Revive Rome: Wait! Why not make the empress fall in love with me first?
Chapter 111 - 15 Dispute

Chapter 111: Chapter 15 Dispute

Not long after the defeat of the Sirius Coalition, a grand celebration banquet was held in the palace of the Macedonia City State, with the City State Nobles lining up in a long queue outside the palace gates.

After all, it had become clear to everyone that with King Philip’s decisive victory, Macedonia’s dominance over the Sirius Peninsula was unshakeable.

As the King of Macedonia, His Majesty Philip had effectively become the lord of the entire Thrace.

Pleasing His Majesty Philip, or pleasing his heir—the extraordinarily promising Prince Alexander—thereby securing one’s interests within the whole Macedonia-Thrace system, had become a consensus among the Macedonian Nobles.

Furthermore, it was rumored that Prince Alexander had yet to designate his future Queen.

Many Macedonian Nobles even utilized court connections surreptitiously to inquire whether Prince Alexander had designated a companion for the banquet.

The answer received was startlingly uniform: it had already been decided.

As to who it was, they remained tight-lipped.

Inside a lavishly decorated side hall dressing room of the Macedonian Palace,

"I feel a bit dizzy," Peggy said, holding her forehead.

"Miss, perhaps the corset is tied too tightly, let me loosen it for you," the Maid quickly offered.

"Silvia, say it again," Peggy said irritably, "why must I accompany your lord to that victory dinner?"

"According to our kingdom’s customs, when His Highness attends a royal social event, he must have a female companion by his side," Silvia explained with a smile.

"Of course, this does not mean you have any relationship with His Highness; it’s simply a matter of standard etiquette."

"Then why don’t you go?" Peggy asked.

"My family’s background is a bit sensitive," Silvia replied, still smiling. "In fact, His Highness chose you because you have absolutely no background or power behind you, as clean as a blank sheet."

"His Highness hopes this victory banquet will be a purely military celebration, not a political meeting that sends sensitive signals and causes other families to doubt and probe each other."

"For His Highness, such political struggles are not only dull, but they are also an insult to the Macedonian soldiers who sacrificed their lives in the war."

"I don’t understand," Peggy sighed, "never mind. Just don’t forget what you promised me."

"Is it about finding that Mr. Aske?" Silvia asked with a smile. "Of course, we will honor our promise."

"And please remember, Miss Peggy, your identity is now Andrea, a noble lady from Athens City. Besides that, if anyone asks about other identity information, you need not answer anything; just maintain a smile."

"That’s too difficult," Peggy said.

Silvia: ......

"Is there something you find difficult?" Silvia asked with a smile.

"Pretending to be a noble lady is exhausting, and maintaining a smile throughout is even more so," Peggy complained. "And why am I not allowed to eat at the banquet? I have to be ready for conversations that could come at any time!"

Silvia was at a loss for words.

In fact, numerous noble maidens from across the Macedonia City would have eagerly seized the opportunity to be the companion of the Prince at the banquet, with their families willing to pay a fortune for this precious chance.

Yet here was the lucky lady herself, apparently oblivious, constantly complaining and grumbling.

As if accompanying His Highness was some kind of troublesome duty.

"Please endure a little longer, after all, the banquet is about to start, and it’s not appropriate to change at the last moment," Silvia could only patiently console her.

Peggy sighed, allowed the Maid to do her hair braids, and started puffing out her cheeks in boredom in front of the mirror.

Half an hour later, Peggy, in her evening gown, slowly made her way to the entrance hall of the banquet with Silvia holding her arm.

Prince Alexander was already waiting there, his appearance handsome, his stature tall, his face wearing a polite, almost imperceptible smile, dressed in a tailored military dress uniform that made him look both heroic and outstanding. Even the Maids standing beside were sneakily glancing at him, their cheeks flushed.

"Your Highness, I bring your little moon," Silvia said with a laugh.

"Little moon?" Peggy asked.

"It’s a colloquial term from our hometown, describing a petite, pale, and beautiful girl," Silvia explained.

