MMORPG : Ancient WORLD

As Alex stepped through the portal to the opulent banquet hall, his entrance triggered an immediate shift in focus, turning the attention of the diverse crowd toward him and making him the center point of the hall.

Queen Bellatrix, accompanied by Lady Cordelia, graciously welcomed Alex, and once the initial pleasantries were exchanged, he presented the meticulously prepared gift.

The genuine smiles that adorned the faces of the noble ladies signaled that the extra effort had been well worth it.

Already aware of Alex's dedicated endeavors, Queen Bellatrix conveyed her heartfelt gratitude, and without a moment's hesitation, Lady Cordelia replaced her ornate crimson necklace with the elegantly simple pendant.

A bright smile illuminated her face as she expressed her thanks, creating a moment of shared appreciation and connection.

The following half an hour, Alex found himself engulfed in a whirlwind of greetings, surrounded by curious guests in the bustling hall as Representatives from major and minor clans, along with other individuals, all sought the opportunity to meet the new ruler.

Each introduction brought a cascade of compliments, praising his swift progress and the access he granted to immortal adventurers within the domain. 

Initially, it was pleasant to hear a positive reception, but the repetitiveness of the same praises began to feel increasingly annoying, and even though frustrated by the monotony, Alex navigated the social labyrinth with practiced composure. 

Fortunately, Alex's ordeal was short-lived, thanks to Lady Cordelia, who emerged as his savior. Expressing her desire to show him something extraordinary, she led him away from the vibrant hall to the tranquil summit of the royal palace.

Alex trailed behind her, as at that moment, anything was preferable to infinite conversations with people, and moments later, they stood beneath the captivating moonlight, and the serene atmosphere offered a welcome escape from the lively festivities.

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"I noticed you weren't enjoying yourself, so I thought it was the perfect moment to take you to a more private setting and discuss a crucial proposal," Lady Cordelia conveyed, her voice serene and accompanied by a captivating smile.

"Thanks for the help, and Please, go ahead and share what's on your mind," Alex thought, considering it could be related to players or the cure for the devourer curse. Yet, at the back of his mind, a peculiar intuition hinted that it might be something entirely different.

"What kind of girls do you find appealing?" Lady Cordelia inquired, taking a deep breath as she posed the question swiftly.

'What is she trying to get at?' Alex questioned, baffled by the unexpected question.

"Lady Cordelia, I don't feel at ease discussing my preferences concerning females," Alex replied after a brief silence, uncertain about how to navigate such a personal question.

"Do you lean towards girls with a well-developed physique like mine, or perhaps you like girls with a more delicate and slender frame?" Lady said, a rosy hue tinting her neck and cheeks.

"What are you trying to get at?" Alex said, understanding somewhat where this conversation was leading, but he was also unsure as his mind was occupied with the questions and their answer.

"Well, um..."

"Domain Ruler, you see, I told my mother my wish to serve you for my life to repay you for saving me, but she didn't agree to it,"

"However, she did grant me her blessing to become your wife, so if you find me attractive, I want to express my willingness to be your wife."

"I understand and accept that, given your status, you may have multiple wives, and I am perfectly content with being your second, third, or even fourth spouse." Lady Cordelia disclosed, her head lowered, her voice softening with each word, and her fingers anxiously pinching her dress.

The statement hung in the air, and as Alex processed the unexpected proposal, his mind was a blank canvas, his eyes open but unfocused, and to say he was surprised would be an understatement.

'What is going on here,' Alex thought, as multiple questions swirled in his mind, trying to understand her reasoning for making such a proposal.

"It is indeed a blessing to have a woman of your beauty and standing willing to be my wife."

"However, I have to decline. Firstly, I don't have any romantic feelings for you, and it should remain that way since we are worlds apart. Even if I did love you, I still wouldn't be able to bring myself to marry you because of my unique situation."

"I am just a guest in this world, and sooner or later, I will vanish, never to be seen or heard from again."

