"Death, although it is the mutual enemy of mankind, not much effort is put in overcoming it,"
In a prison cell filled with darkness, a pair of eyes shone, gazing silently.
The shadows danced in the prison cell, taking on a yellowish and green hue, and sometimes pitch-black as if enclosed in impenetrable darkness, sometimes even taking on hints of red hue.
"Then what meaning does life have, if one can't conquer death?"
"It doesn't help to know that "a person only grows further after realising that a meaningful life is meaningless," y'know."
A list of chuckles rang, their tones mocking.
"Then what helps you, dear Bell?"
Belite didn't respond, gazing at the now pitch-black darkness where Estize Skien lay, as a corpse or something else, unknown.
...
The days had skipped as fast yet as slow as they can the past few days.
It was Sunday today, as Ruiki hung by the window clumsily, looking beyond into a vast garden growing a variety of plum fruits and flowers.
The gardener had arrived, he noticed. Wearing clothes more luxurious than his own with a set of tools neatly kept in a wooden box, from which he selected a few and got into work, occasionally feeding the parrots and pigeons that resided.
Seeing pigeons in a garden was a bit weird, granted. But parrots were a pleasant addition, especially as they mimicked the noises of various birds made in the garden, hence creating a reciprocal scenario.
But it'd be a lie to say that this hadn't dampened his already sore mood.
Ever since Viscount Kentucky had come, the days had just been weird.
He and his sister were sent to a manor near Windson, the city next to where the royal family resided.
Although their identities were kept as a secret currently, with the both of them being seen as children of a Marquis, it didn't help that their mother was facing the brunt of the issue in the royal palace.
This was already the worst case scenario that he had devised, but there were plenty of things that could worsen it further.
On the first day, Ruiki was given "royal" treatment as he had presumed, with butlers, maids, and many others running the manor and helping him, with Viscount Kentucky visiting on the evenings to check after him.
Then, the "royal" maids started to get a bit lax, uncaring even. After asking around, Ruiki had found that the maids were actually from a noble family, only taking on the jobs so they could be married off to other noble families while reflecting on their demeanor.
Which meant they knew what was happening around, which bode ill for Ruiki and his sister.
Ignoring Na'ari's persistent questions and asking her to go catch some birds to distract her, Ruiki ruminated deeply, arriving at different conclusions.
It made sense that the... The Supreme King wouldn't be too welcoming to him and Na'ari, considering that the both of them were considered as "illegitimate" children of the princess.
His mother had never disclosed too much about her family, he sighed. She had been very vague, and he had only known about what he knew when he overheard his parents talking, later his mother disclosing the fact after she had caught Na'ari eavesdropping.
Well, his little sister was curious about anything, he thought. She had persistently questioned him about everything they had seen on the way — to the carriages, to the greenery, to the flowers, fruits, clothes, people... and things that made his head ache.
She was a curious one even in the most normal of days, but now... It was getting worse.
She had even gone up to the viscount and questioned him, to which, he fortunately answered kindly, unlike the nobles he had heard and read of in books and newspapers.
Expression ponderous, Ruiki supported his chin with his palm as his elbows rested on the window sill, watching Na'ari try to catch birds while the gardener cautioned her and handed her some grains.
Soon, pigeons came flocking over, pecking at the grains in her hands as Na'ari laughed, tickled.
Click—
As Ruiki was gazing out the window, the door to his room slowly opened, and Ruiki turned around, alerted by the noise.
Viscount Kentucky's figure slowly emerged, his figure thin, yet he had dark circles around his eyes this time as he wore a brown trenchcoat and white shirt with his hat held in his hands.
Ruiki was a bit surprised, considering the fact that Viscount Kentucky hadn't visited them for the past two days, and also because it was currently afternoon, with the viscount usually visiting in the evening when he was free.
"Viscount Kentucky," Ruiki greeted, positioning himself for a bow as Viscount Kentucky waved his hand.
"No need for such formalities as I mentioned before," As Ruiki completed his bow despite his words and nodded, Viscount Kentucky continued, "The negotiations have reached a conclusion."
