Publishedat 12th of July 2019 05:53:47 AMChapter 37
“For the Alliance” is no Longer a Slogan (Part 17)The national banquet was held in the evening . Therefore, it was when the palace was most bustling and busy . There were many people who were clearly officials or n.o.bles . All of the n.o.bles of Troy City were excited about the ball . The invitation to the banquet was the most financially valuable thing in Troy City . In reality, the n.o.bles, humans and elves who attended were divided into n.o.bles and servants . However, very few n.o.bles from the North attended . The reason for that was straightforward: Freya had killed most of the n.o.bles in the North .
Freya sent out lots of invitations to n.o.bles in Troy City, and she sent out lots of invitations that could be sold . Hence, the wealthy merchants in Troy City spent exorbitant sums to buy the remaining invitations . Then, they retailed them at even higher prices . Subsequently, lots of the costs in the palace for the event were reimbursed . With that said, though, I felt sorry for the people who bought the invites, because it was meaningless to attend .
The ball had yet to officially commence, but there was already a long line of horse carriages at the palace . The men dressed in extravagant clothing were accompanied by their even more extravagant female partners . Even those who had only met once were particularly close . After all, it was a very rare opportunity to be allowed here, so there was nothing wrong with getting to know each other better .
The women were dressed in their most premium clothing, flaunting themselves as if they were peac.o.c.ks . Their makeup and fragrances mixed with the men’s money and authority filled the palace . Because of the ball in the Imperial Palace, all areas of the palace were open . Choose a random strolling in the flower garden, and chances were they were a n.o.ble . The lowest ranked n.o.bles present in Troy City’s Imperial Palace were, in actual fact, high ranking leaders of specific regions .
Additionally, there were the diplomats dressed in simple but systematically uniformed uniforms . To them, it wasn’t just a ball but their battlefield . With all sorts of n.o.bles, barons and so forth attending the ball, every person they were able to recruit under their banner was a victory for them .
Humanity’s idea wasn’t firm . They just heard a different voice, so they had to rethink . The more they deliberated it, the more they questioned themselves . Generals forced their enemies to change their att.i.tude by defeating them on the battlefield . The diplomats tried to change things through those around the ruler or the ruler directly . While their life wouldn’t be at risk, the job, which was oftentimes to act as a spy, of theirs does put them at risk .
From the perspective of diplomats, women were their strongest weapon . Generals liked men, because men could bravely cut down enemies on the battlefield . With diplomats, however, a few words from a woman who slept with a man could convince him to open the doors to his city that countless men couldn’t break down . Women were very well-versed in that sort of stuff . Money, power and women were three things that men can’t resist the allure of . Women could easily be convinced, but they produced the most impactful results . It was just that they were heavily handicapped this time, as their targets they had to seduce were Vyvyan and Troy, who didn’t bring his wife .
The only woman with Troy was a woman they’d never seen before, and she was never alone . As for Luna, she wore a polite smile and refused to interact with anyone . She also refused all gifts and prohibited anybody from approaching the King’s living quarters . They didn’t even get to see Freya .
I gave Dragon Mom a smile . Her dark purple skin covered her veins that could scare people; hence, she strongly resembled an enchanting mature woman . She nervously checked her clothes . Her clothes were authentic and expensive . They weren’t scales . She had clothes provided before, but n.o.body could tell if she wasn’t dressed . She didn’t like clothes too much . She felt that they were too stuffy .
When you see Dragon Mom’s fluttering dress, realise that it may not be her clothes . She may very well be completely naked… and they were just her scales… If you wanted to touch her, be prepared to have your skin shaved off by her scales . I always wrestled with myself whenever I saw Dragon Mom daily . Logically, she should be nude, because she wasn’t wearing clothes, but what do you consider scales then? Are they clothes or not?
I told Dragon Mom I hoped to see her wear specific formal clothes I had prepared . That was why she was dressed for the event . She nervously tugged on her clothes: “Son, do I look good in this?”
“Uhm, it’s very becoming of you, Mom . ”
“Really?!” Mom’s immediately revealed a cheerful look . She was the same as a child . She let out a breath of relief and excitedly examined herself . She then exclaimed, “Since you think I look good in it, I’ll wear it every day for you to see!”
