Nothing much happened for the rest of the morning. No one else entered the throne room, and there were no notable incidents. Lucas remained seated on the throne the entire time, until finally, lunch hour arrived.
And he was very eager for today's meal. Katerina had told him that the palace cooks were even more skilled than she was—and considering how delicious Katerina's cooking already was, that meant he was in for something truly exceptional.
It also served as a welcome distraction from the speech he would have to give later.
With that in mind, Lucas, Aislyra, Sequoria, and Katerina left the throne room. The guards stationed outside acknowledged them with a slight bow as they passed.
Within minutes, the four arrived at the royal dining hall.
It was a grand and elegant space, its walls adorned with the same ornate designs found throughout the palace.
At the center of the hall stood an impressively long dining table, crafted from expensive-looking wood, its surface already set for four people.
And one of those four seats was already occupied.
Lucas immediately noticed an unfamiliar elf sitting at the table. He bore an uncanny resemblance to Lucrio, yet his demeanor was completely different—his expression was gentle, almost impossible to imagine on the perpetually grumpy elf Lucas had met earlier. Unlike Lucrio, this elf was also dressed in elegant, opulent attire.
"Luvrio, early as always," Sequoria remarked as soon as she spotted the seated elf.
At the sound of his name, the elf looked up and stood from his chair. With a graceful bow, he greeted them.
"Big Sister, Your Majesty, Aislyra—welcome. I've been waiting for you. The cooks have informed me that everything is ready, so please, take your seats," he said, his warm smile never fading.
'Big sister?' Lucas latched onto those words.
In an instant, he knew exactly who this elf was.
Sequoria had already told him about her other younger brother—Luvrio Elenlora.
That meant he was Lucrio's twin and Alberia's uncle.
According to Sequoria, Luvrio was incredibly kind and polite, the polar opposite of his brash twin. When Sequoria had ascended to the throne, she had offered him a territory of his own, but he had refused—choosing instead to stay in the palace, assisting the ministers wherever he could. While he lacked the specialized skills required to become a minister himself, he still supported the kingdom to the best of his abilities, especially aiding his twin brother, Lucrio.
Not wanting to appear rude, Lucas acknowledged him politely.
"Hello, Uncle Luvrio," he said, moving toward the head of the table—his designated seat, as indicated by Katerina.
Luvrio's expression softened even further.
"Hello, Your Majesty. I hope my brother hasn't been too difficult today," he said, though there was a hint of exasperation behind his gentle demeanor.
Lucas offered a small, almost natural smile as he responded.
"Don't worry, Uncle Luvrio. He doesn't bother me at all. In fact, it's refreshing to have someone who doesn't treat me with absolute reverence all the time."
Then, after a brief pause, he added with a slightly apologetic look,
"But… he was about to start another fight with Scuro. If Aurola hadn't stopped him, things might have gotten out of hand."
Luvrio sighed heavily and pinched the bridge of his nose.
"Damn it, Brother… again?" he muttered under his breath, clearly disappointed.
But just as quickly, he recovered his warm expression and addressed Lucas once more.
"Your Majesty, thank you for keeping my brother by your side despite his temper. He has his flaws, but I assure you—he is deeply loyal and would never betray you."
Sequoria, who had been listening silently, nodded in agreement.
"My little brother is right. Lucrio may come across as harsh, but he is fiercely dedicated to his work—and highly skilled at it."
As they spoke, several palace maids arrived, each pushing trolleys loaded with silver-plated dishes covered by gleaming silver cloches.
The dishes were placed at the center of the table, and as the covers were lifted, an array of luxurious cuisine was revealed.
The sheer variety of food was overwhelming—each dish beautifully plated, and the rich aroma that filled the air was enough to make Lucas' stomach growl in anticipation.
But one dish stood out above the rest.
At the center of the table was a massive platter of what appeared to be spaghetti, coated in a deep red sauce that looked like some kind of ragù—or at least something similar.
Lucas' eyes widened.
'That looks just like a well-made ragù… and that's one of my all-time favorite dishes!'
Katerina, who had remained silent behind him until now, stepped forward and asked,
"Your Majesty, which dish would you like to try first?"
Lucas was about to blurt out "That spaghetti with ragù sauce!" but stopped himself just in time.
There was something he hadn't considered.
