Loud gasps filled the room as Kel and Lucy emerged in their new Pandreian attire, and not all of them from the maids.
"Don't you dare gasp at my woman!"
Calix noticed the suspiciously masculine gasp as well, and he wasted no time scolding Thane. His eyes however, remained on Kel.
Thane, equally dazed, responded, "Huh? Lucy isn't your-"
He cleared his throat, suddenly ducking his head in embarrassment.
"I mean, of course, Your Majesty. I understand."
It was no wonder Lucy's dress had elicited such a dramatic response from the knight. Aside from a single sleeve over her left shoulder and slightly less revealing slit, her clothes were similar to Kel's.
In other words, both women had the majority of their chest, abdomen and legs in full view.
After leaving Kel and Lucy to stand awkwardly for several moments, the Emperor finally approached them. He stopped in front of Kel, and reached out a hand.
Kel flinched as the Emperor guided his thumb over the tip of one of her breasts, the outline of which was clearly visible through the thin fabric.
"... Leave," he murmured, wrapping his other arm around Kel's waist to pull her closer.
"Eh? What?" Thane piped up from behind him where, unlike the Emperor, he had remained frozen in place.
"I said, everybody get out!" Calix raised his voice. "Right now!"
Lucy rolled her eyes and took a step forward, but was quickly blocked by a maid extending her arm.
Two more maids pulled Kel out of Calix's reach while another stood fearlessly in front of him.
"Don't you dare ruin our masterpiece!" She lectured. "We won't have time to redress her before the banquet begins."
Kel took a sharp breath in, suddenly worried for the bold woman's life, but Calix obediently backed down, his face twisted with obvious displeasure.
While the Dragon Emperor received a scolding, yet another maid came up behind Lucy, smirking at Thane, who was still carefully observing his fellow knight.
"Isn't her chest so lovely and plump?" the maid grinned, cupping both hands around Lucy's chest. "I'm half in love with her, myself."
All the maids erupted in laughter as Thane's face turned a deep shade of red and he made a few unintelligible stutters before whirling around to face the wall.
Between Calix who couldn't so much as lick the tantalizing bait dangled in front of him, Thane who had just now discovered a new depth of embarrassment, and Lucy and Kel who were once again being fondled by strangers, it seemed only the maids were truly enjoying themselves.
Soon, however, the chattering women began to disperse, making their way in small groups toward the door.
"We will take our leave now," one member of the last group bowed. "Be sure to control yourself, boys."
She gave one last pointed look to Calix before closing the door behind her, leaving the four of them alone.
Thane had no intention of removing his eyes from the wall, so he stumbled blindly backward until he was by Calix's side.
"Y-Your Majesty," he stammered, "I have reason to believe that this place could be dangerous."
Calix nodded in agreement, having no intention of removing his eyes from the slit in Kel's skirt.
"Extremely dangerous."
Fortunately, Kel's misgivings about her attire faded as soon as they arrived at the banquet. She and Lucy, it turned out, ended up being some of the more modest women in the room.
But strangely enough, she found herself feeling more distraught, rather than relieved, at the many half-naked women around them. The way other people dressed was certainly none of her business, but each time one of them passed by Calix's view, she felt a jolt of frustration.
As they were led to the head seats at the banquet, a dozen scantily clad women waiting with various food and drink offerings to serve them, Calix reached for Kel's hand and brought it to his lips.
"My Queen is so unhappy," he whispered, "but why does that, in turn, fill me with so much happiness?"
"... pervert," Kel hissed back.
She had to admit, his gesture of reassurance did, indeed, reassure her. Despite all the beautiful women in Pandreia, she knew that his gaze would only be following her.
She began to smile to herself, only for Calix to taunt her again.
"Ah, but you can continue to be jealous for a while," he smirked as they took their seats.
Kel huffed, turning her head away from him.
Jealous? No, she wasn't jealous.. right?
Whether jealousy or something else, however, her concern had effectively distracted her from the magnificent festivities around them.
And now that she had a chance to take a proper look around, she couldn't deny that everything was magnificent, indeed.
Unlike the high ceilings and smooth stone interior of the ballrooms Kel was accustomed to, the Pandreian hall was more cozy.
Rather than an open room, the hall was separated into spaces by intricate woodwork and archways. Cushions were scattered across the edges of the floor, tapestries hung from the walls, and lanterns dangled from the ceiling.
Tables had been set up around the banquet space, with a mix of familiar and unfamiliar faces seated behind them.
Near them, but not so near as to be threatening in position sat the prince that had attended the Dragon Emperor's engagement celebration. Next to him were a few other princely looking men and an older man that Kel guessed must be the previous king of Pandreia.
She also took note of Taegus, seated toward the opposite end of the room, and the man Calix had called Altair. By them were other council members.
While Kel was quickly scanning the room, the Emperor was murmuring to the man seated next to him. It was one of his own generals, one Kel had seen often but never had the opportunity to meet.
Though, knowing Calix, her never officially meeting the man was probably purposefully orchestrated.
After the general and Emperor finished their conversation, the former stood and clapped his hands twice.
The women carrying trays began to move at the clap, and, soon, spread along the tables were a variety of fish, fruit, and other foods Kel had never seen before. Being the largest port on the continent meant Halseva had an abundance of foreign food and drink.
She had never considered herself particularly interested in food, but Kel was eagerly anticipating tasting all of the delectable looking dishes.
And she was certainly not disappointed.
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