C100
After washing her body, Bianca dressed carefully under Yvonne's touch. She had a long time left before the banquet, but there was much work to be done.
Yvonne stared at the red marks from Zachary's lips, on Bianca's white body.
They were in places that could not be covered by the dress. It seemed that simply rubbing the herbal medicine, which is said to be good for congestion on the skin, would not solve the problem. After much effort, there was no choice but to cover them by applying powder makeup.
Bianca's dress today was a green satin dress. On the cloth, which was closely embroidered with vines, the patterns were revealed or hidden depending on the direction in which the light was received. Her dress was adorned with pearls, more than enough to make five necklaces.
-Mrs. The Count will come after an hour or so.
"Oh, Sir Gaspard.
Gaspard came and spoke Zachary's words. Now that he thinks about it, this is the first time he has faced Gaspard since he won the quarterfinals. Still, as his escort knight, he couldn't utter a single word of congratulations for his victory. Bianca added apologetically.
“Congratulations on reaching the semi-finals. I think it was a good match.
-… Thank you.
Although he lost, it was a match that left him with no regrets as the opponent's skills were genuine. Gaspard accepted Bianca's congratulations and nodded silently.
Yvonne brought the jewelry box. Today's accessories were unified with a black opal. The shards of light that filled the jewel shone in all sorts of dazzling colors. A shimmering golden belt was tied around her waist, and a sheer white shawl woven with lace was worn on top.
Meanwhile, Gaspard was standing in a corner of Bianca's room. He looked like he was going to wait until Bianca finished the preparations today. Bianca tilted her head, looking at Gaspard's usual attire.
"You must attend the banquet today, don't you need to prepare?"
-It's okay.
That was it. At Gaspard's forceful response, Bianca sighed.
"He doesn't really talk much. Yvonne, you must be going through a lot.
"Don't make fun of me, ma'am.
Yvonne's face turned red as she put the shawl on Bianca. But seeing that she didn't deny it, it seemed that the relationship between the two had progressed quite positively. Bianca finished the story with a smile, instead of joking around.
Thanks to Yvonne's hard work, Bianca was able to finish the preparations on time. And as Gaspard warned, Zachary came to pick up Bianca just in time.
“I'm here to pick you up, Bianca.
Today's banquet was nothing more than to honor the winner of the tournament, Zachary. However, if she left him alone, she would dress randomly, so Bianca prepared the clothes in advance.
A dark green jerkin that revealed the solid outline of his body. Silver-embroidered vines to match Bianca's dress, and silver buttons that firmly closed her neck. Her thigh-high leather boots were also decorated with silver buttons. With a black cloak over her left shoulder and a silver trim on her right forearm, her appearance was exactly what Bianca expected.
-You can see it well. It was worth choosing your clothes.
Bianca touched Zachary's garments with the tips of her fingers. Zachary's eyes, looking at Bianca, were deep set, and the line from his forehead to the bridge of his nose was like sculpture, softened by the loose bangs.
-You're beautiful too. How is your body?
-It's okay.
Blanche smiled slightly. When she first faced him, her heart beat with an uncomfortable tension, but now, just talking face to face with him makes her heart race.
Zachary held out his hand. Bianca put her hand on top of it, as if she was about to touch him. She felt as if she was rubbing the palm of her hand. At that moment, Zachary's fingers gripped Bianca's hand like a trap snapping at her prey.
The warmth of your palm. The solid body holding her. Standing next to Zachary, who was walking steadily, Bianca cleared the thoughts from her head one by one.
First of all, let's not worry about complicated things like how to change the future today.
After all, it was a banquet where all the nobles gathered.
Besides, Bianca shouldn't have done anything to be criticized, since the winner was Zachary, the spotlight would surely be on him. She has to be mentally strong. Her cheeks hardened as she smiled softly.
Suddenly, they arrived at the entrance to the banquet hall. Perhaps because they were expecting Zachary, Sauveur and Robert greeted them at the entrance to the banquet hall.
"They are here, count, ma'am."
Sauveur, who welcomed Bianca, had a smile on his face. The vassals couldn't not know that Zachary and Bianca had their first night.
He doesn't know what kind of change of heart the Earl had, but he couldn't help but be glad that the problems he had been suffering from until now were resolved at once.
Although Robert was uncomfortable, he did not express his hostility as explicitly as before.
It was so shocking that Bianca calmly accepted the rose, and her face with her head down still looked puzzled.
Just as he was about to walk by without a second thought, after receiving their greetings, Zachary sensed a subtle quirk from Sauveur.
Zachary frowned and looked Sauveur up and down. And it wasn't long before he was able to discern the true nature of the déjà vu sensation.
“I think I've seen that garment somewhere.
-Ha ha. It's the Count's clothes, so no wonder.
-My clothes?
Zachary asked as if he didn't understand. Knowing what had happened, Bianca laughed involuntarily. That laugh only made Zachary even more bewildered.
Sauveur said proudly, his chest well inflated.
