Chapter 1285 A Powerful Toast
Evelyn gazed ahead in a daze—she was keeping a pleasant smile on her face as the people cast a look at her, and smiled back. A crowd could be seen before her, all the citizens of the newly established Dargena City.
It has been an hour since she connected to Adhara and helped calm Kyran down.
She was in the dark, but she knew the others were fighting still.
Having insights that what Rex and the others were doing was a big deal, she decided to host a banquet, and opened the castle ground for the people to feast. Due to the efficiency of the Aldri Family, the banquet was set in mere days.
Not grand but exceeded the people's expectations.
A banquet that would be a distraction for the people from the abnormalities.
As the city was still a toddler, and filled with new people, tonight was technically the first full moon these people experienced under the Silverstar Pack's reign, in calm times. The Ice and Snow Full Moon happened during war times so it didn't count.
Moreover, there was also the antics of Adhara being carried in a wounded state.
Rex planned that and the people were definitely worried.
Because of those abnormalities, a banquet such as this is appropriate to be held.
On top of that, this also serves to distract Evelyn from her nervousness.
Positioned at the base of the stairs—of the throne were Ryze and Naela, both were the only ones, who could accompany Evelyn. Across the corners of the room, and also the front yard was the Aldri Family and the guards in charge of security.
It was going smoothly and the people were excited about the lavish food and drinks.
"All of these foods are made from mutated animals above the sixth-rank realm!"
"Right, we're eating good tonight!"
"Eating good food is good but I only see the Empress here. No sight of the royal pack, even the Emperor, is not here—I was expecting to catch a glimpse of his grace. Also, what about Lady Adhara? She was badly wounded and there was no explanation"
"Shush! Complexities are not for the common folks like us"
"Besides, the Empress didn't seem to be troubled. Lady Adhara must've been fine"
"I guess that might be the case"
Listening to the conversation of these common folks from the side was Liliya.
She sipped a drink before glancing at Evelyn's direction.
Her eyes narrowed as Evelyn was wearing a beautiful white and golden royal dress.
It was dazzling, sticking out amongst the crimson and black theme of the throne room.
Not to mention—Ryze and Naela were also accentuated with bright-colored clothes and gold gemstones, that struck those who caught sight of them, like a lightning bolt. A dazzling show of that is somewhat far too grand for the occasion.
'Evelyn was a noble before all of this, right?' Liliya pondered. 'She's hiding something'
Just then, Evelyn was pulled from her trance when she heard someone call her.
"Your Majesty..."
Looking down from the throne, she saw a young human girl who was no older than twenty.
Gaining her attention, the young girl tried to approach but was stopped by Valthor.
"Leave her," Evelyn instructed as she descended the stairs.
Reaching the young girl, Evelyn bent down and pulled her hair behind her ear with a finger.
"Nadia, isn't it?" She asked, smiling gently.
Upon hearing this, Nadia's eyes widened, "Your Majesty know me?"
"Of course, the Emperor had mentioned a promising young girl to me and I'm guessing that is you," Evelyn replied, looking at the young girl, tenderly. "Also, I saw the wolf plushie you gave him, it's cute"
Almost instantly, Nadia averted her eyes away blushing, "He... He kept it?"
"How can he throw it away?" Evelyn chuckled and patted Nadia's head. "It's on his bed"
Feeling elated by the information, Nadia smiled but then she raised her gaze with eyes—that were filled with curiosity. It was obvious what she wanted to ask—and she did, "Where is His Majesty? Is he away?"
"Unfortunately, he is not here. But I'll tell him you said hi when he's back," Evelyn assured.
Giving a nod, she then looked around, searching for Nadia's guardian.
Realizing what she was doing, Nadia also scanned her eyes through the crowd.
Soon enough, her eyes lit up as she called, "Uncle Yosef!"
Despite her voice being loud enough to be heard, the man called Uncle Yosef who seemed to be standing at the edge entrance—to the neighboring hallway guarded by two Awakened did not budge from his spot.
It was certain that he heard Nadia but he ignored her regardless.
"Are you sure that's your guardian?" Evelyn asked, mildly frowning at the sight.
As opposed to the crowd gathering at the tables for food, this Uncle Yosef separated.
He seemed to be looking around in marvel at the throne room.
Embarrassed by the fact that she was being ignored in front of Evelyn, Nadia bowed and ran to Uncle Yosef. Evelyn looked at Uncle Yosef, feeling a bad premonition coming from him but she quickly shook her head and averted her attention away.
'I'm too stressed because of the others,' She pondered and ascended the stairs once again.
Just as she took a few steps forward, a sudden yelp reached her ears.
Recognizing the girly voice, Evelyn turned sharply and saw Nadia on the ground.
Seeing this made her eyes widen, momentarily stunned—as she did not understand how this happened. Recovering from her shock, she rushed towards Nadia—pushing aside the people on the way in a hurry.
Others might think Nadia was a nobody, but Evelyn knew that she was important.
As the Empress, she dedicated herself to learning more about her people.
Because of that, she learned that Nadia was not only favored by Rex but also had massive followers behind her from Lountain City, she was the co-leader of that group and was also loved by everyone.
Kneeling down, she cupped Nadia's cheeks and found a bruise there.
It seemed she got hit accidentally or hit by Uncle Yosef.
Unlike Evelyn who was oblivious, Valthor saw what happened to Nadia.
As she was tugging Uncle Yosef's clothes, he forcefully shrugged her off of him.
He accidentally elbowed her in the face because of that.
"Aren't you supposed to be her guardian?" Valthor asked, his eyes narrowing sharply.
