Chapter 43
There was no need to worry about the style and class of a banquet hosted by the Wright Family.
The Royal Capital Cormier’s Royal Grand Hall welcomed its grandest gathering of the year.
Such was the status of the Wright Family, and the Hero served as the family’s emblem.
Naturally, the Hero’s birthday became a celebration for the entire family.
Xiarette stopped her carriage not far from the main entrance of the Grand Hall. She parted a small gap in the curtain to observe the current situation at the entrance.
The Grand Hall was brightly lit and festooned with decorations. Banners representing the royal family hung along the outer walls of the hall, with the Wright Family’s emblem displayed beside each royal banner.
This served to highlight the close, inseparable connection between royal authority and the Wright Family.
At the entrance stood two middle-aged butlers in crisp tailcoats. They stood upright, wearing professional smiles as they inspected the invitations held by the arriving guests and verified the identity of each person entering the hall.
Around them, soldiers from the royal palace stood guard, fully armed and vigilant.
Compared to calling this a birthday banquet, it would be more fitting to describe it as a grand gathering of the nobility.
Which was exactly why Xiarette felt so exhausted...
But fortunately, with this little one by her side today, no amount of worries could linger\~
“Sheffy, it’s time for us to get... hm? What is it?”
Just as she was about to remind Sheffy that it was time to step out of the carriage, she noticed Sheffy had lifted the curtain on the other side of the carriage, seemingly gazing into the sky.
Hearing Xiarette speak, Sheffy Harl lowered the curtain and turned back, spreading her hands with an unconcerned expression.
“It’s nothing, just a bit of a bad feeling. I get the sense that something troublesome might happen.”
“Bad feeling...? Seriously! What kind of thing? Do we need to take any precautions?”
“If I knew what it was, it wouldn’t be called a feeling now, would it... Xiarette, you’re really silly.”
“But...”
“It’s fine, it’s fine\~ My premonitions are usually pretty unreliable anyway. Like when I felt sure I wouldn’t catch any fish, but in the end, the big ones always end up in my hands!”
“That’s only because you jumped straight into the lake to grab them...”
“Exactly! A feeling is just a feeling, reality is reality. It doesn’t matter\~ If something really happens, we’ll deal with it then. Come on, come on, I need to hurry and see just how big your family’s cake is!”
"Hey?! Wait for me! Don’t run ahead, you can’t get in without me bringing you!"
"Heehee, then hurry up and catch up!"
The pitch-black sky looked slightly dim under the moonlight, as though the darkness itself was stirring, restless.
While running, Sheffy Harl’s sharp gaze swept back in a sidelong glance, as if it could pierce through the endless night sky.
Yet, in the next instant, it turned into a carefree smile. She waved and called Xiarette over to hurry inside.
Nothing’s going to stop me from facing off with that giant cake tonight!
44. Entrance
Miss Shaya did not need that prestigious invitation stamped with the Wright Family seal to enter the venue.
Of course, when she bounded ahead alone to the Grand Hall’s entrance, the two guards nearly crossed their spears to block her out.
But as soon as the soldiers saw Hero Xiarette following close behind, and saw the Hero placing her hand on the little girl’s shoulder...
The two spears were quickly withdrawn to make way, and no one questioned the girl’s identity any further.
Not only did they stop questioning, they even hurriedly offered an apology and wished the Hero a happy birthday!
Good grief...
This little one was charging the door like a raging monkey just now. If you’re accompanying the Hero, at least slow down a bit! Look at how you gave us such a fright.
Tonight, the Royal Grand Hall of Cormier was entirely the Wright Family’s domain. What the Wright Family said, went. Asking unnecessary questions was not the smart choice.
The hot-tempered Miss Shaya finally bounced her way into the Grand Hall.
But who would have thought! The moment she crossed into the hall, Shaya clasped her hands in front of her and walked step by measured step, each one as graceful as blooming lotus petals—transforming from a raging monkey into a dignified person in an instant.
This gave Xiarette quite a shock.
"Hiss... Shaya? Are you sick or something? Why are you walking like that?!"
"Huh? Isn’t this exactly how you’re supposed to walk at a banquet? Or am I supposed to keep hopping around the hall? That’s a weird question, you know."
"Uh... well, technically you’re right. I’m just shocked that... you can walk properly?"
"Wow, what did you think? Just because you’re taller than me, you look down on me? Since you’re my sister, I won’t call you a dog—so be grateful\~"
"Well, I really must thank you then..."
True enough.
Normally, seeing Sheffy acting all carefree and rough around the edges, one could easily forget her true identity—she was the First Demon Princess.
Even if she disliked studying, being constantly immersed in the environment of the Demon King’s family, mastering such basic etiquette was no trouble at all for Sheffy Harl.
This wasn’t some sudden whim that made her decide to walk with such a laborious and awkward stride.
She simply thought that since this was Xiarette’s birthday banquet, and with so many people in the banquet hall, if she kept hopping around and knocked someone over, that would be a disaster. Everyone here was a civilized, well-mannered person. Drawing too much attention would only get her thrown out!
Besides... after all, Xiarette had invited her here. Since she had come, she shouldn’t embarrass her.
As the two of them made their way along the corridor toward the main banquet hall, Xiarette leaned down.
She softly whispered a sentence into Sheffy’s ear.
"Thank you, Sheffy... you’re being considerate of your sister."
"Huh...?!"
"It’s alright, you can fool around as much as you want\~ No matter what mess you make, your sister will clean it up for you."
"Look at you, acting all big-sisterly."
Shaya’s pitch-black eyes sparkled as she spoke teasingly, though her head tilted to the side for once, avoiding direct eye contact with Xiarette.
