Chapter 110 Chapter 110. New Year’s Banquet Part 1

Few Hours before midnight, Gathering Hall, Hollowland Viscounty, Lord’s Castle

"I am incredibly grateful that all our esteemed guests made it here. I am truly honored to host this grand banquet on such an auspicious night," Viscount Hollowland announced to the nobles gathered in his expansive hall, raising his wine glass high.

Heavy velvet curtains were drawn back from the tall windows to reveal the night sky, though nothing was visible through the howling winds other than a vast, blinding expanse of falling white snow.

"And now, a few words from Junior Priest Samuel of the Northern Central Church," Viscount Hollowland signaled, yielding the floor as Samuel stepped up to the dais.

"There are still a few hours before the midnight rain officially welcomes the New Year. Until then, let us mingle and share in this joyous evening!" Samuel proclaimed, holding his own glass up to officially kick off the banquet.

Francesca glanced at the stage from her seat. She reached over to pick up a fresh glass of wine, but Miller gently intercepted her hand with a warm, knowing smile. "You will not be drinking tonight."

Francesca pouted slightly, leaning in to whisper back, "I told you I will be fine. We should be concentrating on the Northern Central Church envoys..." She discreetly glanced toward the shadowy corner of the hall where Priest Samuel and Priestess Kavya were quietly observing the crowd.

"We just have to wait until they approach us to negotiate," Miller replied. He took a small sip of his own wine, then playfully offered his glass to Francesca. Her golden eyes sparkled as she took it, taking a cautious, measured sip.

"Right now, they hold all the cards against us. However, we can still maneuver to come out of this in a somewhat better position," she murmured, setting the glass down.

"By the way... where is His Highness? I haven’t seen him since the party began," Miller suddenly realized, scanning the crowded, swirling room.

Francesca glanced toward the heavy glassed double doors leading outside and pointed subtly with her silver fork, taking a delicate bite of roasted meat. "He walked out to the balcony to get some fresh air, I think."

Balcony, Gathering Hall, Hollowland Viscounty, Lord’s Castle

"Knock, knock," Prince Vadim said smoothly, leaning against the balcony doorway.

He watched Nina Hollowland as she stood alone by the stone railing, staring out into the freezing, vast expanse of white snow. She turned around, shivering slightly in her expensive silk gown, and tried to force a polite smile onto her face.

"I am not very good with jokes," she replied softly.

Prince Vadim smirked. He took a slow sip of his wine and stepped out into the biting cold. "Not very good with jokes, who?"

Nina let out a soft sigh, thinking for a moment as Prince Vadim came to stand right beside her against the railing. "Me...?" she answered hesitantly.

Vadim chuckled, setting his empty glass down on the wide stone ledge. "See? You made the joke work perfectly," he said, tilting his handsome face with a charming smile.

Nina actually chuckled at that, her rigid posture relaxing just a fraction. She turned her gaze back to the dark, cloudy sky. "It does seem so, Your Highness."

They stood there in comfortable silence as the snow continued its harsh, unforgiving fall. The warm, muffled music and laughter of the banquet lingered behind them, the dancing shadows of the guests flickering across their backs through the glass doors, yet both of them simply stood there admiring the freezing winter landscape.

"Do you have a lover?" Prince Vadim was the first to speak, breaking the serene peace.

The winter wind blew Nina's elaborately coiled hair loose, sending it flowing gracefully over her shoulder. She glanced sideways at him and answered quietly, "Not really."

Prince Vadim just smiled. "So, were you actually attracted to Miller? Were you looking forward to the marriage arrangement?" he pressed gently, putting down his empty glass.

Nina picked up his empty crystal wine glass from the railing, holding it delicately in her gloved hands as she shook her head. "That is not it, either... I would say I just wanted to be useful to the Viscounty in any way I could. I was simply disappointed that I failed to serve my intended purpose."

"So, you have an ambition of your own...?" Prince Vadim's smile didn't waver as he watched her carefully.

Nina stopped for a few seconds, her fingertips tracing the delicate rim of the crystal. "Do you know, Your Highness, that an empty glass of wine can sit perfectly unused for more than fifty years in a commoner’s household?"

"What fate do you think awaits such a useless glass?" she asked softly. She slowly extended her hand past the stone railing, dangling the expensive crystal glass over the sheer, deadly drop by a single finger.

She looked directly into Prince Vadim’s hazel eyes and finished coldly, "Being thrown out and shattered into a million pieces." She released her grip, letting the cup plummet into freefall, shattering against the frozen courtyard stones far below.

Although the faint sound of shattering glass reverberated even through the overwhelming music and laughter spilling from the hall, Prince Vadim’s carefree smile didn't waver.

"That is true," he agreed, nodding as he looked down at the glittering pieces scattered across the stones far below before turning back to her.

"But only if the glass is empty. Nobody willingly throws a glass away if it is still filled with wine." This time, the playful light vanished from Prince Vadim's eyes, replaced by a razor-sharp seriousness. "So, what are you, Lady Nina?"

Nina offered a faint, guarded smile and started walking back toward the warmth of the hall. "That depends on whose perspective you are asking from. To my father, I am a glass half-filled with wine, and I intend to keep it that way by any means necessary."

She was just about to step inside when he suddenly matched her stride.

"And what about you?" Vadim asked, marching right past her to grip the heavy brass door handle before she could reach it. "If you are a half-filled glass for him... what are you for yourself? An empty one?"

He pulled the heavy door open in one smooth motion, leaning down to whisper directly into her ear over the howling winter wind. "Because from where I am standing, that is exactly how it looks."

With his trademark boisterous smile firmly back in place, he strode past her and into the brightly lit hall, leaving her behind in the cold. Nina stood frozen in the freezing wind as the door hung ajar, a storm of deep, conflicting thoughts raging in her mind. But the quiet moment was instantly shattered by a harsh hiss.

"Nina! What are you doing lingering out here, you stupid girl?!" It was her father, Viscount Hollowland.

"We have to execute the plan right now. Stop daydreaming and get in here!" He grabbed her roughly by the arm and yanked her back into the bustling banquet hall.