Esper Harem in the Apocalypse

Chapter 1181: The Night of Feast and Celebration

The grand banquet hall of the OrionHeart Palace hosted a spectacular celebration to honor their victory. Crystal chandeliers cast a warm glow over the polished stone floors. Musicians played lively tunes from a raised balcony.

Nobles and regional elders mingled around the edges of the room, raising their goblets to toast the survival of their realm.

Rias discarded her shredded velvet curtain for an elegant crimson gown that flowed beautifully around her ankles. She linked her arm through Rudy’s tailored sleeve and pulled him directly toward the center of the hall.

“You promised me a dance, Rudy,” Rias smiled brightly. Her glowing red eyes sparkled with sheer joy.

Rudy chuckled and spun her gracefully into his arms. “I promised you breakfast first. Fortunately, I can easily multitask.”

They swayed across the dance floor. Rias rested her head against his chest and followed his flawless lead. She looked up at him with a possessive gleam in her eyes. She made sure every noble in the room saw them together.

“You belong to me tonight,” Rias declared playfully. “No one else is allowed to steal your attention. You are my hero and my lover.”

“I am yours,” Rudy replied with a charming grin. He dipped her low, drawing a delighted squeal from her lips. “I think your grandfather is finally starting to approve of me.”

King Virgil stood near the high table and offered a respectful, dignified nod toward the dancing pair.

After their dance, Rias dragged Rudy toward the sprawling buffet tables. Silver platters overflowed with roasted meats, spiced pastries, and rare delicacies. Rias picked up a glowing red Blood Moon fruit from a crystal bowl. She brought the rare delicacy directly to his lips.

“Try this one,” Rias urged him. “Grandfather saved the very best harvest for you.”

Rudy took a bite. The sweet juices burst across his tongue. “He really did outdo himself. I might have to save this kingdom more often if the rewards are always this good.”

Rias laughed loudly and wiped a drop of juice from his chin with her thumb. She fed him another piece of fruit, leaning in close to whisper teasing remarks into his ear. Rudy smiled and wrapped an arm around her waist, thoroughly enjoying the feast and her undivided affection.

Jane stood alone near a stone archway on the opposite side of the hall. She wore a pristine sapphire-blue dress that replaced her mud-caked combat armor. Her silver hair fell perfectly over her bare shoulders.

Nonetheless, her brilliant blue eyes burned with intense frustration. She gripped the stem of a crystal wine glass tightly.

She watched Rias feed Rudy another piece of fruit. A strange, burning ache twisted in her stomach. Her fangs extended slightly over her bottom lip.

‘Why is she acting so possessive over him?’ Jane wondered. She glared at her sister’s radiant smile. ‘He is just a human.’

Jane took a sip of her wine, but the sour taste failed to mask her irritation.

Rudy had defeated a coalition army and forced her into a humiliating wager. He won the right to demand anything from her. She spent the entire hour preparing herself for his arrogant demands.

However, he ignored her existence entirely to spin Rias across the dance floor and eat pastries.

She felt a gnawing sense of envy bubble up in her chest. She hated seeing them so close. She watched Rudy lean down to whisper something back to Rias. Rias erupted into a joyful giggle and pressed a passionate kiss to his cheek.

Jane crushed the crystal stem of her glass. The fragile material shattered into tiny pieces. Crimson wine spilled over her pale fingers and dripped onto the floorboards.

She hated the sight of their intertwined hands.

A primal, instinctual desire surged through her veins, confusing her logic. She wanted him to look at her with that same teasing smirk. She wanted to know what he planned to ask of her.

She grabbed a cloth napkin from a passing servant to wipe her bleeding hand, unable to tear her gaze away from the laughing couple.

The lively music echoed across the grand banquet hall. Jane stood near the stone archway and watched Rias laugh in Rudy’s arms. Rias had passed the trial and secured her untouchable status in the royal court. No noble would dare mock the girl who tamed a world-ending beast.

Jane lacked that protection. She had failed the final phase. She remained the cursed child of the Blue Moon, a stigma she carried since birth.

A group of high-vampire nobles noticed her isolation and drifted toward her corner. Three aristocrats holding crystal goblets surrounded her. They wore sneering, arrogant expressions.

“Look who decided to attend the victory feast,” a tall noble with slicked-back hair mocked. He looked her up and down with profound disgust. “The calamity of our world. We heard the guards whispering. You failed the Ancestral Trial.”

Another noble chuckled and took a sip of his wine. “It is truly pathetic. The weak human sister tames a legend, while the mighty Blue Moon Princess runs away in terror. King Virgil should finally exile you to the wastelands.”

Jane tightened her grip on her sapphire dress. Her chest tightened. She wanted to summon her magic and turn them to ash. Striking a noble unprovoked would only validate their ancient superstitions and force her grandfather to punish her.

She held her ground and maintained a cold, rigid posture.

“My trial results are none of your concern,” Jane stated. She kept her chin high.

The grand wooden doors of the hall pushed open. Vesier strode into the room wearing opulent crimson velvet. The traitorous royal nephew possessed a cruel, calculating smile. He had orchestrated this harassment to break her spirit.

Vesier stepped directly into the circle of mocking nobles.

“Do not be so harsh on my dear niece,” Vesier announced. His voice carried across the room to ensure nearby guests could hear. “She carries the tainted blood of a mortal and the curse of the Blue Moon. We cannot expect a freak of nature to pass a sacred royal trial.”

The surrounding aristocrats laughed in unison. Jane glared at Vesier. Her fangs extended over her bottom lip. Vesier had tormented her and her maid Niti for her entire life. He always used his political leverage to turn the court against her.

“You are a coward, Vesier,” Jane hissed. She took a step toward him. “You hide behind your titles.”

Vesier sneered and leaned closer to her face. “And you are a permanent stain on the OrionHeart lineage. You bring nothing but disaster. Even that human over there chose your weak sister over you.”

Across the dance floor, Rudy stopped swaying with Rias. His cosmic senses easily picked up the commotion near the archway. He turned his head and locked his dark eyes directly onto Vesier.

Rudy had searched for that exact face since he arrived in the Vampire World. He could have utilized his spatial magic to find the traitorous vampire in seconds.

However, he chose to wait. He wanted Vesier to walk right into the center of the palace. Rudy intended to make a very public, highly entertaining example out of the rat.

“Hold my glass, Rias,” Rudy smiled. He handed her his crystal goblet. “I need to take out some palace trash.”