Chapter 73 - The King of Humans (Part 2)

  Nathan Evenhart:

  We had ehe grand hall of the mansion, and the pce was enormous. There were multiple tables draped with expensive, gold-embroidered cloths. The hall had beautiful windows with spaces for balies and a staircase that led down to a garden, but it was off-limits due to the guards on watch.

  The ceiling of the hall featured a rge, white globe that served as a magical light crystal, illuminating the entire space. The hall was stunning, even the floor was different—a polished marble with a slight pink hue.

  Many people were engaged in versation while servants moved around with trays of wine, simple drinks, and food. I grabbed some water and was surprised by the quality of the gss they used just for water. We settled at a table near a window, with my mother chatting with some people and my aunt.

  On the opposite side of the hall, there was a raised area with a massive wooden table adorned with precious stohis pce was called the ‘Royal Ptform.’ The table was close to the wall, with several beautiful red chairs oher side, and in the ter of those chairs was a rger ohat’s where the king and his ente would sit. They would dihere while the rest of us.

  I wandered over to a giant table where we could serve ourselves if we wanted. Some servants were pg dishes on our tables, but we were also free to take what we liked from the buffet.

  “There are quite a few good things here... and some I didn’t even ked,” I mused as I looked over the options. I was used to eating the typical food from my duchy, and I noticed that the feast included various dishes from all over the kingdom.

  “They even have these fancy sandwiches... how posh,” I thought as I picked up a sandwich with a toothpid a small paper fg representing the symbol of the duchy where it inated.

  “I highly reend the meat; it’s excellent,” said a voice behind me.

  I turned around and saw a beautiful red-haired woman.

  She pced her hand on my bad poio the meat.

  “I’m a bit tired of meat…” I replied.

  Thanks to a certain phoenix, I had gotteo eati every day…

  The red-haired woma out a small ugh.

  “Don’t I know you?” I asked her.

  The woman leaned in closer to my face.

  “I have the feeling I know you too, little boy. Could it be that you’re the oner I helped once?” she asked.

  I studied her for a moment, and then it hit me.

  The knight! She was the woman from the day of the kidnapping.

  “I think you’re mistaken…” I said, trying to deflect.

  I couldn’t afford to have any es linkio that event with the baron, and she had seen me… gods, she had seen Kinue! I just hoped she’d never cross paths with that baron again…

  She pced a finger on her , deep in thought.

  "If I also saw you on a certain day when I didn’t reveal myself… I would prefer to keep my presence a secret as well," she wi me and walked away.

  I watched the beautiful redhead disappear into the crowd as she headed down the corridor.

  If she doesn’t want to be identified that day either, who am I tue? I’ll go with the flow.

  I made my way back to the table where Chloe and Kinue were chatting.

  "I hope no ries to flirt with our mothers," I said to my cousin.

  I sat dowo them and begaing. They had a variety of different foods on their ptes. Chloe, dressed in a blue gown, was beira careful not to spill anything on herself.

  "I don’t want that to happeher, but it’s on in these circles," my cousin replied.

  If some son of a bitch does that...

  I had to rein in my anger when I noticed the gsses oable trembling slightly.

  Calm down… I o stay calm.

  I had gotteer at trolling my Killing I, but the downside was that onaster it, you have to keep your emotions in check or risk causing some unintended acts. It was challenging to trol my emotions while stu the body of an 11-year-old.

  "Do you wao grab anything for you from the buffet?" Kinue asked.

  "No, I just came back."

  "Could you get me a dessert? Anything you pick is alerfect," Chloe said.

  Kinue nodded and happily headed to the buffet table.

  I’m gd that scared little fox girl I o has finally e out of her shell and lost her fear of the world.

  I noticed a group of girls heading our way.

  "Hello! My name’s Alice," one of them greeted us.

  "Hi, it’s o meet you," Chloe responded, standing to greet them, and I followed her lead.

  They seemed like a small group of noble dies.

  "You’re the Evenharts? I tried the salmon from your duchy at the party—it’s delicious," anirl said, approag us.

  "nature dish is always a hit," I replied.

  "I’m Chloe, and this is Nate… I mean, Nathan."

  "I’m Alice Asalon. You probably know my father; he’s the Grand Duke who handles your duchy’s affairs."

  Oh! She’s royalty? The little girl is Ryan’s daughter.

  "Should I make a formal bow now?" I asked Chloe.

  "No need for that," Alice reassured me. "Soon we’ll all be friends at Apsalon, where there are no les or ranks—just apprentice mages."

  This girl is actually pretty polite.

  "Do you have a dance partner?" Alice asked me.

  "A dance partner?"

  Do I really have to dance here? Those lessons were a pain…

  "He does!" Chloe quickly chimed in.

  Alice let out a small ugh.

  "I don’t remember… Do I?" I asked, genuinely fused.

  I hadn’t pnned on this. I don’t want to dance.

  "You do!" Chloe insisted, smiling, but my back felt a sharp pinch.

  "Okay! I do!" I said, rubbing the sore spot on my back.

  Just as Alice was about to speak, a high-pitched sound echoed through the hall.

  "Silence!" a voianded.

  A knight in white armor with a winged horse emblem spoke, holding a stone.

  That stone amplifies his voice? Damn… I thought I’d ied that.

  I mao pull off a simir trick, mixing in a fairic crackle from a thundercp with the wind element, and the result was a loud voice.

  “The king will now give his speech!” the soldier announced loudly, holding the stone close to his mouth.

  aid attention, and the young dies returo their pces.

  Kinue came over with a pte in hand and stood beside us.

  “Is the presentation about to start?” she asked.

  “Looks like it. We o get in position,” I replied.

  Finally, I’m about to see the human king! He must be the pinnacle of power in this society. The king should be the purest essenagical power, above everyone else. What will he look like? Maybe something like Hercules? Or perhaps less muscur but more imposing, like Zeus?

  “Good evening, my dear friends…” said a man with a and a red cape, stepping up to the higher ptform.

  What the fuck? That fat guy is the king?