-YES. You know, the lady threw away some clothes when she came to the capital. At that time, I quickly took the clothes and asked the lady's permission. Do you know how hard I fought not to let Robert take it from me?
-I will not do it. Do you think I'm you?
Robert complained. Even as he said that, his eyes were filled with envy as he looked at Sauveur's clothing.
But he wasn't jealous because he got good clothes for free, but as a gentleman who adored Zachary, he felt that he had been deprived of something sacred. As if lighting a fire in Robert's heart, Sauveur showed off his clothes happily.
“I've been keeping it until now, but shouldn't I use it on a day like today?
-Yes.
Zachary laughed too.
In the past, he might have been jealous that Bianca had given Sauveur his clothes, but Zachary is now more open-minded that he doesn't care about such things.
Her clothes were chosen by Bianca, doesn't that mean the clothes she discarded she didn't like?
She could give Sauveur any number of clothes that Bianca didn't like. Zachary, who had enough time to think, kindly let this matter drop.
Zachary and Bianca took the lead and so the Arno family entered the banquet hall. Zachary's steps were steady and everyone's attention was focused on his majestic appearance.
The people of the royal family of Sevran sat side by side in the center of the banquet hall, on the right sat the nobles of Sevran and on the left the envoys from Castile.
The tapestry with the coat of arms of the Arno family was placed in the position closest to the royal table. It was a seat that only the highest ranking nobility could sit on, and it was a natural arrangement for an earl, a war hero, and the winner of this tournament.
Zachary's half-brother, Viscount Huegh, sat at the end, near the entrance. Somehow, he was invited to a banquet, but he wasn't strong enough to join the general society. Viscount Huegh's eyes twinkled as he watched Zachary walk into the center.
People came one after another, and finally the King of Sevran entered the banquet hall closing the door. When the king entered, everyone in the banquet hall stood up and saluted the king.
The old king sat on his splendid throne and looked out over the crowd. It was an aged look but unflinching and dignified. They all held their breath in silence and waited for his next words.
—Today's banquet is to honor the winner of the tournament and to celebrate the alliance between both countries for the commitment of my grandson Albert and Princess Navarra, daughter of García, from the Kingdom of Castile, for which I invite everyone to raise a cup and share this joy.
As soon as the king's words were finished, the wine attendants went back and forth to the tables, filling the people's empty cups with wine. When everyone's cups were filled with wine, the old king raised his cups and exclaimed.
"For the eternal friendship of Sevran and Castile!"
-Health!!
They all chanted and moistened their throats with wine. As soon as the toast was over, the musicians began to play and the servants entered the banquet hall with trays of food one after another.
On a table covered with a white tablecloth was a cutting board for slicing meat and cheese, and behind it was a pear-shaped table containing crockery.
The banquet food was amazing. Pumpkin soup, pheasant stuffed with minced meat, wild boar in red wine. Roe deer thighs generously spread with butter, goat meat pie, rabbit stew, fig pie, jelly, apple mousse with almond oil, baked prunes with honey, nougat biscuits...
Among the many foods, arguably the most outstanding was swan meat decorated with feathers.
It was decorated with white feathers and looked as if it were alive, but the splendor was enormous, with gold dust on its beak and legs.
The table was stunning. Even trivial things like handled water jugs and craft bowls were plated with gold.
Castile, a maritime kingdom, may have many precious specialties, but gold was Sevran's specialty.
The Castilian delegation was left with their mouths open to see so many gold decorations for the first time in their lives.
The caterers moved back and forth between the tables, cutting the meat on the cutting boards in front of the nobles. People cheered each time the chaplain, who oversees the king's table, presented the next dishes.
As time passed, the performance of the musicians also reached its peak.
In the middle of the banquet hall, the minstrels lifted spirits with their tricks and magic. Fernand was also in the banquet hall, not as a musician but as a magician.
It wasn't really surprising. Fernand loved using magic to seduce a woman, he did the same with Bianca. He performed magic tricks, like hiding coins from her arms and pulling them out of her ears.
When Fernand took out a rose instead of the stone he swallowed, everyone cheered in amazement. Bianca simply clapped her hands to join in the atmosphere.
When he saw it, Zachary, who thought that Bianca was really surprised by the magic, whispered in her ear.
“If you're interested in magic, I can call a wizard to our estate often when you're bored.
“No, I'm not interested.
Bianca said flatly. If she was Bianca in the past, she would have felt very amazed at the magic unfolding before her eyes, but she doesn't like magic now. Bianca winced and turned her head.
Fernand handed the rose he had magically drawn to Bianca. Everyone envied Bianca, but Bianca was upset.
Fernand threw a subtle flirtation at Bianca, who was forced to receive the rose. Bianca's face twitched.
Belatedly, he tried to erase the hatred lurking on his face for her image, but it was too late. Bianca angrily tossed the rose to the corner of the table.
Whatever people think, Zachary watched Bianca with a satisfied expression on his face.
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