Hmph... I’m not going to fool around.
If I did just because you told me to, wouldn’t that make me look like I had no backbone!
Since I’m already here, I’ll keep being elegant to the end. Simple as that.
Hmph, I don’t need you to clean up any mess for me\~
Artistic white porcelain sculptures lined both sides of the corridor. Once they passed through this slightly dim passageway, their view suddenly opened up.
It turned out that the interior of the Royal Grand Hall of Cormier was designed to be open and spacious.
Though it looked like such a towering palace from the outside, once inside—well, yes, it was very tall.
But it wasn’t built with layered, crowded floors; instead, when looking upward, one’s gaze could directly reach the top of the hall.
A sculpted ceiling lamp hung high above walls of multicolored crystal, filled densely with Light Magic Crystals. The lamp itself was an irregular, disk-shaped fixture with its four edges curled upward—an exquisite design.
Endless rows of dining tables were neatly arranged, draped with snowflake-patterned white tablecloths. Tall wine glasses filled with the kingdom’s finest wine clinked together, producing crisp, clear sounds amidst the mingling of guests—what a lively and splendid scene.
Light, bustle, liveliness, opulence—all the splendid elements one could imagine intertwined and surged throughout this vast space.
However—
The moment Xiarette stepped into the main banquet hall...
"Silence" seemed to spread like a contagion across the entire venue. In an instant, the hall fell completely silent.
Silence was always the prelude to the next wave of noise.
Moments later, the guests simultaneously turned their heads toward the banquet hall entrance, and a wave of applause erupted.
No one had forgotten the reason for today’s banquet.
The Hero had arrived—how could there be any reason not to applaud?
Some younger nobles, not fully understanding what was happening, joined in the clapping as well. Even if they didn’t grasp the occasion, they knew full well that this was not a place where they could act wantonly or without decorum.
According to custom, Xiarette naturally raised her left hand to wave in response to the guests.
Miss Shaya was also waving her little hand along!
Heehee, well, I’m standing right next to Xiarette after all. Since they’re clapping this way, it feels like they’re clapping for me too. Totally a win! Might as well bask in the glory, a complete success!
In truth, the applause lasted only a few seconds before fading. Everyone returned to whatever they were doing—or at least pretended to look busy by chatting with others.
As for the reason...
"Hero Xiarette! Miss Shaya! You’re here!"
Oh?
That familiar voice—it’s the silly princess!
Xiarette and Sheffy both looked up toward the source of the voice.
At the far end of the banquet hall, the kingdom’s Third Princess Livra Aurus was beaming with joy, lightly lifting the hem of her luxurious emerald-green gown—long enough to trail on the floor—as she ran over to them. It was clear she was very happy, and was trying her best to stay balanced without tripping on her gown.
Sheffy nearly laughed out loud. This one’s a princess and yet can’t handle wearing a formal gown—how lame is that!
The nobles on either side of the path instinctively lowered their heads and stepped aside, making way for Her Highness the Third Princess. No one dared to interrupt the princess as she went to speak with the Hero.
The banquet hall gradually returned to its earlier lively atmosphere. But no amount of noise could compare to Livra, who had already reached the two of them.
"Hero Xiarette, happy birthday!"
"Thank you for your kind wishes, Your Highness."
"And happy birthday to you too, Miss Shaya!"
"I’m not having a birthday."
"..."
Once again, with a single sentence, Miss Shaya brought the conversation to a halt—truly a rare talent.
But the more she acted this way, the brighter the light shone in Livra’s eyes.
"It’s alright, it’s alright. Miss Shaya, are you getting used to your time with the Knight Order?"
"I don’t go to the Knight... ah, forget it."
There was no need to kill the conversation twice in a row. It was better to just exchange a few words with this silly princess.
"It’s alright. The people in the Knight Order speak very nicely. They’re interesting and inspiring. I just don’t go there often."
"Mm-hmm, it’s wonderful that you’re willing to accept this role."
As she spoke, Livra lowered her voice and secretively revealed something to the two of them.
"You wouldn’t know\... but Father has been really worried lately. He’s afraid that Miss Shaya might not be happy with the trainee knight position he arranged for you. If you found it annoying and didn’t want to do it anymore, that would be quite troublesome!"
You’re absolutely right.
Except for the part where you really shouldn’t be telling me this directly—everything else you said is spot on.
Livra’s emerald-green eyes were very beautiful, sparkling as though she could go on chatting endlessly if someone just opened the topic.
Unfortunately, Her Highness the princess was about to be reined in.
From the same direction she had come running from earlier, two middle-aged maids now hurried over.
They looked around anxiously. Upon spotting Livra, their expressions visibly relaxed, and they quickly approached.
The two maids first bowed respectfully to Xiarette, then turned to Livra, breathless and frowning in reproach.
"Your Highness Livra...! Why did you run off all of a sudden!"
"Eh...? Is something going on right now? I only came over because I saw Hero Xiarette and Miss Shaya..."
"You still ask! Didn’t His Majesty give clear instructions? You were to remain seated in the reception room and wait until after welcoming the important guests before coming to the banquet hall! Your royal siblings are all here—why are you the only one running about? Please come back with us quickly!"
"Ah...! I know, I know! Just one more thing! Hero Xiarette! Miss Shaya! I hope you both have a wonderful time tonight! Have fun!"
"......"
Her Highness the princess had just run out, and now she was being hauled back in again.
Just listen to the way those maids spoke to her—not the least bit polite. Who knew how much extra work she’d caused the palace maids on a daily basis.
"Ahaha... Her Highness the Third Princess is as carefree as ever."
"Calling it ‘carefree’ is far too kind..."