"Welcome, to my Red Alert Palace."
Despite being 70 years old, Duke Sauron didn't look like an elderly man at all. His face was completely free of wrinkles, and his long hair remained bright and thick. If Lumien's father hadn't told him this banquet was to celebrate the Duke's 70th birthday, he might have mistaken him for someone who had just turned thirty.
While Lumien was lost in thought, the Duke went on.
"My gratitude to all who have traveled far to attend this old man's birthday banquet. I understand that the Eastern Region, being the largest in the Kingdom, presents significant challenges when it comes to travel between areas. Yet, despite these difficulties, you have made the journey here. For that, I am truly grateful."
"I'm sure many of you are wondering why this banquet started in the morning rather than the evening. The reason is that I've planned the event in two parts. The first segment will focus on giving guests the opportunity to explore and enjoy various forms of entertainment from across Arsnova, all gathered in one place. The second segment will be a grand ball held here tonight."
"This arrangement was made to ensure that every one of you has a plentiful and enjoyable experience here in Arsnova."
"To make this possible, I've specifically made changes to my estate to accommodate these events..."
He continued his speech for several minutes, addressing the upcoming events and achievements of the Eastern Region. Finally, he lifted his glass high.
"Let us raise a toast!" he declared, his voice ringing with conviction. "May the Eastern Region always flourish, its lands abundant and its people united. May Arsnova continue to grow and shine. And may House Sauron, the pillar of the East, continue to serve as a beacon of resilience and leadership for all who call these lands home!"
The hall erupted in cheers as glasses were raised in unison. The Duke's words carried a sense of pride that was infectious, stirring excitement and loyalty in the crowd.
Even Lumien wasn't immune. His heart was beating strangely fast, and to suppress the feeling, he reached for his drink, hoping to calm himself.
Of course, his drink was nothing more than a sweet juice, completely non-alcoholic. Yet as he sipped it, the sugary sweetness surged through his senses, bringing him a rare feeling of soaring through the cloud.
Is this juice really non-alcoholic? Lumien wondered skeptically, but he decided it was too much trouble to ask a servant about it. Besides, he didn't mind the slight buzz it gave him. With a shrug, he quietly resumed drinking, letting his thoughts wander.
For someone nicknamed "mad dog" and rumored to be easily offended, a man people supposedly should avoid at all costs, Duke Sauron seems surprisingly easygoing. He's even offering a tour of entertainment in his estate, almost like an amusement park.
Were the rumors about him mostly exaggerations, or is the Duke simply hiding his true nature behind this carefully crafted persona?
Lumien watched as the Duke moved through the hall, clinking glasses and exchanging pleasantries with guests. He started with the highest-ranking nobles, chatting and laughing with them.
For the next dozens of minutes, the Duke continued to greet the guests one by one, making his way through the crowd. Finally, he approached Lumien's family.
"Baron Ofnir?" Duke Sauron greeted with a polite smile.
Baron Ofnir responded with a deep bow. "Duke Sauron, it is an honor to be here today. My family and I are most grateful for the invitation."
The Duke's smile widened slightly as his gaze shifted to the baron's wife. "And this must be the lovely Lady Ofnir. Welcome to my humble palace."
Lady Ofnir offered a graceful nod. "You are most kind, Your Grace. Your palace is truly magnificent."
She raised her right hand slightly, and the Duke, took it and kissed the back of her hand lightly.
The Duke then turned his attention to Azalea and Lumien, his gaze briefly pausing on each of them before he spoke. "And these must be your children. Such fine young individuals, surely, they are the pride of House Ofnir."
Lumien stiffened slightly under the Duke's piercing gaze, though he quickly bowed as was expected. "It is an honor to meet you, Your Grace," he said politely, masking the unease that crept up his spine.
Azalea, ever composed, curtsied gracefully. "Thank you for hosting us, Your Grace. The banquet has been wonderful so far."
The Duke nodded approvingly. "It pleases me to hear that. I trust the banquet will only grow more enjoyable as it progresses."
He lingered for a moment before saying, "My apologies, but there are still many guests I need to greet. Perhaps we can speak more later."
With that, the Duke excused himself to continue mingling with the other guests.
"He's not as terrifying as I imagined him to be," Lumien heard his mother comment quietly.
His father frowned, looking thoughtful. "He's definitely different now. When I met him in the past, just being near him made it hard to breathe. Even when he smiled, it felt like there was something behind it; mockery, schemes, danger. But just now... I didn't feel any of that. He's changed."
Changed?
Lumien shook his head, deciding not to overthink it. Whatever the Duke had been like in the past, it didn't seem relevant to him now. Instead, he chose to focus his attention on the spread of food before him.
Before his reincarnation, trying out different foods had always been one of his favorite hobbies. Unfortunately, being diagnosed with a terminal illness had robbed him of that simple joy. For years, he'd barely been able to enjoy a proper meal, let alone indulge in his hobby.
But now? There was no way he was going to waste this opportunity while his parents weren't paying attention. The feast laid out before him was far too tempting to resist!
Just as he took a step forward, Azalea's voice cut through his thoughts.
"Where are you planning to go?"
"Eh, Sister."
Damn it! He had completely forgotten about her presence!
Clearing his mind, Lumien pointed toward the buffet. "I want to eat those."
Azalea frowned slightly. "You're not allowed to eat random foods."
"That was in the past! Can't you see how healthy I am now?" Lumien replied, patting his chest confidently.
"Even so… we should ask Mother for permission first," Azalea insisted.
"No way! Mother will just say no. You're worrying too much. I'm going," Lumien declared, already moving toward the food.
Azalea opened her lips but closed them almost immediately. Ultimately, she didn't say anything and just quietly followed behind him.
Before long, almost an hour had passed. After filling his stomach with plenty of delicious food, Lumien now found himself outside the palace, riding in an open carriage with his family. They were heading to the first stop of their tour.
After greeting all the nobles in attendance, Duke Sauron had announced that the banquet would now move on to the first segment: enjoying the famous Arsnova entertainment.
The first attraction Duke Sauron planned to showcase was the Colosseum!
After riding in the carriage for several minutes through the crisp autumn wind, Lumien spotted a colossal structure in the distance.
The Colosseum was a massive, circular building made of gray stone, its towering walls lined with arches that gave it a grand yet intimidating appearance.
It's truly like a Colosseum in Rome!
Fuck, how is it possible that two regions in completely different worlds have the same tradition?
Do humans really think alike, or do we share similar brainwaves across worlds?!
While Lumien reeled in shock, the carriage came to a stop at the entrance.
The Duke, accompanied by two servants and a row of guards, was the first to step out of his carriage. He addressed the gathered nobles briefly before making his way inside the Colosseum.
The nobles who were seeing the Colosseum for the first time looked around in awe and curiosity. Meanwhile, those who were more familiar with such events had a gleam of excitement and anticipation in their eyes.
"What are we supposed to watch here?" Azalea asked, her puzzled gaze sweeping the surroundings before settling on the massive arena below, which had four gates positioned in each cardinal direction.
"If I'm not mistaken, we're here to watch what people call a 'Gladiator' fight," their father replied thoughtfully.
"Gladiator?" Azalea echoed. "And who would they be fighting?"
"Monsters," her father said simply.
At that moment, a booming voice echoed throughout the Colosseum.
"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the Colosseum!"