Chapter: Chapter 2: New Century (Epilogue)
Chapter 354: The Banquet Welcoming the Winter (1)
“Oh, my dear sister, the King of Winter has arrived. Are you ready?”
Howard burst into Jessica’s room, startling the girl who was sitting blankly in front of the mirror.
“I… I don’t know…” Jessica shook her head, her expression panicked.
“Hey! Look at me, Jessica.” Howard forcefully held Jessica’s face with both hands, making the girl meet his sharp gaze. “Tell me, you will do as I say tonight, you won’t mess this up, right?”
“Y-yes…”
Jessica shivered.
The moment her brother touched her.
Memories of her abuse were immediately awakened.
She recalled the small room on the lighthouse.
A drunk Howard had beaten her.
It was a nightmare she would never forget.
“Very good.” Howard nodded with satisfaction.
He stroked Jessica’s neatly tied silver hair and coaxed her:
“I’ve already met the King of Winter. As the rumors say, he is a formidable Champion Knight. I’ve never seen such a majestic man before. If you can become his Queen, it will be your good fortune.”
“Brother… c-can I not marry him?”
Hearing that the King of Winter was exactly as rumored, Jessica felt a chill down her spine.
The tears she had held back for so long finally burst forth.
Heilna had taught her a lot.
At that time, Heilna had even speculated about how great the King of Winter was.
This most famous noble lady of Medon had told her with compassion.
She might die in the King of Winter’s bed.
“What nonsense are you spouting, my foolish sister!” Howard glared fiercely at the girl before him. He wanted to grab Jessica’s hair and slap her, but since Jessica was meeting the King of Winter today, he forcibly suppressed his restless right hand, threatening her fiercely:
“Perhaps I haven’t made some things clear to you. My throne is unstable right now, do you understand? Of the four dukes in Medon, two are coveting my throne, and the other two are watching from the sidelines. Everything I have now could vanish at any moment. Only the King of Winter can help me… If you fail, my dear sister, I will lose my throne. What will happen to you then? You will be captured by the Grand Duke’s army and taken to the barracks, where those soldiers will treat you like a war prostitute and play ‘Gwent’ with you all night. Wake up!”
He gently patted Jessica’s face.
The girl before him stared at him blankly.
Her amethyst eyes were full of despair and fear.
“You must marry him. Only by submitting to him can I make my request to the King of Winter… For my throne, I will not hesitate to send you to the King of Winter’s army. As long as the King of Winter is willing, I won’t hesitate to lock you up with a group of lustful wild dogs even if it means putting you in a cage. So now, wipe away your tears and do as I say!”
Jessica looked sadly at her half-brother.
She felt endless hatred and pain in her heart.
But she lacked the courage to resist, nor did she have the ability to resist.
So she compromised.
As Howard had said, she wiped the tears from her face with the back of her hand.
“Your makeup is smudged. Let the servants come in to touch it up… Also, stand tall!” Howard gently placed his hand on Jessica’s hair.
It was the place he most liked to grab when he used to beat his sister.
Feeling the cold, large hand on her head, Jessica shivered, her hair standing on end. She quickly raised her head and stood tall.
The maids who heard the call entered.
They paid no attention to Jessica’s tear-streaked face.
They simply took out their makeup boxes and quickly touched up her makeup.
“Good, you look much better now. Smile, you must be happy today.” Howard pinched Jessica’s head, making her look in the mirror, and issued the command.
And so, Jessica saw a girl in the mirror, standing tall, a smile on her lips.
It was herself.
…
The closer they got to the banquet hall.
The louder the revelry became.
The aroma of roasted meat also began to fill the air.
How long had it been since she last ate meat?
Jessica didn’t know. She subconsciously swallowed. Usually, the food sent by the servants was what her brothers left behind, and then the servants would pick through it again before it finally reached her.
There was no meat, but she often drank meat broth.
Turning into a circular corridor, Jessica could already see the scene in the banquet hall through the narrow oval windows:
Dancers were performing a seductive dance in the center of the hall; jugglers were making a noble lady laugh heartily; servants with enthusiastic smiles were shuttling through the crowd with plates; a majestic and tall knight sat on the throne, surrounded by Medon’s ministers. Their expressions lacked their usual dignity and elegance, only fawning and flattery, like a group of beggars surrounding a rich merchant, begging for his leftover breakfast.
That knight was undoubtedly the King of Winter. He wore a dragon horn helmet and silver Dragon Crystal Armor, with a long sword across his knees, radiating a cold light. The blade was as wide as two palms.
He sat astride the Medon King’s seat and turned his head to say something to a delicate little girl. The Medon officials seemed to have turned into noisy flies.
Jessica could not see the King of Winter’s face, but his imposing physique alone was enough to fill her with fear. In her memory, her brother was already a very majestic and tall figure, but looking at her brother beside her now, and then looking at the King of Winter, she realized that her brother would be like a child standing before the King of Winter.
“Master, someone is looking at you~ It seems to be a pretty human~”
Connie, who was talking to Xi Wei, suddenly leaned over and whispered with a smile.
Xi Wei followed Connie’s gaze.
He saw a timid gaze quickly retract as if startled.
The petite figure behind the window instantly darted behind the wall.
Jessica, hidden behind the palace wall, took a deep breath, calming her racing heart.
Although the glimpse was brief.
It also allowed her to see the King of Winter’s face.
His helmet had been lifted, and beneath the dragon horns embedded in his helmet were eyes as blue as the ice sea.
It was different from the descriptions of the servants.
The King of Winter was not a fierce-looking monster. In fact, he was very handsome, his face as if meticulously carved by the best craftsman, with a prominent nose, deep-set eye sockets, and every feature proportioned to show the Creator’s favor. Even his golden messy hair was as dazzling as the warm sun.
Jessica searched her memory, regretting that she couldn’t find anyone comparable to the King of Winter from the history of Medon kings, nobles, and various heroic tales.
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