Chapter 195: The Queen’s Party
Before the feast started, the leader of the SRD, Roy, excitedly handed Kestrel a stunning evening gown, a special gift from the Queen. The gown was made from the finest silk combined with rich brocade, decorated with flower patterns and layers of lace that showed off twinkling diamonds, representing the pinnacle of luxury and elegance.
"It’s so pretty, you look like a real princess," Roy exclaimed, tears gathering in his eyes. "You are really lucky, the high regard the Queen holds for you is something to be jealous of. Your mom would have been so proud if she were here."
Kestrel twirled in front of the mirror, the small diamonds illuminating and creating a glow that looked like soft moonlight enveloping her. The dress was incredibly beautiful, its detailed craftsmanship almost made her forget the troubled world they were in.
Earlier that day, she had been going through a lot of information about the Polluted Zone. The pictures and videos showed many soldiers, ordinary people, including children and older folks, who had met sad ends within the harsh and vicious environment of the Polluted Zone, just to secure a meager amount of supplies necessary for survival. They had no other option but to go there, in a desolate world where survival required risking everything.
But now, as evening came, Kestrel was standing before a mirror, dressed in silken finery and glowing with the sparkle of precious stones, getting ready to spend the night at a party overflowing with delicious food and the best wines.
Within the confines of the tower, the days were filled with happiness and the nights with enjoyment, a stark contrast to the suffering and hunger experienced outside its stone walls.
Observing her reflection in the mirror, adorned in lavish clothing, Kestrel felt a deep disconnect. The slim figure reflected back at her, the smooth skin, the sharp features, and a neutral expression, yet seemingly devoid of any genuine feelings.
She suddenly realized that with a white veil to cover her face and some red lipstick, she would look like a younger, mini version of the Queen.
The royal banquet was the most vibrant event in the Empire, always taking place in the blossoming season of spring.
Every year during this period, a variety of delicious foods like tender lamb, rich beef, fresh seafood, and exotic treats would be brought to the Imperial Nexus. These fresh ingredients were expertly prepared and spiced with rare seasonings, continuously served in the sparkling banquet hall.
The lighting in the hall was skillfully arranged, showcasing the newest premium items brought back from the Polluted Zone for this celebration.
Virtual 3D singers danced gracefully in wine pools, and singing birds were positioned along the walkways for all the guests to enjoy, offering their sweet songs for the grand occasion.
Fine wines flowed like fountains for everyone to indulge in, and the abundance of jewels and flowers decorated this prosperous time in the Empire.
The party room was located inside the Tower, and it didn’t have any windows, since no one wanted to see the darkness of the night that was outside.
All that mattered was that this spot was like a cozy nest, a place that was always awake, where people could happily let go and have a great time.
When Kestrel showed up, everyone noticed. She looked young and didn’t even feel like putting on a bit of red lipstick as a sign. As she moved through the crowd in her flowing dress, it felt like bright moonlight was gliding over the ground.
"Did you notice? The Queen gave her that dress herself."
"That’s a huge deal."
"Kestrel is really amazing, her beauty is mesmerizing. I heard that the Queen calls her over quite often."
"She hasn’t chosen a mate yet, right?"
"I wonder which alpha would be good enough for such a pretty and kind beta."
"Rumor has it she comes from a royal family and has a lot of money."
"So, even a prince might be a good match for her."
"Who would disagree with that?"
This confused Kestrel a bit. She hadn’t changed, looking the same and acting in her unique way, maybe even more free-spirited than before. But, suddenly, what people thought of her had changed a lot.
Just like earlier, when people wrongly thought she was stuck-up, weird, and different, looking down on her, now they were saying she had all these good traits she didn’t really have, like being kind, pretty, smart, giving, and charming.
As she walked around, she felt many eyes and thoughts focused on her. A lot of friends said hello in a friendly way.
Even if she didn’t realize it, Kestrel was really very pretty. The first time she left Imperial Nexus, her black dress looked graceful but also seemed lonely, cool and distant. Now she was wearing a white dress, as pretty as the moon and as lovely as a poem, but she didn’t seem lonely and sad like before.
She had seen many battles, seen lots of life and death moments, and had walked through storms of bullets; showing real confidence, quickness, and power in each step she took. No matter how soft the dress was, it couldn’t hide the soul of a fighter, someone who could stand alone against everything.
A lot of people were quietly watching her, wanting to come over and talk to her. The rich and proud alphas tried to come over to chat, holding their wine glasses. But, strangely, they would suddenly step back before getting close, as if under the pretty bottom part of the dress, instead of a fragile figure, there were many strong and scary things moving in the shadows on the floor, making them scared, making them hesitate and daydream for a moment. When they snapped back to reality, the dream-like person who looked like moonlight had somehow moved away.
"Didn’t you tell me you were going to talk to Kestrel today? You even spent ages making yourself look nice. Why did you chicken out and come back?"
"Uh, yeah, I was really planning to talk to her, but somehow, I can’t explain it, I just turned around."
"Odd, where did Kestrel go? I can’t spot her anywhere, she was just here a minute ago."
"Has anyone seen Kestrel? Dang, how did she vanish while I wasn’t looking? I stayed up all night getting ready, just wanting to make a good impression on her today."
Kestrel sneakily used her special abilities to keep another person who wanted to bug her for no reason away, then found a peaceful corner to settle down and secretly enjoy some wine.
The man-made garden had streams and flowers, and clusters of wisteria hanging down near the trees by the water. Kestrel sat in the middle of the flowery shadows, pouring herself drinks and sipping them alone.
People with unclear motives walked past her again and again, but no one noticed her there.
She’d always been great at this since she was a kid, managing to make everyone accidentally overlook her and not annoy her even in the busiest scenes, unless someone was really determined to find her.
She noticed Ren among the crowd. Ren was dressed in a military outfit today, which made his shoulders look wide and his waist look slim, his legs standing tall. Just like her earlier, a bunch of people were gathered around him.
Kestrel paid close attention to hear what was being said; the group was having different conversations, praising Ren for his many brave actions in the Polluted Zone, and congratulating him on his soon-to-be new role as the second-in-command of the royal guards. It was a big deal to be close to the top people in the Tower, so many were trying to get on his good side.
Kestrel sat under the purple blooms, savoring sweet wine and having a good time, secretly watching Ren surrounded by people for a bit. They hadn’t met up for a long time, and he seemed to have made an effort to look nice today, his hair neatly styled, and maybe he even had a bit of makeup on, which brought out his handsome face, making him look sharp and attractive.
His dark eyes didn’t look over to this corner at all, as if he didn’t realize Kestrel was there.
This kind of party was super dull, not at all fun. The only cool part was the tons of drinks available, letting Kestrel drink as much as she wanted without being seen.
With all the commotion around and Ren being there too, she sat hidden in a quiet spot, with tree and flower shadows hiding her face. Even the wine seemed to taste yummier.
Just then, a hand came from behind the dangling wisteria flowers, taking the wine glass from Kestrel’s hand.
"You’re drinking a lot again," a weird voice said near her ear.
Kestrel looked around, seeing someone standing in the tree’s shadow, someone she had totally forgotten about.
"Kestrel, can we chat?" Tarian, standing in the shadow of the tree, stared at Kestrel.
He looked like he had drunk a lot, his eyes were red, his hair a bit messy, and in his dim eyes, a streak of golden light was slightly visible.
