Cornflower Witch

Chapter 261 Clash at the Banquet
Inside the carriage, Hirutiya sat upright with her eyes closed, her hands casually folded together.

The car drove out of the hotel and headed towards the main street. Along the way, the lights flickered, and the sounds of vendors calling out in the night market, the noise from the pubs, the hissing of flames, and the conversations of passersby drifted into the small car through the cracks in the windows.

The curtains swayed gently in the night breeze, occasionally letting in slivers of light that illuminated the girl's face, a fleeting glimpse that vanished without a trace.

Before they knew it, the carriage slowly came to a stop, and the accompanying rider gently knocked on the door.

"Lady Tiya, we have arrived at the City Lord's Mansion."

"Ah."

Then the car door opened, and Hilti, with her straight black hair, lifted her skirt and stepped down slowly. In front of her was a straight road leading to the banquet hall, with Anti soldiers standing along the way. Compared to the garrison in Jiaoshi City, these soldiers were clearly much more disciplined.

Accompanied by her maid, Hiltiya walked slowly forward, with other carriages passing by from time to time before also taking to the road.

When she arrived at the gate of the mansion, she could already hear the sounds of many musical instruments and singing and dancing inside.

The maid handed the invitation to the guard at the gate, and then someone informed the person inside.

"Please come in, Miss Tia."

A man dressed as a butler came down the steps to greet him. Judging from the embroidery on his collar, this should be the family butler of the 'Baron of the Prison Dogs' rather than a member of the military.

The white door was pushed open, and bright light poured out from inside, illuminating the girl standing in front of the door. Her flawless face and fair skin seemed to be coated with a faint halo, making her as beautiful as porcelain.

"Thank you," the girl said softly, then stepped into the banquet hall.

After she went inside, the butler bowed in return, staring at her retreating figure for a long time without moving.

"She is a true lady. I'm afraid there is no one in the capital of Antioch who can compare to her." He didn't know the girl's background or origin, but he was surprised that the head of the family could invite such an extraordinary girl with such a unique temperament.

The intricate golden chandeliers hung down one by one, their candlelight refracted through multifaceted crystals, creating sparkling brilliance that illuminated the entire hall.

The banquet has begun, and many guests are chatting and exchanging ideas. Most of them are celebrities from the original Valley City, while a few are nobles and high-ranking officers from Antiy.

Although the music at the banquet was beautiful and soothing, most of the guests were anxious. Some were worried about future developments, some were afraid of the general who had not yet appeared that night, some were saddened by the changing situation, and so on. Only a small number of Antioch officers were relatively happy, talking loudly and occasionally clinking their glasses together with laughter.

Hilti walked through the hall, her gaze sweeping across the room, intending to find a place to sit and wait. However, someone had already spotted her and approached her.

"Hello, beautiful lady, my name is Granfens, it's a pleasure to meet you." The blond young man was wearing a crisp dark red military uniform.

"Hello, you can call me Siltia." The girl nodded slightly.

"I wonder if Hiltiya has a dance partner tonight? If not, I can fill in," he suggested confidently and brightly.

Looking at him, the girl shook her head slightly. "Thank you, but I don't need it tonight."

It must be said that this officer, Granfens, was indeed very handsome. If it were any other girl, she would probably be smitten. The girl thought to herself, then walked to the seat she had chosen and sat down gently.

Undeterred by the girl's polite refusal, Granfens followed her and sat down at her table. However, the girl, Hilti, had already closed her eyes to rest and was not prepared to respond to any words.

Seeing this, Granfens didn't want to break the silence, so he just slowly drank his wine, occasionally glancing at the profile of Hilti across from him, trying to guess the girl's background and origins.

Time passed slowly, and many people at the banquet tried to strike up a conversation with her, but Granfens stopped them all, saying that the young woman needed to rest and recuperate.

Hilti did not respond to this, nor did she object.

Valley City was once the center of southwestern Regas. Rivers connected the north and south, and there were large tracts of fertile land. It has always been an important grain-producing area in the south. The lord who ruled Valley City at that time was one of the powerful counts of Regas. Many minor nobles in the surrounding area would also settle here, and would only return to their territories when collecting taxes.

However, with the fall of Regas, the situation has long since changed. There are no longer any nobles from Regas here, and even the nobles of the Kingdom of Antiy were purged as traitors in the recent battle. Now, the highest-ranking people here are the high-ranking officers under Kachis, followed by the city's wealthy and famous.

Therefore, Granfens could easily stop many guests, and no one dared to force their way in.

As night deepened, even though all the invited guests had arrived, and some were starting to feel anxious, a sharp voice came from outside the door.

"Lord Kachis has arrived—"

This shout brought the entire hall to a temporary halt. The once lively banquet seemed to have been doused with the freezing water of Beihai Lake, chilling to the bone.

Surrounded by a group of knights, Karchus, wearing a saber and boots, stepped into the brightly lit banquet hall. Behind him, knights in full silver armor and dark red cloaks marched in like a pride of lions into a pasture full of rabbits and sheep. Wherever he went, the guests lowered their heads and fell silent.

