Chapter 16

**Odette’s point of view: The feast of kings.**

I looked around until I finally saw my parents and the rest of our group enjoying themselves in a large corner, further away from other groups in the same area.

I picked up the hem of my dress and very quickly made my way back to everyone.

Odette: “Mom, dad.”

My parents turned around and with grateful smiles on their faces, they embraced me with a tight hug.

Sofia: “My darling, where have you been all night? We were so worried about you.”

Odette: “As you can see for yourselves, I’m still in one piece. I apologize for not coming sooner.”

Odette: “I met a new friend in the hallway earlier and we started a great conversation, later he escorted me into the ballroom and we just enjoyed dancing the whole night.”

When I finished with my confession, my cheeks flushed a deep red and I averted my eyes from theirs for a moment, before facing my parents again. Mom stared at me with a strange glint in her eyes and a large smile on her face. Dad on the other hand, stood up straighter and his facial expression grew stern.

Charlie: “Mmm, so you met a new friend... What is his name? Where is he from? And what is his occupation?”

My eyes grew bigger and my complexion suddenly became pale after hearing the serious tone in my dad's voice and urgent look in his eyes.

Odette: “I just know his name is Alex. We haven’t talked about where he’s from or what his occupation is yet.”

Odette: “He is well mannered; a true gentleman and he makes me feel at ease and safe whenever I’m in his presence.”

Odette: “From deep inside my being, I just know he is good and that I can trust him. That’s unfortunately all I can tell you about him, for now.”

Is what I told my mom and dad while staring them straight in the eyes, my head lifted with confidence.

My mom took my dad’s hand and gave it a little squeeze. Dad in return relaxed his composure a little and the look in his eyes also softened.

Sofia: “Well this is exciting news my love, the rest we will find out in due time, when we get to meet your friend Alex. Don’t you agree my dear?”

Mom looked up at my dad with a smile on her lips and anticipation glowing in her eyes.

Charlie: “Yes my darling, of course you are right, we can find out everything about him when we finally meet him ourselves.”

I glanced at my mom with a grateful smile on my face. Afterwards we returned to the group and immersed ourselves in the conversations and activities.

For a while longer, we talked and enjoyed ourselves, before someone started ringing a large bell. Afterwards a loud voice suddenly announced it was time for the feast to begin and that we should slowly make our way to the dining hall in the next room.

After the announcement, two large wooden doors opened at the back of the ballroom and small groups of individuals, slowly made their way through the doorway to the next room.

When we finally passed through the entrance into the other room, I couldn’t help but stare in awe at everything! Luckily my eyes adjusted well to the chandeliers in the ballroom. The dining hall also have large, bright chandeliers hanging from its ceilings, making it possible for us to see every detail in the room.

If possible, the dining hall is even more majestic than the ballroom. It has hundreds of large, round banqueting tables, stacked with different varieties of delicious food.

While we moved deeper into the room, the members in our group slowly started to look around. Until we finally saw colourful tables with fae realm inscriptions engraved on large flat stones, that was placed in the middle of each table as part of the decorations.

We decided to sit at the table nearest to our current position. Luckily, we all fitted in comfortably around the table!

After a long while, the whole room became silent, when all individuals found their tables and sat down in their respective groups. A loud voice suddenly spoke again, he announced that the feast has officially started and to fully enjoy ourselves…

When an orchestra started to play soft music, as head council member, my dad quickly rose from his seat and went around the table to pour everyone a glass of fine wine, before sitting back down and making a toast of his own, on this auspicious occasion. Afterwards, we indulge ourselves in the delicious cuisine, placed in front of us.

Later on, when we had our full, the loud voice spoke again for the last time.

He said: “If we are finished with the banquet, individuals from the castle staff will escort everyone to their own private sleeping quarters. The following morning when everyone’s awake, that same staff members will come and collect everyone for brunch. Our Emperor also expresses his deep gratitude towards all the royal families and council members of each realm that has joined him on this spectacular occasion. Who elaborated another five hundred years of peace between our kingdoms. Now with the conclusion of my speech, I say goodnight and farewell to you all.”

When the room fell silent again groups of fairies, werewolves and vampires slowly started to stand up and leave the dining hall. After most of the crowds had left, our group also stood up and made our way to a new entrance, leading to a different hallway, that had appeared earlier in the evening, while we were still feasting.

When we entered the hallway, vampire servants in uniforms were already waiting to escorted members of each household, to their own private sleeping quarters.

I said goodnight to everyone and pulled my mom and dad in for a kiss on the cheek and a big hug, before we all separated the rest of the duration of the night and early morning hours.