It was short yet very sweet.
Despite being the quickest banquet, it was likely the Duchy's most emotional one.
The air that had once been thick with tension was now layered with a strange sense of disbelief.
For all its grandeur and formality (not), the banquet had lasted barely long enough for people to register what had happened before it was over.
Plates once heaped with roasted garlic butter potatoes, vibrant Brussels sprouts, golden baked fish, and corn were now bare.
Every crumb was gone, and even the 'spiritual' garnish—once meant to enhance the aesthetic—had been plucked clean.
The only thing left?
The lemonade.
And had it not been prone to spilling, the battle would've likely continued. But even now, it was being carefully rationed to ensure that everybody got some.
Each sip was treasured and lucky for those who had tasted it before, as they clearly had more self-restraint after knowing just how fast it could disappear.
