The Princess Banquet
- 114 years after the apocalypse -
"Big brother, wake up… big brother!" Luna said, her voice carrying a hint of irritation as she nudged Jonan.
Jonan stirred, opening his eyes to see his younger sister's impatient expression.
"I'm up… everything's fine, Luna," he replied with a tired smile.
The carriage came to a halt, and the doors were opened. Jonan, the Duke, and Luna stepped out, their eyes set on the grand estate where the banquet was being held.
Before they could enter, Jonan heard the voice of an announcer from inside, his words echoing through the hall.
"Presenting the arrival of Duke Darius Westrian and his family!"
A wave of applause filled the air as they stepped through the grand entrance. Jonan took in the sight before him—a massive hall, its walls adorned with intricate gold embellishments. At its center stood a magnificent staircase, its railing gleaming with gold detailing.
On either side of the hall, noble families stood, clapping politely as the Westrian family made their entrance. At the very top of the staircase, overlooking the entire banquet, stood the royal family.
Jonan couldn't see the royal family clearly—they were too far away—but that hardly mattered.
How can they afford to waste so much gold while the kingdom is falling apart? he thought bitterly.
His gaze swept across the extravagant decorations, the gilded railings, the excessive luxury surrounding them. It's hard to believe we're on the verge of civil war when looking at a place like this.
Letting out a quiet sigh, he forced himself to look ahead and continued walking forward.
The Duke left Jonan and Luna behind, making his way toward a group of nobles, his expression unreadable as he joined their conversation.
In that moment, Luna grabbed Jonan's hand and tugged gently.
"Jonan, I'm hungry! Come taste all these dishes with me," she said eagerly. "I think I saw seafood on the table!"
Jonan let out a small chuckle at her enthusiasm.
"Alright, alright," he said with a faint smile, allowing himself to be pulled along as they made their way toward the buffet.
A few minutes after Jonan and Luna reached the buffet, a loud announcement echoed through the grand hall.
"Presenting the royal family—His Majesty, King Alan Vestia, Her Majesty, Queen Sierra Vestia, and their only daughter, Princess Naora Vestia!"
The moment their names were called, the entire hall fell into synchronized applause. Nobles and servants alike bowed their heads in deep respect as the royal family made their entrance.
Jonan turned his gaze toward them, taking in their appearances.
King Alan Vestia was a short, rotund man with emerald-green eyes, his long and thick beard covering most of his plump face. His movements were slow, yet his presence alone commanded authority.
Beside him walked Queen Sierra Vestia—an elegant and breathtaking woman, her large blue eyes resembling polished lapis, her golden hair flowing smoothly down her back. She moved with effortless grace, her long legs carrying her like a figure sculpted from royalty itself.
Then, there was their daughter—Princess Naora Vestia.
Her green eyes, unlike her father's, did not shine but instead held a shadowed depth to them, a quiet intensity. Her golden hair, soft and well-kept, framed her flawless face, her skin smooth and untouched by imperfection. She was slender yet well-proportioned, a delicate balance between fragility and strength.
Jonan felt his breath catch for a moment.
She is… the most beautiful girl I have ever seen.
Princess Naora noticed Jonan's reaction from afar—the way his eyes widened slightly, the faint blush that crept onto his face. It intrigued her.
With slow, elegant steps, she began walking toward him and Luna.
Jonan stiffened the moment he realized she was approaching. His mind raced, confusion washing over him. Why is she coming toward me?
His heart pounded in his chest—not from excitement, but from bewilderment. He wasn't supposed to be someone worth noticing. Yes, he was the Duke's eldest son, but everyone knew his true standing in the family. Everyone knew what his father thought of him.
She must know that too.
So why? What reason could the princess possibly have to approach him?
"Of course, Your Highness," Jonan replied respectfully.
The princess let out a soft sigh and smiled. "Ah, I'd also appreciate it if you spoke more casually. It would make things more comfortable for me."
