The Curator
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Chapter 106: Gathering of Nobels
🕑 Added 2024-11-19 13:45:02 +0000 UTCThe Y’Tharak family exited their carriage, immediately engaging in conversation with other nobles, who seemed eager to greet them. Tor’kel, too, was recognized by many of the servants, and he took the time to introduce Thalion to them.
Thalion resolved to avoid making any mistakes. Tor’kel seemed like a decent man, and he didn’t want him to suffer consequences because of his own actions. The other butlers, however, were far less forgiving, barking orders at the servants to fetch trivial items.
After a brief goodbye to the other servants, Thalion hurried after Lady Nyssali. He wasn’t alone; two other servants, from a butler Tor’kel evidently disliked, also trailed her. These two cast disdainful looks at Thalion, their eyes filled with open disgust.
Thalion remained at Lady Nyssali’s side as she greeted almost every person in the room. The ordeal was tedious beyond belief.
Eventually, Nyssali turned to him and commanded, "Bring me some refreshments."
"With pleasure," Thalion responded with a deep bow, moving swiftly before the other servants could act.
Finally, a chance to explore this mansion. No way was he going to stand by her side any longer than necessary.
He hurried away from the lady and ascended the grand staircase. The entrance hall was vast, its ceiling over sixty meters high, supported by gleaming white marble pillars that contrasted sharply with the golden décor of the exterior. Multiple floors ringed the space, and towering doors on the sides led to various rooms.
Thalion peeked into the dining area, where enormous tables stretched up to thirty meters long. Another room housed a massive dance floor flanked by bars. Every chamber was larger than any palace he had ever seen on Earth.
Ascending higher, Thalion relished the anonymity afforded by his current form. Back in his real body, standing over 1.9 meters tall, he had always been conspicuous, whether he wanted to be or not. Before the system, he had been an imposing figure, but after it? With people flying or growing in size due to new classes, his stature had become less remarkable.
The boy’s body, in contrast, was a mere 1.7 meters tall, allowing him to move unnoticed—a rarity he was beginning to appreciate.
The wardrobe of this world was quite peculiar; it seemed designed for table dancers or women working on the streets. Both men and women wore clothing that left very little to the imagination.
Thalion reached the fifth floor, over forty meters above the ground. He leaned on the golden railing, enjoying the view. There was no need to rush for a drink, after all. He was sure that the lady would forget about her order very soon.
A man appeared on the grand golden staircase on the first floor, his figure positioned where everyone in the hall could see him. Judging by his presence and aura, he had to be at least a C grade. The man clapped his hands, the sound amplified by mana, reverberating through the entrance hall and commanding the attention of everyone present.
"It is my greatest honor to stand before you on this most exceptional evening—one that shall be remembered for years to come," he began, his voice rich and confident. "Tonight, as the stars bear witness, we are not merely gathered for revelry but for a moment of profound honor and joy. For we are joined by none other than Her Royal Highness, Princess Talythra."
At that moment, the princess appeared beside him, accompanied by another golden-clad individual. The woman was a vision, as though crafted entirely from gold. Her hair, eyes, skin, and even the minimal clothing she wore shimmered with a golden hue.
"In her presence," the man continued, "we find inspiration to renew our sense of duty and pride. Her wisdom and grace remind us that each of us plays a role, no matter how small, in the grand tapestry of this realm. May her guidance light our path, as she does for all her people—within these walls and far beyond, to the distant districts.
So, please, enjoy the finest of our fare, the music, and the company of friends and allies. Let us together raise our glasses, not only to celebrate this gathering but to pay homage to our most revered guest, Princess Talythra. May her reign be long, her influence boundless, and her spirit ever triumphant.
To Her Highness!"
Thalion barely managed to stifle a laugh as the man concluded his speech. The princess didn’t look like someone eager to guide anyone, let alone inspire.
Next, the man explained the evening’s itinerary, which turned out to be surprisingly mundane. The massive tables were merely for those who wanted to eat; dancing would come later. Thalion couldn’t help but wonder how these people would dance—probably on poles, judging by their outfits.
He watched as numerous people approached the princess, bowing and leaving after brief exchanges. One young woman, probably in her twenties, managed to catch the princess’s attention. The royal followed her to a sitting area where several other women were already gathered, one of them being Lady Nyssali.
Thalion had no intention of interrupting their meeting by bringing drinks, so he remained at his vantage point, observing the crowd. He joked with Rylak about the nobles, passing the time with ease.
In hindsight, Thalion considered himself fortunate to have bonded with Rylak. The spirit had no qualms about Thalion controlling his body, especially after Thalion had saved his life and empowered his body. In the short months they knew each other, they definitely have become good friends.
Thalion’s attention shifted to the two other servants accompanying Lady Nyssali. They stood awkwardly at the edge of the group, clearly unsure of what to do. He also noticed the princess’s growing irritation—something none of the other women seemed to acknowledge. Perhaps due to his title, it was obvious to him that the princess was searching for an opportunity to leave.
