The champagne fountains scattered throughout the banquet hall flowed down, exuding a strong scent of honey.

The expensive channel decorated with mother-of-pearl tiles made a complete circle around the banquet hall along the walls, designed at a height where guests could stand and dip their glasses to drink the beverages.

Above such a channel, vines with ripe grapes were arranged, adding a natural beauty, and below the waterfall, there were plump apples and peaches floating around, creating a splendid sight.

But that’s not all.

Except for the dance floor, artistic pieces made of fruits were erected everywhere, and nearby, round, snow-white tables were placed for people to lean on while standing.

On top of that, about ten more chandeliers were installed and all lit up, making the interior of the banquet hall extremely shimmering and bright.

It was truly a paradise on earth.

The nobles attending the banquet were speechless at the sight of the banquet hall created with enormous wealth, as if proclaiming, “This is what it should be like.”

“Was Her Majesty the Empress’s ability to organize banquets always to this extent?”

“Wow. There was no need to worry about whether she could do well.”

“After all, her background is different.”

The noble ladies were already overwhelmed just by the light emitted from the crystal chandeliers.

The Empress’s banquet had a splendor that could not be found in the banquet prepared by the saint.

Moreover, this was not just a matter of arranging expensive things.

When the power of the best artists, architects, and skilled maids of the Empress’s palace combined with capital, the entire space became a work of art.

Plus, the fact that everything could be eaten was found amusing by the nobles of Nix.

“This… is extravagant.”

“That’s right. Those foods, they won’t be able to eat them all. It’s a waste.”

There were certainly groups trying to disparage the Empress in this way, but their voices were small.

After all, a banquet without waste does not exist.

When the banquet ends, the leftover food is primarily taken away by the servants and maids, and if there is still some left, it is distributed to the slums.

So even if it cost more, it was better than decorating with flowers that couldn’t even be eaten.

“Look over there. The saint is unable to say anything. She turned pale blue.”

“Oh my, then has she perhaps realized now? That the difference in background is inevitable.”

Some noble ladies chirped as if they were gloating, with their fans wide open.

Those with a strong sense of pride as nobles greatly disliked the current situation where the saint from Quid was receiving favor. But now that the Empress stepped up like this, they naturally wanted to side with the Empress.

“She’s looking this way.”

“I heard, but even if she hears, what can she do about it?”

And Helene heard all those gossip and engraved them in her heart.

She choked up, but as the unnamed noble lady said, she couldn’t say anything.

‘I… I can’t hold a banquet by spending this much money.’

It was frustrating.

Helene realized the moment she set foot in the banquet hall.

This was incomparable to the banquets she had been hosting.

‘But is that my fault? If I had a lot of money, I could have done this too. If I had a powerful family like the Duchy of Achillo, I could have done better than the Empress!’

Helene, whose eyes were brimming with tears because she felt her situation was unfair, tried not to cry. But she couldn’t help feeling miserable.

Today, Helene couldn’t enter with the Emperor.

The Empress who organized the banquet took that away too.

What made Helene’s mood plummet was the fact that Enrique approved of it.

‘Still, I could have entered together too. Why did you tell me to go first and make me hear these words?’

Until yesterday, Helene thought that no matter what the Empress prepared, how well could she have done it?

Since she had never hosted a banquet before, suddenly having to prepare a large-scale banquet would lead to mistakes. Perhaps she might not even be able to decorate the banquet hall properly.

Thinking like that, she fell asleep comfortably, but when she came out to see, a completely different situation from her expectations unfolded.

“The guests from the desert country are entering!”

Before she could even recover her mood, a cry announcing the entry of the distinguished guests was heard.

Pagans who believe in a false god. Savages living naked in the desert.

That’s how Helene thought of the people of the desert empire.

She felt a little better thinking they were worse than Quid.

“Huh…?”

But the next moment.

Helene opened her mouth slightly.

It was because she was greatly shocked.

When the door opened, the entourage from the desert country looked… so dashing.

Each and every one of them, whether man or woman, was as tall as a knight and had an excellent physique.

Their posture with their chests proudly pushed out was upright, and their downward gaze was filled with arrogance.

The white ceremonial attire with delicate golden embroidery seemed to be their traditional clothing, and it was so stylish that it completely shattered the notion that they would be uncivilized.

But among the desert country entourage, there was someone who particularly stood out.

‘Wow.’

Helene couldn’t take her eyes off the boy who entered at the very front.

Since his face still had a youthful look, he couldn’t be called a fully grown male, but he was so captivating.

‘He has the exact opposite charm of Enrique.’

