Mage Veigar

Chapter 199 The banquet begins

Chapter 199 The banquet begins

18:30 minutes.

As the sun sets and night falls, the Rodney family's banquet enters the warm-up stage.

In addition to five of the top ten business families, the dinner was also attended by presidents of some small and medium-sized chambers of commerce, as well as some senior management and lower-level partners.

In addition to businessmen, there are also some low-level officials.

With the ability of the Chamber of Commerce, it can only invite low-level officials at best. Most senior officials simply disdain to mix with the Chamber of Commerce. They believe that this will lower their status.

Merchant, this is a profession discriminated against by the empire.

Even though most of the predecessors of the Chamber of Commerce were nobles, in the eyes of senior officials and military officers, nobles are no longer the nobles of the past. At best, they are only slightly higher than the common people.

The glory of nobility?

That thing is not even as respectable as a medal of the Empire.

Therefore, truly senior officials and senior military officers would never lower themselves to attend such dinners.

If you attend a dinner today, you might be ridiculed by people of the same status the next day. This unhealthy trend, which was formed at some unknown time, has lasted for more than 30 years and is even getting worse.

Business families or aristocrats want to gain respect from others?

It's very simple. As long as you can enter a military academy or a political school and become an officer or government official after graduation, you can get respect from others. Of course, this respect is only for you personally and will not be passed on to your family.

"Law enforcement team, Captain Eric from the 176th Squadron has arrived."

"Central Army, the deputy commander of the 272nd Battalion, Xia Ke, has arrived."

"Trial system, A112 logistics team leader Loge has arrived."

"..."

With the arrival of a low-level official of the empire, the atmosphere of the banquet officially began to take shape. Patriarch Leighton Rodney immediately greeted him with a smile. He felt very honored that these officials were invited.

After greeting the officials.

People from other business families also arrived, including the Portland business family represented by Cologne Portland, and the Alban business family represented by Moore Alban.

"Thank you President Moore for coming in person."

Leighton Rodney looked jealously at Charles Albarn, who was standing next to Moore in a military uniform. He could not understand why, although they were both from business families, other people's direct descendants were able to enter the Central Military Academy, while his direct descendants were more disabled than the other.

"President Layton invited me, so I dare not refuse."

Moore chuckled and they exchanged pleasantries.

Although important people like to arrive late, by 19:00, basically everyone had arrived.

As a direct descendant of the Rodney family, Celis came to the banquet hall wearing an exquisite evening gown.

Light makeup.

At the age of 17 and with her beautiful appearance, she instantly became the focus of the banquet.

After taking a look at the seating chart, she found herself at Table 1. The guests at this table were all descendants of business families such as Charles Alban and Colon Portland. Her seat was next to Colon, which was obviously an intentional arrangement.

The first hour of the banquet will be a cocktail party.

The purpose is to allow guests to warm up and introduce themselves to each other, especially to get to know friends of the opposite sex at the same table.

According to convention, you cannot sit down at this time. After finding your seat, try to get to know and chat with people sitting in the same seat.

"Good evening, Miss Celis."

Cologne Portland walked up to Celis with a cocktail in his hand and said, "It's been three months and seventeen days since we last met. Only now do I know that just seeing you is the happiest thing in the world."

"Good evening, Cologne..."

Celis was not very good at dealing with people like Cologne.

Not minding the embarrassment on Celis's face, Colon continued, "Miss Celis, I heard from my father that this... that... tonight's banquet is to announce the news of your engagement, is that right?"

"Sorry……"

"Of course!" Before Celis could deny it, Leighton Rodney came over with a wine glass and said, "Cologne boy, you are already 20 years old. Before you take over the family, you should get married and start a family. It just so happens that you and my Celis have known each other since childhood. You are really a perfect match."

"Thank you, Uncle Layton, for your help."

Cologne said excitedly: "Please rest assured and leave Miss Qi Lisi to me. I swear to protect her."

In mutual greetings and flattery.

The banquet entered the second stage from the first stage, and then entered the final social dance stage from the second stage.

At 22:00 in the evening, social dancing officially begins.

According to etiquette.

Usually the hostess invites a male guest to start dancing.

At tonight's dinner, Leighton Rodney wanted to convey to the outside world the news that Celis would be engaged to Colon, so he naturally arranged for Celis, the hostess of the party, to invite Colon, the male guest, to start the first dance together.

"Cough cough..."

Seeing that the time was almost right, Layton coughed twice and said to Qi Lisi, "Qilisi, the dinner is almost over. I'll leave it to you next."

Celis lowered her head and said nothing.

"Chilis!"

Leighton emphasized, "Don't tarnish the honor of the family."

"It's...father."

Qi Lisi's whole body trembled. This was the fear that had accumulated since childhood.

She stood up and walked towards Cologne step by step.

According to the original plan, Vega should have come to help her out, but at 22:00 there was no sign of him. There was no doubt that Vega had broken his promise. At this moment, Silis was filled with despair.

anger?

She had no such emotion at all. For Silis, being abandoned, forsaken, and sacrificed... was already a normal thing. Vega's betrayal and breach of contract did not make her angry. She only felt regret for her own misjudgment.

And this mistake will cause her entire plan to go down the drain.

She no longer has a chance to turn the situation around.

Once the news of her engagement to Colon is announced, it means that she will be a member of the Portland family and no longer a direct descendant of the Rodney family. Even the low-level management of the Chamber of Commerce who are loyal to her will turn against her.

"Cologne……"

Taking a deep breath, she forced herself to put on a smile: "I can invite you..."

Tick ​​tick tick——

The last three words could no longer be uttered, and drops of crystal tears rolled down my cheeks.

Although Silis tried hard to control her emotions, the huge despair and the lack of a bright future made her tear glands break free from the control of reason, resulting in this sad and contradictory scene -

A brilliant smile blooms in despair.

Smiling and shedding tears of pain.

With this desperate smile, Silis said again: "Cologne, can I invite you... to dance?"

"my pleasure."

Cologne and Celis held hands.

At this moment, a strong feeling of nausea came over her, but Silis tried her best to endure it. She knew that this was just the beginning, and what was coming next was the real torture.

Celis closed her eyes nervously.

She no longer dared to imagine the hand that was about to touch her back.

But at this moment, there was a commotion at the entrance of the banquet hall.

(End of this chapter)