CHAPTER 216: PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE

The day of the Kingdom’s anniversary arrived in no time.

Just like the previous year, both commoners and aristocrats had begun making preparations long before.

The streets of the capital and the whole of Amberale were lit up and a heavy air of festivity could be felt by all.

Aristia and her family had already headed to the Palace a week ago.

The previous day, after the adults met the envoys from other kingdoms, they attended the banquet in the evening.

The morning of this day, they headed to the Temple.

Aristia ate a lot the night before because of this moment, which she regretted because of how uncomfortable it was to overeat.

She ignored all the stares of the palace servants who were waiting to see her reaction. It was only later that she heard that the servants’ mantra was actually ’never let the princess go hungry’.

This time, going to the Temple on an empty stomach and staying till it was almost evening time was no longer as surprising to her as it was the previous year.

So... Aristia didn’t throw much of a fit when it was time to go.

Only...

"Mama, Papa, please, please, please, don’t bring me to tears when I just put on such a pretty dress."

"Wah~ heartbreak is one thing, my hunger’s another. I beg you, don’t make me go hungry, mother, father, ughhh~!"

No, she hadn’t just changed some of the lyrics of a very catchy song. Ahem! She just... said some heartfelt words to her parents in the form of music.

[Almost said modaf*cker. Oops. My bad.] Aristia thought.

And so her overdramatic actions greatly amused the whole palace.

Her cute voice singing a song with such words melted the hearts of the palace staff and almost melted the hearts of her parents... almost.

Right now, they were all dressed up for the second banquet in the evening.

"Let’s go." Fedor said, getting up from the sofa.

Everyone followed after him towards the banquet hall.

The guards at the large double doors bowed before opening the doors.

At the same moment, the royal Chamberlain boomed, announcing their entrance.

The Aristocrats in the hall immediately stopped whatever they were doing and turned towards the entrance, then bowed deeply.

"Greetings to The Royal Family of the Kingdom of Amberale. May the blessings of Lord Nerin continue to shine upon you."

"You may rise." Fedor said in a commanding voice.

All the Aristocrats stood straight and the clatter in the hall resumed again.

Aristia scanned the crowd as her family walked into the banquet hall.

She felt a gaze fixed on her. She had felt the gaze since she entered the banquet hall.

Because of the crowd, she couldn’t pinpoint who was staring at her. So she decided to ignore this gaze.

Beatrix and Serina linked arms with her on her left and right just as they descended the throne chairs, looking around.

Aristia rolled her eyes just as Lauren stood in front of her, glaring at the two girls’ arms.

As Beatrix and Serina smiled smugly, Lauren suddenly threw herself forward.

Their eyes widened, but suddenly, Lauren’s arms wrapped around Aristia through the space between Serina and Beatrix’s arms.

"Tia, I missed you so much."

Aristia’s mouth twitched. Did they have to be so dramatic? Look at those aristocrats watching them.

She stiffly patted Lauren’s back. Not because she felt shy or awkward, but because her arms were restricted.

Lauren finally released her, smiling sweetly at Beatrix and Serina.

"Oh, I didn’t see you there, your highness."

Aristia, [Ouch!]

Beatrix and Serina, "..."

The could only settle with glaring and huffing.

At the end of the day, they had all become close, sharing the same cousin, but they had already become used to arguing and nitpicking each other that they just couldn’t stop again.

The other children in their friend group also came towards them.

They had to head towards the corner of the hall where they could talk freely.

Everyone was there; the royal siblings, the Anton siblings, the Kiran siblings, the Oswalt young master, and the Eldridge young miss.

Usually when they were together like this; children of the powerful nobles in the kingdom who also belonged to pure nobility, the other children wouldn’t know how to join them.

They wished to join them, but couldn’t find a way to integrate themselves. They also couldn’t find the courage to do so.

Which was why many were glancing their way at this moment.

The group of children spoke comfortably with each other. They had all become somehow close-knit in the past year, just like their mothers were close, and their fathers could be said to be close acquaintances.

Alaric, Lilith and Juno had formed their own little group just beside their with children of similar age. Those children’s eyes were all wide with wonder as Alaric Lilith and Juno took turns talking about the different stories in their storybooks.

Everyone was speaking animatedly in both groups, and right now, Nova Kiran was talking about something she heard about Osric Caravans.

Just then, Aristia noticed that Wade wasn’t paying attention. He had a lost look in his eyes, like he was thinking deeply of something. His brows were even deeply furrowed.

"...like this. What about you, Wade?" Nova asked.

Wade didn’t answer.

"Wade?"

Everyone turned to Wade.

When Liam tapped him, he snapped out of his thoughts.

"Huh?" He asked. It was obvious he hadn’t heard a word of what she said.

Nova shook her head and asked. "What are you thinking about?"

Wade shook his head with a frown. "Nothing..."

No one believed what he said, but they couldn’t ask further when he had said it was nothing.

Seeing Wade like this, Aristia’s heart unconsciously skipped a beat.

She looked around the banquet and the others began wondering what she was looking at or for.

Aristia blinked and turned back to Wade.

"Your mother didn’t come to the banquet?" She asked curiously.

Wade froze and looked back at her, then he slowly shook his head.

"No... she couldn’t make it. She asked Father and I to go ahead." He paused but eventually said, "She’s feeling a bit unwell..."