Chapter 18
As the atmosphere of the banquet reached its peak, the Emperor raised his hand.
“My two daughters have prepared a special performance for everyone attending this banquet.”
The Emperor looked at Elisha.
“Elisha, I would like to hear your beautiful performance.”
“Of course, Father.”
Elisha rose from her seat.
She walked toward the piano.
Lucy watched her with a look of skepticism.
‘Let’s see how good she really is.’
In her previous life, when Elisha had performed, it was described only briefly in text, so the extent of her skill hadn’t really hit home.
Elisha sat down at the piano, took a short, deep breath, and began to play.
Lucy almost spit the champagne she had in her mouth back into her glass.
‘What… is this heavenly sound?’
In an instant, Lucy imagined angels blowing trumpets before a dazzling staircase leading straight to heaven.
‘Impossible.’
Elisha’s performance was so extraordinary that even someone harboring ill will toward her would see visions.
There were even people wiping away tears.
‘…She really deserved that soft, chewy rice cake puppy.’
Lucy had to admit it.
At the same time, a sense of unease washed over her.
‘Can I possibly beat Elisha with my dancing?’
No one expected her to, and now even Lucy doubted herself.
Finally, Elisha’s performance, which had moved everyone’s hearts, came to an end.
She stood, bowing gracefully to the banquet guests who had listened.
Even at the very end, she exuded perfect elegance.
The Emperor smiled with great satisfaction and clapped his hands.
A thunderous applause erupted in response.
“To my daughter Elisha, who performed so wonderfully…”
The Emperor’s words paused as he suddenly remembered Lucy and looked at her.
‘So you were going to give a soft, chewy rice cake puppy to Elisha without even seeing my dance?’
Lucy’s suspicions proved correct. When their eyes met, the Emperor stiffened and cleared his throat.
“Lucy, come forward.”
The Emperor spoke to Lucy in a voice devoid of expectation, almost exuding irritation.
Lucy rose from her seat and gave a slight bow.
She raised her gaze and looked for Bartholomew.
Bartholomew was handing the prepared sheet music to the musicians, as Lucy had requested.
The musicians tilted their heads in confusion but, since it was the princess’s request, they reluctantly agreed to play.
Bartholomew looked at Lucy.
Their eyes met, and Lucy moved from the dais to the center of the stage.
Bartholomew followed her onto the stage.
“It seems Princess Lucy is about to dance.”
“Who is her partner?”
“I wonder.”
The banquet guests murmured in curiosity about Bartholomew’s presence.
Elisha, too, was curious.
She wanted to know who the person suddenly appearing as Lucy’s dance partner was.
Anyone who could enter here would be a member of a well-known family, yet he was someone she had never seen before.
Lucy grew nervous under everyone’s gaze.
‘I wonder if Bartholomew is nervous?’
She looked at him.
As usual, his expression was blank.
His calm presence helped soothe Lucy’s tension.
The two of them held hands and prepared to dance. The musicians began to play.
Lucy and Bartholomew started to dance in time with the music.
The Emperor’s hand holding a wine glass trembled slightly.
‘What…?’
Elisha nearly scoffed.
The piece they had specially requested from the musicians was completely unfamiliar.
Even at first listen, it was clear it was nothing remarkable.
As for the two dancing to it, their steps barely aligned with the basic rhythm.
It felt like watching a children’s recital.
‘Of course.’
There was no way Lucy could do anything extraordinary.
This time, the person who would catch the Emperor’s attention at the royal banquet would be her.
Elisha glanced at the Emperor with confidence.
Her eyes widened.
The Emperor’s eyes were tinged with red.
‘What…?’
Even when listening to Elisha play, he had only smiled before—he had never looked this deeply moved.
Elisha felt confused as she alternated her gaze between the Emperor and Lucy.
Finally, as the music ended, Lucy and Bartholomew’s dance came to a stop.
A strange silence fell. The Emperor rose from his seat.
As he began to clap, the banquet guests, not knowing why, quickly followed suit.
Elisha looked on, stunned, while Lucy’s eyes widened in realization.
‘It worked perfectly!’
Lucy smiled.
The music she had requested Bartholomew to have the musicians play was a folk song from the southern provinces.
The Emperor had spent part of his childhood under his grandmother’s care in the southern region.
Anyone from the south would have danced to the folk songs of that place, and the young Emperor had done the same.
Hearing that folk song again after so long must have stirred old memories and emotions within him.
Lucy had learned this while failing the royal banquet quest—when the Emperor had given the soft, chewy rice cake puppy to Elisha and asked for this song next time.
Lucy signaled Bartholomew and then approached the Emperor.
The Emperor looked at her and said,
“Thank you, Lucy.”
Elisha widened her eyes at the Emperor.
“You dedicated that dance for me.”
Lucy smiled in response without saying a word.
“I want to give a special gift to you for showing such a wonderful dance.”
The Emperor gestured to his attendant.
Soon, the attendant returned carrying a white puppy in his arms.
Lucy’s eyes sparkled upon seeing the puppy.
“I present to you Cerberus, my most cherished pet.”
“Thank you.”
Lucy spoke with a face full of emotion, and the Emperor looked satisfied with her reaction.
She received Cerberus from the attendant.
Despite the grand name, Cerberus was incredibly cute.
Small enough to fit perfectly in her arms.
Warm, fluffy, and carrying the cozy scent of freshly baked bread.
Cerberus looked at Lucy with bright, black eyes.
Apparently pleased with her as well, Cerberus licked her chin.
The touch of his soft, black nose made Lucy giggle.
This was the pet she had longed for so much.
With this, the likelihood of avoiding a death-ending scenario greatly increased.
Ding!
[Royal Banquet Quest: Complete Success!]
[Congratulations. You have succeeded in the quest by gaining the Emperor’s approval.]
[Special Reward: Soft, Chewy Rice Cake Puppy]
[Reputation +20]
[Reputation: -100 → -80]
It was the exhilarating moment of her first quest success.
Even the system notifications, which had only displayed negative alerts until now, sounded a triumphant fanfare in celebration.
Lucy, holding Cerberus protectively, looked at Elisha.
Elisha was struggling to manage her expression in this unfamiliar situation.
She stared at Cerberus in disbelief, unable to accept that he was in Lucy’s arms.
Lucy, on the other hand, beamed with joy.
Elisha finally composed herself.
“Congratulations, Lucy.”
Elisha smiled warmly, as if she had never been jealous, and congratulated her.
The Emperor was even more satisfied seeing his two daughters get along so well.
Especially since Lucy, who had always irritated him, had finally done something to please him.
“Lucy, you will also join us for dinner tonight.”
In a good mood, he invited Lucy to the dinner table for the first time.
“Father!”
Elisha exclaimed in surprise.
The Emperor’s eyebrows rose slightly.
“Why the reaction?”
He seemed to ask if she had any complaints about his words.
Elisha quickly shook her head.
“It’s nothing.”
Lucy, too, wanted to shout “Father!”—but with a voice full of emotion rather than protest.
“I am curious who the gentleman you danced with is. Invite him to join us as well.”
Bartholomew?
Would that even be acceptable?
But she could not possibly refuse the Emperor’s order.
Lucy had no choice but to nod.
