Descent of a God

A Farewell Banquet

|Jude|

As I gazed at Princess Angelina beside me, her pale face now flushed with a rosy hue, my eyes wandered over the serene golden dress she wore. The gown clung to her curves in all the right places, highlighting her breathtaking beauty. A stunning sapphire necklace rested upon her neck, perfectly complementing her verdant eyes.

Unconsciously, a smirk tugged at the corner of my lips as memories of the enjoyable night we had spent together flooded my mind. However, I quickly composed myself as I noticed Aluxio's suspicious gaze lingering on us from behind. 

As we made our way through the Palace's hallways towards the ballroom, a sense of excitement and anticipation filled the air. The Emperor had planned a grand banquet to celebrate the end of the war against the Church of the Black Sun and our impending departure. It was sure to be a lavish affair, with guests from far and wide in attendance.

As we turned a corner, we stumbled upon Albert and Cordelia. The sight of Cordelia took my breath away - she was wearing a stunning white dress that hugged her curves perfectly. Her pink hair fell in loose waves around her face, framing her azure eyes.

Her eyes darted between the three of us before a warm smile lit up her face. We exchanged greetings before continuing on towards the ballroom.

Cordelia leaned in close to me, her voice barely above a whisper, "So, did you two finally do it?"

I nodded, "Yeah, we did. You're okay with it, right?"

Cordelia's smile only widened as she wrapped her arm around mine. "Jude, I've told you before that I just want you to be happy. If being with Angelina makes you happy, then I'm all for it."

As we entered the grand ballroom, filled to the brim with nobles, my thoughts drifted to Kathyln once again. I could only hope that she felt the same as Cordelia about my newfound relationship with Angelina.

Suddenly, a voice boomed out, "Jewel of the Hyperion Empire, Princess Angelina, Hero from Another World Jude, and Hero from Another World Cordelia are now entering."

The clamor of the nobles died down as everyone turned to look at us, their eyes filled with disbelief and curiosity.

The beauty of Angelina and Cordelia by my side immediately drew the attention of many young men, while young girls gazed at me with equal intensity.

Following Angelina's lead, the three of us made our way through the throngs of ordinary nobles, exchanging only a few greetings here and there.

Meanwhile, Aluxio and Albert worked the crowd, leaving us to our own devices.

As we moved through the room, all the nobles showed me the highest level of courtesy, and I gave them just enough attention to maintain social decorum.

The Emperor cleared his throat and began his speech, his voice commanding the attention of all present in the grand ballroom. "My dear subjects, esteemed guests, and most importantly, our heroes from another world," he said, his eyes fixed on us. "I stand before you today to commemorate the end of the war against the Church of the Black Sun, a war that has taken a great toll on our beloved empire."

The Emperor paused for a moment, and the crowd held their breaths in anticipation. "But let us not dwell on the past. Instead, let us celebrate the victory that has been achieved through the unwavering bravery of our soldiers and the courage of our heroes."

He turned to us, a small smile on his lips. "Hero Jude and Hero Cordelia, your actions in this war have been nothing short of heroic. The Hyperion Empire owes you a debt of gratitude that can never be repaid. You have fought alongside our soldiers, and your bravery has been an inspiration to all of us."

The Emperor then turned to Princess Angelina, a look of pride in his eyes. "And to our beloved Princess Angelina, your leadership during this war has been exemplary. Your unwavering commitment to the safety and prosperity of our people has been truly inspiring. The Hyperion Empire is blessed to have such a wise and capable leader."

He raised his glass, and the crowd followed suit. "Let us raise a toast to our heroes, to their bravery, and to their unwavering commitment to the safety and prosperity of our beloved empire. May your future be as bright as your deeds in the past."

As the banquet continued, the nobles approached us one by one, expressing their gratitude and admiration. And as the night wore on, I couldn't help but feel a sense of bittersweetness. For while our time in the Hyperion Empire was coming to an end, the memories we made and the people we met would stay with us forever.

As the time for our departure drew near, Princess Angelina's tears flowed freely down her cheeks as she clung to me tightly.

I turned to look towards Aluxio and Albert, and they both seemed to grasp the unspoken message I was conveying. They nodded in affirmation, their expressions solemn but determined. I knew I could rely on them to keep the Empire safe and secure in my absence.

I turned back to Angelina, who was still in my arms, tears streaming down her face. "I will marry you officially after the war is over, Angelina," I said softly, trying to comfort her. She looked up at me, her eyes filled with love and sadness.

"I will wait for you, Jude," she whispered back, her voice shaking.

The Emperor stepped forward, his gaze fatherly and kind. "We will be there to support you in any way we can, Heroes," he said, his voice full of warmth and encouragement. "Do not hesitate to call upon us if you need our aid."

I nodded, grateful for his words. "Thank you, Your Majesty," I replied, shaking his hand firmly.

With a final farewell, Cordelia and I teleported back to Alacarya, leaving behind the Empire and the people we had come to know and love. But we were not alone. We had each other, and we had the hope and determination to see our mission through to the end.

[A/N: Hope you guys enjoyed this chapter! Remember to vote if you guys did! Next, we have the Alacarya Liberation Arc.]