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Chapter 798  Birthday

A leader\'s duty was to put the domain\'s well-being before personal needs. Khan didn\'t like using Monica\'s birthday like that, especially since her family had engaged in similar tactics, but she offered nothing but support. Monica knew her role, and prolonging Khan\'s authority would benefit them in the long run.

Invitations flew left and right, and the Solodrey family soon stepped in to handle most of the heavy burdens. The latter had only benefitted from Monica\'s relationship, and she was one of its most prized descendants, so it seemed only fair to deal with expenses and specifics.

Explaining birthdays to the Scalqa was a hassle, and the settlement wasn\'t ready for those parties, so Khan made the structures connected to the event converge at the bottom of the canyon. That was the most technologically advanced area of the quadrant, so the decision smoothened the process.

Truthfully, a single structure would have usually been enough for the event. Khan could have also negotiated a deal with Lord Vegner to use the existing brothels for the party.

However, Khan\'s change in status forced him to extend the invitation to his new family, and the Solodrey family couldn\'t appear cheap before the nobles. The latter spared no expense to prepare for the event, leading to results that Khan couldn\'t help but appreciate.

A vast platform had appeared at some distance from the brothels and other structures. The place worked as a terrace, which the Solodrey family had adorned with floating lamps that radiated a pale yellow light. The illumination didn\'t make the area too bright, which was the intended effect.

The terrace\'s floor had tables, seats, menus, and trapdoors where various waiters could come out. Speakers also stood at its corners in case someone wanted to dance. The Solodrey family had even placed floral plants to compensate for the canyon\'s gloominess, which achieved their purpose.

As the night arrived, ships descended into the canyon, creating a crowded line of landing areas attended by various teams. The Solodrey family had provided enough manpower for all the guests, and Anastasia and Luther were on the ground to join the multiple welcomes. As for Khan and Monica, they watched the event unfolding from the terrace\'s top.

"Why so many?" Monica sighed, leaning on the terrace\'s fence, his empty cup peeking past it.

"Did you think your mother would have missed the chance to invite representatives from wealthy families?" Khan asked, pouring what remained of the bottle in his grasp into Monica\'s cup. "Lucian\'s father arrived."

"Same goes for Luke and Bruce\'s fathers," Monica commented. "Second-last ship to the right."

"Right," Khan nodded. "That grey hair is almost as flashy as mine."

Khan lifted the empty bottle, and a waiter hurried toward the couple to replace it. He didn\'t turn even once, but more booze soon filled his mouth.

The couple drank, watching the crowd converge toward their building. It wouldn\'t take long before they would be swarmed by guests, making those the last few private minutes.

"Do you know when she is coming?" Monica eventually asked, turning her back on the row of ships.

"William said in a couple of hours," Khan replied. "Felicia said at least four."

"I\'m inclined to trust the Princess," Monica sighed.

The second sigh brought Khan\'s eyes to his fiancée. Monica looked at the silent terrace, seemingly lost in thoughts, but Khan knew she was only tired. Still, he focused on her figure, appreciating her brown A-line dress, which left enough of her legs exposed.

"You saw me put it on," Monica complained, feeling Khan\'s gaze on her.

"And complain for half an hour," Khan reminded.

"Whose fault is it I can\'t wear anything with some cleavage?" Monica snorted, her voice becoming a cute whisper while she checked the skin under the dress\' collar. "I should become a fourth-level warrior just to heal faster."

"Makeup could have covered those," Khan said, knowing what Monica\'s dress hid.

"You don\'t like to kiss me there when it\'s too heavy," Monica pouted. "And this dress is cute anyway." Nôv(el)B\\\\jnn

"I would have kissed you, alright," Khan chuckled. "Did you already get ideas for when this is over?"

"Obviously," Monica proudly claimed. "It\'s my birthday. It can\'t be more mandatory than this."

"As if we\'d need an excuse," Khan teased.

Monica shot a complicit grin at Khan before hopping toward him. The two exchanged a short kiss before Khan wrapped her under his arm. Monica rested on his shoulder as the two resumed their silent inspection of the guests.

The quadrant\'s atmosphere, Khan\'s authority, and Monica\'s steady descent into his mindset had put the couple in a strange mood. After more than three years together, it seemed impossible for them to develop new levels of intimacy, but there they were.

Sadly, the intimate moment couldn\'t last long. More waiters soon poured into the terrace, and new trapdoors opened. The guests slowly climbed into the open, and a sea of polite smiles filled Khan and Monica\'s vision.

