Pirate Kingship
Chapter 96 - 95: From Joyous Feasts to Funereal Banquets, Great Happiness Turns to Sorrow

Chapter 96: Chapter 95: From Joyous Feasts to Funereal Banquets, Great Happiness Turns to Sorrow

To the southeast of the Strait Islands, Capital Kingston, Ganquan Palace.

This was a sprawling architectural complex composed of over six hundred halls and rooms. It boasted Georgian-style spired roofs, exquisite porticos carved from white marble, and absolute symmetry between its columns and flanking auxiliary buildings. Paired with orderly six-by-six paned windows, the structure was transparent and bright, its lines flowing with simple, regulated elegance. Though lacking overly lavish decorations, it possessed a timeless symmetrical beauty—a manifestation of the order most revered by human nations. Clean, elegant, dignified, noble: this was how the world under the protection of the [Silver Code] was meant to be.

In the Old Continent, whether churches or palaces, one would rarely see such heretical buildings with asymmetrical layouts.

At this moment, Ganquan Palace had already changed hands. Not only had the most prominent royal emblem been switched from the Red Rose to the White Rose, but even the varieties of roses planted in the garden had been completely replaced. Every effort was made to thoroughly erase any trace of the former lord, down to the most minute details.

TAP, TAP, TAP...

Today, a series of luxurious carriages brought their owners into the Royal Palace. The palace gates stood wide open; the refurbished Ganquan Palace was being used for the first time by the new King Edward IV to entertain the stalwarts of the York Party and their families.

Nightfall in Kingston arrived much later than at Iron Anchor Bay. While the Strait Fleet launched their attack under the cover of darkness, a grand banquet here had just begun.

The tables were laden with delicacies from the Irisflower Kingdom and The Holy Silver Empire: red wine braised beef, Marseille fish soup, Caen tripe, baked snails, roasted quails... For dessert, there was cream pudding, ice cream scoops, Quiche Lorraine... In short, not a single dish of Hightins’ local cuisine was to be seen. Clearly, on this joyous day of celebration, no chef would dare present such fare and risk irking the guests.

The banquet hall, filled with the rich aroma of food, was brimming with a joyous atmosphere.

"Earl, I hear your son is already a Second Order [Law Mage], is that correct?"

"Yes, he is currently on a mission with the Strait Fleet’s First Fleet. Upon his return, he should be appointed as a senior judge in the High Court’s royal tribunal."

"My youngest daughter, Belinda, greatly admires such guardians of order. Perhaps we could arrange for these young people to meet sometime..."

Throughout the banquet hall, many from the great noble families—whether married or unmarried, acting through their elders or on their own initiative—were engaged in similar pursuits. Especially the flamboyantly dressed noblewomen, who had turned the simple fan into an instrument of intricate expression. Only those long accustomed to social engagements could decipher their secret language.

If a lady slowly fanned herself towards her chest, it meant: I have no lover yet, so hurry and pursue me.

If she closed her fan and placed it on her nose, it signaled: I’m particularly displeased about your flirting with other women just now; you had better be careful.

To open and close the fan, then point towards the garden, meant: My dear, go and wait for me there. I’ll join you shortly, and then we...

Idleness breeds lechery.

Now that the time has come to enjoy the fruits of victory, if we can’t do as we please, what was the point of my rebelling?

It was foreseeable that for some time to come, marriages within the York Party would become exceedingly frequent.

As the evening deepened, the strains of music began to fill the hall. The ’Creator’s Hymn Fantasia’ praising the Creator, the ’Royal Authority March’ exalting the power of the sovereign, and the ’Pomp and Circumstance March’ heralding military might—these and other classic pieces flowed one after another from a large pipe organ, masterfully played by a Third Order [Musician] of the Hall Sequence. Countless musical notes wove a magnificent auditory tapestry, pushing the atmosphere of the banquet to its climax.

Guided by attendants, all the guests, holding their wine glasses, moved to one side of the banquet hall to stand before a pristine white wall. As a servant activated a mechanism, an entire section of the wall slowly receded, disappearing into the wainscoting.

King Edward IV, clad in immaculate military attire and wearing an expression of stern authority, appeared before the guests along with his closest royal family members.

The great nobles were all deeply moved by this ceremonious scene. In days past, only King Henry VI and his queen, the Prince, his brother Prince Sorrenberg, and a very select few Lancasters would have made such an entrance. If not for an unforeseen accident, Byron too would have made his grand debut in this manner at his coming-of-age ceremony. But now, it seemed the era of Lancaster had truly drawn to a close.

Instantly, the banquet hall erupted with thunderous applause and cheers.

"Long live His Majesty!"

"The Creator favors York!"

Law is rooted in the collective consciousness of mankind—its essence lies in the human heart. When the hearts of the people turn, and everyone believes a king is invincible by the Mandate of Heaven, then he likely is. At this moment, the hearts of the York Party were unprecedentedly unified, and even the [Royal Iron Law] seemed palpably stronger.

The young princes and princesses were soon led away by the Queen to rest in an antechamber.

Edward IV and his brothers, George and Richard—the three core heirs of the York Family—became the focus of the entire banquet. Even the newly appointed Archbishop of Canterbury, representing the Church, took the initiative to approach and converse amiably with them.

"Favored ones of the Tri-Phantom Sun, the Lord always watches over you. Your Majesty, the Lord has crowned you for your virtue and perseverance, enabling you to lead the people of Hightins to bask in His grace."

Edward IV dared not slight the highest-ranking clergyman in the kingdom. He bowed his head humbly and said, "Thank you, Your Eminence."