A few hours later...
Outside, the earth was bathed in the shining rays of the sun. A pleasant breeze was blowing through the air, making anyone's thoughts drift to the edge...
Rayan and Jeanne stood around the wagon and tried to head towards the Dauphin's castle to continue their own task of saving France.
Rayan knew about Jeanne's need to identify the Dauphin from the crowd, not the throne. It was a kind of test of she... Observation?
Rayan didn't understand what her test was, but he didn't pay much attention to it, as he was sure Jeanne knew it from her vision.
After making arrangements with the owner of the carriage, Rayan and Jeanne successfully moved towards Dauphin's castle...
Several hours passed...
During this time, Rayan and Jeanne chatted about somewhat trivial things.
After paying money to the owner of the wagon, they saw a huge castle in front of them with a gate and guards dressed in heavy metal armor and with swords at their waists.
"Beautiful, though." - Rayan's only thought at this point. As a 21st century resident, it was amazing to him to see such ancient structures.
Jeanne was not without astonishment either, as she had lived all her life in the countryside and had never seen such large structures, hearing about them only in fairy tales.
Slowly approaching the gate, Rayan was the first to decide to speak to the guards. "Hello, my name is Rayan. We need to see His Highness the Dauphin. We have his personal invitation." - Trying to express politeness, he slowly pulled a letter from his pocket, holding it out to the guard standing in front of him.
The guard only nodded sternly and took the letter.
After glancing over the letter, the Guardian nodded to his colleague. "Let them in, Bard." - Bard nodded at his words and the two of them opened the gate with a joint motion.
The gate slowly swung open and Jeanne along with Rayan successfully stepped inside.
Rayan sensed the presence of many people inside the castle. It was likely that Dauphin had gathered many people specifically to mess with Jeanne's vision...
Rayan knew that Dauphin was the heir to the throne and right now, the high nobles did not report to him, but to the current king.
All the nobles gathered here are not a rank above the Marquis.
Reaching the large sliding door, Rayan noticed that Jeanne was slightly nervous. "Are you afraid, Jeanne?"
At his words, Jeanne only nodded. How could a redneck like her be among such nobility?
Rayan sighed. "I'm not a nobleman either. Keep a little courtesy and use respectful addresses and you'll be fine. We need their army, not their feelings."
His words made Jeanne calm down slightly.
In the time Jeanne had spent with Rayan she had learned a lot. Rayan had revealed to her many facts about the nature of humans, which made it possible to perceive their behavior more accurately and calmly.
Rayan opened the door in one slow movement.
The sound of open doors traveled throughout the hall.
Dozens of people at a table drinking expensive wines appeared before Jeanne and Rayan's gaze.
All of them were dressed in expensive, personally tailored clothes.
Many noblewomen were peeking at Rayan, much to the annoyance of Jeanne herself.
Some nobles were whispering, some were looking over them curiously, and some were looking at them with disdain in their eyes.
"Focus, Jeanne." - He whispered, using a little magic.
Jeanne heard his whisper and focused. Taking a deep breath, she turned her gaze to the side of throne...
"But that's... Not the Dauphin." - Jeanne thought, scrutinizing the Dauphin's appearance and comparing it to the sight from the visions.
Lowering her gaze, she carefully looked around the crowd of people. And then she spotted the Dauphin she was looking for.
There was a slight confusion in her mind, however she was brave enough not to care much about it.
"Greetings, my name is Jeanne D'arc and I have come here to meet the Dauphin!" - Jeanne exclaimed.
Many nobles ahhed in surprise, for few could meet the Dauphin on a whim.
The fake Dauphin sitting on the throne smiled arrogantly. "Hello, Jeanne D'arc. I am the Dauphin you seek."
Jeanne looked around at the Dauphin and shook her head. "You are not the Dauphin. The real Dauphin is somewhere among you." - Pointing to the crowd of nobles, she said calmly.
Suddenly, a light laughter was heard from the crowd and a middle-aged man with brown hair and dark eyes stepped in front of Jeanne and Rayan.
"You have truly surprised me, Jeanne D'arc. Yes, I am the real Dauphin." - The Dauphin said calmly, looking at Jeanne and Rayan.
Looking at Rayan, the Dauphin felt an unprecedented amount of tension. Light drops of sweat dripped from his forehead.
