{TRIGGER WARNING: The scenes in this chapter may depict sexual assault, domestic violence, stalking, physical violence, and identity-based discrimination and harassment. Please read at your ownRISK!!!}
The palace has been bustling for a few days already for the upcoming banquet, and today was the busiest of all, as this is the event day, and any minute now the banquet will start.
It wouldn't be so busy like this if it were just a normal event, as they are already used to nobles holding such banquets at every turn. No, today was extra-special because the Emperor will announce his engagement with his chosen bride. And every noble family was very eager to learn who captured the heart of the emperor.
The noblewoman was very elated to learn that the banquet will be held in the Autumn Palace. The Autumn Palace is located at the western side of the imperial palace, also known as the west wing.
The Imperial Palace is divided by 5. The east, west, south, and north, and the main palace or the center palace. The EAST WING, also known as the Carnation Palace, is where the late empress, Isolde Velnora, resides.
The NORTH WING, also known as the JEWEL PALACE, is where the concubine of the emperor resides. Currently only the emperor's mother resides on the north wing, as the other concubine was freed after the late emperor died.
The SOUTH WING, also known as the Moon Palace, is where the late emperors resided, but since the former emperor died, this is vacant, no one resides here currently, aside from the staffs and workers to maintain the place.
The MAIN PALACE, which is located at the center, also known as the Celestial Palace, is where the current emperor resides. This is the biggest palace out of five, since this is where most facilities are located. The imperial library, the emperor's office, and the council's meeting room, and this is where most imperial banquets are held.
Lastly, the WEST PALACE, also known as the Autumn Palace, is where all the empresses lived from the past up till now. This is the most beautiful part of the Imperial Palace. The greenhouse consists of rare plants and flowers that are difficult to obtain. There is a small pond as well where you can have a picnic.
And they say that the design of the palace was designed by a great architect in the past, requested by the emperor for her empress, which he loved dearly. It was an old story from a hundred years ago that is still popular till now.
That's why when the noblewomen heard of it, they were so happy to be able to just step foot on it. This is a once-in-a-lifetime chance, so they won't miss it.
While the noblemen are eager to grow and find connections among this sea of fishes. Everyone has different reasons for attending, but regardless, they all have one denominator; they are all eager to know who's the lucky family who'll climb the top of the ladder.
By the time strikes 6 in the evening, the banquet had officially begun. Women wore their beautiful and extravagant dresses, paired with their lavish accessories, while men wore their best suits as well.
The Emperor was on the second floor watching everyone socialize with their fake smile plastered on their face. He was holding a champagne in his left hand while the other was on the railings.
"This is quite a lavish banquet. I don't remember allocating such a huge sum of money," the emperor commented while sipping on his drink.
Count Vaelyn arrogantly smiled and adjusted his glasses.
"Well, I took the liberty of doing it, your majesty. I made arrangements to serve only the best at today's event," he said proudly.
"Where did you get the money?" the emperor asked.
"The national treasury," the count answered as if it was an obvious fact.
The emperor shifted his gaze at Count Vaelyn and raised his eyebrow.
"You know you can be accused of embezzling the national treasury, right? I didn't give any permission for you to add any more allocation on this event." The emperor shifted his eyes to Count Vaelyn, who was scratching his head and was getting nervous.
"Ahahah... don't be like that, your imperial majesty! It's not like I used it for personal reasons. And also, this is to show the marquess that you really want to get married to Lady Seraphina. This will help the plan set in motion, your imperial majesty. The marquess will believe that you really like his daughter and won't be suspicious of you," the count defended himself, holding his hands up.
The emperor chuckled and stood up straight. He took a last sip from his glass and passed it on to the count, which he accepted willingly.
"I was kidding, Vaelyn," the emperor simply said and turned his back, ready to go down and make his entrance.
The knight at the end of the stairs saw the emperor descending and immediately announced the arrival of the emperor.
"Presenting the Sovereign of the Realm, Keeper of the Celestial Mandate, and Guardian of the Empire's Honor, his imperial majesty, Emperor Aurelius Dravenhart V, has arrived!"
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[The Marquess' March]
Today was the day of the banquet, and everyone was relieved that Lady Seraphina finally returned to the march. Everyone thought that she was not going to make it, but surprisingly, she arrived yesterday. The other staff and workers who didn't know what truly happened to the original Seraphina 2 weeks ago just acted like nothing since they thought it was just normal.
But for Commander Thalion, something feels weird, and he doesn't know what. The lady came back at the march yesterday with Magnar, the marquess butler. Though he was relieved that the lady is safe, the story she told seems quite hard to believe. Additionally, there's just something wrong with how the current lady acts; she seems.... more docile than before.
[FLASHBACK TO YESTERDAY]
Commander Thalion was busy instructing his knights for their next plan in searching for the lady; amidst the discussion, he was interrupted when one of the knights came rushing in to bring the news that Lady Seraphina had come back with the head butler.
He almost didn't believe it and asked for reconfirmation before rushing out to check it for himself.
It's impossible! They searched every corner of the empire, and they can't find her anywhere. They were even planning to secretly search for her in the neighboring kingdom. And now, they're telling him she came back on her own, with just one person accompanying her, and the head butler no less?
'Something's not right,' he thought to himself.
When he reached the marquess' office, he saw Lady Seraphina standing across the marquess table. They all look at him when he suddenly barges in without a knock.
"Where's your manner, commander? You didn't even knock, nor did I give you permission to enter!" the marquess asked angrily.
"Forgive me, my lord! It was rude of me; I was just surprised to receive the news of the lady's return that I immediately ran here," he answered, bowing down to the marquess.
"Father, please forgive him for such rudeness. Maybe he was just so glad that I was able to go back home safely, right commander?" the lady interrupted, which averted all of their gazes.
He was shocked that the lady was defending her right now; if it were in the past, she wouldn't even gaze at him nor care even if the marquess' punishes him.
"Yes, my lady," the commander agreed.
"Be thankful this is such a happy day, Commander Thalion, or you wouldn't go unpunished for your disrespectful behavior against the marquess," Magnar said with spite, looking at him with displeasure.
He just returned it with an angry look as well.
"I'm not even talking to you, so shut up," he retorted.
Magnar became more irritated and was about to argue but was stopped by the marquess.
"You both should shut up! I didn't give both of you permission to quarrel in front of me!" the marquess said, slamming his hand on the table.
"Forgive me, my lord!" Thalion and Magnar said in unison.
"But if I may ask, my lady, how did you get back home, and where were you all this time?" the commander asked, eager to get answers to his questions.
"Well, I was actually abducted by a group of foreign bandits, and they brought me to a neighboring kingdom, which is the Velmoria Kingdom. I got lucky I escaped while they were transporting us, and I walked in the vast desert for 10 days. I was lucky that the head butler found me on his way home from Lunareth. He took me to the nearest villa the marquess had there for me to be treated right away, as I suffered trauma, exhaustion, and starvation from my long journey," she explained in detail.
"But you don't have to worry because I'm all fine now," the lady added.
[END OF FLASHBACK]
The more the commander listened to her story, the more ridiculous it became. How did a frail lady survive walking the vast desert from Velmoria to Elarion without food, water, rest, and no help for 10 whole days! No matter how he thinks of it, the idea itself is funny.
Though he can't deny that it's still Lady Seraphina with her looks, the eyes and everything, she still looks the same; she just got a bit weird in the attitude. But maybe it's the effect of what she experienced? Maybe he's just overthinking things.
'Yeah, maybe I'm just overthinking. This might not be a big deal."
Or so he thought.
******