The Runaway Maid is Loved by the Archmage - Chapter 179

※ This book contains depictions of coercive/dubcon/noncon acts, violence, and immorality. Reader discretion is advised.

The Imperial New Year’s banquet begins on the evening of the last day of the year, before the year changes, and continues until dawn the next day. This is because the ceremony takes place at the moment the year changes, and also because of the nature of the banquet, which lasts late into the night.

Roina and Yoseph were able to arrive at the Imperial banquet hall on time. It took some time because they had to ride a carriage for a while even after entering the Imperial Palace. At the door of the splendid banquet hall, the servant who received their invitations carefully looked at the two and announced their arrival to the inside of the banquet hall.

“The Archmage’s disciple, Lady Roina, and the eldest son of Amasto, Young Master Yoseph Amasto, are entering!”

The two soon entered through the opening doors.

As befitting a day with an important ceremony held only once a year, the Imperial banquet hall was exquisitely decorated.

There was a gigantic ceiling painting with a prominent golden hue and a large chandelier hanging in the center, and on the tables were delicately woven lace decorations and simple yet elaborate dishes focused on finger foods.

Here and there, there were dreamlike magical lights and fresh flowers that looked like they had just been picked. All those luxurious decorations would be discarded once this night was over.

Servants were busily moving around, carrying champagne, and gorgeously dressed nobles were felt looking at the two with curious eyes.

She looked at the center and frowned slightly. In the center of the banquet hall was a stage made of a huge magic circle, and as someone who could sense mana unlike ordinary people, Roina could see a rather sinister black energy pooling there.

‘Why is the place where the contract with the god is supposed to take place in this state…?’

Roina thought that, but put that question aside for now. It was because people were approaching from around her. It would look strange if she just kept staring at that place.

Regardless of Roina’s thoughts, the surrounding nobles showed interest in Roina and approached her. The position of the Archmage’s disciple was unprecedented. There was only one Archmage per generation. That was because they had lived that way for a thousand years. Even though there were periods when there was no Archmage, there had never been a disciple.

“Young Master Amasto, I heard you are coming of age this year. Congratulations.”

Several people soon spoke to Yoseph. He skillfully dealt with the people and also preemptively blocked conversations with Roina, considering that she might not be familiar with such banquets.

“Lady Roina has decided to minimize external contact today as she is in the middle of her training. We ask for your understanding.”

Roina did not deny his words, and most of the nobles, who had no idea how the Archmage trained, readily accepted and stepped back.

Dozens of noble people she didn’t even know passed by. Roina hardened her expression and looked at them calmly. She knew there was still some time before the ceremony started, but it was difficult to have, so she had no change in expression. To those around her, she looked almost like a doll.

It was then.

“The Crown Prince of the Kailum Empire, Roberto Kailum, and the eldest daughter of Eckhardt, Veronica Eckhardt, are entering!!”

Roina felt as if her heart had frozen. Crown Prince Roberto had come here.

Of course, she had fully expected him to come, and it was something she had prepared herself for, but thinking about it in her head and facing it directly were very different.

Her heart thumped and gradually beat faster. It even seemed to creak with anxiety. Roina desperately tried to resist the urge to turn her head, look away, and run, and instead, she watched the Crown Prince entering the banquet hall. He wore a beautiful smile on his lips and greeted the people around him.

As the contract ceremony was scheduled to take place soon after the banquet progressed to some extent, he was dressed in the neat ceremonial attire required for someone connected to the god of this country, as well as the Crown Prince. The man with the still angelic appearance greeted the people around him and then, as if by chance, his eyes met Roina’s.

His serene smile momentarily twisted and appeared as a greedy smile full of superiority. His eyes, meeting Roina’s, revealed the madness he had been subtly hiding. It was evident that he still saw Roina as his possession. Roina felt goosebumps all over her body.

“Hah.”

“Are you alright?”

Yoseph, noticing Roina covering her mouth and bowing her head due to the reflexively rising nausea, sent her a worried look. He suggested that if she felt unwell, she could get some fresh air on the terrace for a while. Roina simply shook her head slightly. She couldn’t run away now, not knowing what might happen. Now was not the time to run away from the Crown Prince, but to confront him.