Please DON’T READ this Chapter yet. I will update this 2nd week of September!
Good news! My hands have healed now and I’m catching up on writing my missed Chapters. My apologies for all the delays. I will replace this Chapter with the real one soon, don’t worry, and upload a new one for the next day. I really apologize once again.
In the anti, please enjoy the continuation of the story below titled "The King’s Beloved". This is the revised version I am planning to submit for paperback publication. Hopefully, I get a chance soday.
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(Part 20 - Continuation...)
After a little while, everyone gathered at the Grand Palace, arriving in different manners. So via magic portals, so via carriages-looking vehicles, others by flying, and the rest, just suddenly popping out of nowhere. Most of them wore cloaks of varying colors to protect them from the chilly atmosphere of the night, though they could just warm themselves with magic. Perhaps it was for fashion instead.
The Judges and Generals sat on their assigned seats. The Mythics and Legends were in the front row near the king, the nobles on the next, and the others, scattered about. The music began to play as they waited for the king, for none started a thing without him.
Dun-dun-dun-dun!
The llow music suddenly changed to an upbeat one. In this signal, everyone rose up to welco the arrival of their king.
Carried by a blinding light that descended from above, the king arrived. He wore the sa style as what he did before, only this ti, more extravagant, and the color was different. His suit was red, and his fur cloak was pure white. He also wore a gold brooch on his upper left chest engraved with a picture of a sun, moon, and star inside a circle adorned with red gems at the corners. A faint golden glow emanated from him, unsure if it was because of the golden lights from the chandeliers or it was just his radiance manifesting.
"Everyone greets your highness and congratulates you for leading our victory," said Servus, who wore a suit for the very first ti, thanks to the formal occasion.
Everyone then chorused in congratulating the king as they bowed their heads. The king raised his hand, ordering them to halt.
"No need for formalities. Quick, start the celebration right away."
"As you wish, your highness." Turning his back to face the House Leaders, he asked them, "May we all present the candidates to entertain the king?"
"With pleasure," they replied.
"Which group shall start?"
"We, from Trítos, volunteers," answered Magna, a dark blonde-haired woman who led the group. She was beautiful and wore a long amber gown with golden sparkles.
"Then it shall."
Imdiately, every mber of Trítos Palace perford as a group. So of them danced, while the others sang and played instrunts. They perford Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake—a popular play from the human race, as was suggested by one of them.
The quality of the music they produced was terrific—the piano, violin, cello, trumpet, and other instrunts were all played with excellence. It was accompanied by singing maidens’ sweet and angelic voices while the others danced astonishingly to its tune. Every movent, every leap, bend, and curve was just flawless. It was as if you were watching how professionals perform in London’s theatre! Truly marvelous.
Splendid, Magna thought delightedly.
This is how it should be. The first perforr always sets the standards, and the audience will compare everything from them. Are they better? Or are they worse? And since our group is the best and most talented of all, none of them will be able to pull a better performance than us. Which ans by the end of their performances, the king will be dismayed and rember us more. If lucky, one of my girls may just catch his attention.
Her lips curved into a grin.
I am so brilliant!
Watching their performance, Satis, the leader of the beautiful girls from Próta, grunted. Hmf. I’ve always known the reason why she picked the talented ones, she thought.
Satis had dark violet hair and wore a lavender gown similar to the color of the group she supported. Prudens, the leader of the wise Défteros, in a blue suit, and Genus, the leader of the kind Tétartos, in a dark pink suit, both looked apathetic to their performance. They, too, had long guessed what Magna planned. On the other hand, Malum remained relaxed and simply enjoyed his wine.
After a few minutes, the group performance ended, and every Magi enjoyed the show. They clapped their hands, and so even stood up to congratulate them.
"That was a great performance, Trítos. You entertained ," the king complinted them, clapping his hands slowly. "Great job, Magna. It seems like I didn’t make the wrong decision of letting you lead them."
"The pleasure is all mine, your highness," she answered with a smirk that could not be hidden from her face.
Next up, was the wise Défteros. Before they started, Prudens asked permission from the king if they could turn off the lights. The king agreed, and with a flick of a finger, all the lights went out. The girls of Défteros may not have been as talented as Trítos, but surely, they used their wits. The reason they turned off the light was for them to pull off a light performance—a short musical play with lights as their accessory. One of the girls from the group also suggested this idea.
The maidens of Défteros danced basic steps, yet the coordination and balance of colorful lights were pleasing to the eyes. Their dance also showed a bit of a story—they depicted the victory of the king. The blinking of each light, the position, the timing—all were perfect. And by the end of the show, everyone was highly entertained as well. It was modern, and a complete contrast to the classic Swan Lake perford by Trítos. If this were a talent show, even the judges would have difficulty deciding which one was better.
The king was yet again pleased and comnded Défteros for their performance. Prudens was delighted with the king’s remarks, and Magna grew angry. They squabbled at each other not long afterward.
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