CHAPTER 78: | THE GLAMOR OF SOCIETY

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  ? The Empire of Atlantis — Year ???? — Royal Banquet ?

  "Hear me, the Emperor of Atlantis!"

  A soft, endearing voice rang out as a woman stood atop the terrace, holding a golden chalice.

  She smiled softly and then raised it with an elegance befitting of a royalty.

  The nobles below raised their cups, gazing at their Emperor, the legend of their world, the Matron Mother of the Vampire.

  Time itself seemed to stop as their Emperor looked down with a dignity that radiated from her fragile form.

  Her snow-white hair swayed in the currents of the water, and her alluring, blood-red irises glowed with intensity.

  Her lips, which allured even the greatest sailors and nobles under her empire, curved into a smile.

  She pressed the chalice to her lips and drank the blood her people offered.

  Raising her hand, she gestured, as a beautiful man step forward.

  The man, with white hair and red eyes, carried the aura of an ancient vampire.

  He stepped forward, gracefully wiping her mouth, and then backed away as the Emperor smiled.

  The nobles below did not move or chatter.

  They simply gazed at their Emperor and smiled, for today’s events marked the establishment of Atlantis, where their ruler now reigned.

  "I, the Emperor of this empire, Ashin Sae Acoustine, declare the first sequence of this Banquet! Let us enjoy ourselves, for I, the Emperor, shall choose a new bride."

  At her announcement, nobles as handsome as peacocks and women as beautiful as phoenixes gathered in a circle around their Emperor.

  "Your Majesty, allow me, Kain, to show you my bedding techniques."

  Kain posed elegantly, his lifelong goal to impregnate the queen and engrave his name in history.

  But another candidate pushed him away.

  "No, allow me, your most beautiful Majesty, to show you my exquisite physique!"

  Pacin ripped his clothes apart, showcasing his physique to the Emperor.

  Ashin Sae Acoustine smiled and touched his abs.

  "Y-your Majesty! Such pleasure!"

  Pacin collapsed from the intense pleasure.

  As other young heirs of noble families, men and women, young and old, now tried their shot with the Emperor.

  ---

  "Um, Master?"

  A voice whispered next to me.

  "Is this truly a good idea to disguise ourselves as nobles here? Just look at those thirsty dogs pleading to be taken by the ruler of this empire. Isn't it disgraceful?"

  I smiled, hearing her concerns and her disgust for the nobles.

  Her feelings were understandable.

  Since why would nobles lower their dignity just to please one woman?

  This banquet was intriguing.

  Since It could end up as a massacre, or perhaps I would take my time to research this empire for something of interest.

  Solia, on the other hand, pointed at the Emperor, who was radiating the aura of a King-class humanoid demon beast.

  She sneered.

  "Isn't this situation an irony in itself? Since when did prideful overlords and sovereigns such as I serve a mere King-class humanoid?"

  I, too, couldn't help but find the situation more and more intriguing.

  How could she unify an entire empire under her thumb when she was a mere King?

  Quite the mystery you are, Ashin Sae Acoustine, I thought.

  But I didn't need to worry.

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  When I could squash you to death with a mere flick of my finger.

  "Hmmm?"

  I couldn't help but chuckle, then burst into laughter.

  The scent of the one whose existence I'd been longing for could be felt at this banquet.

  My smile widened into a terrifying grin, and Solia backed away.

  But before she could bump into someone, I grabbed her hand, pulled her close, and muttered in her ear.

  "Solia, gather some information about this place. I'm quite occupied at the moment."

  Solia gazed at my smiling face, and a shiver ran down her spine.

  "Got it?"

  I muttered.

  Solia nodded and bowed.

  Then in the next instant, I vanished.

  She looked around, then sighed.

  "Master, really?"

  ---

  A beautiful woman stood on the balcony, humming a song from her homeland in a sweet, delicate voice.

  "Where the starlight falls… I’ll be near,

  Whispering dreams… for you to hear.

  Follow the glow… it always calls,

  You’ll find me there…

  where the starlight falls…”

  The woman smiled, though a hint of loneliness could be seen in her serene blue irises.

  She glanced at the bioluminescent lights floating on the currents and whispered.

  "How I wonder..."

  But before she could continue, the sound of footsteps and then slow clapping echoed, cutting her off.

  A man with features as beautiful as a goddess walked toward her, applauding.

  Clap! Clap! Clap!

  She smiled gently, then bowed, and introduced herself.

  "Greetings, gentleman. My name is Samantha Eve Evangeline, the daughter of a mere viscount."

  Samantha then lifted her head and gazed at the man before her, whose presence exuded a sense of mystery.

  "May I boldly ask your purpose?"

  She said, direct as always.

  I bowed with a natural nobility and smiled as I met her eyes.

  "My apologies. It seems I've intentionally interrupted you, my lady. Please, allow me to introduce myself, albeit a little late. My name is Alister Von Fai, a noble from a faraway land."

  I paused, then asked.

  "But if I may, would you like to become mine?"