Ruiki's tired eyes froze as he asked quickly, "What happened?"
Viscount Kentucky looked around and pulled a chair at the study desk and seated himself as he placed the hat on his lap.
"I forgot my cane here, previously." He started, "My age is getting to me,"
"I have it stored in the living room," Ruiki answered.
Nodding with satisfaction, Viscount Kentucky smiled. "Good, it was expensive."
Then, he got straight to the point, the viscount's smile fading and his posture straight, "At the previous imperial conferences, according to the constitution, it was said that the two of you be killed, your blood being impure."
Ruiki's eyes twitched.
"But thankfully, Supreme King Evanus didn't want two of his grandchildren's dead, so the both of you avoided the fate." Viscount Kentucky ordered a servant to bring his cane back, "Then, the nobles raised another proposal,"
"They asked the princess to remarry to one of the noble families."
Ruiki's expression morphed into one of disgust.
Seeing his strong reaction, Viscount Kentucky calmly added, "That was shot down too,"
"But just then, a rather irrefutable demand aroused, which even the Supreme King couldn't deny," the viscount took back his cane carefully, placing it beside his chair.
"It was that, "The oldest of Breitle Williams children, Ruiki Imara, must be married to a suitable woman of the noble lineage,"
Ruiki opened his mouth to speak but the viscount was faster, "Such was proposed by a marquis, and if this is refused, then the nobles might very well snap and start a coup against the Supreme King."
"You have no choice but to accept, Ruiki Imara."
...
It was frustrating, he knew.
But in a life or death situation, he had no choice but to accept it.
Standing at the inner-balcony of the main hall of the royal palace, he gazed at the various guests gathered in the hall, ranging from nobles to commoners, who had come here upon hearing an important announcement.
Although commoners and farmers were ill-treated in the north, such wasn't the case in the south. They were well treated, respected, especially with the scarce fertile soil present after the Last Embers.
Levitating a few metal objects around him that weren't particularly in contact with light, Ruiki cast Echo, each metal object producing a tingling sound.
Along with it, a small Wind Gale blew, startling a few people and pushing aside curtains and intensifying the flame chandeliers attached to the walls.
In the distance, Ruiki spotted his mother in the distance, talking to Viscount Kentucky with a smile that he knew was, undoubtedly, strained.
Ruiki played with magic until his inner essence had dropped below fifty percent, only stopping then.
In terms of magical progress, I'm almost nil. He mused idly, looking at the guests that were pouring in like a river. Maybe I would be able to incorporate a second-level or higher Essential Spirit? He then thought self-deprecatingly, if I manage to overcome this damned ceremony, maybe...
Having been taught of the various political situations in various provinces and regions, this ceremony was undoubtedly going to be proven difficult, even with the elaborate plan Viscount Kentucky had recounted.
For the past few days, having read various spellbooks, he had learnt new spells that leaned on the side of utility, "Infravision," "Spell Light," and "Spirit Utility."
Having suffered from darkness, infravision and Spell Light were somewhat invaluable in caves, while Spirit Utility would help him in further building his inner spirit and increasing his Inner Essence.
Nonetheless, it was for the future.
Not dwelling on his personal progress further, Ruiki saw a gaunt figure enter, then soon after him, a luxurious lady wearing a red dress, and then a young and old man respectively as he then went forward to "greet" them.
He first went to the gaunt man wearing black clothes — well, almost everyone wore black clothes with designs made with iron embroideries — as he lightly tapped the man on the shoulder.
He was merely getting in the hall with his entourage under the envious eyes of the many others, and Ruiki's presence made everyone's hair stand on end.
The man in front of him was no other than Archduke Lenjvík Deroz yr of Black Gold Province, which included the Wind Flower City as well.
"Yes?" He asked, looking at Ruiki. "Is there any problem?"
Before the guards could interfere, Ruiki nodded slightly, asking, "Is Madilan well?"
Lenjvík, as if puzzled, said, "Is it well? Ofcourse it's well. Why would it be unwell?" He then added with hollow humour, "It's not a person to be sick, is it?"
