Gourmet Selene

"Since we're going to enjoy ourselves, how can we do without some entertainment?"

In the luxurious carriage, eating hotpot and singing songs, Selene's mood became increasingly cheerful. This is what life is all about.

As for whether bandits would try to rob her, Selene wasn't worried at all. Hmph, the carriage was surrounded on all sides by tens of thousands of troops!

"Hmm hmm hmm... hmm hmm..."

Although it was now a non-issue and she had no desire for it, pursuing power and strength, achieving things she had never dared to imagine before, wasn't that a wonderful thing?

Before the war, seeing Selene march so leisurely and slowly might have prompted some suggestions, but due to her great victory in the southwest, any of Selene's actions were now seen as correct in their eyes!

Look, General, you could have returned to the capital to receive your rewards yourself, but worried that we transporting so many prisoners might be ambushed by rebel forces, you personally stayed behind to "share the hardships with us," living such a "rough and tumble" life.

Thus, Selene was a bit puzzled. How could these people patrol so diligently, one by one?

Of course, Esdeath was obviously excluded.

Watching Selene leisurely dipping meat into the hotpot, Esdeath, sitting beside her, seemed a bit uneasy.

Although she followed Selene's orders one hundred percent, when she had objections, Esdeath couldn't help but ask. At this moment, her little head was filled with a bunch of questions.

"General, why are we moving so slowly? Is it to prevent rebel forces from causing trouble? Or... Oh, thank you, General."

Soon, the mandarin duck hotpot in front of her was steaming with heat, bubbling vigorously, and the mixture of various spices made her appetite open wide.

High-end ingredients often only require the simplest cooking methods!

Who knew what the danger beast meat would taste like when mixed with these hotpot dipping sauces. "Eat it while it's hot... anything you want to dip, do it yourself." Selene seemed not to hear, focusing intently on her meat-dipping endeavors.

With delicious food before her, who had time for unnecessary chatter? Satisfying her appetite was the top priority.

Esdeath, with an adorable expression, took the danger beast meat slices Selene handed her. Looking at the meat slices wrapped in various spices in her bowl, her inner thoughts were even more certain of her suspicions.

Esdeath belonged to a tribe specialized in hunting danger beasts, being the daughter of the Partas tribe chief. Naturally, she never lacked for danger beast meat to eat, but danger beast meat was usually grilled, boiled, and sprinkled with a bit of salt, right?

As for other types of spices, they were sold in the Empire's northern frontier for even more expensive than the top-tier danger beast meats. Esdeath rarely got to eat them throughout the year.

But... ever since she started following Selene, she had been deeply shocked by the various luxurious ways of preparing food that she had never heard of before, coming from the harsh northern frontier of the Empire—a true "country bumpkin."

Just such a small piece of meat used more than ten kinds of spices?

Indeed, before becoming a strong leader, General Selene was still a great noble. This lifestyle was just too "luxurious."

"Hmm?" While happily dipping the thin slices of danger beast meat, Selene suddenly noticed Esdeath staring blankly at the meat in the bowl.

What's wrong? Is the hotpot sauce I bought from the Academy City not tasty? Or not to her liking?

Selene then asked with some confusion, "...Is it not to your taste?"

"No... it's just, General..."

Before she could finish, Selene interrupted her, "Why think so much? Let's eat first."

Watching Selene, who was already devouring her meal, Esdeath half-spoke, "Actually, General, you... don't need to worry about the prisoners. I'll handle it. You can return to the capital first." but swallowed her words.

Strength dominates the weak. You're stronger than me, so even if I have many questions, I will follow.

Esdeath sighed helplessly and saluted, "Understood!"

Sitting back down, watching Selene with a satisfied smile, Esdeath thought to herself, "With such strong flavors, I wonder how it tastes in the mouth. Hmm... let's eat first!"

"Sizzle... hiss... mmm..." After just one bite, Esdeath's big eyes widened instantly, and a look of intoxication appeared on her face.

Whether it was danger beast meat or ordinary vegetables, after being cooked in the magical... hmm, hotpot base under General Selene's hands, everything tasted brand new, leaving people full of praise.

Although she didn't really care much about her appetite, the rich flavors and distinct layers of chewing sensation made her, someone used to the simple salted and grilled food of the north, savor it endlessly.

The ultimate pleasure exploded on her taste buds, wildly stimulating Esdeath's central nervous system, as if entering a new world of cuisine.

"So... so good!"

...

About half a month later, as Selene's army gradually approached the capital, the Empire's old Emperor ultimately couldn't survive the end of the year.

In the Empire's year 1014, on a certain sunny and pleasant day, the Emperor, under the watchful eyes of many scheming civil and military officials, permanently closed his eyes, ending his exercise of the Empire's highest authority.

The Empire's last de facto Emperor had passed away.

The eunuchs serving him immediately burst into tears, and the entire great hall was filled with cries.

Many young princes and princesses kneeling by the old Emperor's sickbed, though unaware of what had happened, were scared into crying. The sound of crying quickly spread throughout the entire palace and then the entire imperial city.

Soon after, the entire capital was immersed in the pain and sorrow of losing its highest ruler. On that day, the Empire lost its Emperor.

In the grand hall of the Sleeping Palace, apart from Minister Honest and General Budo, no one knew whether the Emperor had left any will or what agreement the two civil and military ministers had reached.

That night, before the old Emperor's remains had cooled, an "accidental" chaos quietly broke out within the palace.

With screams, pleas, shouts, and slashing sounds, one prince after another fell into pools of blood. Even the concubines and numerous attendants were not spared.

The entire palace was filled with the smell of blood, and the strangest thing was that General Budo, the highest military commander of the imperial capital, seemed not to notice at all, ignoring the deaths of all the Emperor's children except for the young prince.

As the moonlight faded and the morning sun gradually rose, all the smoke and blood had disappeared. The imperial palace remained as splendid and magnificent as ever, as if the massacre from the previous night had never happened.

However, many of the palace halls became deserted, countless attendants and palace maids turned into new faces, and many of the old faces never appeared again.