Chapter 76: The Banquet Begins

Flora walked to the center while Ilya stood quietly behind her, clearly signaling to everyone present that Flora was the protagonist of the moment.

Standing in the center, Flora took the Amplifying Crystal. Her heart was still beating a bit fast at first, but it quickly steady.

“Good evening, distinguished guests.” Flora’s voice was clear and calm, echoing in every corner of the room.

It was a standard, irreproachable opening. She paused for a moment.

“I am Flora.” She did not use any titles, simply stating her name calmly.

“The beauty and depth of this palace have amazed me. The blood clan embeds power within elegance, which has benefited me greatly.” Flora’s wording was appropriate, and her posture was composed.

Then, Flora paused again, as if organizing her final words.

After the pause, Flora’s tone shifted, gaining a trace of imperceptible coldness. “And just a short while ago, while strolling through the courtyard, I also witnessed some… thought-provoking scenes.”

As soon as these words were spoken, the expressions of many people below the stage shifted. They seemed curious about what this princess had seen that she would choose to mention it at a time like this.

The faces of Roz and his son turned dark. They hadn’t told anyone else, and they hadn’t expected Flora to bring the matter up now.

“I saw the abuse of strength and power.” Her speaking pace was not fast, as if every word had been weighed and carried heavy significance.

“Mother taught me that power is a responsibility, not a privilege. Status is a burden, not capital to bully the weak.”

After speaking, Flora looked at Ilya, who gave her an encouraging look.

“The glory of the demon race and the dignity of the blood clan should not be built upon trampling others.”

“True strength lies in restraining one’s own power and in respecting every life, regardless of how high or low their bloodline is, or how strong or weak their power may be.”

Her voice gradually rose, carrying a sharp edge belonging to a newcomer.

“I came here not only to witness the friendship between our two races but also to forge a shared future for the demon race and the blood clan.”

“And this future should be one that is more just and carries more dignity!”

“Perhaps my thoughts are still naive, and perhaps my words are not rigorous enough.

“But I believe that everyone here harbors a longing in their heart for a better future.”

The entire hall fell into a dead silence. Everyone was shocked by this princess and her speech, which showed no stage fright, pointed directly at the core of the issue, and could even be called bold.

Finally, Flora lifted her head slightly, her voice returning to its initial calm. “I, Flora, will lead our two races toward this better future.”

“Thank you, everyone.”

She bowed slightly, performing an elegant and impeccable salute.

Her speech was over.

Following that, applause like a rising tide erupted from every corner of the hall.

Standing on the stage, Flora heard the roaring applause in her ears and felt the gazes still focused on her. She took a deep breath.

‘I seem to have done alright.’

Ilya walked to her side, said a few words, and then led Flora down from the stage.

***

Afterward, Flora was brought to the side of the main seats.

Rias and Xueli were already sitting there.

Once again, the four of them were sitting together.

“Rias, my daughter didn’t make a fool of herself, did she?” Ilya sat down with a smile, her tone steady.

The corners of Rias’s lips curled up slightly as she laughed and said, “Ilya, you’re asking something you already know the answer to. Flora’s debut was much more brilliant than I expected.”

“To be able to speak what is truly on one’s mind in front of a large audience is a feat that requires great courage and ability.”

Xueli also shifted her gaze toward Flora, a rare look of approval appearing in her eyes.

“Princess Flora, your speech just now was truly quite wonderful.”

“You praise me too much,” Flora said humbly as she sat in her seat.

“There is no need. Good is good; there is nothing to be humble about.” Xueli closed her eyes and spoke softly.

Other nearby nobles could hear Xueli’s evaluation. When they heard it, their hearts seemed to skip a beat, and their souls trembled slightly.

Xueli had actually offered a rare compliment to someone? And it was to a demon princess making her first appearance. It was truly a rare occurrence.

Rias said nothing more, merely glancing at Flora with a smile.

Soon, the main courses were all served.

A small bowl of soup was placed in front of Flora. The soup was a nearly transparent amber color, emitting a strange, warm fragrance.

Flora picked up a silver spoon and took a small sip. A gentle, savory flavor dissolved on the tip of her tongue, followed by a faint, refreshing taste that made her feel mentally refreshed.

‘Mm, this is delicious. It feels as if a stream of water is smoothing over my entire body, soothing and warm. My muscles are relaxing.’

In front of her was also a sliced meat steak. The steak was cooked perfectly, its surface gleaming with an inviting caramelized luster.

The meat itself was a deep, dark red, drizzled with a black sauce and accompanied by mushrooms that emitted a faint blue glow.

Flora had never seen this kind of meat before, nor had she ever eaten it. She was curious about what it tasted like.

Flora used her fork to spear a small piece and put it in her mouth. The texture was exceptionally tender, and the juices were flavorful.

The complex flavors were clearly layered—unfamiliar, yet unexpectedly… delicious.

“What kind of meat is this?” Flora looked at Ilya sitting next to her, her eyes widening slightly.

“This is the sirloin of a Twilight Beast.” Ilya placed her fork on her plate and paused before speaking.

“A Twilight Beast?”

“Yes. Twilight Beasts only reside deep within the Evernight Forest. Its meat contains mild shadow mana.” Ilya did not look at Flora’s face; she simply looked at her own hands.

“I really haven’t heard of it before…”

Seeing that Ilya wasn’t looking at her, Flora turned her head back and spoke in a very soft voice.

Flora continued eating. Occasionally, Rias would ask Ilya some questions—mostly ordinary things, some of which even made Flora smile.

Flora suddenly glanced at Xueli. Her eyes were half-closed, as if she were savoring the food very carefully.

Once she finished this sip of soup, Flora would ask her what she thought of that “journey.”

Soon, seeing Xueli finish the bowl of soup, Flora lifted her eyes and said in a very low voice, “Princess Xueli, Mother told me that you visited our lands during the Unification Festival to observe the lives of the people.”

“I am somewhat curious—in your eyes, what are the common people of the demon race… like? Are they different from how they are usually described in books?”

Xueli’s hand, which was holding a spoon, paused for a moment as if she hadn’t expected Flora to ask about this. However, she composedly set it down afterward.

She thought for a moment and then answered calmly.

“Overall, it matches general records. They are pragmatic, industrious, and have a strong sense of belonging to their families and lords. However…”

She paused slightly again, as if recalling a specific image.

“The vitality and the… spontaneous smiles during the festival exceeded my expectations.”