The Banquet [1]

"Are you there Regulus?"--- a familiar voice asked from the other side of the door but Regulus was still not fully awake from his sweet sleep after such an exhausting journey....He was so engrossed in his sleep that he completely forgot that he was not in his home anymore and was too lazy to think who it might be on the other side or to give an answer to that voice.....he continued sleeping until the voice again asked----"Regulus? Regulus?...Are you in the washroom???...Please answer it will be a very brutal scene if you are late!"

Regulus finally replied----"I'm here...Come in!"

Udell rushed into the room along with a maid who was carrying Regulus' bags and Udell himself held a package.

"You still haven't taken a bath??? Oh God! When are you gonna get ready??? C'mon what are you looking at my face for? Get up from there and go into the bathroom...."---shouted Udell in a very busy tone and helped Regulus get up from the from the floor...

"You keep the bags here"---ordered Udell to the maid while pointing at the side of the door.

The maid left after keeping all the bags on the floor.

"What are you smiling at???You can even smile when you are this late???"--- shouted Udell again irritatingly

"No...it's just that your nagging reminds me of my butler, Asher...Trust me, both of you nag the same!"---said Regulus

"Oh yeah, of course it's a real great time for you to match peoples' characters!....If you are done then will you please enter the bathroom and take your bath as quickly as possible?....Gosh! They didn't even assign a maid for this!!!...so annoying!"--- said Udell in a irritating tone while he arranged the bags.

"You don't have to worry about that! I am more comfortable at bathing myself..."---said Regulus and without wasting anymore time, he entered the bathroom...

After about exactly ten minutes, Regulus came out in a robe which was in the bathroom.

Udell then opened the package and told Regulus to wear the dress that was in it....Regulus did as told and followed Udell outside of the castle where the royal carriage was already waiting for him.

Before Regulus got into the carriage, Udell handed him a box and said---"Eat it in the carriage! I know you have been on an empty stomach since you came here and I am really sorry for that...it isn't even the maids' fault you know...they were ordered not to give you any food till the banquet was over....Whatever! Just eat them...I know they might not be enough to fill your long term empty stomach but they can at least keep your stomach from growling among a crowd of nobles!"---said Udell in a little sad tone

Regulus smile and replied, "Thank you very much! You don't have to feel sorry! You have done enough for me and I am already very thankful for that!!! But I have to admit that I really needed this....Thank you again!"

"You really are a sweet kid! Anyways, now get in the carriage! It is getting late! Kalli must be waiting...We will meet again in the banquet....I will arrive a bit late I guess...Now get going without wasting anymore time!"---said Udell.

"Okay then! See you later!"---saying this Regulus got in the carriage.

The carriage left......Regulus opened the box that Udell had handed him earlier and as he untied the box, it revealed a treasure trove of golden crescents. Each croissant looked like a miniature sun that promised warmth and indulgence.

Regulus picked one of them and took a bite....His teeth sank into the delicate layers - a symphony of crunch and tenderness..."So this is the world famous Aulando croissants?... They are indeed worthy of praise!...I thought I would never get to eat them in my whole life but who knew I would be able to eat them after I had become an Aulandonian! Hmm... Fate really likes to play with us!"---Regulus thought to himself as he enjoyed the chocolate croissants on his way to the banquet....

The carriage reached the banquet after Regulus had fully stuffed himself with those croissants....

"We have reached the hall Sir!"---said the horseman.

Regulus got down the carriage and entered the ballroom....

The opulent ballroom was adorned with crystal chandeliers...The air hummed with anticipation, as if it knew that something extraordinary was about to unfold....Velvet curtains, heavy as midnight, framed the grand windows. Beyond them, the city's lights twinkled like distant constellations.

Regulus stepped into the room in his black suit....He looked like a shadow sculpted in ink. His features- sharp and chiseled defied the ordinary...Eyes like the dense forests, held secrets that begged to be unraveled. His hair swept back like a raven's wing....

The black suit cling to him like a lover's touch- a black confession....The jacket, as if tailored to perfection, revealed a tantalizing glimpse of his fair collarbones....His shirt, unbuttoned just so, exposed a hint of chest - a promise of vulnerability...Regulus' silver chain, which was given to him by his omega father, glimmered around his neck as if a tether to the enigma within...

Whispers about Regulus' unparalleled beauty fluttered around the room like moth wings..."Who is he? " "Is that the youngest prince of the Corvalon Empire?", "Gosh! I have never seen such a fair person!" "Are all the Corvalonian omegas this beautiful?" "If His Highness divorces him, I will surely marry him!" "Hah! As if you will stand a chance in front of all these nobles!" "Gosh! Will he reject me if I asked him to have a dance with me?"

Regulus' glimmering entrance and the continuous whispers that praised him couldn't keep Kallinikos in his seat anymore. Kallinikos got up from his seat and approached Regulus ......"You really are good at seducing people!" ---said Kallinikos and held Regulus's wrist tightly and dragged him to the middle of the ballroom amidst the eager eyes....

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