The automatic translation granted by the goddess—how would it handle the name of an Earth dish? If the phrase "spaghetti with ragù sauce" remained unchanged, it could raise suspicions.
Instead, Lucas chose the safest route.
"That pasta dish," he said, gesturing toward it and hoping that such a generic term would translate without issue.
Katerina nodded.
"Of course."
She picked up Lucas' plate and served the pasta with the grace of a high-class waiter, twirling the spaghetti onto his dish in a way he had only ever seen in fine dining establishments.
Luvrio showed no signs of suspicion, so Lucas relaxed slightly—it seemed that "pasta" had been translated correctly.
Remembering the table manners Katerina had taught him yesterday, Lucas took the proper fork, carefully twirled a portion of spaghetti, and lifted it to his mouth.
The moment he took a bite, his eyes lit up in delight.
The sauce was far richer and more flavorful than most of the meat sauces he had tasted before—it had a deep, almost wild taste, reminding him of boar meat. The meat chunks within the sauce melted in his mouth, and what was definitely tomato sauce infused the pasta itself, giving it a bold, tangy flavor that was absolutely exquisite.
For a split second, Lucas wanted to abandon all manners, devour the plate in front of him, and savor every last bite without restraint.
But unfortunately, he couldn't afford to do that.
Instead, he composed himself and turned to Katerina.
"Katerina, do you know what kind of meat was used in this sauce?" he asked, genuinely curious.
Katerina responded promptly.
"Yes, Lady Alberia. The meat comes from the Earth Over Wolf that Lady Aislyra hunted yesterday."
Lucas froze mid-bite.
'Those things are edible?!' he thought in disbelief.
But knowing that such knowledge would be common sense to everyone here, he forced himself to keep a neutral expression.
"Ah! Thank you, Aislyra. The sauce made from the Over Beast you hunted is absolutely delicious. I really appreciate you going out of your way to do something like this while I was stuck in my room," Lucas said, offering a grateful smile.
Aislyra responded with a casual shrug.
"No big deal, Your Majesty. Taking down that Earth Over Wolf was easy—I barely had to lift a finger," she replied.
Of course, that was a complete lie—for both of them.
None of them could afford to let Luvrio know that Queen Alberia had actually left the palace in the past two days.
Luvrio tilted his head slightly in curiosity.
"Huh… So, Aislyra went hunting yesterday," he mused. "And aside from the Over Beast we're eating now, did you happen to run into any of those mutated ones? Scuro asked me to gather as much information as possible about them."
Aislyra nodded, keeping her expression composed.
"Yes, I did. And I defeated it," she replied smoothly. "But don't worry, Uncle Luvrio. I've already informed the Rangers, so Scuro should be aware of it by now."
Luvrio sighed in relief.
"Ah, perfect. That saves me the trouble of reporting it to him myself." Then, his eyes lit up with curiosity. "But just out of interest—what kind of mutation did that Over Beast have? You see, I'm personally conducting research on these creatures. Once I'm done, I plan to present my findings to Macro and see if we can figure out a way to prevent their appearance."
Aislyra answered without hesitation.
"It was an Earth Over Wolf—but with angel wings."
Luvrio blinked, his expression momentarily thoughtful.
"Hmm… Angel wings… Interesting." Then, as if filing the information away for later, he gave her an appreciative nod. "Thank you, Aislyra. That's very useful information."
Through it all, his gentle smile never wavered.
With the conversation concluded, the royal family shifted their focus back to the incredible feast before them.
Lucas was beyond amazed at how delicious everything was. Every single dish was expertly prepared, and the variety was almost overwhelming. He was certain—this was the best meal he had ever had in his life.
Not only was the quality of the food exceptional, but the sheer quantity was also astonishing. Yet, since no one seemed inclined to stop him, he continued eating, maintaining his royal elegance even as he indulged.
Meanwhile, Luvrio finished his meal before anyone else.
He dabbed his lips with a napkin, then rose gracefully from his seat.
"Your Majesty, Big Sister, Aislyra—I must take my leave now. I'd like to get back to my research as soon as possible," he announced.
The three girls bid him farewell, and with that, Luvrio left the dining room, his personal butler following closely behind.
Not long after, Lucas, Aislyra, and Katerina also finished their lunch.
