"Ah, the fireworks show has ended." I gazed up at the empty blue sky.
I was a bit disappointed to have missed the end of it, but I was fortunate to have seen most of it already.
"I wonder who created them," Grandov mused behind me.
Turning around, I couldn't help but grin at his curiosity. "It was my sister, actually."
Gradov's eyes widened, and then a look of confusion crossed his face. "Isn't your sister twelve or thirteen?"
I blinked. His knowledge of my family surprised me.
"Yes, she is twelve," I replied. "And she's far smarter than me."
"And she's the one who created these fireworks? Alone?" Grandov asked, clearly impressed.
"Indeed!" I confirmed. "Though she did receive a bit of help from a friend."
Gradov nodded. "An adult?"
"No, no," I chuckled, waving away his assumption. "It's another kid her age."
"You mean to tell me that two kids developed those fireworks?" Grandov asked. His gaze now focused on the empty sky.
I couldn't help but laugh at the incredulous look on his face. "There are kids out there who are far more talented than most adults."
"Young master, the carriage is ready to take you to the banquet at the palace." Henry pulled open a black and gold carriage parked in front of The Royal Bar.
I frowned and felt the lump in my jacket's inner pocket.
Leona was fast asleep, having slept through the entire brawl in the bar and my conversation with Grandov. I had insisted she remain in my pocket and out of sight, which must have led to her boredom-induced slumber.
"No, take me back to the manor," I said, moving inside the carriage. I turned and waved goodbye to Grandov.
"Until next time, Luca," he waved back.
I settled into the plush seat as Henry closed the carriage door behind me. The carriage began to roll through the city streets, the palace looming in the far distance.
Leona will be so disappointed when she learns she missed the famous Summer Banquet at the palace.
In truth, I hadn't ever gone either, with relations to the royal family having been severed with Princess Evelyn's death and Naomi taking up the mantel. However, rumors of its grandeur and delicious food had reached my ears.
But it wasn't worth the risk. Even though most people saw Leona as merely a little yellow chick, there were bound to be two or three people at this banquet who would see through her disguise. There were powerful and dangerous individuals gathering from all across the continent, some of whom had attended the Spiders Syndicate's auction.
* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *
"Tsk." Micah closed his looking glass.
"You seem displeased by something?" Evelyn called out behind the changing screen. Her maids were currently in the process of changing her into a new gown.
Having concluded their duties of presenting the final awards in East Genise, Evelyn and Micah had returned to the palace for a quick refresh, change of clothing, and preparations for the royal banquet.
Micah's wardrobe transition was straightforward; he merely swapped his white linen suit for a silk one of the same hue and had his attendant restyle his hair. However, the process was significantly more intricate for Evelyn, the crown princess. It involved donning an elaborate gown and enduring a lengthy session of hairstyling and makeup.
"It's nothing. Just a pest I thought I got rid of having come back," Micah replied.
"A pest?" Evelyn chuckled. "Well, there'll be plenty of those at the banquet."
She emerged from behind the screen, wearing a gown adorned with shimmering crystals that cascaded like glistening droplets across her form-fitting golden attire. Her long, fiery red hair was elegantly arranged and crowned with a tiara embedded with phoenix eyes.
"You look radiant." Micah smiled and extended his hand.
"Thank you." Evelyn gracefully accepted his hand and allowed him to walk her out.
"Princess, here are the final seating arrangements."
Upon their exit, Duncan Genuiver, waiting by the bedroom doors, presented Evelyn with a parchment inscribed with a meticulously drawn floor plan, tables, and names. The names were color-coded, indicating their importance and the regions they hailed from.
Evelyn's eyes scanned the names, and she tapped two of the tables. "Have these guests moved to a new table," she instructed, "and replace them with Lord Vikzhou and his people—I did not expect them to attend originally, but what can I do? Also, the Barakian Empire's diplomat fell ill, so have a diplomat from Brem take his seat."
Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.
Micah glanced through the sheet with a few hundred names listed out. Nobles from the Adovorian Kingdom comprised roughly half, while another quarter consisted of diplomats and prominent figures from various nations. The rest comprised individuals without formal titles but held critical roles in the governance and peace on the continent.
Although technically, Evelyn and Micah would sit at the head table with Princess Naomi, the three would actually spend most of the evening making their rounds among the guests, offering greetings and establishing connections. Micah had a bad feeling that despite being at a banquet, Evelyn was bound not to eat anything, given how busy the event would be for her.
Her wrists feel even thinner than before. I'd better ensure she remembers to eat something.
Micah observed Duncan Guiniver, who took notes of Evelyn's commands. He appeared well-polished and like a proper son of a duke, unlike the first time he met the young man. He had been of great help to Evelyn, but unfortunately, she remained buried under her mountains of work. Duties of the state had all fallen upon her shoulders, and even with Duncan's help, she was still drowning.
***
"Ladies and gentlemen," Duncan's voice sounded beyond the double doors into the banquet hall, commanding attention. "May I present to you, Her Royal Highness, Crown Princess Evelyn, and her esteemed fiancé, Micah Frey!"
