable at the party alone when the jealous young man from outside was suddenly in front of him.

"I am Henrik, do you mind telling me who you are?"