At this moment, Grampians also stood up straight, and as Catchis walked far past the center line he was facing, the young officer immediately stood at attention and bowed his head with a forceful movement.

On the scene, officers like Granfens were all in the same boat, displaying discipline far exceeding that of ordinary people as Catches passed by.

Faced with this scene, the Antirians were naturally filled with pride, while the Regas people present felt heavy-hearted and remained silent with their heads down.

Afterwards, Kachis walked up to the platform and looked around the entire banquet hall. Almost all the guests were standing. The reason for using "almost" instead of "all" is that one figure was still sitting in the corner and had not gotten up.

The observant general instantly spotted the extraordinary girl. Just as the knight behind him was about to step forward in slight anger, he raised his hand to stop his subordinate.

“She deserves to sit there,” Kachis said, a look of interest on his face.

Unlike the mediocre guests present, Kachis had already sensed the girl's true rank. Although she was only at the third rank, considering her appearance, age, and unique personality, her strength and talent were truly astonishing.

"I have never been stingy with my respect for truly talented people," he told the knight beside him once again, before the general's gaze swept over the crowd and he spoke.

Good evening, everyone. I am very pleased that you can all attend this banquet as scheduled.

It was supposed to be a welcoming speech, but it gave people the feeling of being watched by a ferocious beast, making them uneasy. And soon, everyone's premonition would come true.

“In the past two years, Creek Valley City has undergone many changes,”

“From Regas to Antioch, from aristocratic rule to military control, you must have experienced a lot.”

“I am not a cruel person, but as a soldier appointed by the royal family, I have the responsibility and obligation to maintain the integrity of the kingdom’s territory and ensure that they are all united under the great King Atir.”

"I think you are all loyal people who agree with my ideas. I wonder if you all agree?" After saying that, his sharp gaze swept across the faces of everyone present.

The wealthy and famous people in Valley City were all sweating bullets. When Prince Jobs ruled Valley City, they naturally favored his victory because they were all Regas people. In addition, during that time, Prince Jobs invited them to contribute manpower and money, and they had no choice but to accept.

These actions, when the Antirians regained control of Valley City, naturally became indelible sins. However, because so many people were involved, Kachis had not previously emphasized them.

If they don't want to bring this up so publicly today, they'll probably have to bleed money to avoid trouble.

“Of course, we agree with Lord Kachis’s idea.” A wealthy man from Valley City was the first to raise his glass in agreement.

Then others chimed in.

“We are loyal to the Kingdom of Antioch and admire the greatness of King Atir.” A group of people bowed in agreement.

"Me too..."

"Lord Kachis is so heroic and loyal, he is truly a role model for us..." Various flattering and sycophantic words rang out.

Kachis simply smiled and then raised his hand to silence the room once again.

“Since everyone is so loyal, I think we should be able to fulfill King Atir’s will soon.” Then he changed the subject.

"The wild dog rebels of Regas are now entrenched in the Trident Forest to the southeast. They are the weak and despicable enemies who are blocking our loyalty to King Atil."

"The credit for wiping out these villains cannot be mine alone; it belongs to both of us. I believe you are all brave individuals, and will surely be willing to join me in destroying their lair and annihilating them." "This…"

"We are not good at fighting..."

Hearing this, the group felt uneasy. Did Kachis want them to join the army on the battlefield? But most of them weren't combat professionals, and some hadn't even formed their spiritual essence. Rushing into war might have dire consequences…

Seeing the hesitation of the crowd, Kachis sneered and continued to speak.

"Gentlemen, are you still hesitating? Have you forgotten what you just said? Do you intend to mock the great King Atir?"

Each of his three consecutive questions was louder than the last, and with each word, the knight behind him drew his sword an inch away, and an invisible aura of sexual energy spread, imprisoning the entire banquet venue.

The oppressive atmosphere in the entire venue was as heavy as water, making it hard to breathe.

"We are willing to follow Lord Kachis and clear away obstacles to King Atil's path to kingship." A former resident of Valley City, unable to bear the pressure, knelt down and swore allegiance.

After that, others followed suit, and as more and more people joined, those who remained standing were under increasing scrutiny and pressure. Especially when Kachis's cold gaze turned over, even the most resolute person's legs trembled and they slowly bent over.

“Very good, very good, I will remember what you all said today.”

"The army will depart in two days. Please prepare your armor and weapons and report to the camp in advance. You will all become the king's sword and shield, and I look forward to your performance."

"The banquet is now over."

As soon as the words were spoken, everyone present breathed a sigh of relief, wiping the sweat from their brows, and quickly got up and left, exiting the mansion's lobby.

About three minutes later, most of the guests had left, leaving only high-ranking officers from Antioch's army.

At this moment, Kachis gave a few instructions to the knights behind him, and then they dispersed and left the venue.

Soon, the band on one side of the hall started playing music again, and Kachis walked to a corner of the banquet hall, where the figure sitting there remained motionless and did not leave.

Hearing footsteps approaching, Hilti slowly opened her eyes. Granfens was already standing to one side, waiting for the general's arrival.

