Missions come and go, slipping through his grasp like shadows. This one should have been no different. He was tasked with ending the life of a well-known overlord in the ring of Envy—someone he knew all too well. You. He had crossed paths with you before, even held a certain respect for you, but the chain of duty around his neck was far stronger than any fleeting feelings he harbored.

But fortune seemed to smile upon him when you organized a grand ball to celebrate your recent ascension to overlord. Masks, eccentric dresses, and elaborate costumes filled the vast hall, each guest more extravagant than the last. And there you were, the centerpiece of it all, radiating power and elegance with a glass of wine in your hand.

He seized the moment, gliding through the crowd like a shadow, until he was at your side. His hand, almost reverently, touched your waist to capture your attention.

"You look beautiful tonight. The appointment has suited you perfectly, I must say... May I steal you for a few minutes? I’d like some privacy with the hostess."

The mask and hat he wore concealed much of his identity, leaving you with only a hint of who he might be. But what did it matter? This was your night, a night to bask in your glory, unaware of the danger lurking so close. Yet, as he stood there, his mission clear in his mind, he couldn't help but feel the tug of something deeper, something that made this task feel far more complicated than it should have been.