Chapter 23
Banquet
A large-sized round table was placed neatly at the entrance to the terrace—the kind typically used for tea parties by medieval nobles. It was bought for that exact purpose, as Edward's mother often enjoyed spending her mornings and afternoons there for tea or coffee.
Looking through the terrace, one could see a spectacular view: a vast tea plantation sprawled across the hills, with a winding road threading through it, connecting the estate to the distant village.
The air had begun to cool, and the sky was awash in orange hues as the sun slowly retreated beyond the horizon.
While Edward and the girls prepared their outfits, the villa staff were busy with their own work—setting the table, arranging the food, adjusting the lighting, scents, and even the room's temperature. Every detail was accounted for, creating the perfect atmosphere for an unforgettable evening.
—
In the villa's largest room, Lucius sat silently on the sofa, restlessly waiting for Eve and Sophia to finish their preparations.
Unlike them, Lucius didn't bother with a long makeover or dress-up session. Even though he now had the appearance—and body—of a girl, he didn't see the need for makeup or accessories unless the situation truly called for it.
So, for tonight, he wore a latte-colored blouse paired with cream-colored straight-cut culottes. Simple. Clean. Comfortable.
He looked at the clock on the wall and sighed.
"Huft… Almost 5:30. I hope we don't miss the sunset."
Just then, a notification chimed—Edward had sent a message letting him know it was nearly time. He would be arriving to pick them up in a minute or two.
Finally, the bathroom door opened. Eve and Sophia stepped out, fully dressed.
Eve wore an ivory-colored long one-piece dress, complete with accessories—a delicate necklace and a matching hairpin. She looked absolutely stunning. From head to toe, there was not a single flaw to be found.
Her rose-tinted cheeks, sky-blue pupils, thin rounded eyebrows, and soft brunette hair flowing down her back all combined with her cheerful, mischievous smile to give the dress its full charm.
She'd opted for comfort over height, wearing a pair of ballet flats instead of high heels.
Walking behind her, Sophia smiled proudly at her younger sister. Unlike Eve's radiant energy, Sophia carried a calm, elegant grace. Her maroon blouse with subtle ruffles and black wide-leg trousers suited her mature demeanor perfectly.
Her makeup was natural, merely enhancing her refined features. Her eyes were thoughtful and deep, shaded by long lashes and framed by subtly lowered brows that softened her expression. Her nose was sharply defined, with a high bridge, and her plush, naturally curved lips gave her the gentle air of a kind older sister.
Her dark chestnut hair—slightly deeper in tone than Eve's—flowed in soft, natural waves down to the middle of her back.
There was a quiet dignity in how she carried herself. Nothing exaggerated, just a serene confidence that made her stand out effortlessly.
Seeing them emerge, Lucius stood up from the couch and approached with a smile.
Their presence made his heart swell with affection and pride. After gathering his thoughts, he spoke from the heart.
"Sister Sophia, Eve… wow. You really did use all that time well. You both look… stunning. I'm honestly proud to have such beautiful sisters."
Eve blushed under the compliment, her smile growing brighter. But as she glanced at Lucius, dressed simply yet gracefully, she couldn't hold back her thoughts.
"Brother! You look gorgeous too! Hmm… but something's missing… Ah! You don't have any makeup on! Let's fix that, quick!"
Lucius chuckled and shook his head.
"Unfortunately, we don't have time. Edward just messaged me—he'll be here any minute. He says everything's ready."
Eve pouted, clearly disappointed that she wouldn't get to "play makeover" with her now beautiful older sibling.
Sophia watched them both with a warm smile. It filled her heart with joy to see her siblings enjoy something so simple again. Even if only temporarily, it gave her hope.
She had been deeply worried about Lucius after the transformation—worried he might come to resent his body or sink into depression. But seeing him now, adapting with growing confidence, it eased her concerns. She'd been careful not to push, only guiding him gently when he needed it.
Then came a knock on the door, followed by Edward's voice.
"Lucia, I'm here."
Lucius walked over and opened the door. Offering a small smile and nod, he said,
"We're ready."
Edward looked at Lucia with a pleasant surprise—then shifted his gaze to the back, spotting Eve and Sophia.
The girls approached, returning his smile.
Eve, unable to hold back, beamed. "Brother Edward! You look so cool in that tuxedo!"
Sophia didn't say anything, but her approving smile said enough.
Edward chuckled. "Thanks. You girls look stunning too—those outfits suit your vibes really well."
"Well, since you're all ready, let's go. The table's set, and we're just in time for sunset."
Lucia smiled silently, admiring how good Edward looked in formal wear. Part of her felt a sting of envy—not out of resentment, but because that was once her role. Standing next to Edward in a tuxedo, joking and teasing like the old days.
Now, things had changed. Her new form complicated that closeness. Even if Edward tried to treat her the same, the physical differences triggered old habits—awkward moments and hesitations that didn't exist before.
Still, she was glad they were here. Together.