Rayan hated Dauphin in front of him. He wanted to chop him to pieces.
It was because of Dauphin's indecision that Jeanne had died, which served as an example in France as "One of the cruelest betrayals in French history."
But he tried to restrain himself, for if he killed him, the consequences would be enormous...
"I believe in your vision, Jeanne D'arc. God is leading you to great things, and I will be the one to guide you further." - said the Dauphin solemnly.
The nobles around looked surprised. Was this girl a messenger of God?
Suddenly, their respect for this girl soared to the brink. The God's Messenger status was on par or even above the King...
"I will put the army you lead in your care. You will surely fulfill your destiny." - Said the Dauphin, calling out to his aide.
Taking the paper the aide handed him, he walked over to Jeanne and held it out to her. "This is a document. It says that your rights will be no less than those of men." - Jeanne nodded and took the document with her.
The Dauphin turned to Rayan and smiled awkwardly. "What's your name, young man?" - He asked. Though the man was tensing him up, he had to remain unfazed.
Rayan didn't bother to smile. "My name is Rayan, Dauphin. I am Jeanne's faithful companion." - Rayan said indifferently.
Seeing Dauphin for himself, Rayan felt an unprecedented hatred for this man. People are right when they say that theory will always be different from practice...
At his words, Dauphin nodded. "Well, I guess this is the end of our conversation. Have a pleasant evening." - Turning his back to them, Dauphin walked off in the direction of the nobles.
After all, before Jeanne and Rayan arrived, here was a ceremony to recognize Jeanne as a 'God's Messenger' personally by the Dauphin.
Rayan and Jeanne decided to stay for a bit since the trip here had taken them quite a long time.
Night came...
Rayan stood at the end of the terrace, propping his arms up with his elbow.
He was dressed in aristocratic clothes. In his hand was a glass of wine.
He was looking at the moon, his thoughts flowing calmly and serenely.
If Rayan could, he would want it to be like this forever.
The sweet and bitter taste of wine in his mouth, the soft cool breeze, the glowing moonlight.
The perfect place to immerse himself in his own thoughts...
"There will be a war soon... And there will be no peace for me. I hope Jeanne will be all right." - he thought, finishing his glass.
Returning to the hall, he saw Jeanne dressed in a gown. Judging by her condition, she was at a loss.
And all around her were various nobles who were trying to woo her...
Immediately approaching Jeanne, he asked her. "Would you like to dance?" - Rayan noticed that many couples in the hall were dancing, showing off their grace.
Jeanne saw Rayan and there were many feelings inside her. Walking up to him, she whispered. "I don't know how to dance..."
"Don't worry, I can and I'll teach you." - Jeanne trusted Rayan so she agreed to do it.
As they approached the center of the room, they interlocked their hands.
The orchestra, noticing this, changed the music to something more appropriate to the atmosphere.
Jeanne looked unsure, but she saw Rayan's figure holding her hands tightly as if to say "Trust me..."
A blush appeared on her face. This feeling again...?
Rayan partly knew how to dance, in his past life he loved doing it.
With a few precise movements and to the beat of the music, they started dancing.
At first Jeanne was unsure of her movements, but afterwards she began to get used to it and to follow Rayan's pace.
People around them whispered. "What a... Sensual dance...", "Two young men dancing so beautifully..."
Many of them were delighted, and some were envious of such gusts of feeling.
After all, in this century, dances had a much greater meaning. They reflected who you were.
Jeanne and Rayan's dance was appreciated by many.
Rayan noticed Jeanne's slightly tired look and decided to end it.
Abruptly extending the hand he had been gripping Jeanne with, he let go of her, holding her other hand.
Jeanne sensed this and under the feel of the tact she twisted and fell under Rayan's arm.
And afterward, Rayan gracefully put his arm around Jeanne's waist, completing their circle of movements.
Many people applauded their dance. The nobles were truly admiring Rayan and Jeanne's dancing skills.
"You did well, Jeanne." - Rayan said with a smile, looking into Jeanne's eyes.
Jeanne only blushed at this and nodded timidly.
After returning to their original position, they stepped down from the center of the hall.
After this dance, many people tried to invite them, be it Noblemen or Noblewomen, however, they firmly refused...