At the Grand Dukes' long table, Prime Minister Cullen sighed repeatedly, still shaken. Jann gave a faint, cold laugh. One-Eyed Dragon remained expressionless, while Duke Val continued pouring himself drinks, oblivious to everyone around him.
A banquet speech. A banquet speech...
Tales desperately racked his brain, but his mind was completely blank.
It was like having a homework deadline at midnight, yet at eleven fifty that night, the document in your hands was still empty.
Wait.
A banquet speech wasn't completely without references, was it?
The next second.
"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome, welcome to Mindis Hall."
Tales raised his wineglass in one hand and slowly walked out from his seat, making sure everyone could see him.
Out of courtesy, the guests rose one after another.
He surveyed the hall unhurriedly and calmly (Hurry, hurry, hurry—what comes next... Tales thought to himself), his voice echoing clearly through the room:
"Distinguished guests fill the hall, and honored friends grace our doors."
"From childhood until now, I've attended only one banquet this grand."
Tales lowered his head as if recalling something, then paused for several seconds.
He looked up and smiled.
"You know, in Dragoncloud City."
"King Noon wanted to thank me for... uh, killing his son."
Laughter erupted throughout the banquet hall.
Except among the guests from Northern Land, who all turned ashen.
Tales helplessly shrugged.
A banquet.
At that moment, King Noon holding his wineglass, with his bold and rugged bearing, inevitably surfaced in the boy's mind.
Along with it came the thunderous voice of the Born King at a Northern welcome feast:
[Come on! Eat! Drink! Fight! Fuck! Do whatever you want!]
[Until you're carried, crawling, rolling, limp, or unconscious out of my palace!]
[Bastards!]
Tales curled his lips and silently swept his gaze over the civilized and refined guests