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Chapter 77: Banquet part 2
🕑 Added 2024-06-21 16:44:47 +0000 UTCAs expected, the banquet wasn't ready. Many servants were still arranging tables and chairs. Even though the banquet was a standing buffet, they still had chairs at the side for those who had drunk too much alcohol. I had no idea why Ludwin called me here. What did he even want help with?
"Eli! So, how does it look?" Ludwin, the arrogant prick of a prince approached me. "We still have three hours. If you have any ideas or wishes, tell us. My father was grateful for what you did at the peace treaty, and he gave me some freedom to decorate this venue as I wished. I thought it was weird; you are the one who did the deed; why do I get the privilege? So, I invited you here to design the party."
I was dumbfounded. This prick invited me to dump his work on me? What a typical attitude of Althemer country. So, if people did well, they got more work? I couldn't exactly say that out loud, though, so I put forth some random suggestions.
"I see the buffet is all being piled in the middle. Don't you think it will be a bad idea for people to be congested in that area? How about we spread them out and make some stands here and there? Moreover, just because it is a buffet doesn't mean all the food needs to be ready-made. Soup could get cold. So, I think we should also bring pots and the cook here. With our mana stove, there won't be any smoke."
"To show the wealth of Althemer, we usually pile our food in the middle, then people start taking food according to their degree of importance. Food needed to be ready to eat because nobles didn't like to wait. But I guess it is typical of you to show concern even for small nobles." Ludwin muttered. "But it would show disrespect to the chef if his food were put in a corner, right?"
If all the food were in the middle, everyone would have to queue to take food. If we spaced out the tables, nobles would only line up for the food they wanted. It is more efficient that way. I had no idea why Althemer didn't see this. I guess the image of luxurious food and cuisine piled in the middle of the room impressed them so much that they forgot about convenience. Althemer! You need to care about UX more than just UI!
I decided not to debate with him about silly things such as food. After I said my piece, I closed the conversation and wandered around. I didn't forget to tell him to call me if he needed any more help. It was just for politeness' sake. Women shouldn't be put to work directly for this.
"Safira, how is it going?"
"Ah! Lady Elidranthia. Welcome. Would you like a taste?" Safira offered me some kind of milk concoction. She was preparing her ice cream. Ice cream would melt at room temperature, so she would only start making it ten minutes before the banquet.
"Nah. I will also be wearing this dress for the banquet. I don't want to get it dirty."
"Oh my. Of course. Sorry for my inattentiveness."
"Don't mind. So, what do you have?"
"Here is the cold milk that will be the main base of ice cream. There are chocolate chips, slices of banana, and oranges for toppings. "She pointed toward some pots and cut-up fruits.
"It looks delicious!"
"Your praise warms my heart! Thank you, Lady Eli."
"You are welcome."
Claire and Heracles then came. Even though she was so cooperative during the peace treaty, she still looked somewhat hostile to me. She greeted me nevertheless.
"Greetings, Princess Claire."
"Hello, Eli. How is it going?"
"I think I will manage. The party seems to be proceeding well, doesn't it?"
"Very well. In that case, I will excuse myself." She said and left the party venue. What transpired seemed like a typical greeting, but it wasn't. Now that talking and greetings were over, it was time to do my job. I walked out of the party venue toward Dregorn's guest room. However, inside I found maids cleaning the room.
"Excuse me, do you know where Sir Dregorn is?"
"He said he had an appointment with one of his friends. Since he planned to leave the castle after the banquet, I am tasked with cleaning the guest room, Lady Eli."
"Hm? Do you know where he went? Is it outside the noble quarters?" I tried to calm myself, but Eli was screaming inside. The maid trembled because I couldn't control my intimidation.
"Yes. If I am not mistaken, he went to a restaurant downtown."
"Does he plan to ditch the banquet after all?" I frowned hard, but the maid shook her head.
"Um… I don't think so. His belongings are still in his carriage. We will know if he wanted to leave the castle."
"I see…" I then hurried my steps. When I saw some idle guards, I told them to report to Ludwin and watch Dregorn's carriage. If he wanted to leave, it's all on him. But leaving without a word would put a mark on the royals. I suddenly stopped when a realization hit me. Wasn't this a perfect chance? Dregorn is alone now. I could take him.
However, Dregorn wasn't at the restaurant when I arrived. I tried to keep my cool and reassured myself that Dregorn was still in Althemer's royal castle. He couldn't possibly leave all of his stuff behind, could he?
"Eli! Where were you? The banquet is about to start," Ludwin said. "Ugh, you're sweating. I will ask the castle servants to let you take a bath. Dregorn is not a kindergarten. You don't need to search for him like that."
"But what if he is absent? Won't it tarnish our reputation?"
"If he is absent, it's his choice." Ludwin shrugged. "The peace treaty has concluded. All we have to do is send our delegate to Elderan. Dregorn is no longer important.”