Enrique is firm, calm, and already a complete man.

But the boy seemed somewhat unstable, and that much explosive and overflowing with vitality.

Helene unconsciously swallowed her saliva while looking at the boy.

A possessive desire abruptly reared its head.

At today’s welcoming banquet, there were no separate chairs prepared for the Emperor and Empress. It was because they were meeting an emperor of a country with equal status.

They didn’t want to create a situation where a dispute arises over the position of the chairs for no reason.

In the same context, to prevent unnecessary power struggles, it was decided that Enrique and I, along with the imperial couple of the desert country, would enter the banquet hall simultaneously.

“The great rulers of the two empires are entering!”

I had instructed the servants in charge of the doors in advance about the introduction for the imperial couples.

In diplomatic settings, a single word can become a problem.

Fights can even break out over who was called and introduced first.

‘But if we lump them together like this, we can avoid unnecessary disputes.’

I sincerely wondered with what confidence Helene volunteered to take charge of such an important banquet.

She didn’t seem to be the type to be meticulous enough to pay attention to even these small details.

“Magnificent! Is this a recreation of the land of the warriors from our mythology?”

The emperor of the desert country, Calick, appeared to be a good-natured person on the outside.

He had long, jet-black hair, a sharp jaw, and fierce eyes. Judging by the golden ornaments he wore, he seemed to enjoy adorning himself as well.

His personality was quite sociable; he did not hesitate to give compliments and did not hide his amazement.

But I didn’t forget that he had infiltrated his younger brother into this country.

‘What a petty bastard, pretending not to be.’

I wanted to sneer, but I skillfully hid my expression and answered.

“Thank you for recognizing it.”

“To welcome us so grandly, honestly, this is touching. I thought you would show off in your own way.”

“This is a guest reception, is it not? It’s only right to decorate it in a way that pleases the guests.”

“That matches my thoughts! Then, is there also the warriors’ alcohol?”

“Of course. What’s flowing in that river is all champagne made from honey. Quench your thirst to your heart’s content.”

While I was conversing with Calick, Enrique remained silent.

More precisely, he seemed unable to continue speaking, somewhat shocked by the scene inside the banquet hall.

‘Hmph.’

I snorted and lifted the glass brought by the attendant, placing it under the waterfall. The golden liquor quickly filled the transparent glass.

“Hahaha! Very witty. Very witty!”

“This is interesting, dear.”

Calick laughed heartily and lifted his glass, following my actions. Then, the other guests from the desert country also eagerly picked up glasses or plucked grapes to eat.

It was rather the nobles of Nix who were passive.

“According to our mythology, even if a warrior dies in this world, he lives eternally in paradise. In that paradise, there is alcohol with the scent of honey flowing and so many fruits that they pile up at your feet. Just like this place.”

“I heard Nix believes in a single god, but you respected our mythology and decorated the banquet hall like this. It’s something to be grateful for.”

As the imperial couple from the desert expressed their satisfaction, the nobles of Nix began to whisper.

“Was Her Majesty the Empress this knowledgeable?”

“To think she prepared the banquet while being familiar with the mythology of a foreign country. It’s amazing.”

“But if it’s a recreation of something from a foreign country’s mythology, it’s definitely something the saint couldn’t have done.”

“More precisely, it’s something the saint shouldn’t do. The mythologies of the two countries are very different.”

“And the church doesn’t acknowledge the gods of other countries. This… if the saint was in charge of the banquet, it could have caused diplomatic problems. I never thought about the possibility of the mythology of another country and this country’s mythology clashing… Did Her Majesty the Empress foresee even that?”

Ah, how sweet.

I listened to the whispers of the nobles and smiled slightly.

I didn’t need to step up and glorify myself.

Others would do it for me.

‘By the way, when do they plan to reveal their intentions? I hope they do it while my stamina can hold up.’

Considering various factors, I could endure in this banquet hall for about four hours.

Since there was no place to sit, anything more than that would be too much.

Still, since the banquet was held late, when four hours passed, it would be midnight.

The guests would also be tired, so they would probably go to sleep by then, and even if I left the banquet hall, there was nothing Helene could do.

‘What revelation did the desert country receive to come all the way here? Tell me quickly.’

With that thought, I slowly turned my head.

At the end of where my gaze settled, there was Helene.

Helene, with a clearly dejected appearance, was not smiling. Nor was she making that unlucky, signature expression of hers.

‘But who is she looking at like that… Ah.’

It was that kid.

Helene was looking at… that kid, not Enrique.

“She seems to like him.”

It was then.