Chapter 274 - Banquet Night (Part 2)

He was tasked to monitor the movements of suspected supporters of the Left Minister who did not participate in the recent fiasco in the Main Hall. 

"What's the status?"

"Our men spotted the Ninth Prince heading toward Lunaria. Should we arrest him?"

Vaughn sneered and knew that Damien would go to Luna Inn. He still did not suspect that his men had been replaced with Zander's men already. It started as a simple covert operation to spy on Damien's activities until it escalated into a total takeover of Luna Inn.

"No, let General Dietrich and his men take care of him. Commander Zander and I will visit Luna Inn in a few days."

"As you wish, Your Highness."

Harnen disappeared as quickly as he came. Vaughn touched his mask once more and whispered, "It's not yet time to retire you."

He sighed and began drafting his plan on how to quietly eliminate all possible love rivals that might pop up at the banquet. He had no reason to doubt his wife. He knew that Zenia already loved him more than life itself, but she was still not aware of it. He should patiently make her discover the depth of her love. As for eliminating those rivals…that was for the satisfaction of his ego.

Zander left the Palace of the Crown Prince after dressing up. He wanted to send a message to his wife immediately before someone else beat him to it. He thought that he should apologize for the late message. Zander suddenly thought of something and grinned.

'Odessa did not know anything about Ishelon's super fast message delivery. I'm still safe.'

He hoped that none of his men in Ishelon mentioned something about it to Odessa. 

Zenia wore the suit that the Queen had specially prepared for her. She was surprised that the Queen had able to guess her measurements.

'Such uncanny ability.'

She did not know why she suddenly remembered the dress that Vaughn had sent her before their wedding. Her mother told her that it was a traditional dress in Tissuria that a bride would wear on her bridal night where consummation between her and her husband would take place. Her cheeks turned crimson. 

She blushed, even more, when she recalled that Vaughn had been preparing for their trip to Shadora. She heard that couples who shared unwavering devotion would go there to get married. Once the couple tied the knot, they already made a vow that nothing would be able to separate them. No one knew what happened to couples who exchanged wedding vows in Shadora and still decided to divorce after years of being together.

It was also the reason behind the increasing number of cohabitation among the people of Shadora. They were too terrified to face the consequences of divorce or separation. It had been said that those couples who got married in Shadora and broke the vow, in the end, had all disappeared without a trace. Their whereabouts remained a mystery. Those with wild imagination said that the ill-fated couples were being punished within the Pit of Tartarus.

Couples that were against the idea of cohabitation and also feared the consequences of divorce chose to get married in another kingdom. Some couples went to Shadora to exchange wedding vows. Zenia had a feeling that Vaughn was planning to get married again in Shadora. Even though she already assured him that she would always stay by his side, she could feel his fears and worries.    

Vaughn looked intently at his wife and helped her adjust her collar. She looked dashing and enchanting. She could easily charm any man or woman. If he could, he would rather keep her in his palace forever and never let her out. But, he knew that it was impossible. Zenia was born to roam the world.

When Vaughn and Zenia reached the training ground, everyone was having a debate on whether to teleport to the Main Palace or not.

Zenia's eye twitched and she shouted, "KEEP QUIET!"

Zenia massaged her temples and took a deep breath.

"Those who want to teleport, then teleport. Those who want to ride a carriage or horse, then do so. If all of us will teleport there, it's impossible that no one will see us pop out of nowhere. There are too many of us. We don't have enough carriage here now. While you're at it, why don't you all consider teleportation, riding a horse, and riding a carriage as your options? That way, everybody will be satisfied."

The men stopped arguing and just did what Zenia had said. The admiration of Duke Gordon and Jorick for Zenia had increased once more. It was no wonder that her husband was smitten. She was proficient in wearing disguises and could come up with different personalities. It was like having so many wives. But no matter how good she was at wearing disguises and changing her character, her true self would come out at any given time. Jorick had a hunch that Zenia did not even notice it. 

Jorick thought for a while and remembered the young man that he met at Luna Inn. He looked so weak and ordinary, but he was truly formidable. Even Gustof, the leader who served two masters at the time, praised that young man.

