CHAPTER 373: A TOAST

"I want to make a toast."

Vanessa lightly tapped her glass with a silver spoon, drawing the attention of every guest in the room.

People stopped their chatter and immediately gathered around Vanessa.

All of the waiters and waitresses went around the room, handing over a glass to the guests with an empty hand. In a few silent seconds, all the guests had a glass in hand, and only then did Vanessa smile with elegance as she swept her gaze across the room.

Then, she started.

"They say a woman never reveals her age..." She paused, letting her words hang in the air for a second longer, "or her secrets. And lucky for me, I’ve gotten very good at keeping both—so my age today shall remain my well-kept secret."

Guests chuckled at her playful remarks.

Considering how Vanessa looked, she might as well be in her twenties, as her beauty didn’t wane.

"But some secrets are better shared—like the joy of family, even when they surprise you by showing up unannounced," Vanessa looked through the crowd, right at Lucivar at the center, flashing a genuine smile at him.

Her gaze then shifted to the side, at Master Tobias.

"Or the presence of a man who somehow managed to slip past every wall I’ve built." She reached out her hand, calling for Master Tobias to stand by her side. "Tobias, I’m still trying to figure out how you did that, but I’m glad you’re here with me."

Master Tobias held her hand firmly, almost as if he were giving her strength to continue.

Both of their eyes lingered for a second longer as the guests teased them.

It was such a surprise to know that, finally, a man managed to melt Vanessa’s heart all these years.

Pulling away, Vanessa turned to focus on the guests again.

"Tonight, I’m not only celebrating another year. I’m toasting to the people who’ve stood beside me, to the new ones I’ve welcomed into my heart—and to the stories we haven’t written yet." Vanessa raised her glass, followed by the guests. "Let’s drink to the bonds that matter, the truths we dare not tell—and the kind of love that hurts but makes you feel alive."

"And should the Devil be hiding among us tonight—I do hope he’s enjoying the view." She smiled as sweetly as possible, eyes burning with indomitable confidence. "Because darling... He will soon realize he’s no longer running the game. Cheers."

As soon as she finished, the room echoed with a symphony of crystal and celebration.

Following Vanessa’s toast, dozens of guests raised their glasses high with gleaming smiles and drunken warmth. A sea of arms reached upward, glittering with jewelry and velvet sleeves, before the collection of motion tipped every glass toward waiting mouths.

In unison, they drank.

The liquor hit hard, a rich, fiery wave that burned its way down each throat like celebratory lightning.

Laughter rippled out, and applause thundered in its wake.

Cheers for the woman of the night—Vanessa, regal and radiant beneath the crystal chandeliers.

But Lucivar did not cheer.

He stood motionless in the midst of celebrating guests, the clamor around him—seemed to fall away, muffled—like he’d plunged underwater. His senses narrowed, sharpened into an unnatural clarity. The scent of perfume and aged wine still clung to the air, but everything faded.

His eyes locked on her—Vanessa.

She moved slowly in his gaze, unnaturally so.

Her dress shimmered with every graceful step, the soft clink of her bracelet somehow louder than the roar of the room. Lucivar watched her lips part as she drank from her glass elegantly, her throat rising gently as she swallowed.

Then, she lowered her glass and turned to acknowledge the glass.

Now, those lips curled into a serene smile.

Both her eyes glistened with radiance, and her head made occasional nods at the people talking to her.

It was almost as if she were a queen blessing her court.

Lucivar’s gaze narrowed.

’Are those words directed to me?’ He tilted his head as if he were looking closer without approaching.

Vanessa’s smile was perfect.

Her gestures were measured.

And while everyone she was caught in the moment, basking in the warmth of her presence, Lucivar saw that her real focus was on Master Tobias. She wasn’t drinking with them. She was acting, perhaps to impress the man standing beside her.

’Are you trying to tell me something?’ Lucivar continued, analyzing the meaning behind her actions.

Inside, his heart began to thud faster.

Somehow, he doesn’t feel like tonight was an ordinary night for them—for Vanessa and Master Tobias.

It feels like tonight was calculated.

Soon, Vanessa turned and saw him through the crowd.

Like earlier, she shot him a beautiful smile while her hand wrapped around Master Tobias’ arm, staring at him with such innocence—and calmness that made Lucivar second-guess everything. Giving her the appeal of possessing a hidden side, a darker side.

’Are you... working together with Tobias?’

Meanwhile, the party continued with a banquet.

Across all corners of the rooms inside the mansion, multiple courses of exotic food made entirely of a nourishing Crosser meal, and also fine wines extracted from savory, limited grapes harvested from impeccably strong dungeons.

Accompanying these delicacies was the perfect and professional service.

Music played in the background, slow and low, creating a refreshing but profound atmosphere.

On the second floor, Mirel and Leandra looked down at the social gathering.

