The solemn drumbeat gradually approached the royal city, and Serena couldn't help but feel a bit anxious.

As the lawful wife of Belleria King, she was obliged to attend the evening banquet today.

Serena wasn't sure if that madman Isidoro would remember her. The memory of the day she had to save her life by sticking a jade slip on him and saying 'I like you, Acesia King' made her teeth ache.

The old blood had seeped into the jade, and that jade slip gave her the feeling of Isidoro in her mind—bloodthirsty and sinister.

Forget it. If something really happened, it would be a matter between Jenaro and Isidoro. Women in the Eighteen States of the Cloud Realm had low status, and accordingly, if anything happened, it would be their men who would take up arms.

Even if Jenaro was really killed by Isidoro, Aunt Sandra and the others would protect her and help her escape back to Achillea amid the chaos. Serena mentally prepared herself. She sat in front of the dressing table, letting the maids dress her up. As she was receiving a sovereign's banquet, she had to be impeccable in her manners.

Serena changed into a dark-colored splendid gown, exquisitely embroidered with intricate patterns on the front and back, with a phoenix motif embroidered on the skirt, shimmering like fire.

She draped a long cloak behind her, adorned with sparkling golden threads, dragging it for ten steps behind her.

Her hair was tightly pinned up, crowned with a large and heavy golden crown, with pearl curtains hanging on both sides, barely revealing her eyes.

Serena found it difficult to set out for the banquet. She hadn't left her Cloud Palace for days. As she stepped over the knee-high threshold, she felt a strange sensation in her heart—she had finally truly entered this world, no longer ethereal, and she couldn't carry on with a playful attitude.

Whatever lay ahead, she had to face it head-on. Just as she had done countless times before. No matter what role she played, she had to excel. Since she had been given a second chance, from now on, she, Serena, was the daughter of Achillea King.

With each step, the somewhat delicate woman exuded a steady royal aura, gradually enveloping her surroundings. The maids, who were accustomed to serving her, couldn't help but be slightly astonished, secretly sighing that the royal family was indeed different from ordinary people.

The royal city wasn't large. Although the Eighteen States of the Cloud Realm were built on martial prowess, the palace was luxurious, but its primary function was defense.

The city was made of a peculiar black stone, faintly emitting a matte light, with the ground made of the same material.

Once leaving the palace, even the carved wooden decorations couldn't be seen. Each grand hall, once the black stone doors were closed, immediately became a small fortress. Guided by the attendants, Serena soon arrived at the grand hall where the banquet was being held.

The splendid lights could be seen from afar. Civil and military officials were arranged on both sides, with Jenaro kneeling at the upper left and, opposite him, presumably the dreaded Acesia King, Isidoro.

Upon entering the grand hall, Serena could feel a heavy, oppressive, and chilly atmosphere. Such occasions didn't allow for casual glances around. Serena was seated under the guidance of the attendants. The maids carefully removed her cloak and held it in a wooden tray, standing aside. She glanced towards Jenaro with a slight nod.

A flash of amazement crossed his eyes. In his heart, he felt that only the woman in front of him resembled a true queen. Ivana was usually arrogant, but whenever it was a formal occasion, her momentum couldn't hold up.

Not to mention Corina—bringing herself to such an occasion was like throwing her face on the ground for others to laugh at. And Serena, the perfect woman who seemed to have descended from heaven, would eventually become his true wife, spending his life with him.

Thinking like this, Jenaro unconsciously lowered his head, a faint smile appearing at the corner of his lips. The others rose to their feet and bowed to Serena. She bowed her head in return, then turned her gaze to the table in front of her. As soon as she took her seat, she felt numerous eyes unabashedly staring at her. Isidoro.

The pearl curtain on her left blocked her view, and she couldn't observe Isidoro with her peripheral vision, but she faintly felt him smiling. It should be that kind of twisted smile, right? Serena pondered inwardly.

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There had never been a direct description of the villain in the book, and Isidoro always lived in everyone's fear, or rather, he was the spokesperson of terror himself.

There were only a few scattered instances where one could catch a glimpse of his true self. For example, when a cannon fodder looked up at the demon lord who walked over his mangled body without a furrowed brow, feeling somewhat confused—why did this demon bear a human face? Or when Isidoro strolled leisurely into the burning Fredericia amidst the chaos, the blood and fire reflecting on his face, reminiscent of some legends about evil demons—how evil their hearts were, so charming were their faces.

Honestly, Serena was quite curious about what Isidoro looked like, but she didn't lift her head to look. Her gaze remained fixed on the table, where several jade dishes were placed, each dish exquisitely crafted, like the winning works of some carving competition.

On such occasions, except for the two kings, no one would dare to look around—it would be extremely disrespectful.