Ruiki didn't laugh along as he asked, his eyes glimpsing at the powerful entourage the man had brought, as he whispered, "What about the northern gangs that now reside there?"
The term gang came off as a bit unfamiliar, as it was in a foreign tongue.
Archduke Lenjvík didn't react much, "The northerners do their own thing, and I do my own, if you'll excuse me."
Archduke Lenjvík wasn't bothered further as Ruiki was receiving fierce glares from the archduke's guards, which bode of undisguised ill-will if they were bothered further.
Slightly disappointed, Ruiki looked at Viscount Kentucky who was ordering a few servants around before spotting the only person in the whole hall wearing red — the Duchess of Iron Hills Valley, Silenna Lau'nara.
"How've you been, miss?"
Her entourage and guards wearing assassin-like clothes with knightly swords — yet lesser in mass compared to the archduke, she smiled lightly.
"I have been doing well," she said, her expression quite natural despite the makeup. "But I'm afraid I don't recognise you, young man,"
Her demeanor and words remained uniformed, a small smile on her lips.
Ruiki didn't force a smile this time as he looked at her. He didn't beat around the bush either, as he spoke, "Mumbe Berknalz remains safe under the king,"
Ruiki noticed the woman's expression change abruptly. "If you don't want any harm to your sister, meet Viscount Kentucky in the black room... Otherwise, we've other options to consider from. Such as the archduke right there, who seems very interested..."
Although he wasn't particularly good at threats, Ruiki thought it had worked initially judging from the fact that the woman in front of him stood frozen, not reacting.
Her pale face, hidden under the pink hat that had a feather attached on top, covered her expression as she kept her head down for a moment.
"I will consider it," she said, her demeanor brightening again as she asked casually, "How's Mumbe? Is she any better?"
"That's not for you to know," Ruiki stared coldly as he brushed past the woman, heading to one of the back rooms(storage rooms), where he met Viscount Kentucky.
"Silenna Lau'nara, an interesting woman," the viscount said, obviously having heard of their conversation.
"If we weren't lucky in the Royal Magic Academy, and hadn't gotten Diablo Orsent on our side in time, things would've been difficult."
Ruiki sighed, "The previous owner of the general store is safe, right?"
"Safer than ever," Viscount Kentucky replied, breaking his gaze off from Silenna. "Now, if you will excuse me. I'll be in the black room if you want anything from me."
Ruiki nodded, heading back to behind the balcony as he practiced his spells again.
His Essential Spirit was on the verge of maturation, ready to reach level two after all the spellbooks he had been provided these past few days, although it still needed some push.
But seeing that the Wind Gales he had summoned had stopped and that the curtains were still billowing, Ruiki looked at the announcer as the gates suddenly shut.
It's time, he thought, looking at Viscount Kentucky who had come back, standing in his usual place with a smile plastered across his face.
Just then, the announcer, wearing black iron robes, announced with minimal grandeur, horns blowing in the distance, "The Supreme King of Shattered Stars, Evanus Williams The Second, has arrived!"
Ruiki saw a few people stiffening but apart from that, there were no major reactions.
The Supreme King, wearing golden black clothes with a pitch-black crown inlaid with various gems, strode silently inside the hall, the rear end of his clothes draped across the floor.
The King, alone with no queen, or personal guards, walked to the pitch-black and dark throne on his own and looked around with a bored gaze before sitting, denying the wine handed over to him.
Ruiki, his gaze fixated on the king, was initially surprised. This, being his first time seeing the Supreme King who was the ruler of this kingdom for around thirteen years, took him by shock and surprise.
He looked like he was in his mid-twenties!
A Blessed of Ancient Death? He thought as the king's gaze eventually shifted over to him.
"Sit," the Supreme King sitting on the throne said, supporting his arm. "Now, don't insult me by saying I'm "inhospitable." I want that to be the least of my worries — or none, if possible."
A few people obeyed, yet few glared at the King fiercely. Ruiki was a part of the former, as he saw an empty chair near the side of the balcony and sat down, attracting almost no attention in the place with merchants and commoners alike.