"Knowing this, I can't, with a clear conscience, attach myself to your world with as noble a bond as marriage, as the thought of losing it would be a regret haunting me for the rest of my life," Alex explained, choosing his words carefully to both alleviate the situation and convey his genuine feelings.

Alex did not know if Cordelia had developed feelings for him or was just doing it because of his status, but either way, he couldn't do it because being attached to someone emotionally was one thing.

But marrying an inhabitant of the ancient world and making her a part of life, no matter how attracted she was or the benefits he stood to gain, Alex could never take that step.

"I respect your decision, but perhaps if destiny allows, we can be together one day," Lady Cordelia said, her voice calm and her bright smile returning to her face.

Alex was a bit surprised that Cordelia didn't try to persuade him but relieved that he didn't need to discuss this topic further to clarify his reasons and emotions.

Alex could see Cordelia having a bit of disappointment but also a hint of joy in her eyes, but he dropped this chain of pondered then and there as they served no purpose in his life.

Alex and Cordelia spent a few minutes on the rooftop before they went back to the hall, and by this time, all the remaining visitors had arrived, including the various clan leaders.

The tables were meticulously arranged, featuring a spread tailored to the preferences of each seated group. Tables occupied by vampires showcased steaks, unique meat and vegetable dishes, red wines, and fruits, while the dwarves' table was laden with various meats and large jugs of mead and wine.

Queen Bellatrix took the stage, and, after thanking everyone for joining the celebration of her daughter's recovery, she stated that today, not only she but everyone attending would receive good news that would be worth another much bigger celebration.

The hall, filled with hundreds of individuals from various clans, turned silent for a moment before echoing with hush whispers, but with mountain-like mana pressure washing over the hall, everyone turned silent.

Alex stood in the air at the far back of the room so everyone could see him, with Varon standing by his side, making everyone shift their attention toward him.

Alex didn't waste a moment and started big by saying that he had acquired a way to cure the Devourer Curse. He followed his statement by using the gem to take out one of the recovering individuals from the Space Trove.

The red mist swiftly made its way out, cloaking a few meters of space before him, and moments later, it vanished, leaving behind a crystalline coffin with a young pure-blood dragon lying unconscious inside.

The moment the red mist appeared, all the big or small can leaders appeared around it, sensing the space fluctuating. As the coffin appeared, they examined it with great concentration, and in mere moments, their expression softened as smiles spread across their faces.

The room was in complete chaos as voices were echoing, but they were silent once again as various mana pressures washed over the hall.

Alex took the moment to explain the limitations so no one would get their hopes too high, but in the end, he also made a promise that he would try his absolute best to bring back the peaceful and glorious days of the Malefis Domain.

The clan leaders supported Alex's statement, and for the next few minutes, the atmosphere became emotional for many individuals, and even those who appeared stoic showed relief, their faces breaking into smiles.

The clan leaders who were already informed about the Red gem and cure, and knowing that it was Alex who had acquired it before he even became a Ruler and found out that it could cure the curse, only put smiles on their faces and appreciated him more.

All the clan leaders promised their support if he ever needed it, and for the first time, Alex truly felt that he was being respected as an individual by these powerful figures and not because of his status, which felt astonishingly good.

If before Alex was seen with respect for what he had achieved and was doing for the domain, then now he was a celebrity among the people.

The banquet ended in echoing laughter and a full-on dance celebration as there were some funny moments, like a drunk dwarf picking a fight with a dragon, but it didn't end with someone separating them.

Instead, they were given space to physically beat each other black and blue, not allowed to use magic or even mana, while one of their companions took bets from the spectators.

All in all, everyone had a blast, and it was visible that the news of having a cure and the added news that more and more immortal adventurers would be arriving had alleviated a lot of tension.

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Important Note: 

In the upcoming chapters, I'll be speeding things up a bit to keep the story flowing. I'll provide a brief summary of the next few months without delving into all the details for each event.