  Samantha was given no time to retort.

  As Alister Von Fai had already grabbed her dainty hand and kissed it.

  She closed her eyes, trying to calm herself.

  "Forgive me."

  She said when she finally spoke.

  "But isn't it rude to ask a lady you've just met to be yours?"

  I smiled, gazing directly into her eyes, and whispered.

  "Then forgive me, for my rudeness as im enchanted by your beautiful voice that it made me forget my manners."

  Samantha's smile returned as I continued.

  "Then how about we become friends?"

  She couldn't help but giggle, finding the situation quite funny.

  Nearby in the hallway, her peers whispered to each other about how they had just met a hidden prince on a balcony, indulging in their own wild delusions.

  But Samantha paid no mind to their whispers.

  "You're a funny guy."

  Samantha said.

  "but tell me, why would I associate myself with you when we've just met?"

  Strong as always, you are, Samantha, and that's what I've always liked about you, I thought.

  "Hahaha."

  I laughed.

  "It seems my lady isn't interested in me. My apologies."

  "..."

  Samantha closed her eyes in irritation.

  She gazed at me, still sitting on the terrace despite her rejection, and muttered.

  "Why are you not leaving?"

  I simply smiled.

  I met her gaze, then looked away, ignoring her question completely.

  Her irritation grew.

  She sat down on the terrace defiantly, muttering with faint anger in her voice.

  "Why, you..."

  But upon a sudden realization, she sighed and settled.

  She gazed at me, at the man whose appearance seemed impossible to sculpt even by the greatest artisan.

  "Well, this is not my palace, so suit yourself,"

  She said.

  "But tell me, why would a man as handsome as you associate yourself with a woman like me?"

  I smiled, looking her up and down.

  Her appearance was just below average, freckles dotted her face, her body wasn't particularly desirable, and her features weren't notable.

  But her clear blue eyes were...

  "Too alluring."

  I whispered, the words slipping out.

  Samantha giggled, amused by my slip-up.

  She muttered.

  "What do you find alluring in me, a woman whose appearance is so average? Why not pursue her majesty, the idol of this empire?"

  She lowered her head, a hint of pain in her eyes.

  Then, unwillingly, though she didn't know why, she muttered.

  "Maybe... just maybe you would bed her for yourself?"

  I chuckled and took her hand.

  It was calloused and scarred, a stark contrast to my own delicate hand, which was more beautiful than any woman's.

  I shook my head.

  "Why downgrade yourself?"

  I said.

  "You're just as beautiful as her."

  I smiled softly, feeling a tinge of emotion welling in my chest, and the words tumbled out.

  "Samantha, you're more than enough for a man as broken as me. So why delude yourself that you're ugly?"

  Samantha's mood lifted, and a soft smile returned to her face.

  She gazed at me and sighed.

  "But what can you get from me? I'm worse than my sisters. Even though I'm a daughter of my parents... I'm nothing more than their disgrace."

  Tears welled in her eyes and flooded her face.

  I smiled, a hint of amusement in my gaze, but quickly covered it.

  I met her gaze again, and she muttered.

  "Why me?"

  I kissed the back of her hand and smiled, then pulled her waist into my embrace, letting her head rest on my chest.

  I whispered into her.

  "Would you believe it if I said I've fallen for you?"

  That was the excuse I found in this life to torment you...

  Huh?

  Impossible.

  'Why am I being like this? Why do I feel pain seeing you cry? This is so strange, so why do I feel it?'

  Unknowingly, my hands had already embraced her tightly, and I was stroking her beautiful black hair, biting my lips.

  Is this the emotion of love?

  I questioned myself, tempted to abandon everything just to make her stop crying.

  It was a foreign feeling, something I couldn't stop.

  I smiled, then chuckled.

  "Why am I like this?"

  Samantha had already fallen asleep in my embrace.

  I slowly moved her head onto my lap, and I gazed at the bioluminescent currents floating by.

  I looked at her.

  "Solia."

  I said, my voice low.

  "Take care of everything. My marriage with her is to happen by any means possible."

  Solia bowed, a flicker of jealousy evident in her gaze as she looked at the woman in my embrace.

  Then she sighed and asked.

  "But why choose an average woman, Master?"

  I smirked, then muttered gently.

  "What do you mean, 'average'? Can't you see her beauty? Why question my taste? Just go and do your work. Do anything to make it happen!"

  Solia sighed as she walked away.

  "How stupid, Master."

  She said, her voice a low murmur that echoed down the hall.

  "To indulge in love and foolishly follow its string. You may regret it sooner or later, but I don't know, since it is you."

  I smiled, then heard her words fade into the distance.

  I gently stroked Samantha's face and, with another smile, I muttered.

  "I may be making a foolish mistake... but why worry when it is all within my control? Don't you think so?"

  I gazed at the currents of the sea, which resembled the sky above.

  Atlantis was hundreds of thousands of miles deep into the ocean, and I smiled.

  Maybe give it a try? ??