"Hey, Rylak, I’m about to try something risky," Thalion said, his gaze fixed on the circle of women.
"No, you can’t!" Rylak protested, panic evident in his tone after he realized what Thalion was up to. "That would be insane!"
"Sometimes, you have to embrace the gamble," Thalion replied, leaving his position.
He descended to the bar in the dance hall, picking up a tray of drinks intended for Lady Nyssali. Steeling himself, he made his way toward the circle of over ten women seated in ornate golden armchairs, chatting and sipping from their glasses. As he drew closer, he extended his enhanced senses, provided by his title, and confirmed that the princess’s discontent wasn’t his imagination. Despite her radiant exterior, she gave off a subtle but palpable vibe of frustration.
She doesn’t seem so bad, Thalion thought, at least not from what I can sense.
He took a deep breath, sending a silent prayer to any god who might take pity on poor Tor’kel, and stepped into the circle.
"Here is your drink as ordered, Lady Nyssali," Thalion announced with a bow, standing squarely in the middle of the group.
The effect was immediate. All conversation ceased as every woman in the circle turned to look at him. Not just them—anyone in the hall who had been watching the princess now directed their attention to him.
"Took you long enough. Now leave—we have important matters to discuss," Lady Nyssali hissed.
"Of course," Thalion replied smoothly. As he turned to leave, he feigned sudden surprise, as though just noticing the princess.
"Princess Talythra! What are you doing here?" Thalion asked in mock disbelief.
Every woman’s eyes widened in shock as he addressed the princess so casually.
"Leave this instant! You will be punished for your insolence!" Lady Nyssali shouted, her voice rising with anger.
"What do you mean, 'what am I doing here'?" Princess Talythra asked in a neutral tone, but Thalion could sense her amusement beneath the surface.
"Well," Thalion said with a shrug, as though speaking to an ordinary acquaintance, "this is definitely the most boring place in the entire mansion right now."
The women stared at him in stunned silence. Gradually, the rest of the room quieted, with more and more people turning to listen.
"And where would I find a less boring place?" Princess Talythra asked, narrowing her eyes slightly. Thalion, however, could feel through his title that she was fully enjoying this and testing him. Damn, this title is good, he thought. He just hoped that he had interpreted it right.
"At the bar, of course," Thalion said with an easy smile, completely ignoring the growing number of eyes on him. "The drinks there are lit."
For a moment, silence hung over the room like a heavy cloud. Then, the princess began to laugh.
"Alright, why don’t you show me the way?" Princess Talythra said, standing up with a smile.
"Sure," Thalion replied with another casual shrug, motioning for her to go ahead.
The entire room watched in stunned disbelief as Thalion and the princess made their way to the bar on the sixth floor. There were bars near the dance floor, but Thalion decided the almost-empty bar upstairs was the better choice.
"Hey, Rylak," Thalion asked his internal companion as they ascended the stairs. "What are the good drinks in this world?"
"I have no idea," Rylak replied, still in shock. "I’ve only ever drunk water my whole life."
Well, that’s not helpful, Thalion thought grimly. He couldn’t exactly ask for a beer at a high-society bar. In this world, they wouldn't even know what beer is.
When they reached the bar, Thalion leaned casually on the counter and asked the bartender the only thing that mattered for a first drink: "Which of these drinks is going to absolutely wreck me?"
The bartender, clearly nervous in the princess’s presence, hesitated for a moment before replying, "The Stardiver is the strongest we have, but—"
"Great! Two Stardivers—one for each of us," Thalion interrupted, ignoring the bewildered expression on the bartender’s face.
While the drinks were being prepared—each infused with a substantial amount of mana—Thalion busied himself by carrying two golden armchairs to a quieter corner of the room. From this vantage point, they could oversee the entire entrance hall without being too exposed themselves.
When Thalion returned to the bar, a pang of regret hit him as he saw the finished drinks. That looks like it could kill me. But there was no backing out now.
"Don’t worry," Thalion said with a playful grin, handing the princess her glass. "In my infinite grace, I’ll let you choose the next drink."
"How very kind of you," Princess Talythra replied with mock seriousness before ordering two Nebula Nectars for their next round.
They clinked glasses and downed the Stardivers. The drink hit Thalion hard—it was definitely one of the strongest things he had ever consumed, much stronger than Kargul's vodka.
"Wow!" Thalion exclaimed in genuine surprise. "The taste is actually good!"
"Are you serious? What have you been drinking your whole life?" Princess Talythra asked, laughing loudly.
"Mostly water," Thalion replied with a chuckle, technically telling the truth on behalf of Rylak.
The bartender handed over the Nebula Nectars, and the two of them settled into the armchairs. From their spot, they could easily see the activity below in the hall, where people were clearly gossiping about them. This was about to get very interesting. Would he die if Rylak's body got destroyed before he could leave?
