An Aura Farmer's Guide to Another World
Chapter 47: Castle of Light - Part 1

Chapter 47: Castle of Light - Part 1

Against all odds, Lucy and I made it to Lady Beatrice’s convoy, arriving at the Gala event hall.

The hall was in an underground structure beneath the Château Lumière, a well-known hotel chain with locations throughout the Demon Empire.

Lady Beatrice’s guards had the entire hotel surrounded, setting up checkpoints to verify the identity of every guest attending the event.

A strict no-weapons policy was in effect for the event hall; even the security guards couldn’t enter with swords or crossbows.

To ensure Lady Beatrice’s safety, Joséphine, her knight, and I were assigned seats right next to her for the event.

Cupcake, Lucy, and Evelyn spread out among the guests, keeping a close eye out for any suspicious activity that might pose a threat to Lady Beatrice.

Cupcake was the one who prohibited everyone from taking a weapon inside, and I couldn’t tell what she was thinking when she made that decision.

***

Seated next to Lady Beatrice at a round table, I was clad in a dark gothic suit with a clover flower attached to my pocket.

One of the five guests at our table glanced my way. She was wearing a pink gown with an exposed cleavage and her hair tied in a bun.

I gave a subtle nod in her direction, but before our eyes could meet, hers had already lifted, drawn to the ornate crystal chandeliers, glowing with orange light cascading from the high ceilings.

Lady Beatrice, sitting beside me, caught my eye. The warm light made her orange curly hair glow, giving her the distinct appearance of Princess Merida.

Lady Beatrice cast a glance in my direction, then just as quickly turned away. Her eyes settled on the stage ahead, where a delicate glass pyramid filled with her company’s signature cherry perfume was displayed.

My eyebrow went up, as I was confused whether she’d purposefully looked away. Just then, Joséphine turned and met my eyes, only to quickly snap her head the other way before I could decipher her expression.

Joséphine’s eyes found the classical music band near the stage, where they were playing waltzes.

I brought my palm down on the table with a sharp slap. The sound echoed enough to draw the attention of Lady Beatrice and her five companions seated around the round table.

For a moment, all seven of them looked my way; then, without a word, their gazes slid elsewhere.

"Umm... do I have something on my face?" I asked, brushing a hand across my cheek just in case.

My eyes flicked down to my waistcoat, then to my trousers, scanning for any sign of a wardrobe mishap.

Silence...

The silence lingered. Not one of the seven ladies offered a word, their faces unreadable.

"I really don’t mind," I added, scanning their faces. "If something’s up, you can just say it."

Clad in a green gown, Joséphine shifted her gaze, her focus narrowing to the base of my throat, as if studying something only she could see.

"Just to clarify," she said, her voice low, "are you a Succubus?"

I eased my palm onto my thigh, steadying myself. "That’s right," I replied. "I’m a Succubus."

Joséphine turned her gaze toward the women across the table. One by one, they exchanged glances; silent, deliberate, before their eyes collectively drifted to my body.

With a subtle tilt of her head, Joséphine faced me again, her tone quiet and deliberate. "It’s... It’s not your face or your suit. It’s the scent you’re emitting." She paused, taking a shallow breath, almost like she was trying not to inhale too deeply.

"Succubuses have a unique scent when sexually aroused. It’s incredibly potent. For females, it doesn’t just attract, it... Well, it encourages something akin to a heat state. That’s why everyone’s been so... unsettled. They can feel it."

My face burned with sudden embarrassment, and instinctively, I pressed both palms against my cheeks, hiding behind them like a curtain.

Peeking through my fingers, I caught glimpses of Lady Beatrice’s friends—smiling softly, their voices hushed beneath the music.

The woman who’d spent the most time stealing glances at me leaned forward, her shyness replaced by a teasing tone as she broke the silence.

"The five of us have been wondering." She glanced sideways at the woman beside her. "Is it true you had a little encounter with the head maid? Rumor has it she was seen knocking on your door."

Damn it.

As I dropped my hands, Lady Beatrice’s touch landed gently on my shoulder. I turned, meeting her steady gaze. "Lily’s a wonderful lady," she said softly. "treat her well."

"I di—"

"So tell us," Joséphine said, her eyes gleaming with mischief. "Was Lily passionate? Gentle? Or did she surprise you with something more assertive?"

"But I—"

"Every time I visit, Lily’s always so composed," a voice chimed in softly. "I honestly never imagined she’d sleep with a man before marriage."

Another woman interjected, "And to think she’d sleep with a guest, how scandalous."

’Bam!’

"We did not do it," I blurted, my voice low yet firm, snapping their attention back to me.

"You don’t need to be shy." Lady Beatrice leaned closer, her hand resting lightly on my shoulder. Her breath brushed my ear as she whispered, "You have my permission."

Joséphine reached out and gently pulled Lady Beatrice back. "Stop teasing him," she said.

She rested her elbows on the table, fingers interlaced, her gaze fixed on me. "What was it that drew you to Lily?" she asked, her voice teasing. "Let me guess, it was her bosom, wasn’t it?"

"Lily is a beautiful woman," Lady Beatrice interjected. "If I were to cast a vote, it would certainly go to her looks."

Their gossip gained momentum, and nothing I said changed their mind.

’Huff.’

I sighed, barely audible, and shifted my focus elsewhere.

The vast event hall, surprisingly spacious for an underground venue, was neatly partitioned.

A stage dominated the front, dedicated to the perfumes awaiting their unveiling. In front of it stretched a polished hardwood dance floor, while rows of round guest tables filled the rear, where we were seated.

A man clad in a suit spoke through the microphone on the stage.

"Welcome to the Scarlet Bloom 4th product unveiling event. We extend our sincerest gratitude to our esteemed President, Lady Beatrice. And to all our distinguished guests, a warm welcome. Prepare to be enchanted."

Heads turned toward the stage, where a pyramid made of glass stood, glowing with the pink light coming from the chandeliers.

The man leaned closer as he stood on the podium, he paused for a moment and took a panoramic view of the entire hall.

"Tonight." He gestured toward the glass pyramid. "We introduce not just a fragrance, but an experience. The very essence of passion, distilled and perfected for the noble lady."

The classical music band ignited a soothing atmosphere with a burst of melody. The mellow sounds of the violins, cello, and the clean, unadulterated tone of a flute intertwined, creating an irresistible ambiance.

With everyone’s attention on the stage, the glass pyramid began to recede, sliding silently into the stage floor, revealing rows of elegant, ruby-red bottles nestled within.

Simultaneously, a delicate, sweet mist, mixed with the vibrant aroma of ripe cherries and soft blossoms, seemed to billow gently from the stage, drifting across the dance floor and into the tables.

Men in white gloves and tailcoats, alongside women in sleek uniforms, moved gracefully among the guests, offering trays of perfume samples.

"And now, to honor our cherished guests who have gathered from both distant lands and close by, Lady Beatrice will officially open the dance floor, leading the first waltz with a guest."

Before everyone’s eyes, Lady Beatrice rose and extended her hand, inviting me to the dance floor.

I hesitated to take her hand.

"Shall we dance?" she asked.

Hovering close to my chest, her hand lingered. I glanced upward, drawn to the deep green gem suspended at her neck.

"I am afraid, my Lady, I don’t know how to dance," I said.

Lady Beatrice took my hand and helped me to my feet. "You’ll be fine," she said, guiding me gently toward the dance floor.

Immediately, a solo pianist started playing a waltz.

Why didn’t anyone tell me this was coming? Did they really think I knew how to waltz? Great. Now I’ll be reading another article about my dance floor disaster with a noblewoman.