Streamer Crazy About Slaughter - Chapter 474
Serin, following Dalki, entered the banquet hall and involuntarily widened her eyes.
“…!”
Before entering the banquet hall, she had already sensed something unusual from the soft light that peeked through. However, seeing the interior of the banquet hall firsthand far exceeded her expectations.
As an event held in the Imperial Palace, the scale was grand, but more than that, the beauty inside was astonishing.
Almost everywhere her gaze landed, luxurious decorations and patterns showcased this beauty.
The floor gleamed as it reflected light like white jade, while the columns scattered throughout the hall attracted attention with countless adornments.
Just how much effort must have been put into the decorations to create such a magnificent spectacle?
Yet, the banquet hall, with its Eastern ambiance, held something that sparked a sense of mystery.
On one side, mouthwatering and extravagant dishes were laid out in abundance, and in the center, well-dressed individuals engaged in quiet conversations.
Among them were a few people Serin had introduced herself to, but the majority seemed to be strangers.
Excluding those clad in armor or robed figures whose status could be inferred, most appeared to be nobles. They probably belonged to long-established families.
Typically, individuals raised in good environments, like nobles, naturally exuded a certain demeanor. Dressing in splendid attire was one of the distinguishing features.
“Stay close.”
As Dalki’s warm voice slowly guided her, Serin settled her heart and cautiously followed behind.
Given that it was a banquet hall, even her footsteps felt excessively conscious.
‘So many things are different.’
Though Dalki and she had entered the banquet hall together, there had been no announcement to signal their entrance. It felt somewhat similar to the banquets of the Grandelia Empire, yet distinctly different.
At Grandelia’s banquets, a hierarchy based on rank is observed. Each time a guest enters, the name of their family or their status is called out, drawing the attention of everyone present.
However, at this banquet of the Caldea Empire, such customs did not exist.
While the novelty was intriguing, Serin could feel the instant concentration of gazes upon them.
Sarak.
Sarak…
Though they had taken only a few steps toward the center of the banquet hall, Serin felt an overwhelming number of eyes fixated upon them.
Most of the gazes were directed at Dalki. Just by observing their looks, she could sense Dalki’s status anew.
‘A great hero… For Dalki, it probably carries even more weight.’
The looks were mainly filled with longing and admiration, thoroughly brimming with kindness. Additionally, the gaze that accompanied her, as she walked alongside Dalki, felt almost natural.
……
At the center of the banquet hall that Dalki approached stood a familiar figure to Serin.
Beneath brilliantly shining blond hair, a man wore a gentle smile. Since she had heard a brief mention of him from Dalki, Serin now knew exactly who he was.
—Albrecht Kyle.
The current Emperor of the Caldea Empire, a man who had recently ascended to the throne.
‘Dalki mentioned he was clever.’
Although Dalki had seemingly given a good evaluation of the Emperor, her sentiments ended there, as if she held no further thoughts.
Perhaps the Emperor had also recognized them, as she noticed him slowly turning his head.
“Your Majesty, it is a pleasure to meet you.”
As Dalki slowly offered her greeting, Serin followed suit, bowing.
“Oh, is that you? You are later than I expected. Did your attendant delay you?”
As the Emperor, clad in red formal attire, gazed at Dalki with his characteristic calm tone, Serin noticed Dalki smiled gently in response.
“No, I am sorry. I was a bit delayed because I was at a distance.”
“I see. Then there is nothing to be done.”
Though they were both smiling, their conversation abruptly came to an end, feeling somewhat perfunctory.
Suddenly, the Emperor turned his gaze toward Serin.
“And today, this banquet is the one that Lin and Dalki have requested for you, so please enjoy with no burden.”
“Yes… Your Majesty.”
While responding calmly, Serin felt it strange.
‘To think I would refer to someone other than Cecilia as “Your Majesty.”’
It was a situation she had never considered, and yet now, expressing it aloud felt uncomfortable.
At that moment of mixed feelings.
Suddenly, she realized the Emperor’s gaze had not left her.
Like that afternoon when their eyes first met. Once again, he was looking at her. A small doubt flickered in her mind, yet she did not shy away from his gaze.
Thus, when she met the Emperor’s blue eyes.
…The soft sound that had been audible faded away, enveloping the banquet hall in silence.
Feeling as if she had unexpectedly encountered stillness, she could vividly sense the majority of the gazes now focused upon her.
Even though she felt it, it was peculiar.
Gazing into the Emperor’s indifferent eyes, she found herself puzzled as to why he was looking at her, and why he remained silent.
‘What on earth is he thinking?’
At their first encounter, she had assumed the Emperor was scrutinizing her. As she accepted this notion, she found it unsettling.
But in a banquet hall filled with so many people.
In a state where her gaze was so prominently directed at her, it was unfathomable what it meant for him to remain silent while looking at her.