The doors swung open, revealing a majestic banquet hall whose walls were draped with rich yellow silk, and the room bathed in the soft glow of light stones hanging on long threads across the ceiling. Ladies in extravagant gowns and gentlemen in colorful suits paused their conversations and stood up. The sound of chairs moving across the marble floor was resounding, and a hushed murmur washed over the assembled guests as they turned their eyes toward the entrance.
Evelyn and Micah entered the hall, with every step sounding loudly across the floor, commanding attention. Applause came from the guests as the couple walked in and approached the head table. Princess Naomi, who was already seated, rose to greet them. She appeared radiant in her regal attire of blushing pink and long cascading blonde hair. The trio exchanged cordial smiles, all three well aware that visiting diplomats and foreigners closely observed and noted their interactions.
Micah had little regard for Naomi, Evelyn's half-sister. She was rather foolish and easily manipulated by her uncle. However, she did have sufficient royal training to know not to show her true emotions in front of so many guests.
Micah and Naomi took their seats on either side of Eveyln while she remained standing.
"Ladies and gentlemen, esteemed guests and friends of the kingdom," Evelyn began. "It is with immense pleasure that I stand before you today, gathered here in the heart of Adovoria, to celebrate the grandeur of our annual Summer Festival and tonight's banquet."
Her words resonated through the hall, being magnified by Julius.
"This three-day festival serves as a symbol of our shared heritage and the enduring bonds that unite us all to the earth," she continued. "Each year, we come together to celebrate another fruitful crop season, to revel in the joy of companionship, and to foster new connections that bridge the gaps between our people."
Evelyn's gaze swept over the assembled guests. "Your presence here tonight, as honored guests from near and far, is a testament to the spirit of cooperation and diplomacy that defines this evening. Unfortunately, The land's infection continues to spread across the continent and darken our lands. Still, through our united cooperation, I know we can overcome the challenges presented before us."
She smiled as she concluded her speech. "May this banquet be a night to celebrate the past, embrace the present, and allow us to move toward a future filled with many hearty harvests."
As Evelyn took her seat, a wave of applause filled the banquet hall. The orchestra sounded, with music playing reminiscent of what one might hear in a small farm village within Adovoria. The banquet had officially commenced.
The three did not remain seated long, and once the banquet hall sounded with forks and knives clanking against the china, the three stood up and wandered between the tables. However, their goals differed. Princess Naomi wandered to where her uncle and supporters were seated. At the same time, Princess Evelyn made her rounds among the visiting foreigners.
Micah had his own goals for the evening.
Having been publicly announced as Princess Evelyn's fiancé and future king consort, he now had the necessary standing to establish connections with a few key individuals. Diplomats, lords, and even royals from other nations smiled in his direction as he passed, obviously keen themselves to establish connections before Micah gained his royal title through marriage.
Of course, not everyone shared the sentiment. The majority of nobles within Adovoria looked unfavorably at his ascension to power. But he had plans to subvert those with negative sentiments about his future marriage.
Then, there were also those outside of Adovoria who had an equally adverse opinion regarding him. For example, Lord Vikzhou had a hardened stare toward Micah. It was unlikely because his younger brother had stolen back Fin. Based on what Ridley relayed, there appeared to be no issues about the thievery being connected to his family.
Instead, Lord Vikzhou's distaste toward Micah was much the same as the lords and ladies ruling over other nations that Micah believed could benefit from a bit of power restructuring. Lellei Kingdom was a prime candidate for such restructuring, having outdated beliefs about money and power. A decade back, it was still fashionable for the wealthy lords and ladies to show off their obscene wealth. Nowadays, the same behavior garnered narrowed eyes and grimaces from the public. The people had grown weary and wished for change.
Micah walked past those of Lord Vikzhou's entourage and gave a brilliant smile toward a different person hailing from the Lellei Kingdom, seated at another table entirely. Those with Vikzhou likely wondered what this woman was doing at the banquet in the first place. She lacked money and titles, but people in her country looked favorably upon her, and she was not without ambition. Micah suspected she would rise to power in the next two years. Perhaps even less, with his help.
"Lady Erin Minvey, thank you for making the long trip to Adovoria," Micah said.
"Lady? What lady." The woman with long, braided black hair laughed. She reclined in her chair and swung one leg over the other. The golden bangles on her ankles clinked together, signifying the number of battles she had led Lellei Kingdom's army to victory, albeit the credit was officially given to some high-born noble.
"Did you enjoy the festival and concluding fireworks show?" Micah asked.
"I did." Erin nodded her head. "It was nothing like anything I'd seen. The fragrance usage was most surprising. It was pleasant, but I imagine it wouldn't be if one didn't like flowers."
"The fragrance can be changed out for anything you might wish it to be, pleasant or unpleasant." Micah smiled.
Erin blinked and then smiled back, understanding the subtext. "Perhaps I could take a few celebratory fireworks home?"
"Of course," Micah replied. "There's going to be much cause for celebration, after all. Stop by the Frey Manor tomorrow, and I'll work out an arrangement for you."
He moved away from her table and onto the next person on his list. The tides on the continent were changing, and it was imperative to be on the right side of history—the side told by the winners.