Chapter 127
The Imperial Palace was vast and complex.
I could well understand that it was dazzling and luxurious, with gold sparkling and marble shining.
But with similar corridors and servants of similar appearance coming and going, I couldn't tell if this was where I had been earlier or a place I was visiting for the first time. I was merely following closely at the rear end of the Head Maid.
Feeling like she had walked into a tiger's mouth, Pastel spun her Pink Eyes around and around.
Ugh.
Uuugh.
Lord Demon, where are you?
Aren't you supposed to be by my side at times like this?
Lord Demon, being a Servant, was immediately denied entry at the door. The bewildered expression on Lord Demon's face when he was stopped by the Head Maid while naturally trying to enter the Imperial Palace together was still vivid.
"What?"
Gasp.
"Lord Demon, you can't protect me?!"
No way!
No wa-ay!
"Wait. Head Maid, you haven't retired yet. It's been over ten years, so it might be hard to remember my face, but think carefully. Who am I?"
Lord Demon cast 'You know me, right?'.
At that confidence, Pastel's heart pounded.
I want to be a Person in Power like this too!
"Demonius, of course I remember. Even though I have reached an advanced age, as one who maintains a glorious position, my wisdom to remember noble guests has not declined."
Perfect effect!
"However, apart from that, it is also my duty to distinguish status and differentiate positions. Today is not the day, so please come next time."
Zero effect...
"No."
Lord Demon was helplessly kicked out.
The pure and innocent Pastel was left all alone.
Waaah!
Lord Demon, you said you'd protect me!
Liar! Liar!
An idiot who can't even keep a promise!
Pastel trembled.
It was somewhat scary how the Ladies-in-waiting passed by expressionlessly without even giving a glance while the Pink-Pink girl was being guided by the Head Maid. It wasn't that they lacked emotions, but rather that strict discipline seemed to transcend individual feelings.
To think no one would even spare a glance.
For a Popular Person, this kind of indifference was a first.
The environment and atmosphere were a complete mismatch.
H-honestly, I can understand jealousy and criticism, but I think indifference is just too weird.
Should I call it terrifying or creepy? This definitely wouldn't happen in reality, so when no one even looks at me, I start to doubt if I'm having a nightmare right now.
Pastel slightly stuck out her pink tongue. She bit it lightly with her front teeth. Tears welled up in her pink eyes.
It hurts!
Failed to control my strength...!
It wasn't a dream.
Her tongue trembling with tooth marks left on it, she wiped her eyes.
It was reality. To think, the Ladies-in-waiting passing by indifferently right now weren't ghosts.
How on earth are they holding back the urge to look at Pastel?
Completely Professional.
It's enough to command respect.
But, but.
Apart from respect, please give me attention!
This mechanical atmosphere is too scary!
"Marquis Kraft, this is the Banquet Hall—"
"Hwaaah! Yes! I'm the Marquis!"
Pastel answered, startled.
The elderly Head Maid, who had stopped walking and was explaining with hand gestures, paused and smiled benevolently.
Then, as if she hadn't seen His young Excellency's embarrassing moment, she calmly resumed her explanation.
"This is the Banquet Hall."
Hwat.
Pastel snapped back to her senses with slightly flushed cheeks.
As I listened to the explanation and looked ahead, there was a long dining table beyond the excessively large main doors. Golden candlesticks were lined up, and candlelight flickered.
Following the chairs lined up on the left and right, her gaze landed on the Head Seat where the Emperor would sit. The seat's owner was absent, but unlike the seats arranged to face each other, its solitary placement facing the main doors directly seemed to indicate the hierarchy of status.
In the profound atmosphere, Pastel's breath caught in her throat.
Ugh.
Uuugh.
I should have listened to Melissa!
I shouldn't have refused and just come with Melissa!
If I have a one-on-one banquet with His Imperial Majesty the Emperor in this atmosphere, I'll definitely get indigestion...!
The Head Maid, having finished an explanation that the person in question hadn't heard a word of, guided her to her seat. It was the chair immediately to the right of the Head Seat.
Pastel sat modestly in a chair that was somehow much too large for her body. Her Pink Eyes wandered aimlessly. Her small hands fidgeted with the hem of her white skirt.
"He commanded that you eat first, as he will take his seat as soon as his schedule is finished."
"Pardon? Pardon?"
The Head Maid bowed her head in greeting and left.
"Pardon?!"
Excuse me?!
Pastel was left all alone in the Banquet Hall. The candles burned down without a breeze.
The girl slowly looked like she was about to cry.
"Excuse me...?"
Eating alone at a banquet without the Landlord.
I didn't want to experience something like this!
As she waited in a shrunken Pastel state, Ladies-in-waiting entered in a line. Each held a dish in her hands.
The dishes were elegantly placed on the banquet table one by one. It didn't take long for the table to be filled from end to end with a colorful variety of dishes.
The Ladies-in-waiting, having finished setting the banquet, lined up along both walls. With their hands modestly gathered at their stomachs and their gazes lowered slightly to the floor so as not to burden the seated guest, they were the very embodiment of mechanical discipline.
Pastel looked like she was about to cry for a different reason than when she was alone.
Why are you doing this to me...
