The convoy passed through Morningwind Harbor's Teleportation Array, and once again, the eternal and tranquil moonlight of Silvermoon City cast its gentle glow upon them.
The carriage came to a steady halt, and an attendant respectfully opened the door from the outside.
Queen Ilanier was the first to descend, the hem of her magnificent gown tracing an elegant silver arc in the moonlight.
At the Royal Palace entrance, the Chamberlain and court mages, who had long been waiting, pressed their hands to their chests and bowed in perfect unison. The scene was solemn and dignified.
"Miss Qingyue, if you please."
The Queen turned back to Lin Qingyue and her companions inside the carriage, gesturing for them to alight. A lazy yet enchanting smile played on her lips.
Her demeanor wasn't that of a host welcoming a distinguished guest of honor, but rather that of someone greeting a dear friend.
Lin Qingyue and her three companions exchanged a glance before disembarking one by one.
The moment their figures appeared at the palace entrance, the stern-faced Elven attendants' breaths hitched for a split second.
Every gaze instantly converged on Lin Qingyue.
The emotions swirling in those eyes were a complex mix of awe, fervor, and adoration, along with a pure curiosity that couldn't be concealed.
Everything that had transpired on the Frost Path had already been transmitted back to Silvermoon City via the mages' communications—magic images destined to be recorded in the annals of history.
Planet Befall smashing demons. A shield holding back an entire snow mountain.
Such outrageous scenes, previously found only in ancient myths and epics, had now unfolded before their very eyes.
And the one who had wrought these miracles was the pink-haired human girl before them—who looked somewhat weary and even let out a lazy yawn.
The sheer cognitive dissonance between what they saw and what they'd heard left every Elf who had seen the battle report feeling as if their worldview had been dragged across the ground and repeatedly trampled.
"Go and make the preparations," Ilanier said, waving her hand dismissively at the Chamberlain. "Prepare the banquet as I instructed earlier."
She paused, then added, "Also, tell the Royal Chef to bring out his most prized recipes. And make sure there's plenty of the Sunflare Fruit Roasted Venison."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
The Chamberlain bowed respectfully and immediately turned to carry out her orders.
"Come, ladies," Ilanier said, turning to lead Lin Qingyue and her companions deeper into the Royal Palace. "I'll show you to your guest rooms first so you can settle in, freshen up, and change. The banquet will take some time to prepare."
Aeldara followed silently, half a step behind the Queen, her aura suppressed, like the most loyal of shadows.
The guest rooms prepared for them in the Royal Palace were the epitome of luxury.
Each was spacious and bright, complete with a private balcony overlooking the Royal Capital's nightscape. The furniture within was crafted from living ancient wood that pulsed with life energy, warm and smooth to the touch.
When Lin Qingyue entered her room, her gaze was immediately drawn to the massive, plush bed—large enough to sleep four or five people.
She practically dove onto it.
"Ah... a bed... I'm alive again..."
Sinking into the bedding in a starfish pose, Lin Qingyue let out a sigh of such profound satisfaction it felt as if her soul had left her body. Right now, she wanted nothing more than to lie on this bed until the end of time.
"Sis! Get up! Go take a bath first!"
Lin Xiyue followed her in, exasperated but amused by her sister's "salted fish" state, and tried to pull her from the bed.
"A Cleanse Spell would take care of it... Just let me be a vegetable for a little longer..." Lin Qingyue waved a feeble hand.
"A Cleanse Spell can remove dirt, but that's cleaning, not relaxing!" Lin Xiyue retorted righteously. "This is the Elven Royal Palace! The royal bathroom! The bathtub is carved from legendary Moonstone and filled with spring water from the Ancient Tree of Life! Don't you want to experience the decadent lifestyle of the Elven royalty?!"
"Alright, alright..."
The words "decadent lifestyle" finally piqued Lin Qingyue's interest. She reluctantly let her sister drag her to the bathroom on the other side of the room.
Inside, a massive bathtub carved from a single block of Moonstone emitted a soft, ethereal glow. Warm spring water flowed from an exquisite beast-head spout, and fragrant, unknown petals floated on the surface.
After a long, comfortable soak and changing into the soft, silk casual wear brought by an Elven handmaiden, Lin Qingyue felt like she had finally recovered half of her depleted health bar.
When Lin Xiyue pulled her into the banquet hall, she was utterly stunned by the scene before her.
This wasn't just a dinner—it was a state banquet in all its grandeur.
Above the dome of the spacious banquet hall, a brilliant magical galaxy slowly flowed, casting shifting patterns of light and shadow.
An incredibly long dining table, carved from a single piece of thousand-year-old wood, was laden with a dazzling array of dishes so exquisite they seemed too beautiful to eat.
Glimmering mushrooms were carved into the shape of running fawns. Fresh vegetables, cooked in pure dew, released an enticingly fresh aroma. Jams and pastries of every color imaginable were spread across the table in a breathtaking display.
And in the center of the table, in the most prominent position, sat three towering platters of roasted meat, piled high like small mountains, still sizzling and releasing a rich, savory fragrance.
The meat was cut into uniform cubes, its skin a tempting caramel brown, sprinkled with finely ground spices that shimmered with faint red light.
