Transmigrated as the Villain: I will survive

Chapter 45: The Banquet

A beauty of architecture, that is what most scholars had labelled the stella requiem, and seeing it herself she had to agree

A grand globe that encompassed the unique gothic style of the Arcane territory, a banquet hall with over 100 rumours

" The cursed globe "

Hearing the subtle muttering of Sophie, I subtly remembered the old stories my mother used to tell me about this place when I was younger, from the headless ghost that roamed the halls to the haunting screams that would play along the music

’ Of course it was all fake ’

Aside from the Arcanes no one had ever actually set foot there after all

No one new why the Arcanes had built it nor why they had kept it unused for so long, all that was known was that that it encompassed an oath

’ Seeing as it had finally opened does that mean the oath is fulfilled ’

Such questions naturally bubbled up, but I made sure to push them away immediately, I wasn’t here to investigate after all

" Shall we go "

Getting off first I strolled towards the gates as the others were still hung up admiring the outside view of the globe, a few seconds after I heard the sound of footsteps hurriedly moving behind me as we were escorted towards the banquet

’’ wait for meeee "

I could hear sophies cries from behind, yet I continued walking paying it no mind

Standing there in front of the entrance were two well-built guards alongside two long lines of waiters and maids all bowing down

’ Where did he get so many workers? ’

Waiting on the red carpet I finally stood still as the rest of the group joined me, from the looks of it we were the last group to enter as the guards slowly opened the gates

Walking towards the massive gates that opened for us, the blinding light hit us, as I finally got see what the inside of the mysterious globe would be

.....

Nicholas Pov:

It didn’t take long before I arrived at the banquet’s destination

Having already finished all other business for today, I planned to wrap my part quickly and go get some sleep

Go in finish fast and go out, any other matter can be taken care of after I wake up

Moving towards the massive globe I entered right away through a second passage without taking as much as a glance towards the architecture

To others it might seem like a dream yet to me who had seen it regularly since I was young it was just plain

From its massive statues and engravings on the walls to the large stained-glass, it was decorated all over in accordance with its massive size making it a rather famous tourist destination back in the day

However, what was truly impressive was the inside not what could be seen on the front, sadly no-one aside from the direct heirs of arcane were ever able to see it’s full form

’ Though that is no longer the case anymore ’

" You look rather emotional "

" ... "

Subtly acknowledging the unusual lack of commentary, I gestured towards Albert, however even then he simply stood still watching the stella requiem

" Haah... It simply that..... I hadn’t thought that I’ll get to live to see the stella requiem actually in use "

Breaking his silence, he sighed slightly as he said so, looking as if he was bottling up a truckload of emotions

’ I can’t blame him though ’

After all the stella requiem wasn’t only a mere banquet hall, it was a promise, one that has spanned over 500 years, there was no one in arcane who didn’t know about it

’ The day we shall open the stella requiem is the day we become dukes ’

A promise to reach duke status and a symbol that was meant to break the news for all of arcane that was the stella requiem

’ And here I am using it for a school trip ’

" Do you think I am wrong for using it in such a way? "

Believing his current state was due to that I asked, after all he was a patriot that held more loyalty to anyone else for the arcane family and its head

It was only us currently standing alone, so I had already braced myself for the words to come

Yet rather than a speech full of laments what I got was soft smile as he shook his head denying my words

" You misunderstood, after all who knows what you have done for arcane more so than I "

" That... wasn’t the answer I was expecting "

" I figured as much "

He chuckled lightly looking tenderly at me

" The black markets purge alongside the fact that Koschei shall attack, you never explained to me how you know about either and honestly, I do not feel inclined to ask "

" ... "

" You have quite a lot of secrets my boy, however that matters not to me, for I could clearly see you walking forward with all your might as you carry on with arcane on your back "

" ... "

" You turned over a new leaf, it is time for arcane to also start moving forward from old customs "

Perhaps due to how shameless I have been these days it had been a while since I had found myself so speechless, yet hearing Alberts words seemed to bring a rather unfamiliar warmth to my chest

" You’re not mad? "

To my question he simply shook his head

" I’m prouder than ever "

The surroundings grew quiet after that as neither of us spoke, yet as we continued standing like that, I slowly went over my plans for the week as I decided to change it a little bit

’ Turning a new leaf means a second chance ’

" Albert "

’ In that case shouldn’t the announcement be made at the second banquet ’

" Yes? "

’ Even though it was basically the same thing ’

" For the one to bring me Koschei’s head I shall grant them anything they desire, that was the emperor’s declaration "

’ I was planning to ask for something else, I’m not sure he’ll agree to both demands ’

" .... Indeed "

’ Honestly this could cause major complications in the future ’

" Then during the closing banquet that should be held next week, I’ll make sure to fulfil the Arcanes promise "

’ Yet seeing the look on Albert’s face right now, this felt more important ’