Chương 18: Ch. 18: Banquet
Staring at my figure in the full-length mirror I sighed in disgust. The 'dress' wasn't as revealing as it could have been, but since I was used to wearing a lot more material, it felt like I was almost naked.
"Dang Ez. Your body is looking so hawt right now!" Richie looked me up and down, gawking at my appearance. I suppose it did show off my feminine side since most of my assets were exposed. The material was champagne colored and velvety soft. We had removed my bindings from around my chest (since everyone knew I was a woman now anyway) causing my cleavage to show since the dress dropped a little in the front. Golden straps held the top up leaving my collarbone exposed. Shoulder drapes made of sheer material allowed my birthtats to be displayed but covering some of the rest of my arm. The cloth fit snugly around my upper body, allowing my curves to be seen. There was a big slit across my midsection showing off my belly and lower back only gathering under a green jeweled clasp right at my navel. A flowing skirt reached the floor, which would have given off an elegant vibe if it weren't for two hip length openings causing my legs to peek through. The green from the gem along with the color of the material enhanced my honey-green eyes and warm tanned skin. My hair was newly brushed, with the left side pinned up by a green and white hair clip. Soft golden flats covered my freshly cleaned feet and the scent of perfume permeated the air.
"Did you just spray me with that?" I asked looking at Richie holding a perfume bottle.
"Girl, because of those ridiculous chains I can only give you a sponge-bath. If I don't spray you, your stench will get your head chopped."
"Whatever. I guess it's time to head out. But before I leave, do you think I should unbind myself?"
Richie gave me a death glare, "Let me get this straight - you were found out to be a woman, insulted the King, allowed to live and now are getting the chance to go to a banquet yet you still want to piss the King off even more by trying to escape??? It's like you're asking to die! Just go to the banquet, play along and figure out what exactly the King wants before doing something stupid, alright?"
I raised an eyebrow, "He wants me to go to a banquet?"
"Well duh. Why else would he have you dressing so fancy? I'm not sure what he's up to, but you better act the part of a demure young lady if he went through all this trouble to get you to dress up." Before we could continue, the door burst open.
"You've had enough time to prepare. Let's go wench." The Captain ordered.
We made our way to the banquet hall, Richie tagging along in the back. He convinced the guards that he needed to accompany just in case I needed 'lady' assistance, like if my dress were to tear or something. I swear he was such a smooth-talker he'd probably be able to convince the King to let me go.
As we entered the hall, I was almost floored by the beauty of it. There were candelabras and chandeliers illuminating golden decor. Beautiful exotic flowers were placed elegantly all over the room and the table was lined with fancy chinaware. And the food! So much food was placed on the table that my eyes nearly popped out of their sockets.
I got to thinking though that the 'banquet' was rather small. When I hear banquet, I think of rows of tables with drunk people everywhere (or at least that's what I've heard from childhood stories). Yet before me was just one long table with perhaps twenty people surrounding it. The King sat at the head with wannabe-doctor by his right. Prince Iren sat beside the 'doctor' with the rest of the seats occupied with various noble looking persons. Even the portly bald guys from the arena podium were here. However, there was one empty seat remaining - on the left side of the King.
"Our guest has arrived! Come join us Ezran." The King himself stood up and waited for me to be seated.
'This is weird.' What did this guy expect? Why was he treating me like a lady even though I'm still bound in chains? Weren't women nothing but tools here? I tried to not let my confusion appear on my face as I shuffled forward to the remaining seat.
A vexed expression appeared on the King's face, "Guards, remove these shackles. Our guest can't very well eat if she's bound now can she?"
My eyes narrowed in suspicion. 'He's removing the chains huh? What is he trying to play at?' As the bindings were being removed and everyone was staring at me, I thought about what Richie said. 'Be a demure lady - right. I will be the most alluring, demure young lady they have ever seen!' If I was able to pull it off, I might be able to leave this banquet with my head intact.
Once I was free, I tried to get into the feel of being a lady. I raised my head high, straightened my back and waltzed over to the empty seat while elegantly sitting down. 'I can do this.' All I needed was to play along long enough to figure out the King's angle.
The King sat back down, smiling. I looked across the table and the wannabe-doctor had his head lowered, blushing slightly. Beside him, Iren was staring at me with admiration radiating in his violet eyes. I looked to the end of the room to make sure Richie was still here, and sure enough he was calmly standing at a corner with a few other servants, hands folded in front of him obediently.
"Ezran tell me - what would prompt a spy to come and infiltrate our city, huh?" The King was eating elegantly as he looked my way.
I didn't know what to say, so I deflected. "Why do you think your highness?"
A smile played on the edge of his lips, "Oh many spies have tried to come in our city, but we always catch them. Their responses have always been to see how we run our empire and to detect our weaknesses."
"That sounds like something a spy would do." I replied.
"What weaknesses have you witnessed?"
Oh so many weaknesses, but I didn't want to actually tell him that. For some strange reason, I felt like I was on his good side right now, and I really didn't want to mess that up. My life literally depended on it.
"What weaknesses do you think I've seen?" I asked.
His eyes began to narrow, and I noticed the wannabe-doctor look up from his plate. "I think you are trying to get more information out of me, that's what I think. I am being merciful by allowing you to attend here, eat our food, and explain yourself - yet you seem to beating around the bush. You had plenty to say about our empire in the arena. Why don't you elaborate on that, hmm?"
Before I could respond, the wannabe-doctor interjected, "Brother, why don't we give the woman some time to actually quench her thirst hmm? I'm certain she's quite hungry and the delegates need some attention, so why not give her a few moments to gather herself and then you can ask all the questions you want, alright?"
The King closed his eyes for a brief moment, then reopened them, "But of course Devin. As always you have such sound advice. What would I do without you?" With that, the King turned his attention back on to the portly men while still keeping an eye in my direction.
The whole ordeal was just awkward. I tried eating the food before me, heaven knew I was starving, but it was really difficult to eat with so many eyes on me. Especially little Iren. He was so darn cute staring with wide-doey eyes and fidgeting in his chair. It was is if it was killing him to sit there quietly without getting to ask me any questions.
After several minutes, the King looked my way once more, "Alright now Ezran. Tell me -" but before he could finish his sentence, a servant hurriedly rushed over and whispered in his ear. The King's eyes widened as his face turned pale, when the doors to the hall opened up. I had just looked up from my food, when I met face-to-face with my worst nightmare. I faintly heard someone announcing the man's name, but it failed to register since my vision tunneled and my blood rose to pound in my ears.
Before me stood the angelic demon who haunted my past.
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