37: Victory celebration banquet

"Sigh, if you don't want to, then so be it. Even if David and the others laugh at me, I don't want to make you unhappy over this!"

As soon as he said this, Karona's mind was filled with the thought: if Arthur could be so understanding of her, why couldn't she let go of her shyness and ingrained notions?

Finally, she slowly nodded, her voice low but firm, saying:

"I don't want you to be laughed at. I'll be your female companion!"

Hearing this, Arthur smiled happily and immediately ordered someone to dress Karona up.

Because Karona's appearance exuded a cold demeanor, she greatly resembled the Snow Queen from the animated film *Frozen* that Arthur had watched in his previous life.

Moreover, while Karona didn't have ice magic, she did possess Ice Qi.

So, Arthur had Karona styled according to the Snow Queen's makeup.

Her silver-white hair was braided into a single, large plait.

There were no superfluous gems; a blue off-the-shoulder ice-silk dress, adorned with ice-crystal-like objects on its blue ice-silk fabric, was already dazzling enough.

This form-fitting ice-silk dress perfectly showcased Karona's curvaceous figure. Paired with her beautiful, cold-looking oval face, she truly looked like a princess.

After admiring her, Arthur also directly praised her:

"Karona, you truly look like a princess now. When I take you to the party later, David and the others probably won't even recognize you!"

At Arthur's high praise, Karona immediately blushed, revealing a shy expression that didn't match her usual cold face:

"Lord Arthur, you exaggerate too much. I am just a maid; how could I possibly look like a princess!"

Arthur was already accustomed to Karona's stubbornness about her identity, knowing that changing her perception would take time. So, Arthur didn't continue to praise her, merely chuckling:

"Haha, alright, if not a princess, then not a princess, but beautiful is true!"

Now Karona couldn't refute him anymore; after all, she couldn't very well say she wasn't beautiful!

...Soon, evening arrived, and the party began.

The attendees of this party were quite simple: the more than one hundred lords, Arthur, and their Advanced military generals.

As well as the female companions these people brought.

Most of these female companions were not in Northern Bulwark City during the previous war with the Gnolls. Now that the war was won, the lords' families had only recently come from various pioneering territory to Northern Bulwark City to visit their family members.

There was no one else like Arthur who brought a maid to attend the party.

As the main figure of the banquet, Arthur's every move naturally attracted much attention. Karona had been by Arthur's side during the war with the Gnolls, so her identity was naturally known to everyone.

Therefore, when Karona appeared at the banquet as Arthur's female companion, everyone present was extremely shocked.

They exchanged glances, but due to the strength Arthur had displayed, no one ultimately said anything more.

David and the others had originally thought Arthur would attend the party alone and had even planned ahead.

They intended to set up Arthur with their elder or younger sisters. If it worked out, they could also leverage some of Arthur's power. Now, it seemed the path of marriage alliance was closed!

The attendees initially didn't understand why Arthur would bring a maid to the banquet.

But when they saw Karona's beautiful appearance in her white gauze dress, looking just like a princess from a fairy tale, they suddenly seemed to understand why Arthur had done so!

Under Karona's beautiful appearance, others who had many thoughts and wanted to play matchmaker could only give up.

After all, even if they sent people to approach Arthur, if those people's beauty couldn't even compare to the maid beside Arthur, wouldn't that just be humiliating themselves?

Subsequently, the party proceeded normally. To the sound of music, those with female companions first danced a song together.

Arthur and Karona had both received formal noble education.

As a noble, Arthur naturally had to learn.

And as Arthur's personal maid, Karona's role was to ensure that if Arthur ever forgot his etiquette, she could step forward and teach him.

So, although Karona was just a maid, she was highly proficient in many noble matters.

As the dance progressed, Karona and Arthur embraced many times. To be honest, this was the first time the two of them had been so close.

With such intimate contact, their movements became a bit stiff!

As they danced, Arthur looked at her exquisite face, so close to him, and his thoughts became somewhat muddled.

He suddenly realized that, perhaps in both his past and present lives, no one besides his family had cared for Arthur as Karona did, seeing Arthur as her everything. How could Arthur let such a person go?

...On the Continent of Gods, nobles were allowed to marry several wives, but there was a distinction between legitimate and concubine.

Given Karona's status as a maid, if Arthur truly didn't treat her as a lover but as a normal woman, and married her, it would certainly invite gossip.

This was probably why Karona had always deliberately avoided Arthur!

But Arthur didn't care about such things. The Continent of Gods was a place where strength spoke. With his Portable Shop, Arthur believed he could ultimately suppress all dissent, so he didn't care about others' gossip at all.

Soon, the dance ended, and Arthur and Karona reluctantly parted. Next was the time for everyone to socialize and converse!

As the strongest lord in Northern Bulwark City, Arthur was continuously approached by people seeking to converse with him.

Karona, as Arthur's female companion, also greeted and briefly met many people present.

Although many people came to chat, they all knew their place, merely wanting to get acquainted with Arthur. So, before long, Arthur's surroundings became quiet again!

It was then that David, the strongest person besides Arthur, finally walked over with a woman!

"Haha, Baron Arthur, with such a beauty by your side, you truly make us envious!"

Before Arthur could reply, David turned his gaze to Karona:

"Knight Karona, no, I should change my address from now on. I should call you Baroness instead!"

Karona naturally understood the meaning behind David's words and immediately blushed deeply, weakly refuting:

"Alliance Leader David, you jest. I am merely Young Master Arthur's maid, not a Baroness!"

Seeing this, Arthur immediately shot David a grateful look for his assistance, then looked at the woman beside him and said:

"Presumably, this naturally beautiful Young Miss is Alliance Leader David's wife!"

David's good fortune in marrying you must be due to merits accumulated over three lifetimes!"

At Arthur's praise, David's wife smiled brightly, then showed a look of humility:

"Baron Arthur exaggerates. David was able to repel the Gnolls this time largely thanks to you, Baron, otherwise David might have been in danger!"

For that, I sincerely thank you, Baron!"

"Oh! No need for that. As a member of the pioneering territory, repelling the beastmen is what I should do!"

...