Night of the Banquet: The Storm Rages (3)
The emperor's continued words were utterly ordinary. He announced the start of the banquet, expressed gratitude to everyone gathered, praised the brilliant future awaiting the empire, and offered blessings. Nothing more, nothing less.
Yet perhaps because he stood above them all as emperor, those commonplace words carried an undeniable weight and charisma that drew people in.
But...
Somehow, he feels more ordinary than I expected.
The emperor was a tall man with striking features, and his voice—amplified by magic—brimmed with genuine power and passion. Still, something about it fell short. As Emilia Edenberts, friend to Mine Romancia, the emperor's own daughter, she couldn't help feeling a touch disappointed that reality didn't quite match her hopes.
It's just that Mine sets the bar too high.
Mine Romancia, the Empire's Prophet, was extraordinary. Every action she took bordered on the divine, and even casual conversation left one awestruck by the depths of knowledge hidden in her word choice. Mine could probably turn this simple speech into a mesmerizing spectacle, captivating the entire hall and drawing thunderous applause.
...That assessment came with a bit of friend bias, but it captured Emilia's image of Mine perfectly.
Compared to her, the emperor seemed a shade less mystical. Still, seeing him up close might reveal a different side.
"And today, there is another joyous announcement to share with you all."
"An event from X years ago—a tragic incident we thought had forever robbed this empire, nay, all humanity of its light of hope. We have finally found it."
While Emilia coolly appraised the emperor, his gaze had shifted to her and the Melrn Count beside her.
"The hero Emilia. Emilia Edenberts."
"I hope everyone here recognizes her—the star of hope for all humanity."
With those grandiose words came the introduction, and every eye in the hall turned their way. Envy, admiration, jealousy, pity, political calculations, raw emotions—all bore down on her without restraint. Emilia shrank under the onslaught.
Not for any other reason.
...Please, just don't look at me...!
Even with Mona's magic at work, the more eyes on her, the more certain she felt that her nakedness would be exposed...
Damn it all...! She cursed the emperor for drawing attention to her, and the Melrn Count grinning beside her...!
She could die resenting them both!!
* * *
The banquet truly began, and Emilia spent the next stretch greeting nobles who swarmed her relentlessly. They approached with all sorts of interests, and though discomfort gnawed at her, she forced smiles and gentle deflections.
Social circles were foreign territory already, and being stark naked? The pressure mounted quickly. Even Emilia, who could fight battles for three days straight without rest as an adventurer, felt thick fatigue settle in after barely an hour.
One young noble approaching for greetings froze at the sight of the hero's dead-eyed stare.
"Are you all right, my love? You look exhausted."
"This is all your fault... Hah...!?"
Groping...
Emilia tensed, about to complain sharply to the Melrn Count, but his hand kneading her ass made her shudder.
At some point, his hand had slipped over, lewdly caressing her buttocks.
This man, seriously...!
He'd been sexually harassing her off and on since earlier, brazenly, as if people's eyes meant nothing.
"Smile, my love. Otherwise, they'll stare oddly."
The Melrn Count muttered casually, glancing around. Sure enough, another noble approached to greet the hero and the count.
To them, whether he groped her ass or fondled her breasts, Mona's illusion made it look like nothing was happening. One exception: Emilia's expression wasn't illusioned. If she grimaced in disgust now...
They'd stare, puzzled, not knowing why.
"You... really...!"
"What's wrong, Emilia? ——Smile. This is a joyous occasion—the emperor's birthday, and the chance to proclaim the hero's return to all."
Defiant as she wanted to be, Emilia's face stiffened into a rigid smile at his words. Meanwhile, the Melrn Count squeezed her ass firmly, kneading it in circles.
Standing naked in the midst of a crowded hall of nobles, ass groped while smiling and greeting them. Pathetic as it was, tears pricked her eyes, but her face only grew into a more natural smile with time.
"——My subjects, are you enjoying the banquet?"
Amid strings' beautiful melody and nobles dancing to liven the mood, the banquet's host finally appeared: Emperor Karik Romancia.
Golden-haired with a bold, soldierly bearing, he approached the Melrn Count and Emilia, facing them directly. The dance tune had just ended, entering a brief interlude for the next, so his voice rang clear.
"Pleased to meet you, Emilia Edenberts. Precious hero of this empire."
Emilia hurried a curtsey in reply. Naked, it was mimicry only, but to him, she'd appear politely lifting her dress hem.
Nobles gathered around, naturally forming a circle.
He expressed genuine delight and openly mourned the tragedy that struck her family.
"Thank you for remembering my father, Your Majesty. But I won't let it end as mere tragedy—please rest assured."
Emilia curtseyed again. And in that moment...
The Melrn Count clung to her back, rubbing and kneading her plump breasts and crotch, continuing his harassment.
Her nipples hardened into stiff peaks under his fingers, and lewd nectar oozed endlessly from her rubbed slit, trickling down her thighs to her ankles.
"(Please, seriously... enough... in front of the emperor...!)"
She whispered desperately, but he ignored her brazenly, thrusting his tongue into her ear.
...This pervert, really!
"Your father was truly a loss to the world. As his friend, I wished for more time together——"
Knead... Rub... Rub... Squeeze...
Even as the emperor spoke with nostalgic eyes, the Melrn Count's hands toyed with her, so his words barely registered.
Excited with the emperor right there, the count escalated beyond teasing, assaulting her more aggressively.
Ah, aaah... clit... don't torment it like that...
Before the stern-faced emperor still talking, Emilia trembled at her waist, wanting to cry from the clit stimulation.
His skilled fingers exposed her small, adorable clit, stroking the erect nub. He scooped her dripping fluids, slathering them on to heighten the pleasure relentlessly.
Teased by his hand, her clit throbbed harder, and thicker strands of nectar stretched from her twitching slit to the floor.
"Hngh, hnnngh... ngh...♡"
"...? Are you all right? You look pale."
"Ah... Y-yes, I'm fine. First time in high society, so I'm a bit tired."
"I see. Heh, sorry to burden you. We'll have plenty of chances to talk."
Emperor Karik stroked his fine mustache, offered final praise for the future, and departed to the hall's far side.
But even after he left——
"(Ah, aaah... please... stop... I'll make weird noises...!)"
Still embraced from behind by the Melrn Count, Emilia's waist twitched lewdly from the pleasure assaulting her clit and nipples.
His thick, firm hands targeted her sensitive spots just how she liked.
Haah... Ah... Angh... Ahhhn... Krngh... Nngh...
Protests useless, she surrendered to his arm, giving up on stopping him. This was her limit.
Enduring full-on harassment while greeting, stifling moans before everyone... She couldn't anymore...
"Heh, Mona's magic will cover you from now on... so you can let loose a little, my love. But try to muffle the sounds."
"Haa... haa... Smi... nngh...♡"
He whispered in her ear, nibbling the lobe as he continued. He fondled her heavy, elastic breasts from below, savoring their weight while caressing areola and nipples. Likewise, he mashed her labia till they deformed, tormenting her clit with slick fingers...
Free to drop the facade, Emilia spasmed at each caress, face desperate.
"Nngh... Ngh... Hnghk...♡"
No... stop... please... not here...!
Her hands, once pushing his away, now clamped over her mouth to stifle the obscene sounds threatening to escape.