Chapter 818

Chapter 818: Small Banquet

In the quiet Rose Palace shrouded by the night, only the faint crackling of flames could be heard, with a few sparks dispersing in the evening breeze.

As the most powerful extraordinary being in the imperial capital at present, Derosa remained silent after hearing the queen’s order. He neither nodded in agreement nor spoke in opposition; instead, he stood quietly on the slightly cold stone floor, his gaze slowly sweeping over the people beside the queen. His gaze was colder than the ice of deep winter.

“Your Majesty, please consider this carefully. The imperial capital is currently unstable. If your subjects leave, unexpected events might occur,” said the man, lowering his head slightly and looking directly at the ground.

“Lily,” Lorraine found herself momentarily speechless.

Indeed, she had mustered great courage to rebuke this captain of the royal guard. Compared to her weak strength and gentle nature, this man was a killer who seemed to have carved his body out of cold rock. Just standing there, he exuded a chilling and terrifying power.

Although she disliked this captain of the royal guard who carried out massacres, she had to admit that his presence ensured the safety of mother and child in the face of the current dire situation.

The words she had prepared for so long were stuck in her throat, unable to be spoken.

The soft red queen blinked back the tears welling up in her eyes, took a deep breath, and suppressed her overwhelming emotions.

“Derosa, halt the purge.” With that, she turned around immediately, not giving him a chance to argue or oppose, then left hastily, taking several maids with her.

Watching the queen’s silhouette disappear into the night, Derosa remained standing silently until he could no longer see Lily’s figure.

“I take my leave,” he said, then led his people out of the Rose Palace.

The next morning, the residents of the imperial capital noticed that today was unusually quiet. There was no scene of executions at the central square as usual, and the streets were clean, free of hanging corpses and blood.

However, the accumulated fear did not dissipate easily. People still lived cautiously, afraid of the red-robed death god appearing again, and dared not make loud noises.

In the courtyard of the Lagatis Guild, the members of the trade caravan began to wake up one by one from their sleep, making the courtyard gradually lively.

In the bedroom, Loran Hill sat in front of the dressing mirror. Two maids helped her with her hair and clothing. They first combed through her silky golden hair, then dressed her in an intricately embroidered gown.

Black diamond-patterned embroidery adorned the sides of her black stockings, while the red dress featured black lacing across its middle. The hem was decorated with black roses, complemented by black lace gloves. This was the most popular attire among the nobility of the Crimson Empire, now worn by this young girl.

This dark and aggressive dress contrasted sharply with her pure aura, creating a striking charm.

“It feels a bit like a demon,” Loran Hill looked at herself in the mirror, blinking slightly, confirming that the bewitching girl in the mirror was indeed herself.

Is this what makeup and dressing do? It feels like I’ve become a completely different person.

“The Miss Lacy is naturally beautiful. With such dressing, she will surely drive all the nobles in the imperial capital crazy,” one of the elven maids exclaimed excitedly, as if witnessing the birth of a masterpiece in her hands.

“Yes, sister is right. Miss Lacy needn’t worry. This style is absolutely the most popular in the empire,” another elven girl nodded in approval.

As long-lived elves who frequently visited the imperial capital, they had seen many noble ladies, but such stunning ones like Loran Hill were rare.

The first time was over a decade ago, when the future White Queen, Florasia, caused a sensation in the imperial capital as the crown princess.

“Alright, it seems we can only do this,” the girl in the mirror showed a somewhat helpless expression.

Now, she wanted to quickly get close to the circles of nobility in the empire, understand the thoughts and current state of the upper echelons, and meeting Lily would be even better. She wouldn’t stay here for long, but she hoped to gain some insights during this time.

Beauty may bring trouble, but it cannot be denied that it is a sharp key to opening doors, saving much time and effort.

Start with some ordinary nobles.

After some thought, Loran Hill stood up, holding her skirt. Today, she planned to visit some noble families close to the elves, establishing her reputation, and then host a small banquet a week later to spread the word about the guild and herself.

Once she gained some fame, she would seize the opportunity to sell eastern goods and connect with the major nobles, engaging in close conversations and understanding their intentions and situations. Only then could she determine her subsequent actions.

After all, the empire was vast, with a large population. Even if reforms were desired, they couldn’t be achieved overnight. It was best to investigate thoroughly before taking action.

So, let’s start from today.

The imperial capital, which had been stained with blood, finally returned to peace. Some well-informed nobles also learned the reason why Derosa had ceased his purge.

“Thank the merciful and compassionate queen, who bravely endured her sorrow and stopped the grief from spreading.”

At the banquet, a corpulent nobleman raised his glass, expressing his gratitude. Although there was flattery involved, it wasn’t entirely insincere. The current improvement in the situation indeed brought relief to many.

“Thank the queen.”

Gradually, more people at the banquet voiced their gratitude, raising their glasses and drinking together.

Loran Hill put down her transparent glass cup, her serene face slightly flushed, giving off a dreamy beauty. Although she organized this banquet, she still felt somewhat uncomfortable, as she was not someone who enjoyed socializing.

Fortunately, there were a few helpers assisting this lady who was not good at socializing.

“Gentlemen and ladies, please enjoy the captivating music from the East,” said an elven youth in a white robe, clapping lightly. Then, elven musicians carrying pipas, horizontal flutes, and other Eastern instruments entered, wearing smooth silk dresses in moon-white, embroidered with blue rose patterns, exuding a mysterious Oriental beauty.

All the tableware at the banquet used Eastern porcelain, and the tea was a precious black tea from the East. Decorations, music, and the maids’ attire were filled with numerous Eastern elements, surprising the nobles who had lived in the imperial capital for a long time.

They had encountered some Eastern things before, but never so many and comprehensively, giving them a complete sensory experience.

When the beautiful music ended, everyone praised it again.

“Thank you, Miss Lacy, for bringing us this long-awaited moment of beauty.”

Everyone’s attention once again focused on the mysterious and dreamy young girl in the black-red dress at the banquet.

(End of Chapter)