MTLNOVEL Chapter 11: For fun? For fun.
"What the hell... Did you all just see what I saw?" Lonesome Howl blurted out the moment Morgan and Kai disappeared from sight.
Silence lingered at the table, stretching uncomfortably before anyone finally reacted.
"It seems we may have... miscalculated," Revel admitted with a sigh, her tone laced with reluctant acceptance.
"Saint Nightingale... really?" Silent Stalker muttered through clenched teeth, her fingers tightening around the stem of her glass.
Their gazes remained fixed on the dance floor, where the newly revealed couple swayed together in perfect rhythm. The sight weighed on their chests, an unspoken realization settling between them like an oppressive fog. None of them wanted to acknowledge it. Until, finally, Revel spoke the words they all feared.
"This could actually disrupt the balance we've maintained over Valor for the past five years."
Lonesome Howl scowled, shaking her head. "We need to do something about this."
"But what can we even do?" Silent Stalker countered, frustration simmering beneath her calm exterior. "As we've already discussed, Saint Nightingale has the backing of two Sovereigns, along with wealth and influence that rival Beastmaster's herself. There's no leverage against him—not greed, not force."
"What about Saint Raised by Wolves?" Lonesome Howl suggested. "If we can convince her to take our side—"
Revel scoffed, cutting her off. "Unlikely. She's too comfortable where she is. Between her husband, her child, and that damn farm of hers, she has no interest in political maneuvering." She exhaled sharply, then added with a hint of amusement, "The only thing she's ever fought for is food."
A memory flashed through their minds—Effie leading charge against an entire uncharted region of the Dream Realm simply because it had the perfect conditions for crop cultivation. The land, now famously known as "Farmland," had since become humanity's largest source of food.
"Ugh, is there no one else?" Silent Stalker clicked her tongue. "Any other influential Saint we might be able to... tip in our favor? Because at this rate, we're going to—"
Revel frowned, considering for a moment. "Well, there is Saint Rain, Sovereign Sunless's sister... but honestly, no one really knows what goes through her mind. That girl lives in a world of her own." She leaned in slightly, lowering her voice. "There are even rumors that she controls a secret clan from the shadows. If that's true, we'd be better off steering clear of her altogether."
Another silence followed, this one heavier than before, filled with resigned expressions and unspoken doubts.
Then, unexpectedly, Moonveil—who had remained quiet all this time—spoke.
"You're all forgetting someone."
Three pairs of eyes turned toward her.
"There's still one person far more powerful and influential than Saint Nightingale," she continued, her voice measured, deliberate. "Someone even more dangerous than Sovereign Sunless's sister."
Revel's expression darkened. "You mean..."
Moonveil nodded.
"Mordret."
Revel's grimace deepened into something severe. "No way... Are you seriously saying our situation has become that dire?"
Moonveil met her gaze evenly. "Think about it. You said it yourself—Saint Athena has shown no interest in choosing a side. But didn't we believe the same about Saint Nightingale until yesterday?"
Revel gritted her teeth. "You think she might change?"
"Not just her. I fear Saint Jet might turn as well. She only remains neutral because of her obligations to the government, but how much will that truly matter when nearly half of her cohort openly stands with Valor?" Moonveil's voice was calm, but the weight of her words pressed down on them all. "Sister, even just Saint Kai alone has dismantled the overwhelming advantage we've enjoyed for years. If we don't act soon, everything we've built will come crashing down on our backs before we even see it coming."
A heavy silence fell over the table. Revel lingered on Moonveil's words for a moment too long, the implications sinking in like a slow poison.
The other two Saints remained tense, understanding the gravity of the situation but powerless to offer solutions.
"Even so... what can we do?" Revel finally exhaled. "That bastard Prince only does what he pleases. He won't join our side unless he sees something worth his time. And we have nothing—nothing we could offer, even if we surrendered the entire clan."
Moonveil smiled. "Oh, but we can play by the same rules as them."
Revel arched an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"
Instead of answering, Moonveil merely gestured toward a dimly lit corner of the hall.
A tall figure sat alone, his presence eerily detached from the lively celebration around him. Draped in golden attire that shimmered like fabric yet gave the unsettling impression of armor, he remained unnaturally still. His devastatingly beautiful face was turned toward the entrance, as if he had been waiting for something—or someone—for a long time. The sheer lack of movement made him seem less like a person and more like a statue, timeless and unreadable.
Mordret.
Revel clicked her tongue. "And what exactly do you expect me to do about him?" she asked, irritation creeping into her tone.
"Nothing complicated," Moonveil replied smoothly. "Just go over there and ask him to dance."
"What!?"
Revel barely restrained her voice, but Lonesome Howl wasn't as controlled—she jolted up, her fist slamming against the table a bit too loudly. Silent Stalker, ever composed, immediately scanned the surroundings, ensuring their little outburst hadn't drawn unwanted attention.
"You do realize what you're suggesting, right?" Silent Stalker hissed in a low voice.
"Of course. It's for the good of the clan."
"Wait, wait, wait," Lonesome Howl cut in, her disbelief practically radiating from her. "What makes you think that autistic bastard even has a remote interest in romance? Or women, for that matter?"
Moonveil sighed. "Why not? He may be... peculiar, but at the end of the day, he's still human. And humans are drawn to the opposite sex—it's in our nature." She glanced at Revel with an assessing look before continuing, her tone factual. "Besides, she is more beautiful than anyone Valor could possibly offer."
Revel narrowed her eyes, unconvinced, but Moonveil pressed on before anyone could argue further.