Jonan hesitated for a moment before giving a small nod.
"Now," Naora continued, her voice carrying a subtle emphasis on his name, "tell me a little about yourself, Jonan."
"Me?" Jonan hesitated for a moment before answering. "Hmm… I like to read."
"Read?" the princess echoed with curiosity. "And what do you like to read about?"
"I enjoy history books," Jonan admitted, his voice slowly losing its stiffness. "Mostly about the world before the apocalypse."
Without realizing it, he had started speaking more casually to the princess.
"I just love their stories so much," he continued, a spark of enthusiasm creeping into his voice. "It all sounds like a fantasy tale to me—machines that could fly people across the world, devices that let you talk to someone across the seas… It's so fascinating, isn't it?"
Naora chuckled, a smile forming on her lips as she watched his excitement.
"You're a very interesting person, Jonan," she said, her voice carrying an amused warmth. "And yes, I agree—it's quite intriguing, the lives people had before the apocalypse. Perhaps one day, we should sit and read about them together."
Jonan felt heat rise to his face, his cheeks tinged with pink.
"If that is Your Highness's wish, I would not refuse…" he said, his voice slightly flustered.
Gathering himself, he hesitated before asking, "If I may… what do you enjoy doing in your free time, Your Highness?"
The princess's eyes gleamed with excitement. "I love hunting," she said without hesitation. "Rabbits, squirrels, even deer—it's quite easy, really."
Jonan's eyes widened in surprise. "Alone?" he asked, astonished.
Naora chuckled. "Of course not! I always have guards with me," she admitted. "But I'm the one who hunts. I love the thrill of releasing an arrow, watching it fly toward its target… and the greatest satisfaction comes when you know you've struck true."
Her lips curled into a pleased smile. "But my favorite part?" she added, her voice filled with passion. "Eating what I've hunted with my own hands. There's nothing quite like it—it's simply amazing."
Jonan watched as she spoke with enthusiasm, her excitement shining through every word. The way her eyes lit up, the slight smirk on her lips, the confidence in her voice—he couldn't help but think to himself, Wow… she's so beautiful…
"Well, I must go and greet the rest of the guests," Princess Naora said with a small smile, her emerald eyes meeting Jonan's for a lingering moment. "But I'd be happy to talk with you again, Jonan."
With that, she turned gracefully and walked away.
Jonan straightened up and bowed once more. "Until next time, Your Highness."
As he watched her leave, a thought lingered in his mind. I hope I get the chance to talk to her like this again someday…
"Big brother! Big brother!"
Luna's voice barely registered in Jonan's mind as he remained lost in thought. Annoyed by his lack of response, she took matters into her own hands—pinching his arm, hard.
"Ahh! Why did you do that, Luna?!" Jonan winced, rubbing the sore spot.
Luna crossed her arms and huffed. "Why do you think? I've been calling you over and over, but you were just standing there staring at the wall!"
Jonan blinked, realizing his mistake. "Oh… my bad," he muttered, a faint blush creeping onto his face.
"Jonan is in love," Luna teased, her voice playful as she smirked at her brother.
"Stop that," Jonan hissed, his expression tense. "She's the princess—just hinting at something like that is dangerous."
Luna's smirk only grew. "Oh? So you're not denying it, huh, Jonan?" she said in a knowing tone.
Jonan let out a sigh, rubbing his temple. "Luna, that's enough. If you keep saying things like that, I could get into trouble."
"Alright, alright," Luna said with a giggle, clearly enjoying his flustered state.
Just then, their father, the Duke, subtly gestured for them to come.
"Hmm, looks like the banquet is over," Luna noted.
Jonan gave a small nod and followed her. As he walked, he couldn't shake the thoughts running through his mind.
I'm going back there… to that place again. But at least, for a short while, I enjoyed myself here.
His gaze flickered toward the grand hall one last time before stepping away.
I hope to see you again, Princess Naora…