Seeing the people who didn't take their seats, the King shifted his gaze, unbothered. He extended his hand and rested them on the armrests of his throne as he spoke,
"I thank those who arrived on short notice, especially the wandering merchants and the farmers."
Although there were dissatisfied gazes, all the people present took their seats and waited.
"You may be wondering why an emergency gathering was called. At the royal palace, nonetheless, " The Supreme King grinned, but just as Ruiki had expected him to say more, he didn't.
...
Because I was sitting very close to the king, maybe I noticed it first. But the many flower maidens present in the palace all moved at once, in great distress nonetheless.
The barons, counts and various viscounts present in the hall also looked around, noticing the distress.
Just as the people's attention was gathered, the king spoke, "Recently, in Cvoilics of Welleysworths Union..."
The flower mistresses gathered at a point, opening one of the rooms of the palace. I recognised the room. It was the previous Queen's quarters, where she used to stay.
"The academy where the Blessed of Light used to visit, was blown. Its people, taken hostage..."
The sounds of chains clanging sounded, along with a stream of cries and what seemed like pleas of the maidens to "calm down."
"But strangely, the north accused us of the Southern kingdoms, accusing us of breaking the treaty we made after the Last Embers."
The flower maidens suddenly broke off, leaving a small space in between, a woman wearing pure white clothes walking through, her veil dragging along the floor.
Her face was serene and calm, with her eyes closed. She wore pure white robes which exuded holy radiance, as if driving away all the evil in the world away, protecting those closest to her.
As she walked, though, there was something strange.
In both her hands, she held pitch-black lamps which had faint remnants of fire glowing in them, and I noticed that she held it with a grip strong enough that it drew blood from her palms.
As the woman walked in, the expressions of many changed, as they shouted in unison. "A Blessed of Light!"
"Drive her away!"
"It's blasphemy to God!"
"The Light has long since betrayed us!"
"The Light is now gone, all that remains is darkness..."
But the woman smiled, looking at all of them and suddenly stopping. "Just like shadows cannot exist without light, the light cannot exist without shadows."
"What meaning would light have, if there are no shadows?"
Her palm shone in brilliant yellow, points of light converging.
"Come, glimpse at the true meaning of the divine!"
But before anything could happen, she suddenly shivered. The lamp, which looked as if they were fixed to her hands, exuded a sinister light as the light in her hand immediately dispersed.
The onlookers were surprised by the turn of events. Light returned to the hall as concealed darkness withdrew itself, detaching from the walls.
'Mumbe…' The Duchess mumbled in her heart, pursing her lips to not instinctively call out her name.
What's wrong with the lamps, I wondered. They looked fairly normal except for the luxurious design they had, which looked ancient, with black rose petals covering the lamp's base, and one of its sides.
As I kept staring at the lamps, I suddenly felt light-headed as I retracted my gaze. I realised that I instinctively wanted to keep on looking at the lamps, with never lifting my gaze off them.
As disappointing as it was, I quickly recovered and looked at the woman wearing holy clothes as she knelt on the floor, retching.
I noticed that the Duchess Silenna Lau'nara's face had paled, and Archduke Lenjvík wasn't in a better state.
Seeing the turn of events, the Supreme King lightly tapped his table as he spoke, "On the third of March, Year 2134, the Royal Magic Academy in the Capital City of Cvoilics, was blown."
"It was said that the forces of the academy had first been dispersed, then, when the academy was weak, it was hit in a vital place which contained various artifacts and relics, creating a very lethal combination reaction."
"But for such a thing to happen, the forces inside the academy had to be held responsible… and, among the many corpses, a few were missing. And, coincidentally, I found one of them working in a store in Wind Flower City, governed by Archduke Lenjvík."
"If I'm not wrong, didn't the Baron there go missing as well?"
At the accusation, Archduke Lenjvík spoke, "Your majesty, I—"
"Today was supposed to be a rather great day, you know." The King continued, "My daughter had just returned, along with her children…"
The people present in the hall gasped in surprise, even the Archduke was visibly shaken.
"But… Things happen, you know," The King said, his eyes complex. "Now, I have to deal with such issues."
