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It was already noon, and despite the royal court's best efforts to maintain a schedule, the meal had not yet begun.
The atmosphere in the palace of Alabasta was filled with tense anticipation, and the grand hall, usually bustling with attendants and nobles seemed stiflingly quiet.
Cobra glanced at the high windows, where the midday sun filtered through, casting light and shadows over the table that stretched out before them.
He took a slow breath, letting a composed smile settle on his face. After all, this was supposed to be a moment of unity, a gathering that might help mend recent tensions.
Inwardly, however, he couldn't ignore the lingering awkwardness from moments earlier, a tension that had been bubbling beneath the surface.
Anos, who had travelled from the distant Tru Kingdom, had made it clear that the meal should precede any further discussions. "We should eat first, then discuss matters of state in detail afterwards," he had stated firmly.
Cobra respected Anos's straightforwardness and had agreed, recognizing the wisdom in maintaining focus on the present.
No one seemed to heed what Princess Vivi had said earlier. Her words earnestly, hopeful, had fallen on deaf ears.
Even Cobra himself acted as though he hadn't heard his daughter, treating her comments as little more than youthful enthusiasm.
To the court, Vivi's words were just that unformed and unheeded, far from the sharp pragmatism expected in royal discourse.
The thoughts of those involved didn't matter much to the onlookers. In the grand scheme of the political matters at hand, individual perspectives held little sway.
Together, the guests rose, their silken robes and ornate attire whispering against the tiled floor, as they prepared to move to another hall.
They followed Cobra, their steps echoing along the marbled corridors, passing tapestries that depicted the long and storied history of Alabasta.
After turning several corners, they reached a dining hall. While not excessively large, it held an air of intimacy balanced by royal opulence.
The room could comfortably accommodate a hundred people, and at its centre stood a massive table spanning over ten meters laden with delicacies.
Cobra observed with appreciation the array of dishes prepared by Alabasta's finest chefs.
Plates of fruits from distant lands sat alongside roasted meats, fresh seafood, and intricate desserts each dish meticulously arranged to honour their esteemed guests.
Alabasta had its culinary traditions, but today, they had crafted a spread that reflected a blend of styles, paying homage to Tru's preferences while highlighting the richness of Alabasta's resources.
Anos and Cobra took their places at opposite ends of the table, symbolizing the shared respect between the two sovereigns while maintaining the formality of distance.
The other guests found their seats with less ceremony, filling the sides of the grand table.
In truth, such a feast was often a formality. Many of those present rarely indulged in the luxurious foods laid before them; their appetites were often restrained by the weight of duty and decorum.
The royal court, after all, had its codes of conduct, and part of that code was discretion in all things even dining.
This lavish spread was prepared less for consumption and more for display, a manifestation of Alabasta's generosity and prosperity.
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One Piece: Wielder of the Void
Fanfiction---- At just fourteen, he took the reins of a crumbling kingdom after his father's demise. With sheer willpower and a mind as sharp as a sword, he transformed it from the brink of ruin into a Kingdom that now captivates the attention of the entire w...