Of course, these old-fashioned "courtesies'' were broken time and time again after Corina became favored. She would stare at some newly rising talents at the banquet and make fun of their looks.

She would wear very casual clothes during sacrificial ceremonies, causing a stir throughout the country. She would make a lot of noise in the national temple, saying that all the monks were money-grubbers, and secretly, who didn't eat meat?

Serena didn't find any of these behaviors sincere or cute.

The palace banquet was silent. Serena guessed that something unpleasant must have happened, so speaking freely while dining with Isidoro had become a new taboo. Sitting opposite Serena was Gufen, Jenaro's top general.

Serena noticed that this tiger general had unknowingly shifted the centerline of the table, putting as much distance between himself and Isidoro as possible. She felt like laughing, her rosy lips slightly pursed.

She casually picked up the white jade wine glass silently filled by the maids and drank a cup of crystal-clear purple fruit wine. She underestimated the material of the table—she thought the table with its black floral patterns was made of wood, but it turned out to be bronze or iron.

As the bottom of the cup touched the table, it made an extremely crisp sound, resonating through the hall.

At that moment, countless eyes suddenly turned towards her from all directions! Serena had a feeling that these people seemed to be waiting for some command to be given, as if they were all so nervous.

A soft laugh came from diagonally across. Then, a very young, very pleasant voice tinged with a hint of displeasure said, "Clumsy."

Serena instinctively looked over. She saw a young man in white robes holding a cup, with a smile on his lips, raising it to her from a distance, then drinking it all in one gulp.

He looked very young, about eighteen or nineteen, with a lazy and relaxed demeanor, leaning against the table as if he were carved from jade, making it difficult to discern his true age.

Is this Isidoro? He looks quite different from what I imagined. He looks more like a pampered young noble. She was stunned for a moment, then lowered her eyelids, no longer touching anything on the table.

Out of the corner of her eye, she caught a maid silently apologizing to the head attendant, then sneaking out from behind the throne pillar. After a while, a strange 'maid' hurried back to take her place.

Serena remained calm, casting a cold glance. Sure enough, it was Corina. A sarcastic smile involuntarily appeared at the corner of Serena's mouth—yes, in front of such a lucky charm, all the efforts and sacrifices of others seemed ridiculous.

No, that's not true. Luck, this thing, can be easily bestowed and taken away just as easily. Only the road one treads step by step is truly one's own precious treasure, which no one can take away.

One must tread on solid ground; only then can one rise after a fall. Sent to the top by good fortune, once fallen, one will be utterly destroyed. Serena believed in probabilities, not luck. Just like the probability of successfully assassinating Isidoro was zero.

She watched coldly as Corina walked towards Isidoro, her face revealing an expression of anticipation. The atmosphere made Corina shrink back a bit, almost tripping over her own feet. Serena couldn't help but sneer inwardly—she thought that even in such a situation, the main female lead wouldn't be nervous at all.

The courageous female lead quickly approached the villainous demon king. Serena felt like applauding for her. Corina pretended to offer wine to Isidoro, but when she bowed, she threw the tray and stabbed Isidoro's heart with the dagger hidden underneath it.

The sudden attack made Jenaro shrink his pupils. Upon realizing that the attacker was Corina, a surge of fierce determination rose within Jenaro, and the murderous intent set off the golden ornaments decorating the ceiling, emitting a buzzing resonance.

At this moment, Serena also forgot about etiquette. She turned her head to look at Isidoro, appearing to be waiting for a good show. —I wonder if the villainous demon king will suddenly let Corina go, saying, "Woman, you've successfully caught my attention?"

"Pfft." Her laughter was very light, but Isidoro heard it. He ignored the incoming dagger, raised an eyebrow, and smiled at Serena. The trembling dagger had pierced his white robe.

No progress. This world didn't cultivate dantians and meridians but rather refined the body—cultivating the spiritual essence that matched one's attributes, tempering the skin, muscles, and bones.

Simply put, the higher the cultivation, the stronger the body, and the longer the lifespan. Ordinary weapons couldn't harm a master like Isidoro.

Corina tried stabbing several times but found it ineffective. She then raised the dagger and aimed for Isidoro's face, but he casually grabbed her wrist and threw her into the center of the hall.

The dagger clanged as it fell to the ground. Isidoro leisurely took out a piece of silk cloth and carefully wiped the hand that had touched Corina, smiling gently, "Belleria King, if you want to play the beauty trap, be a bit more sincere.

Using a fake won't fool anyone, will it?" Jenaro's face turned green, trembling with anger. "Unsatisfactory," Isidoro regretfully shook his head, his smile soft, "then I'll just kill her." With that, he casually drew out a long black knife from behind.