Both of them were fixated on Lucivar, who was standing on the side sipping wine while his eyes were locked onto Vanessa, who was surrounded by guests that was waiting for their turns to talk with her. And loyally beside her was Master Tobias, also talking freely as if nothing was wrong.

"How can he remain calm?" Mirel turned around, leaning his back against the railing.

"Who are you talking about?" Leandra asked, still looking down. "Lucivar or Master Tobias?"

"Both! Even with the elephant in the room, how can they act like nothing happened? Bob went missing, and Leandra got badly wounded, and worst of all, we suspected Master Tobias! How can they act like we’re on good terms in front of Vanessa? I could barely contain myself there."

Leandra understood where he was coming from.

She, too, felt like she wanted to corner Master Tobias and demand an answer from him.

It was agonizing to be kept in the dark like this.

But like Lucivar suggested, they needed to have the proper timing to corner Master Tobias along with Vanessa. Confronting him now, with so many guests around, would give him too much leeway to escape the conversation.

And at that point, force needed to be used, and none of them would want to go that way.

"Tch." Mirel clicked his tongue and headed downstairs. "I’m going out. I need some fresh air. Bakar, you coming?"

"No. I think I’ll stay behind." Bakar answered from the sofa.

Mirel nodded and went ahead on his own.

He couldn’t handle the choking tension inside the mansion and needed a break from it briefly.

Leandra didn’t try to stop him.

Her gaze remained fixated on Lucivar as she noticed a worrying sign.

’He managed to remain calm in front of Master Tobias, but now...’ Her gaze narrowed, noticing a bead of cold sweat on Lucivar’s forehead, which he quickly wiped away before anyone saw it. ’He’s worried now. I’ve never seen him worried. Usually—he always wore this composed look as if he was on top of everyt—’

Almost instantly, Leandra’s eyes widened in realization, stopping her thoughts mid-track.

She never expected this to happen, but she should’ve.

"Lucivar... he’s not the one controlling tonight. He’s worried because he didn’t know how tonight would end.’ Leandra exhaled roughly through her nose, and her focus sharpened. ’Okay, I need to help him. I can’t expect him to deal with everything when this should be our problem.’

Before going down, Leandra glanced over her shoulder to look at Bakar.

He doesn’t seem to have any intention of going down, rather staying out of the party until the moment of confrontation. It’s not a problem as that’s a lot better than making things worse, "Bakar, I’m heading down. Find me if you need anything."

Bakar nodded and turned his gaze back to the table as if it were something worth inspecting.

On the other hand, Leandra went down.

Her beauty was more than enough to turn heads.

Unaccompanied or accompanied, men or women, all turned to look at her for a second time.

Had Leandra worn something more radiant and eye-catching instead of a simple but elegant dress, she would certainly take the spotlight away from Vanessa. Some tried to talk to her—but she ignored them, coursing through the crowd to find Lucivar.

But upon arriving where he should be, she frowned as he was nowhere to be seen.

"Where did he go?" She muttered under her breath.

Leandra turned, eyes sweeping across the room, scanning faces with increasing urgency.

Unlike her panic, the crowd shimmered with laughter and candlelight, but Lucivar was still missing, nowhere to be seen. He had been here just moments ago, lingering near the velvet-curtained windows with a drink in hand.

And now—gone.

As if the shadows had swallowed him whole.

A flicker of unease coiled in her chest.

She took a breath, steadying herself—but then her instincts flared.

Her senses whispered a warning, subtle yet sharp.

A presence at her back.

Leandra reacted almost instantly; she twisted, seizing the wrist that reached for her shoulder.

Her muscles moved on reflex, prepared to flip the stranger onto the marble floor.

But then—nothing.

Both of her eyes widened when she realized that she couldn’t move him.

This stranger was incredibly strong.

Her brows knit together as her gaze met with the stranger’s crimson eyes.

Behind her stood a man she hadn’t seen approach—tall, sharply dressed in a maroon suit that clung to him like tailored smoke. His hair was slicked back without flaw, his skin pale and smooth like polished ivory, and those eyes—red as bloodstone, fixed on her with unnerving calm.

Despite what she tried to do, the man remained calm.

He raised his free hand slowly, palm open in a disarming gesture.

A faint, knowing smile tugged at his lips—not warm, but not hostile either.

Just enough to show that he meant no harm.

Leandra’s grip slackened, though her guard remained raised.

A few nearby guests had already turned their heads, eyes flickering between the two with curiosity.

Eventually, she let go and stepped back, her breath tight in her chest.

Naturally, the man didn’t move, merely lowered his hand and fixed his suit as if nothing had happened.

But to Leandra, everything had.

His presence was light, and he materialized as quiet as smoke, sudden as a knife in the dark.

Smiling, the man stretched his hand.

"Cassian," He introduced. "My name is Cassian. May I know yours, miss?"

Leandra looked at his hand and then back at his crimson eyes that gleamed as if responding to her.

And for the first time that evening—in that moment, her thoughts trailed away from Lucivar.