The Villainess Redeems Herself, The Beast Husbands are in a Daily Love Battle-Chapter 145: Pretty Free

Tears in a place like this would be courting death.

All she could do was bite her inner lip, using the pain to keep herself awake.

Caleb Shaw glanced back at her, an apology in his eyes, then turned to follow the guards out.

He could have left without a backward glance.

But he chose to pause for a second, leaving her with a look.

Then, his figure faded into the line of black-armored guards.

Selene Kane walked into the secondary hall with the crowd.

The surrounding clamor became an indistinct blur.

She kept her head down, trying to minimize her presence, just wanting to find a corner to hide and take a breather.

Even though it was called the "secondary hall," it was no less opulent than the main hall.

The golden dome was painted with intricate star path totems, inlaid with luminescent gems of some unknown mineral.

The floor was paved with whole slabs of cut crystal jade, polished to mirror-quality.

The walls were hung with massive paintings depicting the conquests of successive emperors.

Even the air was laced with a faint hint of incense.

Compared to the Osborne Family’s banquet hall earlier, this was pure opulence, not a trace of simplicity.

Although the Osborne Family’s hall was also resplendently gilded, following a refined aristocratic style,

compared to this, it seemed like a country squire’s living room.

The carvings on the columns alone were astonishingly intricate.

Sky-high pillars supported the towering dome.

Dragon scales were visible, and even the flames in the beast eyes seemed to flicker.

The arc of the eagle’s wings was precise to the millimeter.

Selene Kane stepped closer, almost reaching out to touch, then suddenly drew back.

If she accidentally broke anything, she couldn’t afford to pay for it.

The entire hall glittered with gold, the decorations rugged yet powerful,

gold not simply gilding but cast into the shapes of war spears, shields, and starships, embedded within the structure.

The wall sconces were in the shape of beast heads burning with blue flame.

From the ceiling hung a star-ring chandelier made of meteoric iron, slowly rotating.

The beauty here was not gentle but shockingly aggressive.

Yet some of the decorations made her frown.

For instance, the copper cauldron as tall as a person in the corner, covered with twisted human-like figures seemingly in agony and struggle.

Or the wolf-head totem pole in the center, baring its fangs with eyes inlaid with rubies.

What made her most uncomfortable was the row of animal hides on the wall, the fur glossy but seams faintly visible.

Her stomach churned.

Moreover, this was a place frequented by Beastmen, with many totems exuding a wild and bloody aura, which was somewhat frightening to look at.

There was a faint primitive scent in the air.

Most of the totems depicted scenes of hunting, battle, and ritual.

The images were bloody, with severed limbs flying.

Selene Kane stepped back half a pace, feeling as though the eyes in the totems were following her every move.

But everyone else seemed natural, and she couldn’t bring herself to voice her qualms.

Selene Kane pressed her lips together, daring not to utter a word.

If she said something like "this is too bloody," she’d probably be labeled a "heretic" on the spot.

The hall had no seating; everyone stood in their formal wear.

The women wore long gowns that trailed on the floor, skirts adorned with crystals, sparkling under the lights.

The men wore impeccably tailored suits, epaulets, and medals highlighting their status.

The sound of high heels on the crystal jade floor was crisp, as were the clinks of glasses mingling with the scents of perfume and liquor.

No one complained about standing too long, nor did anyone show a hint of fatigue.

Selene Kane wore a gown borrowed at the last minute, her toes chafed painfully by high heels, but all she could do was grit her teeth and endure. 𝒻𝑟𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝑛𝘰𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝘤𝘰𝘮

The table was laden with pastries and drinks, her stomach growled, so she snatched a few small cakes to stave off hunger.

Her stomach had long been protesting.

In the morning, rushing for time, she’d only had half a cup of protein shake, and by now, her blood sugar was probably bottoming out.

The table was a feast for the eyes with pastries.

Rose pastries, cheese tarts, raspberry-filled cookies...

She picked three light-colored ones, placing them cautiously on a silver plate, trying not to appear greedy.

She took small bites and was suddenly struck with a realization.

"The Royal Palace’s chefs are indeed exceptional; these flavors rival the old sweet shop in town."

That shop was near her university, owned by a kindly grandmother who made everything fresh daily, and the signature lemon almond tart would sell out immediately.

For a week, she bought one every day after school, sitting on a park bench, savoring it till sunset.

That ordinary yet warm daily routine now felt like a distant memory.

"I really miss the old days."

She paused, a little cream still on her lips, forgetting to wipe it off.

Familiar streets surfaced in her mind...

What once seemed mundane became the most luxurious dreams now.

She lowered her head, fingers unconsciously rubbing the edge of her dress.

Her throat tightened, so she picked up a glass from the table.

The crystal glasses on the table were all the same, each filled with a deep red liquid.

She casually took one, the cold cup wall bringing her a bit of clarity.

She thought to take a sip to calm her nerves, at least to ease her tension a little.

Without much thought, she brought the cup to her lips.

Just as she was about to drink, she suddenly stopped and set it down.

A peculiar scent had wafted to her nose.

It wasn’t the fruity aroma of fermented grapes, nor the woody scent of aged oak barrels.

Instead, it was a thick, slightly fishy smell.

Her heart skipped a beat, eyes widening as she stared at the liquid in the cup.

The red was so pure it was almost opaque, like... blood.

"This isn’t wine; it’s blood."

Eating blood pudding is one thing, but drinking it raw?

No way.

The dark red liquid glimmered in the light, a faint mist hovering on its surface.

Just the rich smell of iron made her stomach churn involuntarily.

She had no desire to ruin her stomach out of curiosity.

Besides, even in such a bizarre setting, she wasn’t going to abandon basic decency.

A hand reached over, gently lifting the glass.

Long fingers wrapped around the glass cup, slowly bringing it to the lips, taking a sip.

The throat slightly quivered, the expression one of enjoying a rare delicacy, eyes lightly closed, eyelashes trembling.

Sharp canines revealed momentarily, glinting in the light, ears twitching twice unconsciously.

If it weren’t for the beast ears and tail, she might have thought she’d stumbled into a vampire party.

Those furry fox ears were slightly tilted forward.

The surrounding people seemed accustomed to it; no one found it odd, some even looked on with envy.

She looked down at her own hands, then swept her gaze around.

This place was indeed unusual, even the air held an indescribable restless energy.

But then, it didn’t really matter.

She wasn’t ordinary herself.

Though unable to transform, she was from the Snake Clan.

Ancient Scale-kin genes ran through her blood, skin glowing faintly in the dark, body temperature slightly cooler than humans.

Anyway, no one here forced anyone to reveal their true form, everyone was quite free.

Some maintained human form, some were half-transformed.

Some simply unleashed their bloodline power, transforming into beasts to roam a corner.

As long as no one caused trouble, anything was tolerated.

This atmosphere made her relax a bit.