When Shin stared dumbly at Aria, she could clearly guess what he was thinking of.
Aria snickered while smiling brightly.
“beautiful.”
“Mother, you look pretty.”
Shin truthfully spoke while his eyes were glued on Aria.
Aria used her left hand to cover her mouth and softly giggled.
“Nehehe, thank you son. You look pretty handsome too!”
Aria walked towards Shin and caressed his hair and stroked it backwards.
Shin blushed and looked down.
“M-Mother”
“What is it, son?”
Aria didn’t remove her hand, still continuing brushing Shin’s hair backwards.
“I heard from Laura, the banquet is a big deal.”
Shin looked down on his feet while forcing himself to continue.
“Can I really be a part of it? What if I make a mistake? What if…”
Shin’s voice became weaker until it didn’t make any sound. He looked troubled.
Aria dropped down on her knee as she used her hand to hold Shin’s face up, she looked at his troubled face, his worried eyes and mouth which opened without letting out any sound.
Aria's face got closer to Shin’s, her forehead touched his, she used her right hand to support his back.
“Son. Don’t think about anything, do anything you want to do. I will stay by your side, no matter what.”
Aria used her left hand to cup his right half-side of his face.
“A banquet is meaningless, you’re worth much more than that to me. If you want, I can cancel it, as long as you want something, I will strive for it.”
Aria pulled back her forehead and kissed his forehead softly before standing up.
Shin didn’t look down anymore, he looked at Aria’s caring face, he looked at her eyes which was filled with endless love.
Shin nodded with determination and spoke
“Mother, I, I want to participate.”
Aria lips curved upwards while looking at Shin’s determined face.
“I’m happy, now, are you ready?”
“The visitors have already arrived, waiting for the amazing Prince.”
Aria spoke tenderly while reaching out her hand towards Shin
“Um”
Shin nodded while blushing and held Aria’s hand.
In the throne room, were more and more guests rushing in. Every single one of them has high status or is a descendent of one.
Of the 51 highest rank families which were invited, all 51 highest patriarchs, first wife and children arrived. No one dared to not show up, this was after all the banquet for the son of Empress’s return!
“Hey, old man, what present did you bring along?”
“I brought weapons, diamonds, magic scriptures, books and magic items. I found not a single thing about him, so I brought the best of things I had stacked in the treasure room.”
The old person sighed, the people he sent to gather information ended up finding nothing about the returned son of the Empress.
“I brought along a couple of different magic items, I hope he likes it.”
“Well, does anyone know his name? As I got no information about him, not even his name.”
“I guess the only people who knows about it should be the Empress and the closest maids. But, I heard some rumours, that the Lady of La Ville, Susan met up with him, perhaps she knows.”
After those who talked about the rumour, they all turned their head towards where the family of La Ville sat. There sat Susan and two girls in the age of mid-teens.
Susan was wearing a green coloured dress and having her hair tied up from behind.
The two girls where both wearing light shaded green dresses which were alike, unlike Susan who had green hair they both had blond hair down to their waist.
All three were having dignified expressions.
“Mother, can you tell us about the son of the Empress now?”
The youngest one spoke first while looking at Susan.
“Shin, his name is Shin.”
Susan was in a daze while speaking, thinking back of Shin’s facial expression and actions last night.
“Shin is special. For how he is special, you have to find out yourselves. Elise and Eline, you must both be careful when speaking with him. I will not allow any disrespect against him, even if I don’t allow it, the Empress will be furious.”
Elise, the youngest one, had her eyes widened for a second before calming down.
“Mother, you don’t have to worry, isn’t he just a son of nobility, they all think alike.”
“Elise!"
"Say that again and I will return you to the house myself! Don’t ever say something like that unless you want our family to be punished by the Empress!”
Susan shushed Elise with a low aggressive tone.
Elise nodded while trembling.
Eline however was in deep thought, thinking of something else, she turned her eyes to Susan before asking.
“Mother, is Shin special as not like the usual characters here in the kingdom? If that’s so, most of these people’s plans will not be effective. Mother, what kind of gifts did you prepare for this banquet?”
Susan nodded her head while seeing that Eline figured out something based on her sentence.
“I brought a robe and a ring.”
Elise didn’t think before speaking out again while showing a distressed expression.
“Hey, won’t that make us look bad in front of everyone? Having brought so cheap things.”
Susan didn’t reply to Elise, but rather looked at Eline, hoping that she would figure out something.
Eline didn’t disappoint Susan at all.
“If you brought these kind of gifts, that means that you have perhaps figured out what Shin likes? Or at least doesn’t like.”
Susan nodded while looking at Eline.
“It’s just my guess.”
Suddenly, a maid called out in a clear and powerful voice.
“All rise!”
“The Empress Aria von Meria”
“And the Prince Shin von Meria will enter the throne room!”
