Help! I Became A Guy In A BL Novel!
Chapter 206: Trap

Chapter 206: Trap

They played a few more rounds. And as it turned night, Leon decided to go back to his room. But before he left, he made sure to tell Riven his feelings without putting on airs. "Thank you, again. For the gift."

Riven shot his usual toothiest smile, ears twitching with happiness.

Leon lay on his bed, he was thinking about how to deal with those people. He admitted that he never went out to see for himself how things were. He was an arrogant king, but he loved his kingdom and his history, he would never want to jeapordise that.

An idea began to form—a grand ball. These officials, enamoured with wealth and status, would find such an event irresistible. By inviting them under the guise of a lavish celebration, he could gather them all in one place and question their motives. Though he hadn’t reclaimed his title, few were aware of this fact. It was time to act like a king.

The palace knew of the circumstances, though they knew that he was not king anymore and that he had to follow Riven’s orders.

So, he needed Riven’s help again.

"Riven," Leon began, "I need a favour."

Riven looked up, intrigued. "Oh? His Highness needs a favour from me?"

Leon nodded, explaining his plan for the ball and the need for discretion. He requested Riven to issue orders to the servants on his behalf. Seeing how serious he was, Riven decided to not cause trouble.

A smirk played on Riven’s lips. "So, I’m your royal consort now, handling the palace affairs?"

Leon rolled his eyes. "Just help me, please."

Riven stood, stretching. "Very well, Your Highness. I’ll see to it."

Embracing his role, Riven approached the head steward, conveying the prince’s wishes. He ordered the grand ballroom to be prepared, invitations to be sent, and the finest decorations to be arranged. He even instructed the chef to prepare Leon’s favourite dishes, recalling them from the story.

The palace was full of activity after a long time, there was no celebration in the palace for quite some time, the servants were excited too.

Servants polished chandeliers, musicians rehearsed, and florists adorned the halls with vibrant blooms. The invitations, embossed with the royal seal, were dispatched to the officials, who eagerly accepted.

On the evening of the ball, the palace radiated opulence. Guests arrived in their finest attire, marvelling at the grandeur. Leon, dressed regally, greeted them with poise, masking his true intentions.

Leon stood near the entrance, observing the gathering of officials—all women, as was customary in their matriarchal society. Dressed in their finest gowns, they mingled, laughed, and exchanged pleasantries, unaware of the true purpose behind the evening’s event.

Leon took a deep breath, adjusting the cuffs of his tailored suit. He moved through the crowd, engaging in light conversation, his demeanour calm and composed. Each interaction was a calculated step, gathering insights and gauging reactions. He did not know what to think, were they all in kahoots?

As he navigated the room, Leon couldn’t help but feel a growing sense of frustration. He needed to calm down lest he give everything away, he was simply trying to collect information, asking about the taxes and the social reforms.

Suddenly, the room fell into a hushed silence. The Dowager Queen had arrived, he knew this was going to happen. She would make an appearance even if he did not invite her.

Dressed in regal attire, she moved with grace and authority, her eyes scanning the room until they settled on Leon. She was not angry though. She slowly approached him and waved her hand to let the festivities continue.

"Leon," she said, her voice low, "what is the meaning of this gathering?"

Leon met her gaze, his expression unreadable. "Just a celebration, Mother."

She frowned, sensing there was more to the event than met the eye. "I hope you’re not planning anything reckless."

Leon offered a tight smile. "Don’t worry, Mother. Enjoy the evening."

He turned away, leaving the Dowager Queen standing amidst the crowd, her eyes narrowing as she watched him disappear into the crowd. Leon did not like his mothers inactiveness when he told her the situation. He did not trust her.

In a way he thought of both of them as being incompetent to be this blind to reality.

Meanwhile, Riven was stationed near the lavish buffet table, sampling the array of delicacies. He was content, enjoying the food and observing the festivities from a distance. That was until a striking woman approached him, her eyes gleaming with interest.

"I don’t believe we’ve met," she purred, extending a hand. "I’m Lady Seraphina."

Riven took her hand politely, offering a small smile. "Riven, representative of the Wolf Clan."

Her eyes sparkled. "A pleasure. I must say, it’s rare to see someone from your clan here."

Riven chuckled, sensing her intentions. "I’m just here to support His Highness."

Lady Seraphina stepped closer, her voice lowering. "Perhaps we could get to know each other better."

Riven maintained his composure, gently stepping back. "I’m flattered, but I’m not looking for companionship tonight."

Her smile faltered, a flicker of annoyance crossing her features. "I see."

Before the conversation could continue, Leon approached, his presence causing Lady Seraphina to retreat with a forced smile. Riven raised an eyebrow, watching her disappear into the crowd.

"What did she ask? You did not tell her anything, right?" Leon asked.

Riven clicked his tongue and answered with a hint of anger, "Come on, have some faith in me at least! I will not ruin your plans! I am literally on your side here!"

Leon did not suspect Riven, he just didn’t know what to say, so he said that he did not mean to accuse him. Lady Seraphina did not have a good reputation... Well, to be fair, neither did he, but he always made sure the other party knew that their ’companionship’ was only for one night.

Still, Riven was a guest in his kingdom, he had to ensure Riven’s safety and make sure he was not taken advantage of.