Chapter 132: Grand Banquet (2): Demonstration Of Phone

As the last plates were cleared and the lingering aroma of roasted meats and spiced wine began to fade, a new energy took hold of the grand banquet hall. The musicians, who had just finished a well-earned intermission, struck up a lively waltz, their melodies weaving through the air like invisible threads pulling the guests toward the dance floor.

The transformation was instant. The once-still gathering erupted into a swirl of movement—lords and ladies, young heirs and seasoned matriarchs, all eager to lose themselves in the rhythm. Elegant gowns billowed like colorful waves, polished shoes glided smoothly over the floor, and the air hummed with excited chatter and laughter.

At the heart of it all stood Alaric Steele, heir to the household, the evening’s host, and the unintentional object of every ambitious young heiress’ attention. Like moths to a particularly well-groomed flame, they flocked to him, eyes bright with admiration, hands eagerly extended for a dance.

’It’s like being surrounded by a pack of wolves in silk dresses,’ Alaric mused, a polite yet knowing smile tugging at his lips. ’And every single one of them is starving for a bite.’

With the grace of a seasoned diplomat, he accepted each invitation, charming them one by one while barely remembering their names.

His first partner, Daelith Jenkings, was all fire and laughter, her red hair a blaze of movement as he twirled her across the floor. “You dance quite well, Lord Alaric,” she remarked, her voice carrying a hint of challenge.

He smirked. “I do my best to keep up. You seem like the type to leave her partners gasping for breath.”

She laughed, leaning in slightly. “Only the unprepared ones.”

Next came Vynessa, a vision of quiet elegance with her gentle smile and graceful movements. She barely spoke, letting the dance do all the talking, her eyes flicking up at him shyly every now and then.

’She’s probably hoping I’ll find her mysterious and intriguing,’ he thought. ’Sorry, sweetheart, but I have enough intrigue in my life already.’

Then there was Rochelle, a bubbly socialite who could barely contain her excitement. “I can’t believe I finally get to dance with you, Alaric!” she gushed, her energy infectious. “You’re so popular tonight! You must feel like royalty!”

“More like a prized bull at an auction,” Alaric muttered under his breath before flashing her a dazzling smile. “But I’ll admit, the company makes it worth it.”

The evening continued in a blur of partners, each girl hoping to leave a lasting impression, though to Alaric, they all blended together into a single entity of fluttering eyelashes and overly enthusiastic giggles.

But it wasn’t just the young heiresses who sought his attention. No, there were others—women who carried themselves with a different kind of confidence. Women who had experience, who had played the game of seduction long before Alaric had even learned to walk.

Matriarchs.

Older, wiser, and infinitely more dangerous. They approached him not with shy smiles but with knowing smirks, their gazes carrying a hint of mischief. They spoke of reliving their youth, but Alaric knew better.

’They want to feel the excitement of flirting with a young man,’ he thought, a smirk playing on his lips. ’And I’m more than happy to oblige.’

One of the matriarchs, Verity Fairisles, approached him with a determined glint in her eyes. “Young Alaric,” she said, her voice low and suggestive, “I believe it’s time for a dance. I haven’t felt this young in decades, and I’d love to relive my youth with such a… charming partner.”

Alaric chuckled, offering her a polite bow. “It would be my honor, Matriarch Fairisles,” he said, his voice smooth and seductive.

As they took to the dance floor, Alaric’s demeanor shifted slightly. He danced with the young heiresses politely, maintaining a respectable distance and engaging in light conversation. But with the mature matriarchs, he was more… intimate.

He held them closer, his hand subtly caressing their backs, his fingers lingering on their curves. He leaned in close, whispering compliments in their ears, his breath warm against their skin.

With Matriarch Fairisles, he went even further. As they danced, his hand discreetly found its way to her buttocks, gently cupping and squeezing her ample curves. He did it subtly, ensuring that no one else in the audience noticed his actions.

The matriarch stiffened slightly, a flicker of surprise crossing her face. But she didn’t pull away. In fact, she leaned into his touch, her body responding to his subtle caresses. A faint blush crept onto her cheeks, and her breath quickened.

’She’s enjoying it,’ Alaric thought, a mischievous glint in his eyes. ’And since she doesn’t mind it, I won’t be pulling back any time soon.’

