Chapter 79: The Banquet p2
Isabella, sipping her wine, observed the other girls.
Each one possessed unique fate lines, threads of destiny unseen by ordinary people.
Just sitting here, she felt like she was at the center of a storm, especially with Kailun and Carol present. Their presence was captivating.
She couldn’t comprehend why a mere servant would possess such a powerful destiny. A single glimpse filled her with a sense of dread.
Kailun was shrouded in threads of fate, but Carol was something else entirely: a force of pure terror and despair.
She was like a demon who had destroyed the world.
And what terrified her most… her divination revealed that this destruction had already occurred.
Fate had been altered!
“Gulp, gulp!” She drained her glass, desperate to quell her fear.
Madness replaced fear.
She had made the right choice.
Carol: “…”
She felt an instinctive aversion to Isabella, an urge to obliterate her with a single spell.
Why? She had never met her before. Where did this hatred come from?
She took a sip of milk and scooted her chair closer to Kailun.
That was better.
Ella sipped her wine, too intimidated to speak. Anna, focused on the food, knew her place.
Vivian watched the dancers, envy filling her heart. She wanted to be like them, to possess their curves.
She glanced down at her flat chest and took a sip of milk.
Then she saw Isabella, whose chest was even flatter than hers. Her mood improved slightly.
The dinner, thanks to Kailun’s presence, wasn’t a somber affair. After the meal, he excused himself, taking Afra with him. The others remained, enjoying the dancers’ performance.
Even Afra, anticipating what was to come, seemed nervous. Her grip on his hand tightened.
If not for his enhanced Strength, she might have broken his bones.
He led her to his bedroom and, ignoring her apprehensive gaze, quickly undressed her and tossed her into the bathtub.
“Splash!”
He joined her, pulling her into his arms. He rested his chin on her shoulder, her skin softer than silk, and adjusted his position, finding comfort in her embrace.
He gazed at her breasts, his hands tracing her slender waist, pulling her closer.
Moonlight streamed through the window, bathing them in a silvery glow.
“I thought I would be filled with excitement, but holding you like this… I feel strangely at peace,” he murmured.
She pressed her legs together, trapping him playfully. “Your body tells a different story.”
“That’s just a natural reaction. My wife is so beautiful. I’d be a monster if I didn’t react.” His hands roamed her body, exploring every curve.
“Mmm…” She bit her lip, suppressing a moan. His touch sent shivers down her spine, her body responding in ways she couldn’t comprehend.
“You’re quite sensitive, Sister Afra. I doubt you’ll last the night.” He nibbled on her earlobe.
“Don’t call me ‘sister.’ I’m your wife now.” The word sparked a strange feeling within her.
His touch, his words… her body felt like it was on fire.
“Fine. But you have to call me ‘little brother.’ Or ‘Master.’” His tongue traced the shell of her ear.
He loved her. Her pure heart, her perfect body, her aloofness mixed with shyness…
He wanted to mold her into his image, to claim her warmth and gentleness, to revel in her embrace.
If he ever showed his vulnerable side, it would be to her.
She had been his anchor in his past life. She had already won.
“Kailun… little brother.” She whispered, her voice barely audible, her cheeks flushed.
“Good girl. I love it when you’re obedient, Sister Afra.” He hugged her tighter, her compliance arousing him.
“But I’m greedy. I want to hear you say it again. And this time, you’re not allowed to disappear.” He soothed her with words as he slowly invaded her body.
He teased her, tested her limits, explored her depths.
“I won’t leave. Even if you try to push me away… I don’t want to leave.” She tilted her head back, her breath coming in ragged gasps.
She surrendered to his touch, sinking deeper and deeper, losing herself in his embrace.
Her eyes fluttered closed as she bathed in the moonlight, her body relaxing.
“I’m not afraid of pain. Do as you please.” She whispered, her breath hot against his skin, shattering his last shred of restraint.
Like a warrior charging into battle, he claimed her, shattering her innocence.
“Mmm…” She bit his shoulder, punishing him for his ruthlessness.
A splash of red stained the water, her body trembling.
She had lied. She was afraid of pain. His shoulder bore the mark of her teeth.
“Stay with me forever. I can’t lose you again,” he murmured, his voice thick with emotion.
“You bad boy.” She rolled her eyes playfully and shifted her position, facing him, her legs wrapped around his waist.
She pulled his head towards her and kissed him, her body moving against his despite the pain, fulfilling his desires.
She would give him anything he wanted.
She always had.
They moved from the bathroom to the balcony, then to the bed. It was 3:00 am when it finally ended.
She possessed remarkable stamina, but his touch had ignited a fire within her, her body responding with an intensity she had never experienced before.
Perhaps next time, they would need Anna and Ella’s assistance.
He held her close, her soft breasts a comforting pillow, and drifted off to sleep.
The sun rose, painting the sky with hues of gold and crimson. Afra, a seasoned knight, had already recovered. She helped him dress, their movements practiced and familiar.
Unlike yesterday, their faces were alight with contentment.
