The Unveiling of Secret Queen

She flipped off the quilt, climbed out of bed, and walked into the bathroom in her slippers, turning on the tap with one hand to splash cold water on her face.

The icy water hit her face, and Nathalie Quinlan finally became a little more awake.

She turned off the tap casually, glanced at the sleepy person in the mirror, took a deep breath to adjust her breathing, then turned around to walk out, her tone much lighter: ”It’s fine. I set the alarm to wake up around this time anyway.”

Nathalie wasn’t lying.

She did set the alarm on purpose.

But she had set it for an hour later.

Kenzie Nabours’ phone call was too early, digging her out of bed an hour in advance.

Nathalie went to her desk, reached out to pull the chair, sat down, eyes lowered, and asked casually: ”Uncle Nabours, is there something you need from me?”

Her question made Kenzie Nabours a bit embarrassed, and he coughed lightly to cover his awkwardness, laughing: ”I was worried you’d forget about coming to the Intercontinental for lunch, so I called ahead to remind you. I didn’t expect you’d still be sleeping...”

Nathalie guessed he reached out to her for this reason, so she nodded calmly and said: ”I remember, don’t worry.”

Kenzie Nabours chatted with her for a few more sentences, and then Marcella Davidson’s voice called out to him from the phone.

Kenzie Nabours didn’t continue chatting with Nathalie, carefully instructing: ”Nathalie, there will be many guests today, remember to give me a call before you arrive, and I’ll come out to meet you.”

”Alright.” Nathalie responded, checking the time; it was just before 9, still three hours until lunchtime.

She calculated the departure time and told Kenzie Nabours: ”I’ll probably head over at ten-thirty, is that okay?”

”Ten-thirty? Hmm? So you’ll arrive at the hotel around eleven?” Kenzie counted the time and agreed readily: ”That’s fine. As long as you arrive at the hotel before half-past eleven, Mrs. Davidson wants to introduce you to some friends.”

Marcella’s friends must be reputable figures in Inderia; it’s considered a connection exchange.

Nathalie pressed her temples, not rejecting the goodwill of Kenzie and Marcella, and nodded: ”I understand.”

”Mrs. Davidson is calling me, I’ll go over first.” Kenzie laughed and said: ”Nathalie, if you need anything, remember to call me.”

”Okay.”

Nathalie hung up the phone, set the phone aside, and glanced down.

Violetta Hoffman sent her a message early in the morning, asking if she had set out yet.

Nicholas Fuller also sent a message last night, not sleeping at one in the morning, and asking if he should wear formal attire tomorrow.

Then there’s Wincent Sullivan’s message... his was about the same, mainly asking on Mrs. Sullivan’s behalf what gift she likes.

There weren’t many people invited on Nathalie’s side.

Besides inviting Amadeus Yancey, Sadam Vinson, and Alfred Garland, she only called a few people she got along well with from the research institute.

Just the three members of Group 10.

Wincent Sullivan, Williansen Barness, and Agnes Baker.

Wincent had previously arranged with the Old Lady on her behalf, and since the Old Lady had shown her concern several times, Nathalie also let Wincent bring Mrs. Sullivan along for the meal.

So she invited a total of about seven or eight people.

She didn’t know how many people Marcella and Kenzie had invited.

But Marcella had previously mentioned today was just a small banquet, inviting a few close friends for a meal.

Nathalie hadn’t gone to the Intercontinental Hotel yet and didn’t know the situation there.

She estimated from Marcella’s words that there wouldn’t be many people dining today.

About two or three tables.