He continued his dance with Matriarch Fairisles, his hand remaining firmly planted on her buttocks, his fingers subtly massaging her flesh. He could feel her body relaxing into his touch, her inhibitions melting away.

The other guests, engrossed in their own dances and conversations, remained oblivious to Alaric’s subtle seduction. They simply saw a handsome young man dancing with a gracious matriarch, unaware of the intimate connection they shared.

As the music reached its crescendo, Alaric gracefully ended the dance, offering Matriarch Fairisles a polite bow. She returned his bow, her eyes sparkling with a mixture of amusement and desire.

’He’s a rascal,’ she thought, a faint smile playing on her lips. ’But a charming one, nonetheless.’

Alaric then moved on to other partners, dancing with more young heiresses, his charm and charisma captivating them all. But his dance with Matriarch Fairisles had set a different tone for the evening. It was a subtle shift, a hint of the forbidden, a taste of the scandalous.

’Time for a change of pace,’ he thought, a mischievous grin forming on his lips. ’I haven’t danced with Natasha yet. Can’t have her standing there looking all wistful while I have all the fun, now can I?’

With a confident stride, he approached her, extending a hand with a flourish.

“Care to dance, Natasha?” he asked, his voice warm and inviting.

Natasha’s eyes widened for a moment, then lit up with excitement. “Me? Dance with you?” she repeated, blinking rapidly as if she had misheard.

Alaric smirked. “Unless there’s another Natasha lurking around, yes, you.”

She let out a nervous laugh but quickly nodded. “I’d love to.”

Taking her hand, Alaric led her onto the dance floor, placing one hand gently on her waist. The music swelled around them as they began to move in sync, her initial stiffness melting away with each step.

“This is amazing,” Natasha said, her voice filled with genuine wonder. “I can’t believe I’m actually dancing with you, Alaric.”

Alaric chuckled. “Why not?” he asked, twirling her lightly.

“Well, for one,” she began, her cheeks flushing slightly, “you’re you.”

“That’s very insightful, Natasha. I am indeed me.”

She rolled her eyes. “I mean… you’re important, wealthy, the heir to the Steele Family, the one who organized this ridiculously grand banquet. It’s kind of intimidating.”

Alaric raised an eyebrow. “Intimidating?” he echoed, a teasing glint in his eyes. “Don’t tell me you’re scared of me, Natasha.”

“What? No! I mean—” Natasha’s voice rose slightly before she caught herself, clearing her throat. “I’m not scared of you, but it’s just… you live in a completely different world. One where people like me don’t usually fit.”

Alaric hummed thoughtfully, then leaned in ever so slightly. “You mean a world where I enjoy dancing with my friends? Because that’s exactly what this is.”

Natasha hesitated, then nodded, her smile returning. “Yeah… I guess so.”

“You guess?” Alaric scoffed playfully. “Are you saying you don’t want to be my friend? Natasha, I’m hurt. Truly.”

Natasha laughed, finally relaxing into the dance. “Okay, okay! We’re friends!”

“Good,” he said, giving her a little spin before pulling her back into his arms. His hand lingered on her waist just a little longer than necessary, and he felt her body tense ever so slightly.

’Well, well,’ he mused, ’I knew she had a crush on me, but she’s practically melting in my hands. Controlling her will be so easy.’

He subtly adjusted their steps, his movements becoming more fluid, more… intimate. His fingers grazed her waist just enough to make her breath hitch, and he smirked as he caught the way she swallowed nervously.

Across the room, another pair of eyes were locked onto them. Iridelle stood near one of the towering pillars, a goblet of wine in her hand. She wasn’t drinking it. In fact, she barely seemed to notice she was holding it at all.

Her gaze was fixed on Alaric and Natasha, and though her expression was neutral, there was a telltale tension in her jaw.

Alaric could feel her gaze on him, and the corner of his lips twitched.

’Oh-ho, what’s this?’ he thought, stealing a quick glance at her. ’Is big sis feeling a little jealous of her little sister? How delightfully interesting.’

Iridelle’s grip on the goblet tightened. She shouldn’t feel this way. She shouldn’t care. But there was a gnawing sensation in her chest that she couldn’t shake.

’Why do I feel like this?’ she thought, biting her lip. ’I should be happy for her. Natasha deserves to be noticed. She deserves to feel special. So why do I—why do I feel like he’s mine?’

