When the last trace of the setting sun disappeared at the end of the city wall of Orr, the gates of Hyacinth Manor were knocked upon once again.
The Second Prince of the Kingdom of Orr, having changed into a formal suit trimmed with gold, stood outside the side hall with a complex expression. The carriage convoy behind him was hung full of the White Eagle lanterns of the Royal House of Orr, illuminating the entire courtyard.
"Respected Majesty Mason, the dinner party is about to begin. Royal Father is already waiting at the Palace."
Sophia slowly walked out of the room. Tonight, she had changed into a deep black, shimmering long dress personally designed by Irene and finely stitched by Willow. The hem of the skirt was layered like a rose blooming at midnight, yet the core concealed that lightweight and tough composite inner armor. Under the torchlight held by the maidservants, the golden crown atop her head radiated a suffocating sense of nobility.
"Let's go."
Sophia's voice was as cool as a cold spring. She did not sit in the gorgeous soft sedan arranged by the Royal House of Orr, but instead walked straight onto the Kingdom of Mason's iconic, shock-absorbing carriage. Sixty Black Rose Guards, led by Delilah, stood guard on both sides of the carriage like a torrent of black steel in silence.
Their footsteps sounded exceptionally heavy on the streets after nightfall, causing the Orr nobles peering from the wayside to feel a wave of inexplicable tightness in their chests.
The banquet hall of the Orr Palace was the utmost in luxury; golden chandeliers cast bright radiance, shining upon expensive Persian carpets and silver tableware. The moment Sophia stepped into the hall, the originally noisy chatter and laughter came to an abrupt halt.
The monarchs present—the King of Leighton, the King of Qubi—as well as the powerful officials of the Kingdom of Orr, were all shocked by Sophia's exquisite and severe beauty, which resembled a divine statue. She was too young, so young that she looked like a pure white flower that shouldn't appear in this filthy arena of power.
"Is there really no one left in the Kingdom of Mason? To actually let a sixteen-year-old girl hold the fort."
"The thunder weapons in the rumors are probably also exaggerations. A flower in a greenhouse like this... she'll probably cry and hand over the soap formula if we just scare her a little."
"And they said she killed her whole clan to ascend the throne? I think she wouldn't even be able to hold a knife steady to kill a chicken."
There were even a few conservative nobles from the Kingdom of Qubi snickering in low voices, believing that the surrender proposed by Bardess earlier was purely out of cowardice.
On the main seat, King Terry of Orr and Queen Matilda exchanged a glance. On the surface, they maintained a benevolent smile like elders, but the bottom of their eyes hid an unconcealable arrogance.
"My dear Sophia, the Pearl of Mason."
Queen Matilda raised her wine glass, her tone gentle but carrying a high-and-mighty sense of charity. "You must have suffered in the wasteland, no? The fruits of Orr are much sweeter than the Black Bread of Mason. Please enjoy yourself to the fullest tonight."
Sophia took her seat gracefully, her pale golden pupils sweeping over the exquisite apple pie drenched in caramel before her.
Old hag, the drama in your heart is thicker than the powder on your face.
However, for the sake of this pie smelling quite authentic, I won't fuss about your little sense of superiority for now.
Although she thought this, Sophia was still calculating how to make these two arrogant old things cough up a large amount of gold coins later.
Halfway through the banquet, just as the King of Qubi was tentatively proposing a plains security sharing agreement, a sudden change occurred. A servant who had lowered his head to serve a tray of wine suddenly changed his expression when he was within three steps of Sophia.
It was the coldness unique to a deathsworn. He discarded the tray, and a dagger coated in Alchemy Poison slid out from his sleeve, stabbing straight toward Sophia's slender throat.
"Protect His Majesty!"
Valery cried out in alarm. King Terry and Queen Matilda didn't even have time to reveal expressions of astonishment—or perhaps, they were just preparing to watch the miserable state of this young Queen splashing blood on the spot.
However, Sophia did not even put down the silver fork in her hand.
Bang—!
A short and violent thunderclap exploded within the hall, drowning out all the screams.
Delilah, in the shadows, hadn't even drawn her sword. She stood half a step behind Sophia, and in her hand, a short-barreled, exquisitely styled pocket musket had appeared at some unknown moment. The muzzle was still emitting a wisp of curling green smoke, and the smell of sulfur instantly covered the scent of expensive perfume.
A horrifying bloody hole appeared on that assassin's forehead. His body smashed heavily onto the long table in front of Sophia due to inertia, yet it failed to cause even a single drop of milk in Sophia's cup to spill.
Dead silence filled the venue.
Those monarchs who had looked disdainful just a moment ago forgot how to breathe due to extreme terror. What was that thing? Was that the musket Mason invented in the legends?
It was different from the news they had received. Although the rumors said it was powerful, none of the Kings had believed it; after all, rumors always exaggerated. Just like when someone invented soft silk previously, the rumors said the silk was so soft it was like wearing nothing, but when they saw the actual object... it was just average.
Therefore, the crowd hadn't placed any importance on the muskets rumored to make a thunderous sound and possess strong destructive power. They thought it was just a gadget similar to a bow and arrow, only louder.
They stared blankly at the deathsworn lying in a pool of blood, then looked at the instrument of Divine Punishment in Delilah's hand that could emit thunder—something they had never seen before.
She had anticipated this long ago!
The King of Orr's wine glass shattered on the ground with a pa, his old face covered in cold sweat. She clearly knew there would be an assassination, yet she deliberately displayed this kind of thunder that could instantly take a life right here... This was a warning to all of us! If we do not submit, the next clap of thunder will land on our foreheads!
"This kind of calmness... is too terrifying."
The powerful officials lowered their heads one after another, daring not to look directly at Sophia's pale golden pupils again. In their eyes, Sophia's leisurely movements as she tasted the apple pie at this moment were simply more elegant and cold-blooded than a demon.
Princess Vasha, standing behind the Queen, was trembling slightly all over. That was not fear, but an extreme, almost fanatical worship. She looked at Sophia, looking at this Queen who was a year younger than herself yet hadn't even blinked in that instant of life and death.
The moment that assassin fell, Vasha felt as if she had seen a Divine Miracle.
"Too handsome... this is a true Queen!"
Sweat seeped from Vasha's palms due to her excitement. She decided. No matter how her Royal Father obstructed her, she definitely had to go to the Kingdom of Mason. She wanted to follow this black rose! That was not merely beauty; that was absolute power belonging to a woman, capable of rewriting the rules of the world!
Sophia swallowed the last mouthful of apple pie, picked up the silk handkerchief Willow handed over, and elegantly wiped the corners of her mouth.
"It seems the security of the Kingdom of Orr is not as good as imagined."
She raised her head, her gaze cutting across the King of Orr's face like a sharp blade.
"However, since This Queen has already helped you clear the weeds, then next...
Can we talk about the cooperation between our few countries, and how it should be distributed according to Mason's rules?"
The entire banquet hall remained silent, with only the distant fireplace making crackling sounds, as if providing the final footnote for the end of this era.
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