I shook my head with a smile: “I think it’s better not to . It’s tough to wear it on . ”
Mom lightly spun around with a smile then grabbed hold of my hand . I was initially worried she would have problems due to not being used to clothes, but she looked fine . I held her hand and nodded, “This is a very formal banquet, Mom . Will you feel slightly nervous, since the first banquet you’re attending is so grand?”
“Mommy is fine as long as you are by Mommy’s side . ”
Dragon Mom looked nervous to me despite saying that . I looked into her eyes and shook my head with a smile: “It’s all right, Mom . You don’t have to worry . It’s an important banquet, but it has nothing to do with you, so you just need to remain polite . Oh, right, one more thing . When people approach you to talk about my business, just come to me . ”
Dragon Mom gave me a firm nod: “Uhm, understood . ”
I knew she had repeated to herself what she needed to remember in her mind countless times, and therefore wasn’t worried . In actuality, my last reminder was pointless, as they couldn’t change the situation even if they did do something to her .
When the two of us stepped outside, Luna , with a smile, bowed: “Your Majesty, are you ready? All of the guests have arrived . You need to commence the event . Have you prepared somebody to dance with?”
I nodded; then I pulled over Dragon Mom: “I’m dancing with Mom . ”
Luna revealed a look of surprise . She never expected me to dance the opening dance with Dragon Mom . Usually, I’d dance with Vyvyan, Elizabeth or, at the very least, Lucia . Lucia was my officially acknowledged Queen . Nier was acknowledged in the palace, too, but Lucia was the one who appeared at events . If Nier wanted to accompany me at such a formal occasion, she’d have to accompany me as a bodyguard .
Needless to say, I didn’t dare thoughtlessly dance with Vyvyan or Elizabeth, for I could only dance with one of them . Both of them put a lot of weight on it . If I pulled one of them away for a dance, the other would definitely be enraged, consequently impacting the alliance . The only way we could ensure the success of the alliance was if I ensured they were in the right mood .
The ball venue took up an entire hall . Being there felt different . I attended several b.a.l.l.s in humanity’s lands, and they were marvellous b.a.l.l.s . We also held a ball at Troy City before, but it didn’t feel so large at the time . Elizabeth and Vyvyan’s appearances were breathtaking as usual . The two seemed as though all of the beauty on the continent was collected on them .
Vyvyan wore a tight dress with the elves’ unique emerald, generously revealing the top half of her b.r.e.a.s.t.s . I had no idea if her fas.h.i.+on style had begun to change or what . I remember she used to wear a loose dress . Mommy Elizabeth wore a dress, which was still a rare sight to behold . She wore a black crystal necklace that went with her black eyes and long hair . If my memory does me justice, it was the first time she did her hair . Her soft hair was splayed behind her, but her eyes were still void of gentleness .
Mommy Vyvyan and Mommy Elizabeth looked at me . I responded with a very apologetic expression and then pulled over Dragon Mom . The two of them froze up first . Then they gave me a smile to signal for me not to worry . It seemed they knew why I had to choose Dragon Mom .
Dragon Mom held my hand . With a smile, she followed me to the centre, where we began to dance to the music .
Vyvyan whispered to Elizabeth, “If it wasn’t for you, I would be the one dancing with my son right now . ”
Elizabeth grumpily fired back at Vyvyan, “Right back at you . ”
Vyvyan softly chuckled: “You want to watch her win while we fight?”
Elizabeth peered at Vyvyan with a hint of surprise . She had no idea what the elf was planning . Vyvyan extended her hand out with a smile: “Do you still know how to dance after killing so many for over all these years?”
“What do you want?”
Elizabeth took hold of Vyvyan’s hand without so much as a clue as to what Vyvyan was up to . Vyvyan yanked her over with a smile, pulling Elizabeth into her arms . Vyvyan laughed: “Let’s go destroy their dance . Let’s do it as we once did . Didn’t you used to dance together with me long ago? If you still remember how to dance, then let’s do it again . ”
A ridiculing smile crept up on Elizabeth’s face . She took hold of Vyvyan’s hand: “I’m certainly all right, but how about you, Vyvyan? You’ve never been a very good dancer . ”
“Let’s see for ourselves, then . Let’s see if you’ve aged or not . ”