Edward led the way toward the living room with a steady gait, followed closely by the girls, the fading sun casting soft gold light through the windows.
Arriving at the living room, Lucia and her sisters paused briefly. After seeing the table, the servants, and the overall ambiance, they couldn't help but feel impressed—Edward and the staff had truly transformed the space with elegance.
The food was beautifully arranged on a separate buffet table, each dish presented on pristine plates with matching cutlery. Everything looked refined and luxurious.
Smiling with quiet admiration, the siblings followed Edward toward the main table.
They were assisted to their seats with the kind of attentive service usually found in high-end restaurants.
Because of the sunset and the round table design, the seating arrangement was adjusted: only half the table was used so everyone could face the view.
Edward sat on the left side, facing the terrace, his body turned perpendicular to the open doors.
Lucia took the seat to his right, where she could see the sunset without turning her head. Eve sat next to her, with the same view. Sophia sat opposite Edward, sharing his perspective.
Once everyone was seated, the meal began. The servants brought out each course one by one, starting with the appetizers—like a formal banquet out of a noble's estate.
The atmosphere was magical. The air had cooled with the setting sun, and the orange and gold hues of the sky washed over the balcony and into the room. Everything—scenery, company, and food—felt perfect.
Seeing the exquisite spread, the girls smiled in awe. Though they'd once experienced similar formality in their childhood, it had been nearly a decade since then. Only Sophia still remembered all the etiquette in full.
With the presence of the servants, Edward and Lucia carefully avoided any mention of their powers, identities, or future plans. Their conversation stuck to casual topics, often switching to English to further avoid suspicion.
They waited until the last course was served and finished—the dessert—before the servants quietly withdrew from the room. They'd been served non-alcoholic cocktails at the end of the meal, as none of the siblings consumed alcohol. Edward had opted for a light alcoholic drink, but even then, only for this special occasion.
Now that privacy had returned, the group began discussing more serious matters.
Edward was the first to speak.
"Let's talk about the current situation regarding the new government policy. I've received some new information from a trusted source."
Everyone immediately turned their attention to him.
"From what Lucia shared earlier in the car, we now have more clarity," he continued.
Lucia sighed, bracing herself.
"Huh… Is it bad news or good news? Ugh… Well, someone already died, so I guess no news can really be good for their family."
Edward nodded grimly.
"Yeah… unfortunately, it's bad news. For us, too."
The whole group let out a collective sigh.
"This hasn't reached the public yet—it's highly confidential. I only know about it because of a connection my family has with someone in the government.
"There was confirmed torture. One of the three men was tortured. The other two were only pressured—psychologically, not physically—into cooperating, and eventually, they gave in.
"But the third man refused. He resisted completely. So they tried to break him. The situation escalated into outright violence."
He looked down briefly, clearly troubled.
"What they're offering is this: any Awakened who registers with the government must join a new military branch. Once they join, they're not allowed to leave. There's no opt-out—doing so would break the law and lead to punishment."
Lucia's face darkened. The moment the implications hit her, she clenched her fists so tightly her nails nearly broke the skin.
'What the fuck!? They actually did it!? Unbelievable… how can a country sink this low!?'
She didn't even realize how tense she'd become until Eve quickly reached out and gently touched her arm, helping her calm down.
Seeing this, Edward hesitated, unsure if he should continue—but after Lucia visibly relaxed, he went on.
"There's… a little hope, though. The policy is still in discussion and hasn't been fully implemented yet. It's only being tested under limited conditions for now.
"Also, there's pushback. A faction in Parliament is opposing it. They've filed an appeal internally—they're trying to revise or overturn the policy.
"They're keeping the media out of it for now, keeping it quiet. My parents are even lobbying for changes, since this affects me directly…"
He exhaled deeply.
"That's all I know for now. Let's put that aside for tonight—we're here to make good memories. Let's not let this ruin it."
Lucia and Eve both nodded, trying to reset their mood despite the heaviness of the topic.
Sophia had been silent for a while, deep in thought. She finally spoke.
"First—thank you, Edward. For everything. What you said makes sense: we need to stay hopeful and patient.
"But maybe… we should do more than just wait. Maybe we can help those who are trying to change things."
She was about to elaborate when Lucia suddenly tensed. Eve did the same a moment later.
"Wait… look at that big tree over there," Lucia said, pointing outside toward the edge of the terrace.
The sky had already darkened. It was hard to see clearly.
"I sense something moving… and it's not human or animal."
Eve's eyes widened.
"Sister Lucy! Don't scare me! Are you saying it's a ghost!?"
She instinctively clung to Sophia, spooked.
Lucia narrowed her eyes, watching the tree.
"I don't know… I've never actually seen a ghost before. But that... whatever it is, it doesn't feel natural."
The others grew tense. They knew Lucia's sixth sense wasn't just superstition—it had come with her transformation, and her instincts had never been wrong so far.
Just as they were about to move or run—
That thing approached.