The general strode to the seat opposite Hilti, turned around, and sat down with an air of authority. He raised his wrist, and soon Granfens behind him poured him a glass of deep red wine.

"I don't know this lady's name."

"My name is Shiltiya." The girl turned around and looked at the smartly dressed general.

"A very good name." He closed his eyes, took a sip of his drink, and savored its taste.

"What brings you here?" he asked very directly.

"Visiting old friends," Hiltiya replied very frankly.

“A very honest answer, I like that.” He put down his glass.

"Miss Silti, what kind of cultivation path do you practice?"

"Cui Mi, a gardener."

"Unfortunately, I think you would achieve greater success if you switched to a war-related class."

"It would be an incredibly wonderful thing to have such a beautiful woman like you by my side, fighting side by side on the battlefield."

"That's a pity, I'm not good at fighting." The girl shook her head slightly.

“It’s okay, people change over time. Just like I used to dislike everything about Regas, but now I suddenly like someone.” His eyes looked at the girl’s brows.

"I see. That must be someone Lord Kachis greatly admires." Hilti avoided the other person's incredibly direct gaze.

"Hehe, Miss Siltia's statement is very interesting. Why do you think that my liking is the same as my worship?"

"Because General Kachis doesn't like weak people, and the person you like must be very powerful, someone you can admire. Am I right?"

Claps echoed in the empty hall, then Kachis lowered his hand and turned to the young officer standing behind him.

"See that, Granfens? This is a beautiful and incredibly intelligent girl. She can easily read your mind, and if she wants to, she can make you experience unparalleled joy."

Upon hearing these comments, Hiltiya lightly covered her brow with her fingers, shook her head, and seemed reluctant to continue talking to General Antia in front of her.

After a brief exchange, the two returned to the main topic of their conversation.

“Since Miss Hilti has come to Valley City to visit a friend, I should not interfere in Hilti’s private affairs. However, as a follower of King Atil, I also have an obligation to recommend outstanding talents to the King.”

"If Miss Hilti is willing, I am willing to personally present a letter on your behalf, recommending you to go to Antioch and become the royal gardener. There, you can see many beautiful sights and things, enjoy treatment that Regas cannot provide, and access the secrets of the royal library to obtain unimaginable esoteric knowledge, learn about many ancient forbidden histories, and glimpse the truth behind this world."

This promise was indeed generous for a foreigner they had just met, and it was personally guaranteed by Kachis. He also said that if Hiltiah betrayed him or made a serious mistake in the future, he, as the one who recommended her, would also be implicated.

Although the conditions offered were indeed very good, they were not very attractive to Hiltiya at the moment. Her status and position in the woodland had long surpassed that of an ordinary gardener, and she did not want to get involved in the conflicts between the southern countries.

"I'm sorry, I already have other plans for the future. Thank you, Lord Kachis."

Kachis stared at Hilti's face for a long time without moving, and only after about ten seconds did he slowly speak.

"It seems Miss Siltia has made up her mind. I'm a step too late."

“In that case, I would like to make a small request to Miss Siltia.”

"In three months, it will be Princess Moanda's birthday. I hope Miss Hiltia can help me grow a special and beautiful flower as a gift for the princess."

"Of course, the compensation will be substantial."

This request seemed simple, and other gardeners would probably have readily agreed, but Hilti was very clear-headed and knew exactly what the consequences of agreeing would be.

If she, as a person openly residing within Regas, were to present gifts to Princess Antia, even without swearing allegiance, it would be tantamount to indicating to the outside world that she was willing to submit and curry favor. After expressing this inclination, it would be difficult for her to regain the trust of the local forces in Regas. Although she had never cared about such things, this act of being forced to take sides and being used still made Hilti feel disgusted.

As expected, he was a renowned general in Antioch, and quite difficult to get along with. Every conversation with him felt like a battle.

"My flowers only wish to bloom quietly and have no desire to participate in such a grand scene. I urge Lord Kachis to find someone else."

Kachis showed no surprise, as if he had expected the girl to answer in this way.

"What a pity. I was hoping to see how beautiful the flowers Miss Siltiia grows will be. If they have even a third of your beauty, I will remember them for a lifetime," he replied with feigned sigh.

“Since Hilti is unwilling to help, then stay in Valley City for a while longer. Regas is not stable right now, and Valley City, where I am, will definitely protect you and keep you from being disturbed.” Although these words were just a suggestion, given Kachis’s consistently domineering style, they might not be anything other than a warning.

It seems that if she doesn't want to start a conflict and fight with the other side today, she will probably have to stay in Valley City for a while.

Hilti herself could certainly escape unscathed, but the fate of the caravan members who came with her, and Karen, was uncertain.

Taking all this into consideration, Hilti nodded slightly and accepted the suggestion for the time being. In any case, she didn't have anything particularly important to do recently, so she would stay here with Karen for a while and also consolidate her various third-tier abilities and secret techniques.

In this way, if a conflict were to escalate to the point where fighting was unavoidable, she would be better able to handle it.

(End of this chapter)