"You should've known, Lenjvík," Evanus Williams said formally, as a friend, "That the Twilight City has been accusing us with no ends, even before the incident you have caused."
"Do you admit guilt, or do you need more substantial proof? Do you need me to bring people you had involved in this incident without their consent, and accuse you, a faithful Archduke of mine?" His gaze seemed weary, "Speak well, O' Archduke of mine, for I do not wish to have you imprisoned."
At this point, Lenjvík smiled. "I knew something was wrong the moment I was called here. I thought to not respond but… I guess I really wanted to see your reaction to the mess the Kingdom is in, now."
Lenjvík looked at the window sill adjacent to the King.
The sun was at its brightest.
"First of all, I want to ask you, not the Supreme King of Stars, but Evanus Williams."
Evanus' posture straightened. "Speak,"
"What was in your mind, when you issued those orders seventeen years ago, which bent the constitution itself?" Seeing the change in Evanus' expression, Lenjvík continued, "You issued the Royal Blood Decree, making the Kingdom owe a favour to the temples, you bent the constitution and issued a bounty, asking every person and turning the kingdom upside down to find your daughter…"
"We still haven't recovered from the losses, my king, we still haven't."
"When there were thousands of frauds claiming to be bringing your granddaughter using spells to alter their appearance, you mobilzed teams of wizards and Blessed to determine their authenticity and punish the frauds."
"And it was not until a severe punishment was issued, that the situation calmed."
Lenjvík looked the King in the eyes, "Your Majesty, do you know the worth of a life?"
"You surely do, right? Since you value your family so highly,"
I noticed Evanus' Williams The Second's gaze involuntarily turn towards my mother, his only child.
"And while you didn't notice this, you issued another order and sent a team for the northern lands to search for the princess… and the place just so happened to be Madilan, where she was most likely to hide,"
I looked at my mother, who at some point, had come to stand near the balcony where I was.
Light fell from the window sill adjacent to the King, casting a shadow of him and his throne.
"And guess which region was the closest to the northern borders and Madilan? Yes, my Black Gold Province — my father's Black Gold Province!" The Archduke, Lenjvík Deroz Yr's voice resounded throughout the hall, startling kids and making them hide behind their mothers.
The mothers of the children looked at the Archduke with unconcealed sympathy in their eyes, their gazes showing anger towards the king.
"And since you wanted the best fucking forces in the province to search for your daughter, my father had to send his own personal squad of assassins and warriors, making him vulnerable — which resulted in my brother murdering him!"
The Archduke let out a mocking chuckle, seeing the rigid king shut his eyes, due to the light or something else, was unknown.
"In the end, I killed my older brother, and he took the Raining Crown with him as well, a relic being inherited throughout generations in my family…"
"But was it the worst? Had everything ended? Had it?!" The Archduke bellowed in a loud voice, spreading his arms, "In the end, you fucking came and took control of my province, blackmailing me and accusing me of unjust ascension, and marking me as a criminal I am now that I myself detest!"
"We are no Archdukes, we are no rulers of the kingdom, but each of us, each and every one of us are miserable wretches playing a game of cops and robbers with each other, accusing each other, threatening each other, murdering each other, and continuing the cycle… for what!"
"For a miserable king that doesn't give a shit about them and their opinion, and only cares about his goddamned family?!"
The Archduke was practically roaring now. I lifted my hand to see goosebumps across my hand, he really did put up a show.
Suddenly, the shadow of the King moved, lifting his hand, "So you admit to your crimes, Lenjvík!?"
"Hmph, compared to yours, what crimes does mine compare to? Continue your damned rule, and let's just see when another one like me comes, but succeeds and ends your crimes."
Lenjvík basically sat on the ground, uncaring of his posture. "Do what you will,"
Then, the Royal Guards came pouring in from the outer door, surrounding the Archduke in a circle and restraining him and his guards.
In the end, the General Store's owner and librarian, Diablo Orsent, was also arrested for being involved in the incident, which didn't surprise me since I already knew about his involvement.
After the mess had settled and the hall had returned to its previous silence, the King clapped, his expression grim.
