A Peacock Husband of Five Princesses by day, a Noble Assassin by Night-Chapter 57: The Royal Banquet (1/3)

The royal banquet was held in a grand hall, filled with nobles, elite adventurers, and wealthy merchants. The atmosphere was a blend of excitement and prestige, with whispers of the latest news circulating among the guests.

As Kael and his wives entered, they instantly became the center of attention, their presence commanding the room. The guests marveled at how elegant and regal they looked, drawing everyone’s eyes as they made their way toward the Queen and Princess Artemis.

When they arrived at the royal dais, Kael stepped forward, offering a polite bow. "Your Majesty, Princess Artemis," he greeted them with a respectful tone.

The Queen, a regal figure in a stunning gown, smiled warmly at Kael and his wives. "Lord Moonstone, it’s a pleasure to see you and my lovely daughters, all together. It’s been some time since we’ve had the chance to catch up. But, it would have been nice if you had come with all of your wives."

As the princesses exchanged their glances, Kael replied. "I apologize in place of Shiera, Your Majesty. As she was stuck in the middle of a dungeon, she couldn’t make it to the banquet."

Remia Flamehart, the Queen, narrowed her eyes, disbelief was evident on her face. Yet, she nodded. "I understand. Anyway, meet our royal guest. Artemis Phoenix."

As Kael shifted his gaze to Princess Artemis, the doll-looking teenager offered a polite nod and a warm smile. "It’s a pleasure to meet you again, Lord Moonstone."

Kael smiled, bowing his head slightly in acknowledgment. "No, It’s my pleasure to be here, Princess. I’m sure the evening will be filled with good company."

The Queen glanced between Kael and Artemis with a hint of amusement. "I trust that you two have already become acquainted," she remarked, causing both Kael and Artemis to chuckle.

"Yes, we met yesterday during our lunch," Artemis replied with a slight tilt of her head. She gazed at Laura. "Princess Laura."

Laura smiled. "Your Highness…"

With the pleasantries exchanged, the group continued to mingle, but Kael couldn’t help but notice the way the other nobles and guests were looking at them. He could feel the weight of their curiosity and whispers as they walked further into the banquet hall.

The banquet was in full swing, with guests mingling in groups, holding wine glasses, and enjoying appetizers.

The air was filled with light chatter, laughter, and the sound of the orchestra playing soft classical music in the background.

Children and teenagers were scattered around the hall, forming their own smaller groups and enjoying the festivities.

Kael and Adam, surrounded by a group of men, found themselves at the center of attention. The other men were mostly husbands or sons of nobles, many of whom were well-established members of the royal court or wealthy merchants.

The men seemed eager to hear Kael’s thoughts on various matters, and soon enough, the conversation turned toward his marriage and personal life. As they spoke, their curiosity became apparent.

"So, Mr. Kael," one of the men began with a casual tone, "what’s it like being married to princesses? I must say, it’s a rare sight to see a man with five wives, especially with princesses as your partners."

Kael smiled politely, not letting the question faze him. "It’s been a wonderful experience," he replied calmly. "My wives are strong, capable, and faithful, and I couldn’t be happier."

The conversation shifted smoothly, but soon, another guest, a man in his mid-forties with a slight grin on his face, brought up a subject that caused a shift in the mood of the group.

"Faithful? I heard some pretty nasty rumor about Princess Shiera, though," the man said, his voice lowering as though he were telling a secret. "Apparently, she’s not exactly fond of men. My daughter, who’s a friend of the princess, once told me that Shiera was a sapphic. (Someone who likes the same gender). She had a crush on someone for quite some time now."

Kael’s smile remained, but his jaw tightened slightly at the mention of Shiera. The room went silent, the eyes of the men turning toward him, waiting for his reaction. Some of them were hoping for him to cause a ruckus.

However, Kael dealt with it calmly. "Rumors are just that—rumors," he said calmly, his tone steady. "Even if that were the case, it’s not an issue. It’s all in the past. She’s not involved with anyone else at the moment, and that’s what truly matters. Need I to remind you that my eldest wife, Amanda, has been married before as well."

The other men nodded, and Kael could tell his composed response had silenced any further speculation on the matter.

"Ultimately, what matters is that I’m happy with my wives. They are loyal and strong, and they share a bond with me. That’s all that’s important for me," Kael continued, his voice firm and unwavering.

His calmness surprised everyone in the group, but it also seemed to reassure them. Some even nodded in agreement, appreciating his maturity and poise.

Prince Adam, standing nearby and watching the exchange closely, narrowed his eyes as he observed Kael’s behavior.

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He knew Kael well enough to sense that something was off, even though Kael was keeping his emotions in check. The rumors about Shiera had clearly struck a nerve, but Kael had handled it with remarkable composure. Adam, however, couldn’t help but feel that something was not right between Kael and Shiera. He could say when his friend was lying and earlier, he indeed covered up for his wife. Why Shiera isn’t here? It’s obvious for Adam who knew Shiera’s personality very well.

But, since it was a marital problem between Kael and his wife, Adam didn’t think of himself to be involved in their matters and played dumb.

Later, Kael and Adam found a quiet corner of the banquet hall to indulge in some appetizers, away from the ongoing chatter and laughter around them. The small bites of food were exquisite, but the conversation between them quickly turned to matters of love.

"So, you’re planning to woo Princess Artemis, huh?" Kael teased, his voice light and playful as he bit into a pastry. He raised an eyebrow, smirking at his friend.

Adam, leaning back in his chair and sipping his wine, grinned sheepishly. "I’m thinking about it, yeah. She’s... intriguing. But that’s not something I can talk about openly. I mean, she is a princess of the Nymira Empire, not a daughter of some Duchess. Not to mention, she was only 16. I wonder if she’ll think of me as a creep if I try to woo her."

"You talk as if you are 30 years old. Aren’t you only like 22?" Kael chuckled, shaking his head. "But anyway, if you really want to pursue that little monster, you have my blessing." He waved his hand dismissively, as though the matter was of no consequence. "But you should know, she’s no regular princess. Despite her playful demeanor, she’s at the peak of the Legendary Realm. You’ve got your work cut out for you."

Adam raised an eyebrow at Kael. "I’m a Tier-7, you know."

Kael smirked and leaned in slightly. "You reached Tier-7 by ingesting a lot of spirit cores," he said with a pointed look. "And let’s not forget how much you got beaten up by my sister."

Adam winced at the memory.