"Thank you, Silvia," Alexander nodded, watching Lady Silvia depart, then turning to Peggy with a smile.

This mysterious girl who had suddenly appeared in his chariot a few days ago had no family background, no social connections. Even when the Macedonian Civil Affairs Department accessed the Athens database for information, they found no clues linked to her.

It was as if she had fallen from the sky.

The royal advisor advised him to stay away from this girl. Yet, after observing her for this period, Alexander had confirmed that Miss Peggy was just an ordinary girl.

She must have been educated by the middle class, literate and able to write, with a certain accumulation of knowledge. However, she was utterly clueless about upper-class etiquette.

Her personality also lacked any scheming, straightforward and frank, with an occasional small temper, which Alexander found quite novel.

After all, in Macedonia Royal City, there had yet to appear someone who knew his identity and still dared to show displeasure to his face.

"Miss Peggy," Alexander said politely, "you look extremely beautiful today. I believe the whole royal banquet will be brightened considerably by your presence."

"Macedonian Prince Alexander." Peggy, following the etiquette taught by Silvia, gave a nod like a lady from Sirius, then said without any reservation, "Your face is covered in too much powder, it looks greasy."

"Is there a lot of powder on my face?" Alexander raised his eyebrows, touching his chin.

"Of course," Peggy said, "it’s even flaking off now."

"I see," Alexander nodded, then said to the maid beside him, "Take me to the washroom, I need to wash my face."

"But Your Highness!" The maid quickly reminded him, "The banquet is about to start!"

"Being a little late won’t matter, after all, I have won a victory," Alexander dismissed her concern.

A moment later, Alexander returned with his face washed clean and asked Peggy, "How about now?"

"Much fresher now," Peggy said, frowning as she looked at him, "but you still look a bit effeminate."

She took down the ceremonial sword from the column beside them and handed it to Alexander.

"Hang it on your waist and hold it with one hand – that will make you look handsome."

"Like this?" Alexander tried to do as she said.

"Yes," Peggy appraised him, "now you finally have a bit of a manly air."

"The Aske you often mention, is this how he usually dresses?" Alexander asked casually.

"Yes, he’s a mercenary," Peggy replied, "A mercenary must always carry weapons to deal with any sudden dangers."

"But this is not a battlefield," a maid chuckled, covering her mouth, "This is the palace of Macedonia Royal City."

"So what? Is it impossible to encounter danger in the palace?" Peggy retorted, "Caesar was assassinated in the Senate, wasn’t he?"

Who was Caesar? The maids looked at each other, puzzled.

"All right, all right." Alexander laughed, "I’ve done as you instructed, Miss Peggy. Can you now accompany me to the banquet?"

Peggy furrowed her brow in displeasure, finding this man to be like dough—immune to any verbal attack, not a bit hurt by it.

"After this banquet, you must help me find Aske," Peggy emphasized.

"Of course," Alexander nodded in agreement.

In fact, the people he had sent out had almost searched the entire Thrace Plain and still hadn’t found such a mercenary named Aske.

Alexander gracefully curved his arm, and Peggy, with an unnatural expression, lightly placed her hand on the crook of his arm. Together, accompanied by the maids, they entered the venue.

As the Macedonian Prince and his lady companion, this pair drew the full attention of all the guests upon entering the venue.

After all, he was the tall and handsome Alexander, dubbed "the Golden Noble."

After delivering a short and proper speech, Alexander then took Peggy to the upper seats at the banquet table.

Peggy stared at a bowl of cream pudding in front of her, spaced out for a moment, then quietly asked Alexander:

"May I eat it?"

"Of course," Alexander whispered back, "as long as nobody notices."

Thus Peggy picked up a spoon and, while everyone around them was busy toasting and chatting, began to stealthily scoop pudding from the bowl.

Alexander found her sneaky actions highly amusing and a smile appeared on his face.

After a little while, his expression darkened as a lavishly dressed woman, accompanied by maids, entered the venue.

That was his father King Philip’s young wife, Cleopatra.

She was, so to speak, his "stepmother."