"What a show it was by my dear friend," he said, "But sadly, it was by no means entertaining."
Seeing the various commoners and merchants have their fists clenched, he grit his teeth and spoke, "The crimes he has committed shall be elaborated in the city board, and he shall be punished and sentenced according to them."
"The council shall handle the rest, I suppose… if his actions don't bring a war upon us."
And just like that, the King somewhat soothed and placated the people present in the hall, and I saw Viscount Kentucky approaching me.
"Now then, people, let's find joy amidst our sorrows as my foolish and stupid daughter returns along with her children. The banquet shall begin!" Evanus' Williams hoisted up his glass of wine as everyone soon followed, and he left after that, seemingly disappointed by the turn of events.
This did make itself a hot topic among the people present, however.
The commoners and merchants, who had set foot in the royal palace for the first time, were given access to first and second floors, while the nobles, me, and my mother were in the fourth and fifth floors, occasionally looking down as we watched the commoners play games, talk, and drool seeing the food stalls.
There were more than 2000 people, and the Royal Palace seemed to be able to accommodate more, though.
From the outside, it was a pitch-black dome like structure that people could barely see at night, while when the sun was up, the big Black Star Gem affixed in the middle of the structure reflected light sometimes, while sometimes, it didn't.
There was another principle behind the reflection, apparently, something that had to do with the Black Star Gem's appearance.
"...He only got what he deserved, his region conspired with the northern gangs who were secretly trading with the people of his province, and who knows what else he has done…"
"I heard he was selling the people of his own province to the north to work as slaves…"
"Hmph, he got what he deserved… "
"Why doesn't the Supreme King conduct a thorough search in his province, maybe they might find something illegal…"
"No, they will find something illegal, without doubt…"
The fourth and fifth floors were more bustling and disciplined than the first and second floors, where a few people went overboard, while many restrained themselves.
In contrast, the fourth and fifth floors were properly balanced.
"But to setup a spy who had actual control in the best academy of the Eastern Continent… he sure was something,"
I heard occasional praises for Archduke Lenjvík and the northern spy, Diablo Orsent, their feats.
Even though what they had done and what the King had done was wrong, I couldn't help but feel some sort of respect welling up inside me. Infiltrating the north was difficult itself, but Infiltrating the best academy of the continent was something else.
I glimpsed at the ground floor, where the Duchess Silenna was hugging the person named Mumbe Bernknalz, whispering something in her ear while the flower maidens restrained her.
Apparently, Mumbe Berknalz was the Duchess' sister, who had been separated by birth.
The Duchess, who was known as the Blood Empress, valued her relationships very much since her parents had died when she was young.
Seeking the help of her uncle and aunts, she slowly gained control over Iron Hills Valley, but her own province wasn't in her entire control. This was a well known fact by the nobles, as well as the residents living in her province.
Seeing the Duchess' sister being forcibly dragged away by the flower maidens who were apologising to the Duchess non-stop, I turned my gaze away to spot Viscount Kentucky.
"How is your experience at the banquet, good?"
I placed the glass of water I had picked on the mottled slabs supporting the railings. It served as a purpose to make sure children didn't fall, and also to place things. Though it was mostly used for the latter.
"How much money and resources was burnt?" I asked, looking at the expensive light chandelier hanging on the roof, and the expensive carpets, the decorations, ornaments, food stalls and the discreetly stationed guards.
Not just that, there were also many extra pieces of furniture bought and made to house such a large number of people, as the royal palace mostly hosted fests and parties for the nobles, commoners and merchants from other countries. Being here was abrupt and special.
Not to mention the slip-ups and property damage at the end, just to make the amount of food for so many people and the cleaning would cost much more.
Feeling my head spin, I see Viscount Kentucky smiling, "Due to the recently increased taxes, it's not much. But it's significant, however."
"Then why host it?"
He raised an eyebrow as he looked at me, and smiled. I thought for a moment that he was ridiculing me.
"Hosting banquets, tea parties, celebrating festivals, and organising gatherings and hunts signifies the financial strength of a noble."
"The current banquet is still under played though, as we sent off the dancers, musicians and singers back, due to His Majesty's foul mood."
