Chapter224

Is she some kind of soft pillow that everyone wants to grab and hug?

And they were still at the palace banquet, with so many eyes watching. Even though Elara didn't care much about status, being hugged and passed around like that, what kind of behavior was that?

"No way!" Before Elara could even finish speaking, Oswyn shot back at her, then pulled her into his arms again, using just enough force that she couldn't push him away no matter how she tried.

Elara: .....

Oswyn wrapped her entirely in his arms, not wanting to leave a single space for anyone else.

A few seconds later, he seemed to realize that doing this in public at a palace banquet might not be very proper. He pressed his lips together, thinking for a couple of seconds, then began adjusting his posture.

At the same time, he tried to remember the manners he had read about before, the way a husband should serve his wife in front of others. He wanted everyone to see that he was serving her, not just clinging to her.

He brought a piece of snack that Elara had eaten the most and held it near her lips. Leaning close to her ear, he whispered, "What do you want to eat? I'll feed you."

Elara: .....

Nearby, Kristof watched the scene unfold. The smile on his face didn't change, but his eyes narrowed again. He didn't step back at all.

Inside the grand hall, where everyone had been chatting and toasting, the voices had unknowingly quieted. Many eyes, with different emotions, kept drifting toward the high platform.

Sitting closest to the throne, General Q quietly ate from the banquet table. His long hair fell by his ears, hiding his eyes and expression.

Next to him, Francis stared wide-eyed at Elara on the throne, who was being fought over by two men. His eyes were nearly popping out.

"They, she, they! How dare they...?!"

Francis was shocked, confused, and completely stunned. How could these two men act so intimately with that woman?! And right in public, hugging and touching her like that?

At the same time, a strange blocked-up feeling rose in his chest. He remembered the last time he visited the Princess's residence. It had been completely empty—Elara had brought all the men into the Imperial Palace, yet hadn't even informed him!

On the other side, sitting nearly across from the two Qi brothers, Damon also lowered his head, quietly drinking the wine in his cup.

The sounds of the two men talking with Elara on the throne kept drifting over. Damon's gaze dimmed slightly. He picked up the wine jug on the table and poured himself two more cups. The scent of alcohol around him grew heavier.

At the seats nearby, Scholar Fu and Emory quietly continued eating. Further back, Hector, Egbert, and the other officials occasionally looked up to glance quickly at what was happening on the throne.

In their hearts, they all sighed. The Empress was truly different from the rumors. She clearly pampered the men around her a lot.

Otherwise, those two men who dared to sit next to the throne and still touch her would've been harshly punished by now.

But the Empress hadn't punished them at all. She even allowed them to openly compete with each other right in front of everyone.

Among the officials, a small number of the older ones had already started smiling and guessing how soon the Empress would officially marry Lord Oswyn and Lord Kristof into her harem.

This kind of thing had always been common throughout history. In a world where women were few and men were many, male ministers married into the Empress's harem could still attend court and help solve her problems.

Many of the younger officials blushed or felt jealous as they listened to every move on the throne.

Their Empress wasn't just unlike the rumors about her being violent. She also seemed very good at pampering her consorts.

Those two could act like that and she still wasn't angry.

No one could imagine just how loved and honored a man would be if he were ever married into her harem in the future.

With everyone's mixed thoughts, the palace banquet slowly came to an end.

After it ended, Elara finally pushed away Oswyn, who had been holding on to her the whole time. Glancing outside at the dark night, she used the excuse that it was late and she needed rest to send off the still sulky Oswyn back to his quarters.

When she returned to her own chambers, Elara didn't go to sleep right away. Instead, she called her palace attendants to set up a wine banquet in the back garden of her chamber, arranging a small private gathering.

"Uno."

A tall, lean figure appeared at her side immediately and knelt halfway. "Your Majesty."

Elara looked at his usual calm and quiet expression and smiled gently.

"Uno, because of your special status, I thanked everyone at the earlier banquet tonight, but I couldn't invite you all directly to join. Do you feel upset?"

Uno seemed stunned by her question for a moment, then lowered his head even more and replied quickly.

"How could I dare? Your Majesty, Uno and the others of the Wei clan belong to you. Whatever you ask of us, that's what we should do. It is our duty. There's no reason to feel upset."

Elara knew he would say that. She couldn't help but lean down, looking at Uno's ever-calm expression.