Every person stood from their seats. The old, young and veterans. They stood side by side by each table, as the door at the back opened, all of them dropped down to their right knee.
They looked down to the floor, no one dared to look up.
“Tap tap tap”
“Tap tap tap”
Two pair of footsteps became louder as it neared closer to the middle of the throne room.
Aria and Shin walked side by side.
Aria looked coldly at those who knelt, she glanced at every single person, everyone felt a piercing gaze and shuddered for a moment before the gaze went to someone else.
Truth be told, there were a few who felt like going to battle would be thousands times easier than to be looked at by Aria like that.
Shin looked worried as he kept walking by Aria’s side without a step in front or behind.
Step by step they walked closer to the inner room, there stood two thrones.
The two thrones, were black as the night sky, there were white particles, which made it look like stars in the sky.
Aria led Shin closer to the two thrones, the two thrones which stood side by side. Shin sat down first with Aria’s help, Aria sat down after when she saw Shin sitting properly.
As Aria sat down, she gazed upon the people who were kneeling on their knee. She raised her voice, which echoed throughout the whole room.
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“Raise your head.”
Everyone raised their at the same time, everyone beside Susan had widened their eyes for a couple of seconds after seeing the young boy sitting on that humongous throne.
That youth clad in purple robe, with snow-like skin, eyes looking as the darkness itself, the silver wavy hair.
His expression easily showed people what he was thinking, they clearly saw through him – he was anxious.
Anyone who saw him, thought of the same thing – Angel, a pure angel!
The youth looked like a perfect being, he was pure and innocent to the point of people wanted to call him a divine being.
All the males who saw him, didn’t get jealous, they thought they couldn’t compare to him.
All the young females who saw him, fell in love at first sight, their eyes were showing it without a hint of deception.
While the elderly who saw his anxious expression wanted to take care of him, protect him from all harm.
Everyone forgot where they were, why they were together in the same room, they even forgot they were in the same room as the Empress!
A voice filled with pride echoed out again.
“Rise and sit down on your seats”
Aria looked proudly around as she saw everyone looking at Shin in worship!
Everyone snapped out of their daze and hurriedly rose and sat down on the seats with their family members.
There were 51 tables around, with 8 chairs per table. Even with over 400 people in the room, including the maids, there were no one who spoke.
They all waited for Aria to continue.
Aria spoke again when she saw everyone sat down.
“I will be holding this banquet today for the return of my son, Shin von Meria.”
“Let the banquet start. After half an hour, you may come up one after another to greet my son and present the gifts.”
Everyone listened to Aria’s words carefully, they didn’t want to miss out on one word!
Almost everyone was glad as Aria promised everyone a chance to speak with Shin and even personally present them with their gifts.
Mostly everybody had thought that they had brought the perfect gifts, they wanted to show off their sincerity towards Shin to Aria. Perhaps Aria – the Empress will see them in a good light!
How can’t they be this excited? Most of them who stayed up all night preparing for this banquet were smiling from ear to ear.
Everyone talked in a low tone while the maids were bringing forth and back food and drinks.
Even so, most people glanced at Shin every few seconds.
“Mother, what do I have to say when they greet me?”
Shin looked a little bit nervous as he would be talking with strangers he has never seen before.
Aria looked around before looking back at Shin with eyes filled with warmness.
“You can talk however you wish, thank them for coming, accept their gifts and be friendly.”
Aria’s warm voice was low, so that only Shin could hear it, but after she spoke the first sentence with warmness, the second one was slightly colder.
“If they are rude, either I or Laura will take care of it!”
Shin stared at Aria’s eyes, he smiled brightly as he was enjoying looking at the eyes which were radiating with warmness.
Aria unconsciously smiled too when she saw the bright smile of Shin.
The minutes passed by quickly as everyone spoke quietly among each other.
The girls were speaking about Shin while the males were envious that all the girls had their eyes on him.
Laura brought simple dishes and drinks, as she was the only maid which could go near them during the banquet.
When Laura wasn’t bringing anything, she was standing behind Shin. Aria had ordered her to protect Shin.
Aria herself could easily protect Shin, but it would be better to have more eyes and protection, better to be on the safe side.
Aria stood up from her throne after half an hour passed by.
Everyone in the room quieted down within a second and had their eyes on Aria.
“Half an hour has passed; the greetings will begin with the Guardian families first.”
After speaking, Aria sat down again before looking towards one table.
The middle-aged man which received the gaze of Aria, understood the meaning. He stood up elegantly while the 6 others on the same table stood up hurriedly.
The male looked to be in the mid-40s, he had a weak blonde hair, he was wearing a white outfit, his facial expression was smiling, but his eyes weren’t.
The ones behind him were a woman in her late 30s, the first wife. She was wearing a simple but elegant golden dress. The woman gazed at Aria and then on Shin before faintly smiling.