Her pink eyes trembled before looking at the whole roasted turkey right in front of her nose. Moist grease flowed down its brown surface. Steaming heat rose from the flesh that had been scored for easy eating.
Pastel gulped. She looked around somewhat frivolously. She searched for a Lady-in-waiting to make eye contact with, but when absolutely no one met her gaze, she carefully opened her mouth.
"Um, do I eat...?"
It was a voice as small as an ant.
No answer came back.
Pastel stared intently at the whole roasted turkey, agonizing fiercely.
Time passed, and the steaming heat of the roast dwindled to a faint wisp of steam.
Pastel picked up her fork with a trembling hand.
"Um, do I eat?"
No answer came back. The lined-up Ladies-in-waiting were silent.
The fork trembled as it moved toward the whole roasted turkey.
Then, it passively changed its route and headed for the salad next to it. A cherry tomato was poked.
Pastel proudly lifted the fork with the cherry tomato so everyone could see it.
The cherry tomato shone brilliantly.
"I'm really, really going to eat."
There was no answer.
Pastel took a breath and put the cherry tomato in her mouth.
Nom.
Mumbling/Chewing Sound.
The tomato, with a bouncy texture, was chewed. A fresh tartness spread in her mouth.
Gasp.
Her Pink Eyes widened.
This is. This is.
The best cherry tomato of my life!
It's a perfect food with top-tier flavor and freshness, as if it were just picked from the garden...!
Moved, she hurriedly moved her fork. She poked the next cherry tomato and put it in her mouth.
This is also the best cherry tomato of my life!
Yeah, yeah!
I'm glad I came to the Imperial Palace!
If just the cherry tomatoes are this delicious, how delicious will the other things be?!
Until now, I have given a thumbs up saying Lord Demon's cooking was the best in the world, but the gap in fresh ingredients created by capital and power was something that couldn't be bridged by cooking skills alone!
Lord Demon, I'm sorry!
From now on, the best Chef in my life is the Imperial Family Chef!
With this level of taste, I can endure the terrifying situation of being invited right after offending His Imperial Majesty the Emperor by declaring 1 gold coin, or the insulting situation of having to eat alone in the Banquet Hall without the Landlord!
To treat me to the best meal of my life instead of calling me to a banquet pretending to reconcile and poisoning me!
Long live His Imperial Majesty the Emperor!
Long, long live!
Pastel continued to eat cherry tomatoes to cleanse her palate, when suddenly she felt a rejection reaction rising from deep within her body. Her chest heaved, and blood gushed from her mouth.
"Ah?"
Blood trickled down her lips.
Her Pink Eyes trembled.
Poisoning.
Poisoning...!
A dry cough came out. Red drops of blood stained the white tablecloth. Blood flowed along the gold pattern of the plate.
Both her hands trembled violently.
Waaah!
Save me!
Save me!
Objectively, it wasn't a crime worthy of death!
Her chest heaved. A surge of blood flowed out. Strength drained from her body, and the fork fell to the floor. The sound of the fork rang out in the Banquet Hall.
Pastel struggled to hold onto the armrests of the chair and stood up.
Escape!
Escape...!
Then, losing her strength, she collapsed. The chair Pastel bumped into fell over, and a loud noise rang out. Her bloodstained white skirt covered the marble.
A few of the Ladies-in-waiting who had their heads bowed gave a quick glance. Their eyes widened instantly. Confusion spread rapidly.
"His Excellency?!"
Noisy footsteps headed toward Pastel, who had collapsed and was trembling. Hands moved hurriedly to support her.
"His Excellency! Are you all right?!"
Pastel, who barely managed to raise her upper body and lean back, trembled violently. With pale lips, she struggled to speak her last words.
"P-Poisoning by His Imperial Majesty the Emperor."
At the victim's testimony, screams rang out. Even though their profession was that of Ladies-in-waiting, it was the screams of the Lady-in-waiting staff whose status was strictly that of Ladies of High Society.
Tears poured out of Pastel in her fading consciousness.
It's too much; it's too much.
I didn't even do anything that wrong...!
Since it's come to this, I'll die after letting the whole world know about this Poisoning that not even a tyrant would commit!
I'll see from the afterlife if there really is a Noble Faction among these Ladies-in-waiting that will spread the truth to High Society...!
"His Excellency! His Excellency!"
Something rolled out from the trembling girl's embrace.
It was a cylindrical pepper shaker.
Magic Stone Powder sloshed inside.
Eh.
Pastel flinched.
Her Pink Eyes gradually widened.
"To commit the Poisoning of Nobles, which even the Former Emperor didn't do!"
A Lady-in-waiting with a strong sense of duty was enraged.
Then, as if she would risk her life to spread this news, she threw off her uncomfortable shoes and dashed out.
Wait! Wait a minute...!
The back of the Noble Faction Lady-in-waiting disappeared in an instant.
Waaah!
Pastel, who had received a shock on top of her poor physical condition, slowly lost consciousness.
She struggled to grab the hem of the Lady-in-waiting supporting her.
"Speak! I will pass it on to everyone!"
The Lady-in-waiting shed tears.
Her pale lips barely opened.
"Magic stone, pepper-pepper..."
Her head dropped.
Croak.
Screams rang out.
Marquis Kraft, invited by the Emperor, was poisoned at a banquet.