Chapter 113

Chapter Eighty-Five Father and Mother Part I

In the banquet hall on the first floor of Shanteer Castle.

The lady said that the entire hall covers more than 9,600 square meters when pieced together, larger than a football field.

Inside the hall, it was an artistic collision of black and water blue. Almost all the furnishings were predominantly black: black round tables, black-backed chairs, black stone brick walls, and even the huge luxurious chandelier hanging from the ceiling and the dozens of smaller pendant lights beside it were all black.

Fourteen thick black marble columns with exquisite patterns were carved with designs of moonlight and clouds, standing in perfect order along both sides of the hall.

If it were just pure black, it would be too oppressive, so the lady used refreshing gradient water blue as an accent. For example, tablecloths, cushion backs, and delicate porcelain plates and cutlery with intricate hollow carvings sparkled like stars under the light and candles.

It was close to noon, and the hall was already packed. Nearly a hundred round tables were fully occupied, and there weren’t enough seats. The lady had the butler temporarily move several long tables and countless chairs from the council hall to barely accommodate everyone.

People gathered in groups of three or five, holding their wine glasses and chatting merrily. As they clinked glasses, maids pushed carts of various delicacies onto the tables.

On the stage at the front of the hall, a band from the south, said to be very famous, played music with a jazz flavor, eight-part harmonies echoing around.

Across from the stage was the largest table in the hall. I sat upright next to Lafayette’s left, my face wearing a demure smile that never stopped, already feeling a slight numbness at the corners of my mouth.

The sumptuous food on the table, with its fragrant aroma wafting into my nose, made me swallow my saliva, my appetite growing.

“Thank you, thank you for coming today!” The duke raised his wine glass, smoothing his chest with a playful expression, “I am truly honored! My heart has been hanging in suspense recently, but now that you’re here, it finally rests.”

“No, no! Today we came specifically to have a meal, we should be the ones thanking you!”

“Hahaha, I bet the palace is much emptier than usual today, probably very quiet… But this place is lively!”

“Our Great Duke Scargrid’s appeal is extraordinary! Hahaha—” The short, stout man who was among the first to arrive also raised his glass, surveying the hall with a smile, “Look, there’s almost no room left, what does this mean?”

As soon as the short man finished speaking, an elderly man immediately chimed in.

“It means most people are wise enough to make the right choices at critical moments, doesn’t it?”

“Yes, yes~”

“That makes sense.”

“There are too many smart people in the empire, especially old folks like us, hahaha!”

The duke waved his hand down to signal everyone to quieten.

He pointed to his wine glass, “The temperature of the hundred-year-old snow wine can’t compare to your enthusiasm. Today is a very special day for Shanteer Castle…”

His gaze swept over everyone sitting before him.

There were short, stout men, Annie from Ellyne堡, Bishop Hobbs of the Holy Church, and of course, Carlos was there too. At this moment, he was idly picking at his fingers, his pristine white suit wrinkled from his slouching posture in the chair.

This kind of thing must be what he dislikes the most, right?

More faces I didn’t recognize, but at this moment, all these people focused their eyes on the duke, revealing eager glimmers in their eyes.

“In the new year, a new order. No need for more words, let’s drink our cups of wine. From now on, you’ll always be friends of Shanteer Castle!”

“Toasting!”

I hurriedly raised my glass, intending to take a small sip, but out of the corner of my eye, I saw everyone draining their glasses completely.

This seemed different from what I knew about Western etiquette.

There will be some differences. Perhaps due to its location in a region with perpetual winter, the wine culture of the Valen Empire has some resemblance to that of my homeland. Snow wine is not grape wine, so when making a toast, one should finish the drink in one go, especially in such formal occasions.

So I followed suit, tilting my head back and drinking the cup dry in one breath.

At this moment, only to hear Lady exclaim, “Pepe, no!”

In the next instant, a pungent and spicy taste exploded in my mouth, then surged up to my forehead. I suddenly remembered that I seemed… possibly… roughly, no longer as bold at the wine table as I used to be.

I lifted my head and smacked my lips twice.

I saw Lady, Duke, Lafayette, Pasifal, Sister Annie, and even Carlos staring at me in shock.

So I opened my little mouth and smiled at them, blinking my eyes.

“Uh… Pepe, have you become so capable of drinking now?”

When Annie asked this question, her expression was quite puzzled.

“I, I’ve always been able to drink well.”

My gaze shifted to the plate in front of me.

What was placed before me was exactly a dish… chicken? Lamb leg? Or something else, but it was definitely meat.

I’m a bit hungry.

“Pepe… are you okay?”

Lafayette asked worriedly. Looking at his expression, I frowned in displeasure.

Do you look down on me?

“I, I’m very capable!”

As I said this, I raised my hand and reached for the meat on the plate… reaching… huh, why can’t I grab it?

“Don’t!” Lafayette quickly grabbed my body, “Are you… dizzy?”

“Hahaha! Miss Peyelo, did she get drunk?”

“A single cup and she’s down? This doesn’t seem like the style of the Winter City!”

“Girls…”

“Haha, I forgot about this…” The Duke helplessly smiled and then looked up at everyone, “Sorry, sorry, my daughter’s tolerance for alcohol… is a bit weak. We usually don’t let her drink, so please don’t laugh at her.”

“Sigh~ No, no. Miss Peyelo knows she can’t drink but still drank such a big cup. This shows great sincerity; how could we laugh at her!”

“Yes!”

“Miss Peyelo, you’re so cute~”

“Pepe, are you really okay?”

Even Pasifal on my left asked me this, so I frowned even deeper.

How dare you treat me like this?

It’s not about anyone. When it comes to drinking, all of you here are amateurs.

“Pepe, eat something to settle your stomach.”

Lafayette handed me a fork from his hand, which had a piece of… smell it.

I sniffed it with my little nose, sensing it was a piece of meat, and swallowed it in one bite.

“Chew… chew… hmm…”

I wanted to speak, but couldn’t because I hadn’t finished chewing the food in my mouth. I felt a bit anxious and quickly increased my chewing speed.

“Why don’t you rest for a while?”

Lafayette said. I shook my head fiercely at him in annoyance.

I haven’t eaten much yet. You commoners, don’t think you can stop me!

“Haha, my foolish daughter might collapse soon… Shall I send her down to rest first? Let’s talk properly.”

“Mmm!!”

Hearing what the Duke said, I hurriedly glared at him, waving my little hand frantically.

“Hahaha—!”

“Miss Peyelo says she can still drink a few more cups.”

A burst of laughter echoed around, making me restless. The alcohol rushed to my head again, and everyone’s faces began to spin in my vision, my consciousness gradually becoming blurred.

In the next moment, I slammed the table hard.

Bang!

This sound startled everyone, and their gazes turned to me simultaneously.

I stood up abruptly.

Feeling the two tails behind my head swinging uncontrollably, I grabbed them with my hand.

My foot stumbled.

“Chew… chew… gulp, listen to me, say a few words.”