Jorick gasped and looked at Zenia once more, 'The young man at the time…was it her?'

* * * * *

The Main Palace opened its doors to the common folks to celebrate the recent victory of Tissuria with the help of military men of Ishelon. Zander went there directly after making sure that his message for his wife had reached the rightful recipient. He also told the messenger to deliver his wife's reply to him as soon as they received it.

Vaughn and Zenia went their separate ways when they entered the huge garden of the Main Palace. Queen Mina had decided to hold the banquet there to accommodate the people that would like to attend the gathering. It was the most expensive celebration in Tissuria.

Vaughn joined the King and Queen together with Wolstan at the long table in front. The other princes and princesses, as well as the concubines, were seated in different tables according to their ranks in the Royal Family. The nobles were next, and the last were the tables for the commoners.  

The tables were placed at the sides to make way for the honorable guests when they greet the King and Queen. Zander, Zenia, and the rest of the military men of Ishelon who came to Tissuria marched forward.

The nobles and commoners started to murmur.

"Wow, the military men of Ishelon look gallant and handsome."

"I will ask my father to ask the King for a special edict so I can marry one of them."

"I want to marry that one beside the one who looks like a great ape in size."

"The one with high-ponytailed ginger hair? He looks like a…woman."

"He's so handsome, how can he look like a woman?"

"I also think that she's a woman!"

"Come to think of it, where is the Crown Princess? Isn't that Commander Zander, Her Highness' brother?"

"Now that you mentioned it, she should be here. Is it true that they got married for the sake of capturing the hidden enemies without making them suspicious?"

Vaughn could hear them and smile behind his mask. The people of Tissuria would know everything in a while. In the morning following the banquet, the King would decide the fate of the Left Minister and his supporters. Everyone was invited to witness the verdict.

Zenia and Zander kneeled before the King and Queen. They followed the traditional way that soldiers of Ishelon usually greet their King after a mission.

"Greetings to the King and Queen of Tissuria."

Zander and Zenia uttered in unison. The soldiers behind them followed suit and kneeled before they uttered their greeting.

"You may all rise," King Tarendino uttered with a wide smile on his lips.

"Commander Zander, may we know the names of our heroes," Queen Mina requested.

"Soldiers!" Zander shouted.

The man at the farthest part of the line began shouting his name and rank followed by the next one until it reached the front.

"General Zenia Anisen, Junior Commander of the Military Unit of Ishelon."

Everyone gasped when they heard the name. The nobles and other members of the Royal Family thought that she was a different person. Count Cordove and the Second Prince sneered secretly. 

Those who thought that Zenia was ugly and good-for-nothing must be having regrets. Count Cordove was especially resentful that he did not go to Ishelon to personally hand in his family's proposal. Kristoff Cordove, the youngest son of Count Cordove, could not believe that Zenia had almost become his wife.

"Ah! She's the Crown Princess!" Someone shouted from the crowd. 

Everyone murmured when they confirmed the other identity of the formidable Junior Commander of the Military Unit of Ishelon.

* * * * *

Damien traveled non-stop to reach Luna Inn. He could not believe that he reached it in record time. Damien felt that he was finally safe. His Luna Inn was still standing and did not change in the slightest. It was still so lively outside, and he was certain that it was quiet inside.

Everyone was busy, and he simply trotted inside. He found it odd that no one greeted him. No one seemed to know him. The manager and the assistant of the inn were new. Even the waiters and cooks were unfamiliar to him.

He got furious and shouted, "When did we change our people? How come no one informed me?"

Everyone was startled and looked at him. They sneered as they came closer to Damien.

"You must be the Ninth Prince of Tissuria."

Slap!

"Insolent fool! If you know who I am, show respect!"

The corner of the man's mouth bled. He wiped the blood and spit on the floor. 

"You're the foolish one, oh benevolent Ninth Prince. You don't remember any of us, and I can assure you that you come here for nothing."

The men encircled him, and he panicked, "W-What are you going to do to me? Stay away. Ahhhhh!"