Chapter 158

Chapter 158

The heavy rain had been falling for an entire day, with no sign of letting up.

Maids hurried back and forth through the Royal Palace, preparing for the banquet that evening.

Maria had someone send Tu Nan and Xu Duoyi each a Gown.

Originally, Xu Duoyi would not have been qualified to attend a banquet like this. But ever since the Church declared her the Saintess, her status in the Royal Palace had risen sharply. The King treated her with unusual attentiveness and courtesy, and everyone else became unfailingly considerate and warm toward her as well.

“I’m not really used to wearing dresses like this.” Xu Duoyi tugged at the Gown she had on. “If something happens, I won’t even be able to run properly.”

“Plenty of things are going to happen tonight.” Tu Nan looked out the window. The rain had soaked the glass, and the endless patter of water against it made it impossible to see anything clearly.

“Nemesis should have received the letter, right?” she asked uneasily.

“Maybe.” Xu Duoyi could not be sure either. “Let’s hope she did.”

Outside, the palace had already grown lively.

“Let’s go.” Tu Nan took a deep breath. “I don’t know when Nemesis will arrive. I need to go out and wait for her.”

The wind and rain outside were fierce. Tu Nan stood at the entrance of the Royal Palace, braving the storm as she watched the guests come and go.

The Carter Family had also received an invitation today, so it did not seem too strange for her to stand here waiting for her relatives.

She just did not know when Nemesis would arrive.

Instead, the members of the Carter Family arrived first.

A Carriage bearing the Carter Family crest stopped at the gates of the Royal Palace. An Attendant rushed forward through the rain and set down the step. The curtain of the Carriage was lifted, revealing the face of a middle-aged man who bore some resemblance to Judy.

The man got out first, followed by a young boy who looked a little younger than Judy. He was probably her so-called younger brother.

“Judy, why are you here?”

Mr. Carter was the first to spot her and hurried through the rain to the shelter beneath the eaves.

“I was waiting for you.” Tu Nan suppressed the anxiety in her heart and forced a smile, then looked at the impatient young boy behind Mr. Carter. “My brother came too.”

“Let’s hurry inside,” Little Carter said, rolling his eyes. “It’s raining so hard. My clothes are going to get soaked.”

“Behave yourself.” Mr. Carter glared at him, then looked back at Tu Nan, his face full of things he wanted to say but could not.

Tu Nan could roughly guess what he wanted to ask.

“Your brother is right. The rain is too heavy, and this isn’t the place to talk. Let’s go in first.” Perhaps feeling that there were too many eyes around them for a conversation, Mr. Carter gave her a push, signaling for her to move.

Tu Nan stumbled from the shove and nearly fell.

As she steadied herself, she looked around through the crowd.

Why had Nemesis still not appeared?

“What’s wrong?” Mr. Carter asked in a low voice.

“Nothing.” She withdrew her gaze, intending to bring these two back to the banquet hall first and find a chance to come out again to look for Nemesis. But then she suddenly heard someone calling her name.

The rain was too heavy, making the voice sound muffled and indistinct.

“Miss Judy.”

This time, the voice was much clearer.

Tu Nan turned toward the sound and finally saw the person she had been waiting for all evening.

“Ne…” She paused, then said in a low voice, “You finally came.”

Nemesis had changed out of her Witch attire and even turned her striking red hair into an inconspicuous black.

Holding an umbrella, she slowly walked out of the curtain of rain, her expression calm. “The rain was too heavy. The one delivering the letter arrived a little late. I hope I’m not too late.”
“You got here just in time,” Tu Nan said with a smile.

“And this is?” Old Carter asked suspiciously. “Judy, how do you know her?”

“She is a guest invited by the princess,” Tu Nan replied smoothly. “The princess was worried she might not be able to find her way in alone, so she asked me to bring her along.”

“In that case, let’s go in together.” Old Carter gave a laugh, his attitude toward Nemesis growing noticeably more solicitous. “May I ask how I should address you?”

“Ness is fine,” Nemesis said coldly.

The atmosphere turned a little awkward.

Having been met with a frosty rebuff, Old Carter let out a dry laugh. “Then let’s hurry inside.”

Only then did the group head toward the banquet hall.

Old Carter had not been to the Royal Palace in ages. He kept looking around, and even Little Carter beside him seemed a little more alert. The two of them walked quickly, having long since forgotten Tu Nan behind them.

Tu Nan deliberately slowed her steps, putting some distance between herself and them.

Nemesis’s face was cold and unreadable. She looked straight ahead, giving no hint of anger or joy.

“Did you bring what I mentioned in my letter?” Tu Nan asked quietly.

Nemesis glanced at her, then handed her a small bottle.

While no one was paying attention, Tu Nan swiftly hid the bottle in her sleeve.

“This potion works quickly. It will take effect in five minutes,” Nemesis said in an icy voice.

She had no interest whatsoever in why Tu Nan wanted it. There was only one thing she cared about.

“Where is the Queen?”

“She’ll naturally appear during the ball.” As Tu Nan watched their surroundings, she spoke rapidly. “If she really is Aphro, what are you planning to do?”

Nemesis froze for a moment and did not answer.

What was she going to do? Even she herself had no answer to that question.

Tu Nan was too busy scanning the area to notice her expression. She only lowered her voice and warned, “I have to remind you, no matter what grudges you have with her or how much you hate her, you cannot openly commit murder at the banquet!”

“Right now, I’m no different from an ordinary person,” Nemesis said mockingly. “How am I supposed to commit murder?”

Only then did Tu Nan look at her, confirming that her expression did not seem fake.

“Good,” she said under her breath. “The Witch already has a terrible enough reputation. Don’t make things worse.”

“If there really is a grudge to settle, you can take your time settling it after the banquet is over.”

“You found the Magic Mirror. Where is it now?” Nemesis asked.

“Now isn’t the time. There are too many people watching. I can’t hand it over to you.”

Their conversation came to an abrupt stop, because they had already reached the banquet hall.

At this moment, the banquet hall was brightly lit, bustling with people and exceptionally lively.

Old Carter had not attended a banquet like this in a very long time. Ever since he became addicted to gambling and ran up a mountain of debt, such events had had nothing to do with him. This time, perhaps out of consideration for the fact that Judy was Maria’s good friend, he had received an invitation again.

His smile was broad and delighted. Only then did he finally remember Tu Nan, whom he had forgotten for quite some time.

“My good daughter, come here.” He waved at Tu Nan.

Tu Nan had no choice.

“Find a corner and stay there. Don’t wander around. I’ll come find you in a bit.”

She quietly gave Nemesis that instruction before walking over to Old Carter.

“Father, were you looking for me?” She put on an obedient smile.

“Good Judy.” Old Carter took her hand, his smile carrying a hint of deeper meaning. “How is that matter I asked you to handle coming along?”