Perhaps he thought she would be flustered. Or maybe he didn’t like her earlier demeanor, causing him to fixate on her in such a way; she entertained a multitude of ideas while maintaining eye contact.
Now that she understood how much power Dalki wielded, she felt the Emperor’s unfeeling gaze carried another implication, and she needed to uncover its meaning.
“…”
“…”
At the moment when countless gazes fell upon her, crossing gazes with the Emperor.
He suddenly wore a gentle smile and spoke in a calm tone.
“The previous Emperor once referred to the beauty of a single woman as ‘a beauty that can govern a country.’”
With those words, the Emperor turned his head. His gaze settled directly on Dalki.
As Dalki received the gaze, silently smiled lightly, several individuals in the banquet hall held their breath. Just Dalki’s small smile had captivated them.
“Therefore, I too believed that there was no woman possessing beauty like you, Dalki, in the world.”
The Emperor’s continued words lacked any discernible emotion, feeling almost transparent.
He simply continued speaking as if expressing his presence with a soft prayer.
However, Serin realized something was peculiar about the Emperor’s words.
‘“Believed…” ?’
At that moment, she noticed Dalki subtly raising the corners of her mouth as she cast a glance in Serin’s direction.
Though her eyes appeared warm and inviting, there was an element of mischief lurking in them.
As a small sense of unease sprouted within her at Dalki’s gaze, the Emperor turned his attention back to her, and she suppressed a sigh that had risen within her.
“…”
Thus, when their gazes met once again, an indescribable sense of anxiety washed over her.
Suddenly, thoughts of what the Emperor might say filled her mind, and she desperately wished it would not be the case.
“However, today, I found my thoughts changed after seeing one woman.”
It was as if the Emperor spoke calmly for all the attendees to hear; his voice echoed throughout the banquet hall.
Thus, this sentiment was conveyed not only to her but reverberated through the silence that blanketed the hall for everyone to hear.
“Dalki, did you find my words unpleasant?”
As the Emperor’s calm voice directed toward Dalki, Serin felt immensely relieved.
‘What on earth is he thinking?’
He suddenly engaged her in conversation and made an odd comment.
Though it felt like spilled water, she genuinely hoped it would stop there.
She didn’t want to be overly concerned about such matters at this banquet.
“Certainly not.”
As Dalki responded slowly in her refined tone, the Emperor’s eyes glowed with satisfaction.
“Then that is a relief. The Lin you brought here strikes me as possessing a beauty equal to yours—or rather, she appears to possess an even more mysterious allure, in my view.”
As the Emperor unexpectedly made such a statement, Serin involuntarily broke into an awkward smile.
“…Thank you.”
She forced herself to say it with her stubbornly resisting lips and offered a small bow.
As she averted her gaze from the Emperor, he no longer fixed his eyes on her.
…
The conversation that followed between the Emperor and Dalki held little significance. Perhaps due to the weight of the previous remark, even as she listened, she found no thoughts arising from that discussion.
“Ah, I seem to have unintentionally spoken for too long. Surely there are still many whom I have not greeted. I do not wish to take up more of your time.”
“Yes, then…”
As Dalki bowed and began to walk, Serin followed suit slowly.
Yet, she had to endure the countless gazes pouring in upon her.
When she had entered, the attention focused on Dalki had now entirely shifted to her.
‘Well, it is to be expected.’
The Emperor had practically made it obvious where his interests lay.
While she thought this, she felt another sigh escaping her.
‘This isn’t the kind of situation I anticipated.’
The banquet she had hoped for before entering had unexpectedly transformed into an exceedingly uncomfortable affair.
Thus, as she trailed behind Dalki, unaware of her intended direction.
“So, how do you feel right now?”
Dalki’s calm voice reached her ears.
Looking ahead, she saw Dalki walking through the expansive banquet hall without directing her gaze.
“…Well, I suppose.”
As she raised her voice once more, she realized that any answer she could give was exceedingly limited.
Serin couldn’t discern Dalki’s intention in asking her.
Yet the Emperor had obviously taken an interest in her, and even though it made her uncomfortable, she could not reveal that outwardly.
If she openly exhibited discontent with the Emperor’s attention, such as wishing to harbor grievances against it, how would the people of the Caldea Empire present perceive her?
That was an answer she could easily visualize with just a little thought.
‘…It can’t be helped.’
As she attempted to quell her complicated emotions, an unexpected sensation flickered within her.
Come to think of it, Dalki hadn’t approached anyone in the banquet hall just now.
She merely walked past everyone.
Even now, the expectation and goodwill of those she passed by clearly transformed into disappointment.
‘Was she not trying to introduce me?’
Just as she wondered where Dalki might be heading.
“To her, you may speak your true feelings without reservation.”
Dalki’s voice brushed against her ear.
It felt cold, as if it were submerged within ice.