Chapter 178 - Chapter XXXV: A Feast of Poison [2]

The advent of the ascension ceremony came hours later. The gate of Walruse Castle was riddled with hundreds of men and women, all dressed in varied style of heavily embroidered outerwear with precious gemstones adorning them, ever so keen to flaunt their status and wealth. Eventually, the long line of fancy clothed nobles were swallowed by the citadel after the drawbridge was lowered, and the guards took turns inspecting the guests for any weapon of sort. Even personal guards were not allowed, causing some ruckus that abruptly died down with a bitter taste of ducal authority. It came in the form of a warning of spending the night in the dungeons, rendering them from hard-headed lords to easily compliant guests. It was but the early times of the reign of the budding young patriarch of House Walruse, but it appeared as though he was not afraid to consolidate his position with the smallest of gesture.