New World, New Life: I Became A Bigshot In The Ancient World
Chapter 76: THE LAST DAY OF THE BANQUET

Chapter 76: THE LAST DAY OF THE BANQUET

"Why didn’t you go visit your family and spend the festival with them? Are you not on good terms with your family?" Aristia asked.

Rosalind and Sienna, Beatrix and Serina’s personal maids had asked for leave to visit their family and spend the festival with them. They would only be back the next day.

Adeline, on the other hand, had not done the same. Aristia had even offered her leave so that she could visit her family, but the latter declined the offer.

Come to think of it, she hadn’t heard Adeline mention her family before. She knew nothing about her family.

Aristia wondered if she didn’t have an ideal relationship with her family but she had considerately refrained from asking. But now, she felt a need to know.

Adeline replied her query, "It’s not that, princess. I just did not want to leave you. If I do, who will assist you?"

Aristia almost asked her if she was being serious. She turned her gaze to the side. "There are other servants in the palace." She said with a pointed look. Was she more important to Adeline than her own family?

Suddenly, Adeline’s eyes welled up with tears.

"Princess, you want to replace me?" She asked.

Aristia turned to stare at her face. Then she shook her head. "Why would you think that?!"

"Princess said you would use other servants. Doesn’t that mean that this servant will be replaced?" Adeline asked.

Aristia stared in disbelief. "What? I said I would use other servants so that you would be able to visit your family and spend the festival and celebration with them. I was not and am not going to replace you." Aristia sighed.

Adeline was a good servant after all. She was loyal, careful, diligent and beautiful. Even though she could be strange at times.

Aristia also seemed to have gotten

used to her presence and personality these few months in this world. So no, she wasn’t planning to replace her.

Adeline also knew things that others didn’t know, such as the restaurant. This was because she was loyal, just as the novel had described.

"Princess really cares about me. I’m glad." Adeline said with emotion, exaggeratedly. Her tears threatened to spill but her eyes sparkled with glee.

Aristia was speechless. She stayed silent and looked ahead.

They had arrived at the stream they stopped at the last time they rode in the forest.

They dismounted the horses and allowed the horses to drink from the stream and rest a bit, while they sat down on some large rocks on the ground in front of the sparkling stream.

The sun was high up in the sky and reflected on the clear water. Occasionally, some fishes would be seen swimming around. Birds flew above them, chirping and tweeting. The environment created a peaceful atmosphere that brought a soothing calm to them as they sat quietly.

No one said a word, quietly reveling in the moment.

After some time had passed, Adeline said, "Princesses, prince. It is time we return to the palace. It is almost time for the banquet."

[There’s still a few hours left before the banquet. She meant to say it’s time to begin the preparation for the banquet.] Aristia stood up helplessly and patted the dust off her dress.

Alaric sighed. He knew they had to go but he wished they could stay longer. He felt a hand pat his head warmly. He looked up to see his older sister smiling down at him.

"Don’t be sad, Al. There’s plenty of time. We’ll get to return next time. Then, we might even stay longer. Let’s go prepare for the banquet," she said comfortingly.

They climbed back on the horses and rode back to the palace. As soon as they arrived at the palace, they were whisked away by the maids.

After undergoing various thorough spa-like treatment, Aristia was finally deemed ready by Adeline for the banquet.

She was dressed in a white gown. The lower layer of the gown had gold designs. They formed a pattern starting with the bottom of the dress and working its way to the middle of the skirt. Half of her hair had been let down and the other half was tied up and held with a golden hairpin.

Aristia smiled in satisfaction and left her room, heading in the direction of the parlour.

The royal family members would gather in the parlour of the main palace. They would head in together and this time, the royal Grandparents, Melvin and Melissa, would be present.

Aristia, headed to the main parlour. Adeline followed behind her.

"You should take a break, Linny."

"No, princess, I-"

"Adeline!" Aristia cut her off sternly and stopped in her steps.

"It’s time for the banquet, you can take a rest. I’ll see you once the banquet is over," she then continued walking.

She sighed. Adeline couldn’t be following her around the banquet.

She arrived in front of the door to the main palace. The guard bowed and opened the door and she nodded at him.