She quickly shook her head. No, that was ridiculous. She didn’t own Alaric. He had no obligations to her. It wasn’t as though he had promised anything.

And yet…

’I’m the one he touched. I’m the one who knows what he feels like, what his hands are capable of… I—’

Her thoughts came to a screeching halt as her cheeks flushed furiously.

’No, no, no—bad thoughts, Iridelle!’

But the jealousy remained, a bitter taste in her mouth.

Alaric, meanwhile, was enjoying the show. He could feel Iridelle’s gaze on him. The way her body stiffened every time he held Natasha just a little closer, the way her fingers clenched around the stem of her goblet—oh, she was seething.

’Perfect,’ he mused, the corner of his lips twitching upwards. ’She’s exactly where I want her to be.’

He dipped Natasha smoothly, holding her just long enough to make sure Iridelle saw everything.

Iridelle’s grip on her goblet tightened even more.

’It’s his fault,’ she thought, barely aware of the way her nails were pressing into her palm. ’He’s the one who made me want him. He’s the one who—who awakened something in me. And now he’s just… ignoring me? Focusing on my sister instead?’

Her mind swirled with conflicting emotions. Anger. Envy. Longing.

’It’s not fair. It’s not fair that he—’

She shut her eyes for a moment, forcing herself to take a deep breath.

’No. This isn’t about fairness. This is about him. I… belong to him. Whether he loves me or not, whether he even cares or not… I belong to him. And no other man will ever have my heart. No other man will ever touch me the way he has. Even if he never looks at me that way again…’

Her eyes fluttered open, her decision solidifying.

’Even if he never chooses me… I’ll make him.’

Alaric, sensing the shift in her energy from across the room, finally allowed himself a full smirk.

’Ah, Iridelle,’ he thought, ’you’re playing right into my hands.’

~~

The music faded, the last waltz coming to a graceful end. The dancers, flushed and breathless, returned to the edges of the ballroom, a buzz of excited chatter rippling through the crowd. The anticipation for the evening’s main event hung heavy in the air, a palpable tension that crackled with curiosity.

Lyra stepped forward, her voice ringing out across the hall. Her emerald gown shimmered under the chandelier’s glow, her presence commanding immediate attention. She raised a hand, and the chatter hushed.

“Ladies and gentlemen,” she began, her voice carrying effortlessly through the room, “please follow me to the auditorium. The moment we’ve all been waiting for is about to begin.”

A murmur of excitement rippled through the crowd as the guests began to move, following Lyra’s lead. Alaric, walking between Natasha and Iridelle, felt a subtle pressure on his hand. He glanced down to see Iridelle’s fingers gently wrapping around his, guiding his hand to rest on her hip.

’Well, well,’ he thought, a smirk playing on his lips. ’Someone’s getting bold.’

He subtly shifted his hand, his fingers caressing her hip, his thumb gently massaging her curvaceous buttocks. He felt her stiffen slightly, a faint blush creeping onto her cheeks. But she didn’t pull away. In fact, she leaned into his touch, her body relaxing into his caress.

’She’s becoming more assertive,’ Alaric mused, his fingers now lightly pinching her hip. ’Just as I planned.’

He even dared to press and finger her pussy through her dress, enjoying the way she gasped and trembled at his touch. He liked this new, more assertive Iridelle. It was far more amusing to tease her like this.

Soon, they reached the auditorium, a large hall with a raised stage and rows of luxurious chairs. Alaric finally removed his hand from Iridelle’s hip, though he gave her butt a final playful squeeze before doing so. He and Iridelle stepped onto the stage, while the guests took their seats, their eyes fixed on the pair.

Lyra settled into a central chair, her expression a mix of pride and anticipation. She knew what her son was about to unveil, and she was eager to witness the reactions of their guests.

Alaric stepped forward, his posture exuding confidence as he addressed the eager crowd. “Esteemed guests, ladies and gentlemen,” he began, his voice smooth yet commanding, “we live in an era where communication is crucial. Yet, despite all our advancements, sending messages over long distances is still an ordeal.”

He paused for dramatic effect, letting the murmurs of agreement ripple through the audience. Everyone here had experienced the pain of unreliable messengers, the frustrating wait for letters that could take weeks—sometimes even months—to reach their destination.

Alaric smiled knowingly. “Imagine relying on homing pigeons,” he continued, his tone laced with casual humor. “You train them, you feed them, you send them off with an important message… and what do they do? They either get lost, eaten by a hawk, or decide to take a vacation before delivering your message two weeks late.”

