National Banquet
“Wow…”
Nona sprawled out on top of the table. Vera showed no mercy. Vera grabbed Nona by her neck and pulled her up. Vera sternly ordered, “Get your act together. We’re at a national banquet. How can you be so slovenly? This has to do with our father’s reputation! How can you embarrass him?!”
“You’re right… Still, I’m so tired.”
“I agree.”
Daisy massaged her shoulders. She found having to wear such revealing formal clothing frustrating. Daisy wasn’t used to formal occasions. To be fair, none of them, except Vera, were. Daisy was just imitating and learning as she went, but she was genuinely exhausted after the long day. She was very envious of Miss Vera, who was akin to a blue rose in bloom, in the crowd. Daisy let out a soft sigh: “Where’s Liu Yue?”
The three of them looked around the circular table, only to discover. Liu Yue, who was always by their sides, was missing. Vera scanned the crowd: “I just saw her before… She was enjoying herself. Where has she run off to? Did she go to the restroom?”
Ying calmly spoke up from behind: “Going to the restroom at this national banquet is impolite. The people of this nation seem to consider patience and resisting urges to be a virtue, which is why nobody will go to the restroom. I suggest you do not drink too much; otherwise, we might not be able to handle this sort of banquet we are not used to.”
Vera’s admiration for Ying soared. She never dealt with the particular rule before when she attended banquets in the elven lands, humanity’s empire or the North. The three of them placed their cups down in unison and didn’t drink again.
“Do you know where Liu Yue went?”
“Ah, the last time I saw her was when she was over there. She is not there now, though… That said, the boy seems to be with her, so I do not think that there is a need to worry. He may not be a veteran or experienced guard, but he, at least, has courage and a sense of duty.”
Standing behind the sisters, Ying swept her cold gaze over the people around. She remained alert in case there was anyone who’d hurt the girls. Daisy swept her displeased gaze over the people then looked to Ying and exhaled: “I don’t have any idea when, but Liu Yue seemed to gradually separate from us. As opposed to saying he’s our bodyguard, shouldn’t he be considered Liu Yue’s bodyguard? Hasn’t he been a little too close to her recently?”
Vera contented, “You could say that… In saying that, Liu Yue has never been that close to us. She doesn’t live with us, or go to school with us. Her lifestyle, therefore, will be different to ours in some aspects. Anyway, I won’t get close to that youngster. Perhaps Liu Yue is more approachable to him since she lived with the commoners.”
Nona shook her head: “Liu Yue may be a noble, but she doesn’t have even our level of self-awareness.”
Unlike Nona’s mother, Liu Yue’s mother was a true tribe leader of the Moon Fox Tribe. The tribe consisting of just two individuals wasn’t an issue. As long as they hadn’t been exterminated, they were still a noble family according to the standards in the North. As such, Liu Yue’s background was far higher in status compared to Nona and Vera, who were the daughters of an elf with an ordinary background, as well as Daisy, who was the daughter of a commoner.
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“Hmm, hmm, hmm…”
Liu Yue sat outside the window. The space between the windows was so narrow that only one person could sit, yet she could casually sit on the edge. She had her shoes placed to a side. Smiling, she gently kicked her feet while blowing the air that carried the scent of flowers and watching the flowers sway with the winds.
“It is dangerous to sit here, Miss Liu Yue.” The youngster spoke out to Liu Yue in a soft voice so as to avoid startling her off the edge.
“It’s fine. I’m more worried about suffocating to death inside than falling down.”
“Are you? It appears you are not used to life here.”
“I rarely attend these sorts of banquets.”
“I thought you would have had lots of opportunities to attend such banquets as you are by King Troy’s side.”
“Haha, how shall I put it? I may be my father’s daughter, and my sister’s don’t look down on me or pick on me, but when it comes down to it, I’m just the daughter of King Troy’s mistress. Therefore, I rarely live in the Imperial Palace and, instead, live outside. That’s why I don’t attend many events in the Imperial Palace. I’ve only ever attended a few times. Dad won’t take the initiative to call for me to attend events. Even so, I know how much Dad loves me. My sisters are also really nice to me. I get to interact with lots of things outside of the palace, too. I miss out on life in the palace, but I get to see many flowers outside of the palace, so it doesn’t bother me.”
“I see.”
“What? Why do you sound as though you’re showing pity? Although my mom is a mistress, I’m not the type of kid people look down on or attack. Furthermore, I really like Dad.”
“It sounds as though your life is far livelier than it is here.”
“I feel as though life here is the life I’ve never experienced; it’s quite the new experience. There are so many people. The event is as grandeur. The palace is pretty. I’m quite happy to be here. The weather today is also nice. There are no accidents, either, while my sisters are having fun; hence, I, myself, am in a great mood. I just can’t handle having to walk around everywhere and dance.”
The youngster blushed at the sight of Liu Yue’s feet. He stopped staring, but the glass window quickly attracted his attention. Liu Yue probably didn’t notice that her tail was tapping against the glass, which attracted the attention of a good number of people.
“Miss, if it is all right with you, you should come back; otherwise, you might cause a disturbance…”
“Oh…”
Liu Yue turned her head around to suddenly notice her tail. She grumpily pulled her tail back. She then pulled the door open. The youngster stretched his hand out with a smile and said, “Please come on in, then. Be careful not to get hurt.”
“Mm, thank you.”
Liu Yue took hold of his hand and lightly stepped back into the building. Vera looked over to them and smiled: “Truthfully, I don’t think it’s a bad thing. If Liu Yue can find a different life, it’d be quite nice.”
“Doesn’t that make her a traitor, then?! Traitor!!”
“I don’t think that it’s fair to say that. After all, everybody has their own choice.”
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