Lucas leaned back slightly in his chair, letting himself savor a moment of tranquility as he recovered from the sheer grandeur of the meal.
But of course, Katerina had no intention of letting him enjoy that peace for long.
"Lady Alberia, I apologize for interrupting your moment of rest, but it's almost time for your speech. We should start heading for the square."
Lucas let out a heavy sigh, reluctant to leave the comfort of his chair.
But he knew there was no avoiding it.
"Yes, I understand. Let's go," he said, pushing himself up and mentally bracing himself for what was to come.
As he prepared to leave, Sequoria stood, watching them with a warm, motherly expression.
"Well then, good luck, my daughters. I'll be waiting for you in the throne room when you return," she said with a gentle smile.
Lucas and Aislyra almost responded in unison.
"Yes, see you later, Mother."
It was only after saying the words that Lucas realized how natural it had become for him to call Sequoria that way.
And as he thought about it, a small, genuine smile formed on his face.
Katerina, ever composed, gave Sequoria a respectful bow.
"See you later, Lady Sequoria."
With their farewells exchanged, the three of them left the dining hall, while Sequoria watched them go.
Lucas was dreading the speech.
More than anything, he hated the idea of standing before an enormous crowd wearing such an erotic dress, all eyes fixated on him. It made his skin crawl just thinking about it.
But… there was one thing he actually looked forward to.
For the first time since arriving in this world, he would finally get to see the capital of his new kingdom.
His first city in this world.
'I wonder what kind of things I'll see?' he thought, curiosity momentarily overshadowing his anxiety.
Of course, he knew the limits of his position.
As Queen Alberia, he doubted he would have the freedom to explore up close—but even from a distance, he was eager to take in the sights of his new domain.
While Lucas was lost in thought, the group made their way down several staircases. Before long, they arrived at what was unmistakably the palace's main entrance.
Just as he expected, it was grand, ornate, and immense.
The doorway was framed by intricate golden embellishments, yet it maintained the same natural aesthetic that characterized the rest of the palace.
As expected, guards stood at attention before the palace's grand entrance.
The moment they saw the queen, they bowed deeply, and one of them promptly spoke.
"Your Majesty, the carriage is already waiting outside."
Lucas felt a twinge of disappointment at those words.
"So we're not going on foot… Too bad. That would've given me a much better view of the city," he thought.
Aislyra, however
"Well then, hurry up and open the door for His Majesty," she ordered, her tone carrying an unmistakable edge—one that bordered on threatening.
"YES!" The two guards shouted in unison, immediately snapping to attention and saluting before moving to open the doors.
Beyond the doors stretched a long, tiled pathway, leading toward a shimmering silver gate. The immaculate garden surrounding it was vast yet meticulously maintained.
Waiting along the pristine white stone road were three carriages, each stately in design—but one clearly outshone the others.
It was larger, far more luxurious, and undeniably meant for the queen.
However, before approaching the carriages, Lucas turned around.
For the first time, he could finally see the full exterior of the palace.
And what he saw shocked him.
The "building" he had been inside wasn't just a building.
It was a colossal, majestic tree that had been transformed into palace.
It was breathtakingly beautiful, unlike anything he had ever seen before.
But Lucas couldn't afford to let his astonishment show.
Forcing himself to remain composed, he quickly shifted his gaze back to the carriages and began walking toward them.
When they reached the most ornate carriage, Katerina stepped forward and, in her usual composed manner, opened the door.
"Please, Lady Alberia, Lady Aislyra, step inside," she said calmly.
Without hesitation, the two women climbed in and seated themselves side by side. Stepping into a space that was just as lavish on the inside as it was on the outside.
The seats were plush and incredibly comfortable, lined with fine velvet and adorned with intricate embroidery. Every inch of the cabin radiated luxury.
Once they were inside, Katerina closed the door behind them and settled into the seat directly across from Lucas.
Then, almost immediately, the carriages began to move, with theirs positioned securely in the center.
As the rhythmic movement of the carriage settled in, Katerina finally spoke again.
"Mr. Lucas, you may speak freely here. A barrier has been placed around this cabin to prevent any sound from escaping."
Lucas let out a deep sigh of relief.
At the very least, he would have a brief moment of peace before facing that damned speech.
Or so he thought.
Because what awaited him in the city was something he could have never anticipated.