"Queen Tehila's banquet…" Eli fell into deep contemplation, during her way to the headquarters she noticed that everyone was preparing for the celebration of the second queen.
"Now that you mentioned it, I still haven't thought of a gift for Her Highness…" Eli replied as she realized.
Kayden smiled meaningfully as he looked at Eli and teased, "Better prepare for that. You only have a week to do so, or else, you'll disappoint your future mother-in-law."
Eli let out a chuckle and did not take Kayden's teasing heavily. In fact, she knew that someday, their relationship will have to be revealed. It's just a matter of timing as to when will all of them be free to say how they were related to each other.
–
A week later, the banquet halls were opened in full swing.
It was not only the palace that was lively on the day of Queen Tehila's birthday celebration.
The capital's streets were also joining the celebration of the Queen who was before a commoner. They have put up tents and booths for the night market as a sign of celebration.
To the common people, Queen Tehila was a symbol of equality and fair treatment as even she had the chance to become a spouse of the Emperor.
It was only unfortunate that behind those seemingly inspiring cause, what happened inside the palace walls were far from being a fairytale.
In the palace, the nobles were dressed extravagantly as they entered the banquet halls one by one. The young ladies of the aristocratic families wore excited faces as they go around the halls.
It was not because they genuinely wished well to the unpopular Queen Tehila, it was only because they were interested in her son, who was now the most sought-after bachelor in the Empire. Thus, even if they do not approve of her origins, they have to appear noble and gentle in order to impress her and become their future mother-in-law.
"Have you heard? The Third Prince seemed to have dumped the Great Inventor?" One of the lower noble ladies opened the gossip in the banquet hall where a group of ladies are conversing.
"I know right?! Back then, the Third Prince would wait for the lady almost every day. They would go out like a newlywed couple."
Then one day, it seemed like it suddenly stopped! What could it be but the Third Prince losing interest in the so-called talented Lady?!"
"Well is it though? I don't see the Great Inventor going around these days, neither was the Third Prince. Isn't it just because the two were both busy because of the preparation for the upcoming event in the Empire?"
"It doesn't matter. I just hope that the Third Prince would not be so blinded by the lady's brilliance. For at the end of the day, her background is still questionable and not befitting for the Imperial Family."
The ladies let out a round of laughter then one said, "Oh, Lady Biorre, your words were stinging sharp!"
Lady Biorre only unfolded her fan and replied, "Well I am just telling the truth."
"Take away the fact that she was gracefully adopted by the Grandmasters, even with her achievement, she could have been only treated as a dame at most. Nothing more, nothing less!"
"I think so too! And are you not annoyed that she puts her nose in everything that was happening in the Empire? May it be the tournament or the committee… is there no end for her involvement in the matter?"
"Sounds nothing but an attention seeker to me?"
"Well, if the Prince ditched her, maybe she was trying to make her image better so that she could at least marry a low-rank noble!!"
"Ahahhaha! That might be the case! Let's wish her luck then!"
"Hahaha right!"
While they were engaging in a mocking, a tall domineering woman suddenly interjected the hall with her intimidating tone,
"My… my… who could it be but the daughters of the noble houses who turned out to have vulgar tongues!"
The ladies were startled and they slowly looked in the direction of the voice, it turns out the woman who interjected was none other than Alicia who was wearing a bold dark blue dress that amplified her elegance and intelligent aura.
"G-greetings L-lady Alicia." In truth, Alicia was not considered as the highest noble ranking lady in the crowd, however, her achievements and the Cross Family's prominence could not be beaten by any of the ladies present.
To date, only a lady from the marquis family or a lady of Eli's caliber could subdue her boldness and aggressiveness.
"I guess, for you ladies who did not even qualify to enter the institute to get educated, can only use limited vocabularies to mock a person ridden with accolades." She eyed the ladies coldly as she hid a mocking smile behind her embellished fan.
Seeing their angry yet constrained expression, Alicia felt satisfied so she let out a chuckle, "Hahaha! I pity you poor ladies who could only stay at home and depend on your tutors just to learn a little bit of the outside world!"
"L-lady Alicia, your words are a bit…" Alicia's words were actually loud enough that the men and other older women around could hear her mocking, and so the ladies could not help but become embarrassed by her words.
"What? Hurt about what I said? It's nothing but the truth?! If you have a bit of a brain, you would not go around the palace to let people hear your low intelligence mocking!"
"Hah! Just hearing how you rationalize your thoughts earlier, do you guys even know logic?"
"Hahaha! Just because you didn't see the third prince and the lady together you concluded that they weren't together?! Hahaha! Tell me, ladies, are you seriously using your brain's ability for sound reasoning?!"
"Yikes! I had goosebumps just remembering your statements earlier! One piece of advice, tell your fathers to get you a tutor who graduated from the Farauld Magic Institute and demand that the first thing they have to teach you is logical reasoning and sentence construction!"
The banquet hall become awkward as they heard Alicia's words, especially the parents of the ladies to whom Alicia was pertaining.
If they could dig a hole right now, they would immediately jump and bury themselves in it, for they cannot bear the humiliation of their daughters getting called out helplessly in an Imperial banquet.
Fortunately, the music in the hall changed as a cue for everyone to prepare to welcome the members of the Imperial Family.
The grand chamberlain once again announced the entrance of the Imperial Family. Kazimir and Arielle, Antoine and Evelyn, and since it was Queen Tehila's birthday, Governor Fidel was the one who stepped to escort First Queen Lucia.
Finally, Emperor Valentin and Queen Tehila entered the hall, clad in white and red matching outfits. With their demeanor and subtle interaction, everyone could conclude the mutual respect and love they have for each other.
Pausing to address the people on the platform, Emperor Valentin signaled Queen Tehila to address the people as the birthday celebrant.
"Thank you for coming here to celebrate the day of my birth. I am glad that every one of us had already moved forward after a terrible storm that happened in the Empire. Let the rest of the night be joyous and wonderful for everyone here in the hall!"
"We wish Her Highness the Second Queen a Happy Birthday!" The people raised their glasses in a toast as a response to her speech.
However, just as they thought that the music will start to kick in, Emperor Valentin stepped forward and also addressed the crowd.
"Before we officially start the banquet, let me announce another joyous event to celebrate for the night!" As Emperor Valentin spoke, there was an unconcealed trace of excitement in his voice.
"It is my pleasure and my great joy to announce to everyone in this banquet hall, that my youngest son, Leon Andrae de Seirende, Third Prince of the Empire, is now engaged to the Youngest Lady of the Farauld and Forgeworn Family, the Great Inventor, Lady Eli!"
As he waved his hands to point at the stairs, the music kicked in and all the members of the Imperial Family faced the direction where Leon and Eli were about to descend.
Too speechless and surprised about the announcement, the noblemen and aristocratic ladies could not do anything but watch in their own eyes as the couple descended like they were a pair of angels of love.
Eli was wearing an elegant beige dress with a fabric hugging her curves as the trail draped down like a gentle river. Her hair was trailing down her shoulders and neck as it was only adorned by a half braid and a trail of crystal flowers, embellished by a platinum ear cuff on her right ear.
Leon was dressed in his prince suit, but to match Eli's dress, his cuff links, and sash have a hint of silver. He looked extremely dashing as his red blood hair was gently brushed up on one side, showcasing his exemplary chiseled jawline.
The on-lookers held their breaths as they were left in awe of Eli and Leon's chemistry.
One had a demeanor of a woman filled with grace and wisdom, while the other was brimming with strength and fierceness, and yet they are both beautiful!