Anastasia, Luther, and a crowd of descendants accompanied by at least one relative gathered on the terrace. Even less close friends like Lucy and Zoe had come to wish Monica a happy birthday.

Of course, the matter had little to do with Monica\'s happiness or Monica at all. She was important, and her status had always been high, but most guests were interested in the figure at her side. As controversial as Khan\'s persona was, he remained the most relevant person of the last period.

Anastasia and Luther led the way, and the crowd moved forward. Compliments and polite greetings unfolded, with everyone prioritizing Monica. Still, no one failed to address Khan\'s afterward, and shaking the guests\' hands always led to offers.

"My family would love to help, Prince,"

"I hope you\'ll save me a few minutes of your time, Prince Khan,"

"I must apologize for not contacting you sooner, Prince Khan,"

"Prince, permit me to offer you a drink afterward."

Those and more requests reached Khan\'s ears whenever he shook hands or nodded at polite bows. The terrace had around fifty guests, and everyone tried to book a piece of Khan\'s time. He never openly agreed to anything but knew those people would find the chance to talk to him anyway.

The line of guests appeared unending, but an event brought Khan\'s eyes to Baoway\'s dark sky. A few more ships arrived, but nothing carrying the nobles\' flag. The discovery made him lose interest, but the auras that eventually joined the canyon\'s symphony rekindled it.

Khan\'s cold face didn\'t show it, but some excitement accumulated inside his brain as he dealt with the remaining guests. He appeared focused, but his attention was elsewhere, eventually converging on one of the trapdoors.

Four familiar figures climbed onto the terrace, and Khan promptly caressed Monica\'s back before approaching them. The remaining people in the line felt confused and disappointed at his departure, but noticing the newly arrived guests cleared their doubts.

"You are late," Khan announced when he reached the four figures. His tone sounded beyond impolite, but he only meant for one of them, which everyone understood.

"Our navigation system misbehaved," George explained.

"I have technicians here," Khan revealed.

"It\'s fine now," George reassured.

Khan and George inspected each other, studying the differences developed throughout the years. George now donned a short, well-kept beard and a simple hairstyle, giving him a mature look. Even his aura felt calmer and cleaner, probably due to a peaceful mindset and abstinence from toxic substances. He didn\'t stop drinking, but it seemed he had limited it.

Finding the reason behind those changes wasn\'t hard. Khan only needed to look at George\'s side to find a cheerful Anita. She seemed to have grown more childish from her time in the Harbor, and Khan connected the matter to her newfound freedom. Her mother was also there, and she didn\'t feel as spiteful anymore.

"I know that face," George commented, eyeing the figures past Khan. "So, you went full leader."

"The situation required it," Khan summarized. "I find you well, too."

"You would have known earlier if you called," George said, stepping forward. "There\'s also that other matter."

Wayne was still with George. Everyone knew about it, but no one openly talked about it. George\'s words basically demanded privacy, but Khan saw through his façade. Yet, he lent him an ear anyway.

"[Save me already]," George whispered, begging in the Niqols language. "[I need a night away from all of this]."

Khan felt glad his cold expression had become his standard face. He wouldn\'t have been able to contain his laugh otherwise. Still, the symphony warned him again, and the matter seemed to be about the main event now.

"I\'ll see what I can do," Khan announced, making sure everyone could hear him, "But later."

George shot a curious look at Khan, but whooshing noises soon filled the canyon, bringing everyone\'s gaze to the sky. A giant ship had appeared inside Baoway\'s atmosphere, and a circular platform quickly detached from it, shooting at high speed toward the terrace.

The platform precisely entered the canyon, avoiding the rocky walls and slowing down when approaching the fence. It stopped right over it, and ten figures jumped down.

Seven were powerful soldiers, fifth-level warriors who radiated a menacing aura. Yet, the other three newcomers claimed the terrace\'s full attention, authorizing Monica to disregard the other guests to meet them.

Prince William and Princess Felicia showed smiles, but Khan only looked at the woman between them. She resembled Felicia, who, in turn, resembled his mother, and her first words cleared any doubt about her bloodline.

"I\'ve longed to meet my lost nephew for years," The woman declared, her warm voice spreading through the terrace. "It\'s as they said. You are the spitting image of Elizabeth."

"Pleasure to meet you," Khan responded. "Aunt Rebecca."