Three sons; which were in their teens, they all wore the same white outfits. The three sons weren’t born from the same mother, as they looked to be around the same age.
Behind the boys, there were two girls; most likely aged 13 or 14. They wore gold and white dresses down to their knees while wearing white stockings. They both had brown hair down their waist and blue eyes. They were both pretty, but far away from Laura’s and Aria’s beauty.
They walked trying not to make much noise.
After having arrived in front of the two thrones, everyone knelt on their right knee and looked downwards.
Shin didn’t know what to do, as it happened swiftly without him comprehending what was happening.
He looked at Aria, Aria looked back at him and nodded.
Shin thought he understood the meaning of Aria, she wanted him to do it himself.
“P-Please rise.”
Shin’s soft voice which were quite low entered the 7 people’s ears as they stood up.
“I thank you, Prince Shin.”
The middle-aged man looked at Shin before slightly bowing.
“Your subordinate is from the House of Niea, I’m the patriarch of my Family House, my name is Tor Niea.”
“Present yourselves!”
Tor Niea looked back to those who were behind him and said.
The first one who presented themselves, were the first wife of the Niea family.
“Thank you for accepting us with your presence, Prince Shin. I’m the first wife of the Niea Family, my name is Jeanette Niea.”
After she spoke, she bowed her head while having a faint smile on her face.
The three boys quickly bowed their heads because the presence of their parents. They all wanted to act cocky as they saw the weak and fragile Prince, but didn’t do anything as they were afraid of the consequences.
“Prince Shin, my name is Pete Niea.”
“Paul Niea is my name, Prince.”
“Hello Prince Shin, Patrick Niea is my name”
The three boys quickly said their names with slight annoyance in their voice.
Even Shin easily guessed that those three most likely didn’t like him, as he got worried, Tor slapped the back of their heads roughly.
“Never act like that in front of the Prince!”
The three boys rubbed the back of their heads while being somewhat angry.
Well, in fact, Tor which slapped them, saved them of more beatings and bad reputation.
As Aria was close to order Laura to throw them out.
You have to understand that only a few people in the whole kingdom which can fight on par with Laura.
Aria herself was showing disgusted look at the three boys, clearly unimpressed by their actions.
“I’m sorry your Empress!”
Tor Niea bowed his head deeply before waving his hand towards the two girls.
“You two, quickly present yourself to the Prince.”
The two girls quickly stepped in front of the boys as they looked curiously at Shin.
They both bowed down respectfully before the smaller one spoke first.
“Thank you for allowing us with this greeting, Prince Shin. My name is Irene.”
“N-Nice to meet you Irene.”
Shin’s voice was beautiful and tried to calmly say so, everyone became dazed for a second, Tor and Jeanette smiled happily, most of the younger girls were envious of Irene right now.
Even Irene was dazed, she smiled brightly as she lowered her head even deeper.
The other girl, which was a few centimetres taller than Irene spoke calmly without any hindrance.
“Prince Shin, thank you for accepting our greetings. The name I was given is; Ariana Niea.”
“It’s nice to meet you, Ariana.”
Ariana lowered her head while smiling.
Tor stepped in front and then said.
“Prince, will you allow us to gift you some presents which we have prepared?”
Tor looked at Shin carefully with an anxious appearance, hoping that he would comply.
Shin nodded without speaking, which left all the Niea family smiling, beside the three boys which made an unsettled expression.
Tor and Jeanette stepped closer to Shin, but held a distance of at least 5 steps away.
Laura locked her eyes on them, to see if they would do any actions which could potentially hurt Shin.
Aria glanced at both with no worries.
Tor raised his right hand, showing a ring inscribed with writings on his finger. A light emitted from the ring and couple of items appeared as the light vanished.
A red dagger with runes engraved on it.
A black sword with a white edge.
A purple cladded ring.
All of these items emitted an aura which left most people in the hall shocked.
Aria casually looked at the items without any hint of surprise.
“Prince, this dagger was left by one of the greatest assassin in our family, the name of the dagger is; Crimson Shura.”
“The black sword was found in a ruin, it’s made of a metal which we haven’t seen yet, the sword can pierce most metals and it is very durable. We gave the name; White Demon.”
“The last item is the Ring of Ability, it is one of the treasures in the continent. It allows the one who wields it with great boost of strength and recovery abilities.”
Tor stood there without making any movements.
Jeanette looked up towards Shin and saw his expression of shock with a hint of not understanding those kinds of items and smiled faintly.
“Prince Shin, for the present which I brought, might not be as the same value as my husband brought. But, I hope you will like it too.”
As Jeanette spoke, a light came out from the ring on her finger.
What appeared from the light, was a single pill.
Tor frowned before returning to his usual expression.
This wasn’t the gift she prepared…
A few gasps could be heard from the room.
Most people brought legendary items and weapons, no one would dare to bring an undervalued medical pill with them and gift it to the Prince himself in front of the Empress!