Chapter 176: One Last Banquet
{Third Person}
The investigation did not end the way King Sebastian had hoped.
For two full days, the royal guards and investigators tore through the palace. Servants were questioned repeatedly. Records were examined. Deliveries were tracked. Every person connected to the banquet preparations was scrutinized.
Then the first body was discovered.
A servant who had assisted in transporting ceremonial supplies to the banquet hall was found dead in a storage room.
Before the investigators could properly react, a second servant was found dead the following day. Then a third.
The timing was too convenient and deliberate. By then, even the least experienced guard understood what was happening.
Someone was cleaning up loose ends.
The reports reached Sebastian one after another, and each report darkened his mood further.
By the time the third body was discovered, the Alpha King had already broken a teacup against the wall of his study.
The room remained silent as the head of the royal guards finished his report.
"So that is all?"
The commander lowered his head. "Yes, Your Majesty."
Sebastian stood near the window, staring out at the palace grounds. His expression was frighteningly calm, and that calmness worried everyone in the room far more than anger would have.
Three dead servants, three witnesses, three potential leads all gone. The trail had effectively been severed.
The King knew it. The guards and the investigators knew it as well. The person responsible had moved faster than everyone else.
After a long silence, Sebastian dismissed everyone. The moment the doors closed, he remained standing by the window.
His thoughts drifted to Alexander, to the image of his son coughing up blood at the banquet, which surfaced once again.
The memory alone was enough to tighten his chest. Someone had poisoned Alexander inside the royal palace, inside his palace, under his protection, and right under his watch. And now the culprit would likely never be found.
The realization infuriated him because justice would never reach the person who deserved it.
For several moments, Sebastian simply stood there, then his eyes hardened.
Perhaps he could not undo what had happened, perhaps he could not identify the mastermind. But one thing was certain: there would never be another opportunity. Not if he could help it.
From now on, Alexander’s safety would take priority above everything else.
The Alpha King silently made that promise to himself.
---
Later that afternoon, a royal announcement spread throughout the palace and guest quarters.
There would be one final banquet that evening. A farewell banquet. Then afterwards, the various delegations would begin preparations to return to their respective kingdoms.
The announcement quickly became the main topic of discussion across the palace and beyond.
Some guests welcomed it while others were simply relieved that their visit was nearing its conclusion.
After everything that had happened, very few people were eager to remain longer than necessary.
When the news of the failed investigation reached Zarek, he felt something he had not experienced in days.
Genuine relief.
He sat in his study listening to the report from one of his informants. The man revealed everything regarding the dead servants, the missing leads, and the investigation had reached a dead end.
When the report finally concluded, Zarek leaned back in his chair, and some of the tension left his body.
Good. If the investigation had collapsed, then nobody would be tracing anything back to him.
The drug hidden in Alexander’s wine would remain buried.
At least for now.
Unfortunately, his relief was accompanied by frustration because he still did not know who had interfered with his plans.
Someone had used the chaos he created and had almost implicated him in an assassination attempt.
That part still bothered him greatly.
The informant eventually withdrew, and then the study fell quiet. Across the room, Julia sat silently.
She had been present throughout the entire report. But the moment she realized the conversation was over, she simply turned her face away.
Zarek noticed, but chose not to comment. Their relationship had become increasingly strained since the banquet, and neither seemed interested in repairing it.
The cold and uncomfortable silence between them stretched for a long time until Julia finally left the room.
---
At the Third Prince’s residence, Rowan received the same report. Unlike Zarek, he showed very little reaction.
The messenger finished speaking and waited.
Rowan remained silent for a long time. Yara, who was seated nearby, watched him carefully.
Eventually, Rowan leaned back in his chair as a faint smile touched his lips. "Looks like Zarek escaped this time."
Yara raised an eyebrow and considered that for a moment before asking, "Then why aren’t you angry?"
Rowan looked toward the window. Outside, the palace grounds, the servants were preparing for yet another banquet.
Servants hurried back and forth, and guards maintained their patrols. Life continued.
"As long as Father remains convinced the investigation is over, there is nothing to gain from pushing the issue."