After breakfast, he gathered Afra, Vivian, and Isabella and headed towards the palace.
It was time for another reckoning. He wondered if the ministers were prepared.
…
“Are you hungry, Princess Hilna?” Winnie asked, peering through the bars.
Hilna, touching her stomach, forced a smile. “No, not at all.”
“Really? You’re so strong! Not even a little hungry after a whole day without food.” Winnie sighed, her eyes pleading. “Do you think anyone will rescue us? We’ll starve to death in here! I want to warn my family! Tell them to flee this kingdom! This place is a nightmare!”
“Perhaps. She promised she would come for me.” Hilna sighed, pinning all her hopes on Shirley.
“Click!”
The cell door swung open. A tall figure crept inside.
“Your Highness! I’ve come to rescue you!” Shirley’s eyes lit up as she saw Hilna.
“Shirley?” Relief washed over Hilna, followed by a wave of anxiety. “How did you get in here?”
“I came to see Kailun this morning, but his maid told me he was out. She asked me to wait downstairs. I excused myself to use the restroom and then… well, I slipped away. I found a maid and… persuaded her to tell me where you were.” She puffed out her chest, proud of her ingenuity.
Hilna felt a surge of unease. “It was that simple?”
“Don’t worry, Your Highness! I’ll get you out of here!”
She drew her sword and slashed at the bars.
“Clang!” The metal rang, but the bars remained intact.
“Run, Shirley!” Hilna sensed danger.
“Crackle!”
A bolt of purple lightning shot from the bars, traveling along the sword and into Shirley’s body.
“Thud!” She collapsed, convulsing.
Hilna: “…”
Winnie: “…”
Carol and Phils, dressed as maids, emerged from the shadows, dragging Shirley’s unconscious body towards a large cage.
They locked her inside and left without a word, their movements practiced and efficient.
“Your Highness, was that your rescuer?” Winnie asked after a long silence.
Hilna, embarrassed, turned away. “No. That was… Shirley’s personal initiative. It had nothing to do with me.”
…
Main Hall, Royal Palace
The ministers had arrived early for the morning assembly.
But their numbers were noticeably smaller. At least ten were missing.
It was past 8:00 am, and the person in charge had yet to appear.
Before the king’s illness, he had presided over these assemblies. After his illness, the responsibility had fallen to Hilna.
Most of them had supported her in this power struggle. But yesterday afternoon, the unthinkable had happened: she had lost.
This assembly had been called by Vivian. Eager to avoid offending the potential new queen, they had arrived early.
“Mitchell, have you noticed how many of our colleagues are missing?” Nick, the portly minister, whispered to the elderly Mitchell.
“Indeed. Perhaps they’re protesting?”
“Hilna is likely under house arrest. Vivian controls the city now. I doubt they’d be so foolish. I have a bad feeling about this. Should we slip away before the assembly begins?” Nick, knowing his own transgressions, feared retribution. The absence of his usual allies only amplified his anxiety.
“You’re right. Let’s go. We’ll seek refuge with Lodis.”
They made their way towards the exit, but collided with Kailun’s entourage.
“Where are you gentlemen headed? Mind if I join you?” Kailun, flanked by Afra and Vivian, smiled pleasantly.
Roden and a small girl, her face hidden by a thick veil, followed behind them.
Nick and Mitchell froze, their legs trembling. “Master Kailun! A misunderstanding! We were just… relieving ourselves! We’ll be back shortly!” Nick stammered, wiping the sweat from his brow.
“Of course, of course. No need to explain.” He nodded understandingly. “But please do so here. No one is allowed to leave until the assembly is over.”
“But…”
“It’s fine. We can hold it. No problem,” Mitchell interjected quickly.
Kailun smiled, his eyes cold. He walked over to the throne and sat down, his posture casual yet domineering.
Vivian and Afra stood beside him. Roden blocked the entrance.
“Now that everyone is here, let’s begin.” He leaned back, his legs crossed, his arrogance on full display.
His behavior sent shivers down their spines.
“Master Kailun, many ministers are still missing. Shouldn’t we wait?” Nick asked, unable to contain his anxiety.
“No need. They won’t be joining us.”
“What do you mean?”
“Didn’t you hear? The Divine Church attacked their homes last night and slaughtered them. Those fiends! The City Guard arrived too late. They’re probably still roaming the city, those villains.” He looked at them, his face a mask of concern. “But don’t worry. You’re all valuable assets to the Xiya Kingdom. For your safety, I’ve ordered the army to surround your homes and protect your families. Now, if there are no further questions, let’s move on to today’s agenda.”
“Thud!” Mitchell, the elderly minister, collapsed, his knees buckling. Nick tried to help him up, but he was unresponsive.
The other ministers, despite their fear, managed to maintain their composure.
Kailun held up three fingers. “Today’s agenda is simple: increase taxes on the nobility, reduce taxes on the commoners, and purge this court of corrupt and greedy officials.”
“Thud!” Nick collapsed, his face pale.
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