A chuckle swept through the crowd. Alaric’s ability to captivate his audience was evident.

“Or let’s talk about human messengers,” he went on, shaking his head. “You trust them with a letter, and they have to go through bad weather, bandits, wild beasts—sometimes they just decide they’re not paid enough to deal with all that, and your message conveniently ’disappears.’”

More laughter. Even Lyra’s lips twitched in amusement.

Alaric had successfully captured their attention, piquing their curiosity about where he was going with this.

’He’s building suspense nicely,’ Lyra thought, a proud smile on her lips. ’He’s a natural performer.’

Only Amelia Lyon’s eyes widened in realization. She subtly understood what Alaric was hinting at, but she could hardly believe it. Had he actually done it? Had he achieved what countless magical artificers, including herself, had failed to do?

’It’s… impossible,’ she thought, her mind reeling. ’But… what if he has? What if he’s actually created… it?’

She waited, her breath held, her heart pounding with anticipation. She knew that it might not be what she was thinking. It could be something else entirely. But the possibility, however slim, was enough to send a thrill of excitement through her.

Alaric clapped his hands twice, and two servants emerged from the wings, each carrying a small, rectangular object. They approached Alaric and Iridelle, handing them each one of the devices.

Alaric held up his device, displaying it to the audience. “Ladies and gentlemen,” he announced, his voice ringing with excitement, “I present to you… the ’Mobile Phone,’ or ’Phone’ for short.”

A collective gasp swept through the auditorium. The guests leaned forward, their eyes wide with curiosity, their minds racing to comprehend what they were seeing.

Alaric then explained the function of the device, how it could be used to instantly communicate with another person who also possessed a phone, regardless of their location. He emphasized the revolutionary nature of this invention, how it would change the way people communicated, how it would connect the world in ways never before imagined.

Alaric, enjoying the dramatic tension, grinned. “Now, I know what you’re thinking. ’Alaric, what is this sorcery? A tiny brick that talks?’ And to that, I say—allow me to demonstrate.”

“I’ll step to the far end of this auditorium. Iridelle will stay right here. We’ll be so far apart that if we whisper, the other won’t be able to hear. And yet…” He lifted the phone with a confident smirk. “We’ll talk as if we’re standing right next to each other.”

He turned and strolled toward the back of the auditorium, deliberately taking his time, letting the suspense build. Once he reached the farthest point, he gave Iridelle a nod.

Iridelle hesitated only for a second before pressing a button on her device. The room was silent, everyone waiting, holding their breath.

Then—

A crisp, clear ringing sound echoed through the hall.

The guests practically jumped. That sound—so distinct, so artificial—was unlike anything they had ever heard.

Alaric casually pulled the phone to his ear. “Hello?” His voice was perfectly clear, carrying through the device effortlessly.

Iridelle, still standing on stage, swallowed before speaking into hers. “Can you hear me, Alaric?”

The response was instantaneous. “Loud and clear,” Alaric’s voice crackled back from the small device in Iridelle’s hands.

The guests gasped. The clarity of his voice—it was as though he was standing right beside her.

Iridelle’s eyes widened. “This is incredible…” she whispered, still not quite believing it herself.

Alaric chuckled. “I know, right?” He turned to the guests near him, holding out the phone so they could hear for themselves. “Anyone want to confirm the feature of this Phone?”

The nobles closest to him cautiously leaned in, as if expecting magic to leak out. But the voice coming from the device was real.

On stage, Iridelle giggled. “Should I start revealing all your secrets now that I can talk to you from anywhere?”

Alaric smirked. “You wouldn’t dare.”

She pouted dramatically. “I could tell everyone about the time you—”

“Ah-ah-ah,” Alaric interrupted smoothly. “Let’s keep this demonstration professional, shall we?”

Laughter erupted throughout the auditorium.

Alaric ended the call and made his way back to the stage, taking his time, basking in the awestruck expressions around him. “Ladies and gentlemen, this—” he gestured to the phone “—is the future. No pigeons, no messengers. Just instant communication at the touch of a button.”

The applause started slowly. Then it grew. And soon, the entire auditorium was roaring with excitement.

Lyra, watching from her seat, smiled proudly. ’He’s done it. He’s changed the world.’