"You're right. Sorry."
"Nah. It's fine. I know what you are thinking. It is certainly better if we leave a good impression on him. Let's go."
After returning to the castle, I did as I was told and prepared myself for the incoming banquet. Even though I appeared calm, the ghost inside me was not. She kept pressuring me to kill him, making my head dizzy.
"Look, Lady Eli. Ludwin took your advice. The food is now separated into different tables! We can line up wherever we want. Let's try Safira's ice cream!" Alica said excitedly. Her maid uniform fluttered as she turned to show how she and the castle maid worked to decorate the venue. I am not exactly impressed. The parties in the castle were too bourgeois for me.
"They are all still in the center, though…" What a Ludwin thing to do—taking half of the traditional method and half of my method. The food still appeared grandiose since it was still in the middle, but there were some alleys so people could line up at each food station. It's better than before, but it still feels cramped.
I looked around and saw a glint in the castle's window. The trap had been set by R661. If Dregorn came, it should aim at him. However, he has yet to arrive. Impatience started clouding my judgment, and I unconsciously tapped my foot on the floor.
"Are you waiting for someone, Lady Eli?" Alicia asked me.
"Eh? Ah… I am worried about Dregorn. He has yet to arrive."
"I see. It is certainly worrying, isn't it?" I knew I was not the only weird one here. Dregorn is a guest! If he didn't arrive, it would tarnish both of our reputations! Yet it seemed no one cared about him.
"Don't worry, Eli. Dregorn is coming," Ludwin said. "I have received word from a soldier."
"Good. Let me step out for a bit to get some fresh air." I sighed. Whenever I heard his name, Eli inside me was seething with hatred.
"But, there are so many guests here who are eager to meet you, Lady Eli." I looked at the people lining up behind Alicia. Judging from their looks, they appeared to be nobles from all three factions. I have no use for them. I already have Ronya from Bron faction. Slane faction worships magic, and I am the best mage in the kingdom. As for the Merchant faction, I have Nana and Safira. There is no need to entertain them.
"Well, the banquet has just started, Alicia. Let them enjoy the banquet first. It would be a shame to let our food go cold. I simply need to take a breather. Somehow my head is a bit dizzy. Maybe the light is a bit too dazzling." I smiled.
"Yeah, you shouldn't rush out to search for Dregorn in the city. You might get a cold due to the weather. I will prepare some warm baths and hot chocolate and milk after this party." Alicia let me go. She then looked toward the lining nobles and entertained them.
"Lady Eli!" A beautiful man greeted me after I stepped out of the party venue.
"Leon! Are you okay wearing that? Why are you walking out here so openly?" R661 approached me in his butler suit. Apparently, he didn't even need to use the secret path. The palace guard knew he was my butler, so when he came through the front door carrying crates, they didn't even question it and let him in. I almost popped my eyes out when I heard about the slacking guards.
"You weren't questioned by the guards carrying crossbow bolts?"
"The guards even smirked. They really want Dregorn dead," Leon shrugged. "Ah, this is a secret, but I overheard another assassination plot against Dregorn."
"... Not from me? How are they going to kill him?"
"I have no idea. I have no idea whether they were reapers or not. We can't contact R25B in the castle. Apparently, your plans weren't the only ones."
"Why? The treaty has been signed…"
"They probably think killing Dregorn would ignite the war again."
"I am not one to say this… but these nobles need to love their country more…"
"You wanted to kill him too, right?"
"Yes. I did…"
"Why? Could you tell me? I have no idea how high-level reapers think. There wasn't even any commission about killing Dregorn… I don't think it will be worth it."
"It's vengeance for me. It's personal…" I said. "And... There are commissions about killing Dregorn. You just didn't know it."
"I see. Maybe it's vengeance for them too. The war shamed the entire imperial guard." Leon frowned. he viewed me as a high-level reaper, huh? That's news to me. Did he want to learn how to earn a high earner in the Reaper community?
"Ugh… If the imperial guard was shamed, then they should start being loyal and follow orders!" I almost screamed my heart out.
"Maybe. But if the peace treaty succeeds, they won't have any chance to score merit except in the western frontier."
"Is Narwhal here?"
"Yes. I was tasked with planting the device, Narwhal is tasked with finding Dregorn."
"How did he come in?"
"Through the front door. He carried fruits you need for the banquet."
"I see. The banquet has already started. Where are Dregorn and Samuel…?" I muttered. The trap has been set up properly. This is the first time I set up a commission through the Reaper guild, so I was nervous, but they apparently did a good job.
"A fight happened on the west flank."
"Again? Slane and Bron should call it quits already…" Some guards ran in a hurry.
I felt a bad premonition. "Leon. Do you know where Nar… I mean, R663 went?"
"I think they went in the same direction as the guards that just passed us."
I hate it when my premonitions are right.
