Chapter 65 Family Portrait

The royal banquet resumed with even livelier spirits than before. Delicious foods were served, and the most expensive liquor flowed. The musicians started playing more upbeat tunes. In the beginning, many eminent guests rose and made toasts to the Prince and his beautiful granddaughter. Malcolm stood up and delivered a touching speech about Sapphire City’s bright future. It was one of the most successful social events of the decade for Sapphire City. Subsequently, the guests broke into small groups, taking up tables or corners of the hall for private conversations. Even though they came to dine with the Prince of Petra, their main objective was to tap into new business opportunities. The royal banquet was an excellent platform for launching new deals, signing ambitious projects, and mending broken bridges. The Douglas family’s influence was a protective umbrella under which the builders and traders of the city felt secure and motivated. Michelle excused herself from the central table o