An overpowering aroma—a blend of fruitwood smoke and sizzling fat—assaulted their senses, rushing straight to their heads.
Gulp.
Lin Qingyue and Lin Xiyue swallowed hard in unison.
"Miss Qingyue, please, have a seat," Queen Ilanier said with a smile, gesturing to them from her seat at the head of the table.
Besides the two sisters, only the Queen and Aeldara were present.
Clearly, this was a private banquet held exclusively for them.
"Please, don't be formal. Make yourselves at home."
Queen Ilanier raised a crystal glass filled with an amber liquid, offering a distant toast to Lin Qingyue.
"To celebrate our shared victory, and to thank you for your aid."
"Thank you, Your Majesty," Lin Qingyue and the others replied, raising their own glasses.
The fruit wine was sweet and mellow, smooth on the palate with a perfectly chilled touch that was instantly refreshing.
After the brief opening remarks, Lin Xiyue was the first to lose her composure, her eyes fixed hungrily on the platters of roasted meat.
"Um... Your Majesty, may we begin?"
"Of course," Ilanier said, amused by her eager expression. "Please, help yourselves."
The moment permission was granted, Lin Xiyue speared the nearest piece of roasted venison and stuffed it into her mouth without a second thought.
"Mmph! Delicious!" she exclaimed indistinctly, her eyes widening in blissful surprise. "The skin is crispy, and the meat inside is so tender and juicy! And there's this sweet, fruity wood aroma! Sis! You have to try this!"
Lin Qingyue didn't stand on ceremony either, spearing a piece and bringing it to her lips.
The instant the meat entered her mouth, the scalding juices, perfectly sealed beneath the crispy skin, exploded across her palate.
The unique, light sweetness of the Sunflare Fruit branches perfectly neutralized the slight gaminess of the venison, leaving only the purest, richest meat flavor. Combined with the unknown spices, the flavor profile was elevated to an entirely new level.
Holy shit! This flavor... it's insane!
Lin Qingyue felt her weary soul ascend with the impact of that single bite of roasted meat.
Even with Xiangling's culinary arts, I could never create roasted meat of this caliber... she thought, her mind racing. No, Xiangling is a genius, but she's still just a teenager. This Elven Royal Chef has probably been cooking for hundreds, if not thousands, of years!
This isn't a contest of skill; it's a crushing victory of time! What I'm eating isn't just roasted meat—it's the weight of history itself!
She completely let go, joining Lin Xiyue as they transformed into ravenous beasts, devouring the roasted meat on the table.
At first, Su Wan and Xia Lian remained reserved, delicately sampling the exquisite vegetarian dishes. But after witnessing the Lin sisters' unrestrained feasting and seeing the Queen's amused, entirely unbothered expression, they finally succumbed to temptation and cautiously speared a small piece of meat.
And then, they too were lost.
For a time, the entire banquet hall fell silent, save for the crisp clinking of cutlery against plates and the satisfied chewing of the young women.
Aeldara maintained her perpetually stoic expression, delicately picking at a vegetable salad as if completely uninterested in the delicious roasted meat.
But Lin Qingyue's sharp eyes noticed Aeldara's scarlet gaze drifting unconsciously toward the meat with increasing frequency.
Just eat it if you want it. Why pretend to be so aloof? Lin Qingyue scoffed internally. You're a knight. Are you really going to survive on just vegetables?
Ilanier, meanwhile, watched them all with a gentle smile, sipping her fruit wine. Her eyes were filled with doting affection as she observed the four of them feasting with such gusto.
She felt this was probably the liveliest and happiest meal she'd had since becoming queen.
-
With their bellies full and their thirst quenched, the feast came to an end.
Three mountain-like platters of roasted meat had been wiped clean, without a single scrap left behind.
Lin Qingyue and Lin Xiyue sprawled contentedly in their chairs, rubbing their round bellies and letting out simultaneous, satisfied burps.
"Hic... Ah, that's better..."
Lin Qingyue let out a long sigh and declared with mock seriousness, "Now, I can finally contemplate the true meaning of the universe."
"Pfft!"
Ilanier finally burst out laughing.
-
The delightful dinner came to an end.
Lin Qingyue and the others were led back to their respective guest rooms by a maidservant.
Lin Qingyue felt like her energy was now at 80 percent. The remaining 20 percent would require a deep, satisfying sleep to fully recharge.
She threw herself onto the soft, large bed, pulled the covers over her, and fell asleep almost instantly.
She slept soundly and dreamlessly.
When she opened her eyes again, the eternal moonlight outside the window was still bright and clear.
She glanced at the elegantly crafted Magic Hourglass in the room and realized she had slept for a full twelve hours.
"Ah, that was a great sleep..."
Lin Qingyue stretched luxuriously, feeling every bone in her body crackle and pop.
The lingering feeling of exhaustion had completely vanished.
In its place was a refreshing sense of being fully revitalized.
Just then, a gentle knock sounded at the door.
"Miss Qingyue, are you awake?" a maidservant's respectful voice called from outside. "The Queen requests your presence."
Oh? The main event is about to begin.
Lin Qingyue's spirits soared, and she leaped out of bed.
She knew that after eating and sleeping, it was time for their promised "private chat."