In banquets like these, no one truly ate with much enthusiasm. Most dishes were merely tasted before being set aside, barely touched before servants whisked


    them away.


    But the Nerathians were different. They treated every dish with genuine respect, cleaning their tes entirely, no matter what was served. Their wine sses, once filled, were immediately emptied again. The pce servants attending to them must have been exhausted, constantly refilling their sses and recing empty tes.


    Violet recalled their meal at Spring Pavilion. Just like tonight, not a single scrap had been left behind. She wanted to say something to Carissa, but the only sound in the hall was the clinking of cutlery and the quiet shifting of tes. Speaking now would be too conspicuous.


    Still, one nce between them was enough.


    Violet''s thought was clear-the Nerathians'' presence at this banquet must be tied to the negotiations. Carissa agreed.


    However, their exact role remained uncertain. Were they here to mediate and broker peace? If so, the treaty could be finalized swiftly.


    Or were they here to back Orivenia? If that was the case, then this would be a drawn-out battle. With Nerathia behind them, Orivenia would have little reason


    topromise, and Starhaven''s position at the table would be far weaker.


    The realization must have struck the Starhaven envoys as well. Davis and the Diplomatic Affairs Minister, Alden Grey, who had earlier been brimming with excitement, now wore more somber expressions. They barely touched their food, though with everyone else still eating, they had no choice but to follow suit.


    It was, without a doubt, the strangest banquet they had ever attended. An eerie, foreboding silence hung over them like the calm before a storm.


    There were 32 courses in the pce banquet, but each portion was very small. The servants came in one after another, cing dish after dish on the table, then quickly clearing them away. When someone tried to raise a ss for a toast, it was just like earlier with Lisandra. They took a quick nce around, drank their wine, and then set the ss down to continue eating.


    Finally, thest dish was served, and just as quickly, the Nerathians finished. Only then did the rest of the hall dare to stop eating.


    Fan dabbed at the corner of his mouth with a napkin before smiling and speaking in fluent Westic. Carissa listened as the trantor ryed his words. He was offering polite praisemending the exquisite vors of the meal, the fine quality of the wine, and expressing gratitude for Lisandra''s warm hospitality.


    Carissa recalled how fluent in Stellish the Nerathians had been back at Spring Pavilion, speaking as if they were native-born Starhaveners. Now, Fan spoke Westic just as effortlessly.


    A thought suddenly struck her: Adrian had once mentioned that the Halcyon Monarch and his princess consort traveled between many kingdoms, and their time in Nerathia was actually limited.


    Lisandra spoke next, also in Westic, leaving the interpretation to the trantor.


    "Her Majesty, the queen of Orivenia, has invited Prince Fan to bear witness to the negotiations between our two kingdoms, in the hope that both sides may reach an agreement that benefits all and spares our people from further war," the trantor announced to the room.


    A witness.


    The word was carefully chosen, neutral enough to avoid revealing their true stance. But what did it mean? Were they here to mediate and broker peace, or to back Orivenia up? It was hard to say.


    "Starhaven wees Prince Fan


    as a witness to our negotiations. We will strive for a peace agreement that is faband just, one that safeguards the interests of both kingdoms and spares our people from unnecessary suffering, Davis responded, his voice steady.


    After the trantor ryed this to the hall, Fan smiled and said, "Since both kingdoms share the same goal, the negotiations should not be difficult. I represent Nerathia in this matter and hope for a resolution that will be satisfying for atp."


    That single statement weighed heavily on the Starhaven delegation.


    He was not here in a personal capacity, but was representing Nerathia. That meant the kingdom had a vested interest in this conflict. If they truly sided with Orivenia, Starhaven would have to make further concessions to avoid offending Nerathia.


    Before leaving Starhaven, Salvador had set clear expectations-seek peace where possible, but do not surrender to unreasonable terms. There was room for negotiation, but Starhaven could not simply yield to Orivenia''s demands.


    Now that Nerathia was involved, it seemed like that step alone might not be enough to settle things.


    Orivenia had gone to great lengths to bring Fan and Elysia here. Clearly, they anticipated that Starhaven might only offer a modest concession, and they wouldn''t be satisfied with that.


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