Actually, it was the Wei who had done the most for her since she arrived in this world. They had shielded her from countless open and hidden attacks.

But because of their special identity, Elara couldn't call them out directly in front of all the ministers.

The identity of the Wei destined them to remain hidden in corners and shadows all their lives.

But that didn't mean she couldn't see them.

Their contributions were no less than anyone else's. In fact, they had done far more than most of the officials.

"Uno, you've worked hard these past few months."

Elara looked at his quiet, lowered eyes and sighed with a smile. She couldn't help but raise her hand to pinch his always-calm, cold face again.

Uno froze again. He sat still while Elara pinched his face into different expressions. Only after she smiled and withdrew her hand, pulling his arm to lead him to the already-prepared small banquet table, did she point to the seat beside her.

"Sit, Uno."

Uno stood beside her and didn't sit.

Elara held his hand. "Alright, sit down. I told you to sit with me, and you dare not obey?"

Uno pressed his lips together and finally sat down.

Elara picked up her chopsticks and pointed to the table full of food.

"What do you want to eat?"

"Uno... anything is fine. I'm not picky."

Elara then picked up a big piece of beef and placed it on his plate. "Eat more. You all use up so much energy every day."

Uno looked at the beef she gave him. His body suddenly tensed again, and he was about to stand up.

Elara pressed him down with one hand and leaned closer, sighing.

"Uno, you've been with me for so long. Can't you feel how I've treated you these past months? Relax a little, alright? When you're with me privately. You should already know, you and all the Wei are the ones closest to me. Isn't that right?"

Uno couldn't say anything. Elara's hand on him was so light, it felt like there was no strength at all, yet Uno couldn't move at all.

The instincts trained into him since childhood vanished in front of this noble young girl.

She only needed a few gentle words to easily strip away all control he had over his own body.

"Uno... no, Uno... understands..." Uno replied in a low voice.

He and all the Wei had been trained since childhood to be nothing more than her exclusive killing tools.

They could do anything for her, pay any price, but they could never have any selfish thoughts or desires toward her.

That was their absolute rule as the Wei. No one could break it.

But now... their master, whom they should never long for or touch, once again lowered herself and touched him.

The emotion surging inside Uno grew stronger and stronger.

He didn't know what it meant. He had never felt it before, not even once.

But ever since a few months ago, when his master first touched him and lifted his clothes to treat his injuries herself, this feeling had begun to form, and it had only grown more intense over time.

Uno lowered his eyes and did his best to suppress the satisfaction in his heart. He didn't let Elara see his expression.

Elara picked up several more dishes she liked and placed them on his plate. Seeing that he no longer resisted, her smile deepened.

"Uno to Ten... and the Wei stationed inside my sleeping chambers too, all of you come out."

One by one, tall and lean figures appeared before Elara.

She looked at each of them and pointed to the table full of food.

"Tonight, the Wei are all getting a short break in turns. You probably heard what I just told Uno. So don't try to refuse me with some excuse about rules. Otherwise, I'll really get angry."

"Sit down. Eat and drink your fill. Rest well before you go switch places with the other Wei stationed in Plumera City."

"The palace attendants will keep bringing out fresh and plentiful dishes for you. But since your duties are heavy, don't drink much alcohol. I had them prepare juice instead. Drink plenty if you're thirsty."

For the first time since becoming the Wei, they heard such an order. They all turned slightly and exchanged glances, then looked at Uno sitting next to Elara.

But Uno kept his eyes down, as if controlled by the Empress. He gave them no signal.

When Elara repeated the order with a slightly firmer tone, the Wei finally sat down a bit awkwardly and started eating stiffly.

Elara looked at their movements and sighed again. But compared to the beginning, at least now the Wei dared to sit and eat with her.

Even if it was because of her order, it was still progress. Elara comforted herself with that thought.

Elara had already eaten at the palace banquet earlier. Now that the Wei had begun to eat, she stood up and gave dishes to the ones sitting closest to her. She waited for them to finish and drink the juice she had prepared for them before letting them leave to call in the next group.

The palace attendants quickly changed the tableware and food at the small banquet.

By the time all the Wei had finished eating, it was already deep into the night.

Elara remained seated at the main table, occasionally playing with Uno's long, calloused fingers.

She thought of someone else who should have attended tonight's banquet but couldn't because his condition had just stabilized and he needed two more weeks of rest—Mathias. She told the attendants to check on him in his palace. As expected, he was already asleep.