"More importantly, what do we have to lose? On the contrary, this could change everything for our clan."
Revel let out a long breath, rubbing her temples before finally straightening with reluctant resolve.
"Alright," she muttered. "I'll do it. For the clan."
Revel exhaled slowly as she rose from her seat, steeling herself. She cast a final glance at her fellow Saints, their varied expressions of anticipation, embarrassment, and amusement only making her task feel heavier. She took her first step forward, the weight of invisible chains dragging at her ankles.
"Wish me luck," her eyes seemed to say.
With every measured step toward Mordret, her thoughts churned. 'How did I even end up in this situation?' The answer was obvious, but that didn't make it any easier to accept. 'Forget it. Just get this over with.'
Halfway there, she sighed again, forcing her mind into focus.
At last, she reached him.
The Prince of Nothing sat motionless, his golden attire catching the dim light like woven starlight. His posture was eerily still, as if he hadn't moved in ages, and yet the moment she arrived, his head shifted slightly. His eyes—mesmerizing, predatory, endless—locked onto her, their pale depths reflecting her own image back at her.
A storm of emotions brewed in her chest.
Shock.
Embarrassment.
Nervousness.
Up close, his beauty was unreal—divine, even. Saints were supposed to be beyond human, but Mordret was beyond Saints. He was a Soverign, a Supreme titan.
Her composed smile remained intact, but the treacherous warmth on her cheeks refused to fade.
Silence stretched between them, heavy and unyielding.
Then, in a voice smooth as silk yet sharp as a blade, he spoke.
"Princess Revel," he said, his tone unreadable. "Is there something you would like to discuss with me?"
Revel flinched. 'Had I been staring for too long?'
She swallowed, clearing her throat. "Yes, in fact, there is."
Another pause.
Her thoughts scrambled, reaching for the right words—only to grasp at nothing. 'Damn it.'
Mordret tilted his head, his gaze unrelenting. "And what's making you hesitate so much?"
Revel bit her lip. The sting, the taste of blood against her tongue, grounded her. 'Enough.'
"It's not something I need to discuss," she finally managed, her voice steadier now. "Rather, it's a request."
She hesitated only for a moment before raising her hand, each movement feeling like dragging a thousand needles through her skin. And then, with a carefully measured breath, she said the words that sealed her fate.
"Would you like to dance with me?"
The world stopped.
For a moment, nothing moved.
Nothing breathed.
Revel's pulse rang in her ears as an eternity stretched between them—until, abruptly, the moment shattered.
"My precious meat pie!"
A sudden wail echoed from behind her, filled with anguish that had no place in such a serious moment.
"You are a devil, a witch, a demoness, you know that!?"
Revel's eye twitched. What the hell—
She barely turned her head in time to witness the spectacle: Cassie dragging Effie away with surprising strength, the taller woman clawing desperately at a plate filled with food that Cassie had just cruelly stolen from her grasp.
For a fleeting second, Cassie's sharp eyes met Revel's, or rather, something just beyond her. Deliberate. Almost amused.
'What is up with them?'
She didn't have time to dwell on it.
Because when she turned back to Mordret—
His expression was gone.
The easy charm, the subtle amusement—all of it had vanished.
In its place was something grim. Cold.
A different kind of eternity stretched between them, before he rose to his feet and spoke.
"I'm sorry," he said, his tone now completely devoid of warmth. "There is something I have to take care of."
Then, without another word, he turned and walked away, leaving her standing there in stunned silence.
Shock.
Confusion.
Relief.
And—though she would never admit it—just a hint of pain.
A rush of footsteps echoed behind her.
"Are you alright?" Silent Stalker asked, her voice tinged with concern.
"Aww, you blew it."
Revel barely had time to compose herself before Moonveil's teasing voice cut through the air.
"What did you say to him to make him leave like that?" she asked, tilting her head in exaggerated curiosity.
Revel exhaled sharply. "What? I just asked if he wanted to dance with me." She crossed her arms, scowling. "Apparently, he really didn't like what he saw."
"Don't sell yourself short, sister," Lonesome Howl said, tapping her on the shoulder. "I'm telling you, this was a fool's errand from the start. That bastard obviously isn't interested in women in the first place."
"Well, duh," Moonveil chimed in, as if stating the most obvious truth in the world. "Of course, he isn't. We would've had a better chance wooing a rock than that autistic bastard."
Silence.
Three pairs of eyes turned to her in unison.
Revel's glare could have burned a hole through steel. "And what, exactly, was the point of all this if you knew he wouldn't agree?"
Moonveil blinked innocently. "What? Can't a girl do something just to have some fun around here?" She shrugged, entirely unapologetic. "You're all always Song this, Valor that, work this, business that—even when we're supposed to be enjoying ourselves. I thought I'd spice things up a little."
Revel opened her mouth, then closed it, took a deep breath, and exhaled through her nose. "Never mind. Arguing with you is a waste of time."
Lonesome Howl scoffed. "And what about all that 'he's just human' crap you were spewing before?"
Moonveil smiled, utterly shameless. "Oh, that? Just some nonsense I made up on the spot to convince you all. Honestly, I'm shocked it worked." She sighed dramatically, leaning back in her seat. "Unfortunately, the results were... not what I'd hoped."
With that, the four of them returned to their seats. No one said it outright, but a silent agreement settled between them—this incident would never be spoken of again.
"You can't argue it was a bad idea, though," Moonveil mumbled, closing her eyes as a cool breeze drifted in from the window.
Revel shot her a look.
Then sighed.
It was a bad idea.
But damn if it hadn't been entertaining.