Similarly, Evelyn also looked over to Uncle Yosef in question.
Despite being put in a spot—he looked over to Nadia without a hint of emotion in his face, he looked at Nadia, with such coldness in his eyes. It was almost as if he didn't know Nadia, and that shouldn't be the case.
However, realizing that he was becoming the center of attention, Uncle Yosef smiled.
"How clumsy of me, I didn't see you there, little Nadia!" He said, rushing over to help Nadia.
Propping Nadia up—Uncle Yosef pulled her towards him and looked at both Valthor and also Evelyn exchangeably, "Forgive me for making a scene, I was only marveling at the sight, and didn't pay attention to my surroundings"
Knowing that it was not polite to stay, Uncle Yosef excused himself, pulling Nadia with him.
As the two pierced the crowd, heading to the exit, Evelyn stood up.
She looked at Uncle Yosef's back with an evident frown.
'He's a normal Human, how did he bruise Nadia who was an Awakened?' Evelyn pondered.
It may be true that Uncle Yosef accidentally knocked Nadia behind him but he shouldn't have been able—to bruise Naela. She was in the fifth-rank realm, much stronger than—the regular people.
Feeling a bad premonition from this, Evelyn gave a subtle nod toward Valthor.
Swoosh!
Responding immediately, Valthor reached Uncle Yosef and placed his dagger on the neck.
Seeing this, the people instantly make way, avoiding them like a plague.
As the cold touch of a blade pressed against his neck, Uncle Yosef froze mid-track, catching Nadia's attention. In addition, the guards at the corners—quickly moved in, creating a violent spherical barrier of wind that trapped Nadia, Uncle Yosef, and Valthor within its confines.
Evelyn then came approaching from the back with elegant steps.
Her graceful eyes fixed on Uncle Yosef as she stopped a couple of steps away behind.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om
"Nadia, come here," Evelyn instructed with her pleasant voice.
Upon hearing this, Nadia cast one last look at Uncle Yosef before she nodded and exited the confines. She then immediately apologized when she reached Evelyn, "I'm sorry, uncle never acted like this before so there must be a reason"
"Oh, there's a reason indeed," Evelyn replied, squinting her eyes.
Pulling Nadia to her back, she then asked, "Who are you? How did you possess that body?"
Not even hiding his identity anymore, Uncle Yosef's eyes hummed with a golden light.
He then glanced over his shoulder and looked at Evelyn in the eyes.
"You took my people so I took yours..." He replied hauntingly.
Seeing this, Evelyn came to the realization instantly, 'An Angel, he came here for them,'
From the humming golden light within his eyes and also what he said, she could deduce that he was here for Catherine and Radiel. Somehow—this Angel possessed Uncle Yosef, "Let go of that man then we can talk or else I'll take this as a capital offense"
"Offense...?" the Angel shook his head. "Don't threaten me"
"Release them or I will make a mess of this man in front of these people," He added.
Upon hearing this, Nadia screamed, "No, uncle!"
Before she could run to Uncle Yosef, Evelyn already grabbed her but she kept on wailing.
Seeing this, the Angel smirked lightly in mock, deepening Evelyn's frown.
It was a sudden negotiation, and Evelyn's side was extremely weak with Nadia being like this—there was nothing she could do, and the Angel knew it. "Your Majesty, please! Uncle Yosef is a family, he took care of me! Give him what he wants, please!" Discover more content at empire
Nadia was already crying, she was strong but mentally she was still a young girl.
Compared to this intense situation, her mind wasn't ready.
"Listen to her, even her young mind knew what the right thing to do now," the Angel added.
Angered at the fact that this Angel was threatening Evelyn, Valthor clutched his dagger.
"Say the words, Your Majesty, and I'll drop him!" He said determinedly.
Keeping eye contact with the Angel, Evelyn then asked, "Can you afford the consequence?"
"I can afford it but can you...?" the Angel asked back, stealing a glance at Nadia.
Evelyn was at an extreme disadvantage, the Angel, knew where to press because of Nadia's reaction, and the onlookers around also limited her options. Just then—however, the Angel's eyes widened as he fell to his knees, clutching his head.
He wailed in pain as it seemed something attacked his mind.
Seeing this, Evelyn was surprised at the predicament but soon a smile crept to her face.
She waved her hand, signaling to the guards and Valthor to stand down.
Looking down at the Angel, who was overwhelmed by pain with composed elegance—Evelyn smiled at him, "Did you think barging here through possession would avoid you from the risk? This is the Silverstar Pack's castle, know your place, Angel"
As she said that, her features began to turn beast-sharp and her eyes glowed purple.
"You've shown your hands, this will never happen again" She continued.
Upon saying that, the entire castle trembled under an enormous surge of energy that seeped into the Angel's mind—overwhelming his possession. For a moment, the Angel screamed and wailed in pain until eventually, golden energy seeped out of his body and vanished.
Recognizing a threat, the castle's defensive mechanism was triggered.
It freed Uncle Yosef from the Angel's possession.
At this sight, the onlookers were stunned as the threat appeared and got neutralized quickly.
Evelyn turned away and walked to the serving table on the side, her heels rang in the silence as she grabbed herself a drink. She then turned to the citizens, and raised her drink, offering a toast to the onlookers, "May our enemies bathe in their arrogance for a full half-hour before the Emperor discerns their pride"
She swept her gaze across the people confidently.
Realizing what she meant and the defeat of the Angel, the people cheered, chanting praises.
All of them grabbed a drink and also raised it high.
Nodding firmly, Evelyn drank the glass in her hand in one go before turning around to leave.