Her grandparents were already seated in the parlour.

Melissa was dressed in a white gown with gold intricate designs. The dress was embedded with little gems and diamonds. The gown alone screamed splendour. Her hair was done neatly and carefully, leaving some strands falling on her shoulder. It was pinned with a golden hairpin.

"Grandma, you look beautiful as always." Aristia complimented Melissa. She didn’t lie. Melissa at forty-five wasn’t old and didn’t look old at all. She could be mistaken for someone in her late thirties.

[Well, that’s to be expected considering the age they get married. Most of the noble ladies get married at sixteen years of age. That’s underage in modern times, even though child marriages still take place and is accepted in some places.] Aristia thought on the inside while retaining the sweet smile on her face.

Grandma Melissa smiled, "Why, thank you Tia. Especially for this dress." Her eyes held pride at how gifted her granddaughter was.

"Child, that is what I was supposed to say." Melvin said in mock anger.

"It sounds better when she says it." Grandma Melissa teasingly to her husband.

"Does it? Then, what about me?" Grandpa Melvin turned to Aristia expectantly.

"Grandpa is indeed very handsome." Aristia said seriously.

Melvin was fifty years old and was well built. His natural gray hair had been geled and styled back neatly. His domineering kingly aura coupled with his white and golden royal attire gave him a regal air that only added to his handsome appearance. Aristia could only imagine how much of a heartthrob he was in his younger days.

Grandpa Melvin nodded in satisfaction.

The door to the parlour opened and Wilson and Catherine entered. Alalric was with them. They were all dressed in uniformity, wearing dresses of white and gold.

Alaric looked especially cute. His golden brooch was neatly pinned down on his clothes and his hair had been geled back.

Melvin picked up his pocket watch and glanced at it. He then leaned back into the soft leather cushion.

They sat in the parlor and waited for Fedor and his family.

***

The garden.

At this time, aristocrats had already started to arrive at the palace. The Royal family would be the last to arrive.

The aristocrats hastened up as it would be extremely rude and disrespectful of them to arrive after the royal family had made an entrance. They would wait for the royal family, not the other way round.

While they waited for the royal family, the aristocrats gathered and chatted.

The servant at the garden entrance who introduced the guests, announced, "Entering Marquis and Marchioness Oswalt, and Young Master Oswalt."

Marquis George and Marchioness Charlotte Oswalt stepped into the garden together.

It wasn’t obvious if they were on good terms or not. Charlotte merely had a passive expression on her face. She also did not join hands with her husband. She just stood at the side with Wade in between them.

Looks of scorn and mocking gazes from other noblewomen and aristocrats were channeled her way. There were also some who gave her looks of pity. Charlotte ignored those gazes, looking straight ahead.

After the couple and Wade had greeted a few nobles together, they seperated. Wade looked up at Charlotte, then turned around and headed forward.

As his eyes caught Lauren Anton, his eyes lit up and he headed towards their group. When he arrived, the other children acknowledged him.

He looked around at the almost familiar faces, most of whom he had seen the previous day of the banquet. After he had scanned all their faces, he stopped in puzzlement.

"Where is the princess?" He asked in confusion when he didn’t see the princess present.

"The princess will arrive later." Nova Kiran replied.

Wade nodded. He had thought the princess wasn’t coming. It seemed that was not the case. But he was confused about something.

"The royal family will be the last to arrive. Any family who arrive after them will be considered disrespectful," Paige Kiran explained when she noticed his confusion.

"Why?" Wade asked, still confused.

Paige Kiran frowned. Wasn’t his tutor supposed to have explained these things to him? She wondered in puzzlement. Nevertheless, she patiently explained.

"It would be disrespectful to keep the royal family waiting."

"I see." Wade nodded, finally understanding.

***

Marchioness Charlotte Oswalt watched the boy head off. Her gaze unconsciously followed him. She saw him head towards a group of children and turned away. No one knew what she was thinking.

Footsteps sounded behind her and she sighed, thinking that it was one of those noblewomen who found joy in her distress coming to mock her .

But when she turned around, she saw it wasn’t any of them.

"What has caused the Marchioness to sigh so wearily? Greetings Marchioness Oswalt." The lady bowed.

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