CHAPTER 7: The Royal Banquet

In a luxurious bathroom, an extremely cute child is currently on the tub being bathe by the maid he handpicked himself, his snow-white hair is being shampooed while his milky pale skin is being massaged causing him to close his eyes in satisfaction

Snow was feeling so relaxed that he might even fall asleep but restrained himself to do so. He ordered the maids to go out once they finished bathing him which they immediately did, Snow talked to Shiro when he's the only one left in the bathroom

"Shiro, let me look at the [System's Store]" I said, YES, the system has its store, you can find anything there even things from the Earth and other worlds. To be able to buy things from there, you need to pay with mana but it's not a problem for me as I have a tremendous amount of it, and it replenishes itself very quickly

A blue screen appeared right in front of me, and I find myself in the self-care zone of the store, I scrolled down and down until I finally found what I was looking for

"Shiro, I'm purchasing these bath bombs, shower gels, shampoos, lotions, and perfumes"

[I understand, receiving payment in progress... 100% complete]

Shiro said and I felt my mana pool decreasing but it quickly replenished itself, which made me smile

I began to place the products that I bought in my [Dimensional Storage] only leaving the lotion and perfume, I pampered myself in the bathroom and once I'm done, I rang the bell and several maids started to dress me up

After that they escorted me to the living room where I and my Family will gather before going to the Imperial Palace, I saw Big Brother Schlain sitting on the sofa and currently reading a book.

He seemed to notice my presence and started to come towards me and lifted me up

"Good morning, Snow..." he said and planted a kiss on my forehead, which made me shy

I nodded in response as he carried me to the sofa, making me sit on his lap and his arms around me while the book that he was reading was in front of us, weird, why does this feel comfortable?

This continued for about half an hour before I suddenly felt Big Brother Schlain's breath on my neck

"Hmm... you smell so good," he said, his voice deep, and I flinched when his breath tickled my skin. He placed his nose on my neck and started to sniff me

*sniff*

I was suddenly lifted, and I saw the irritated expression of Big Brother Shion

"Schlain!" he suddenly shouted making the servants around the area flinch

"What?" Big Brother Schlain said and threw a glare at Big Brother Shion

"You bastard, you're asking why?" Big Brother Shion said, and I felt his mana going berserk before he activated the 2nd Phase forming spheres of waters towards Big Brother Schlain

"What the hell?!" Big Brother Schlain said as he avoided the water spheres, unfortunately, he was hit by one, soaking his clothes

He threw Big Brother Shion a pissed off look and started to activate the 2nd Phase until a voice resounded upstairs making the three of us flinch

"What are you doing?" the angry voice of Father resounded at the whole living room, he walked towards us and took me from Big Brother Shion before scolding my two Older Brothers

Father Scolded them for about an hour before saying that they won't be able to come to the banquet if they continued to fight which they immediately stopped after giving me a look

"Schlain, go change your clothes," Father said which was obeyed

Big Brother Shion looked like he was holding back his laughter while Big Brother Schlain could only grumble in annoyance

After an hour, all of us are finally ready to leave. We rode a smaller different carriage but was more luxurious than what we used on traveling here

In the distance you could already, see the Imperial Palace lighted up, the streets were bright and full of people, luxurious carriages were lined up to enter the Capital and the Palace

We finally arrived at the Palace where the banquet will commence and there are already many people inside with different social rankings, as nobles and foreign guests arrive, their names and status were announced

"Marquis Dennis & Marchioness Elizabeth of the Fletcher house have arrived," the man in charge of the announcing said when he received the invitation given by the noble

"Count Liam & Countess Mia of the Cole house have arrived"

"Prince Clement of the Zachary kingdom has arrived"

"Foreign Minister Cain of the Astley Kingdom has arrived"

The man announced different people and statuses continuously until it's our turn

Father handed the invitation to the man, but the man seemed to have already recognized him because of the white hair that the Willoughby Family only possessed, the man immediately accepted the invitation, he opened it and happily announced our arrival, he looked at me which and paused for a moment before a smile formed on his lips unlike the stoic expression, he had earlier

"Archduke Syrron & Archduchess Sylvia of the Willoughby Dukedom have arrived," he said, and we entered the banquet hall

The people gradually became quiet only the soft music of the orchestra playing, and our footsteps are the only thing that could be heard as we walked towards the Emperor to give a bow

The nobles slightly bowed their heads towards us, and we gave a greeting to the Emperor like what the other nobles did, dropping to one knee (right knee down) and looking straight down accompanied by

"We greet His Imperial Majesty" the Emperor smiled at us before looking at me and nodded to us

I was carried by Big Brother Shion, as always, while we exited the presence of the Emperor to enjoy the banquet and for the other arriving nobles, they did the same thing as us

I was waiting for the speech of the Emperor but there seems to be another guest that is being anticipated, so I focused on eating the sweets in the banquet hall which Big Brother Shion gave me

Many nobles approached Father & Mother to interact with them since as I said before, the Willoughby Family rarely attends occasions

I also noticed a flock of girls following Big Brother Schlain as he flirted with them, I rolled my eyes at him which made Big Brother Shion chuckle, I also noticed some teenage nobles that wants to talk to Big Brother Shion, but they look hesitant to do it especially because of me

A MYSTIQUE person was respected because it is said that if you harmed them you would acquire the Goddess MYSTIQUE's Sister's rage, and coming from a high-ranking family, others would need permission to talk to me, Big Brother Shion looked like he anticipated this because he looked quite satisfied with just the two of us, 'He's using me to avoid talking with nobles!'

I sighed internally and pouted at Big Brother Shion, I turned my gaze to Father, and I saw him talking to some foreign guests and Mother who seemed to be enjoying talking with other girls her age

I looked around the luxurious hall and accidentally made eye contact with some nobles, some smiled at me and some slightly bowed their heads, I nodded in response and smiled back at them which made them flinch

Suddenly the voice of the man in charge of the announcement resounded inside the banquet halls

"The Emperor of the Castiello Empire, Dalton Gray Castiello has arrived and"

The announcer said with his voice shaky, nervousness was evident

"The Imperial Crown Prince of the Castiello Empire, Noah Alastair Castiello have also arrived..."

The door finally opened, and a handsome middle-aged man walked with a boy who is devilishly handsome beside him, their black shadow like hair, and their blue eyes contrasted to their white skin and the aura they're giving off seemed to match their appearance

The boy beside the middle age man and I who's in the arms of Big Brother Shion suddenly made eye contact

I felt my heart skip a beat and it started to beat wildly

*thump*

*thump*

*thump*

The boy smiled at me which made my breathing stop, the voice of Shiro suddenly echoed in my mind

[Snow, you are currently in front of your fated person...]

[Compatibility... Calculating...]

I waited for a second before finally getting the results

[100% COMPATIBILTY]

'R-Really?'

I asked as I stuttered

[Affirmative]

Shiro said which made me snap into my daze

I looked at the boy named Noah and smiled back at him, his ocean-like blue eyes glimmered and he started to follow his Father

I composed myself and cleared my mind, I watched the back of the person I am fated to be with, I gulped to moist my dried throat, I am extremely nervous, but I already gathered my resolve

'Noah Alastair Castiello, I'll make you mine...'