His voice remained calm. Yara smiled faintly. "And here I thought brothers were supposed to protect each other."
Rowan laughed quietly. "Not in this family."
Though the answer was lighthearted, the truth behind it was not.
Both fell silent, then Rowan’s gaze drifted toward the palace. Tonight would be the final banquet.
---
When the announcement reached the Alpha Prince’s residence, Amara was genuinely surprised.
She had been sitting in the small sitting room on her side of the residence, absentmindedly brushing Ginger’s fur while Mrs. Woods supervised the servants arranging fresh flowers nearby.
"A final banquet?" Amara repeated.
Mrs. Woods nodded. "Yes, My Lady."
Amara looked thoughtful. To be honest, she had not expected it. After everything that had happened two nights ago, she assumed all formal activities would simply be cancelled.
The memory of Alexander coughing blood in front of hundreds of guests was still vivid in her mind. So, it was difficult to imagine anyone wanting to host another gathering so soon after that.
"I thought His Majesty would cancel everything."
Mrs. Woods smiled gently. "I don’t believe that was ever an option."
Amara’s brows furrowed lightly, prompting the older woman to continue speaking while still arranging the flowers.
"It would be improper for the delegates to simply return home after what happened."
Understanding gradually appeared on Amara’s face.
Mrs. Woods finished. "His Majesty is trying to reassure everyone."
The explanation made sense. The guests had witnessed chaos and rumors had already begun spreading throughout the palace.
If everyone departed immediately after, the stories accompanying them back to their kingdoms would likely become far worse.
A final banquet would at least allow the Alpha King to demonstrate that the royal family remained stable and in control.
Amara slowly nodded. Now she understood. The banquet was not merely a social event; it was a political statement.
---
Meanwhile, on the opposite side of the residence, Barron was delivering his own report.
"The investigation has officially reached a dead end."
Alexander looked up from the document he had been reading. His reaction was minimal, just a simple nod
Barron sighed. "Seems like Zarek and the other person escaped unscathed as you predicted."
The people behind the poisoning had clearly prepared their escape routes long before the banquet ever began.
Three dead servants had only confirmed what Alexander already suspected. The trail was gone, perhaps permanently.
Barron folded his arms. "His Majesty is not taking it well."
Alexander remained silent. He could imagine exactly how his father felt.
Sebastian had always taken matters concerning his children personally, and the fact that someone had poisoned him inside the royal palace would remain a sore point for a very long time.
Before either man could continue, a knock sounded at the door. Jasper entered a moment later.
"Your Highness."
Alexander looked toward Jasper as he approached and bowed. "His Majesty sent a message."
Barron immediately became interested.
"The King wishes to know whether Your Highness intends to attend tonight’s banquet," Jasper revealed.
Alexander already knew his answer. "No."
The word was halfway out before Barron interrupted. "Oh, come on." Barron looked genuinely offended. "You can’t stay hidden forever."
"I can try."
Barron ignored that. "This is the final banquet. You are leaving the palace in a few days."
Alexander narrowed his eyes, forcing Barron to immediately press the advantage.
"Consider it a farewell appearance." Then Barron smiled. "You don’t even have to stay long."
"I know what you’re doing."
"Good." His smile widened. "Then you also know I’m right."
Alexander sighed. Barron took that as encouragement and continued, "Besides, if you don’t attend, half the guests will spend the journey home wondering whether you’re secretly dying, or already dead."
Jasper quietly looked away. Barron, meanwhile, seemed very pleased with that argument. And unfortunately, Alexander knew there was some truth in it.
His absence would only encourage speculation. And speculation was the last thing his father needed after everything that had happened.
He considered the matter for a little while then he finally nodded. "Fine."
Barron’s grin immediately appeared. "I knew you would see reason."
Alexander ignored him and turned toward Jasper. "Send word to His Majesty."
"Yes, Your Highness." Jasper inclined his head. And with that, he withdrew from the room.
The moment the door closed, Barron leaned back in his chair, looking entirely too satisfied with himself, and he made no effort to hide it.
"Tonight should be interesting."
Alexander looked at him for a moment, then returned his attention to the document in his hands.