"Otherwise, it would've been even grander…"
"Is that so…"
The highest value currency in the Southern Kingdoms being Black Ancient Stones, I tried estimating their values in that amount, but even with the classes of mathematics I took, the conclusion seemed a bit distant.
"Don't bother yourself with such matters, the finance minister and the palace administrator will handle them. You should focus on enjoying the banquet and interacting with the nobles. Introduce yourself to them."
"Okay," I nodded, taking my glass of water with me as I took a sip before placing it in the dust bin.
Looking at it, that was another form of loss.
As told, I turned my gaze away and looked around, trying to find someone to communicate with.
But it wasn't any difficult though, especially when the other party wanted to communicate with you as well.
"Is everything fine, Young Master?"
A certain someone called me "Young Master" since I didn't have an official title yet, and soon everyone started on that.
"Are you enjoying the banquet? Why don't we roast some barbeque together…"
"Barbeque is a bit harmful for your health, Young Master. You should eat the delicacies made by my mother…"
"Eating too many sweets leads to diabetes, why don't we try some wine?"
"Oh my, are you out of your mind? He is just sixteen!"
".."
Maybe because I had been staring at the food stalls in the lower floors, many people gave me weird suggestions, and I responded with my gaze drifting off.
"Sorry, but I have other matters to attend to…"
The flock of civilised nobles doesn't end there, continuing the conversation and asking "what other matters" I had to attend.
Feeling a bit overwhelmed, I head to the stairways to the lower floors, and maybe because I wasn't officiated a title yet, people don't follow or bother me.
It left me with mixed feelings, however. Did I think they would follow me everywhere?
Sighing, I sit on the stairs, looking outside the window, but since that would be inappropriate, I stand up and head outside the palace, informing Viscount Kentucky before I do so.
And as if like a stark contrast to the inside of the palace, where I felt suffocated, the outside looks serene.
Situated on a tall cliff next to the sea and surrounded by a tight fortress made with black stones, the royal palace had its own majesty and scenery.
I passed by an opening in the fortress and saw the radiant sun high up in the sky, the thin clouds that didn't obscure the sun, the seagulls flying over a particular area and catching their prey…
There were even some ships out in the distance, sailing quietly while letting out steam, the ones that turned charcoal.
The atmosphere and air was fresh, and it was because the Three Southern Kingdoms didn't use any fueled vehicles, but mostly used carriages.
Although electric vehicles were an option, the Southern Kingdoms didn't have any dams built yet, although the projects were still being planned.
But they did utilize wind energy, and solar energy, in their primitive nature, making the best use of magical energy by building magical artifacts that could be useful for common people.
That was the beauty of the south.
Tap.
Just as my gaze was drifting off, I hear a footstep behind me and look back, seeing a familiar person.
"Hey," Rose… no, Rosalyn De Avarise greeted me as she sat down next to me, wearing her purple dress, as she gazed at the horizon.
"Been a while, a lot of things have happened, huh?"
Alert, I stood up, wondering if I should shout for help as I asked her, "What are you doing here?"
"What do you mean 'What are you doing here?' I am attending the banquet, ofcourse. I am also a noble, you know."
"You are a noble?" I asked her, surprised. As far as I knew, nobles didn't want their children to be warriors, so how was she one…
"Hmm, it must be surprising, huh. That there are nobles who not just learn basic martial arts, but become a "barbarian" as they call it," she laughed. "But hey, I worked out pretty well, no?"
Feeling confused, I asked, "State your purpose and why you are here."
As if she had enough playing games, she stood, facing me. "You will soon face an inevitable battle, Ruiki Imara. I spoke to that one in the north, and he isn't like you."
"He will kill for a grain of rice."
Not standing around, I begin to cast a spell.
The royal palace was designed as such, that usage of magic will instantly be known, and the protective wards and spells will be triggered, setting off alarms and alerting basically everyone.
Seeing what I was doing, she stopped, then went two steps back.
Yet, she didn't stop reminding me, "If the both of you fight, then I want you to prevail rather than that monster. You should become stronger, if you don't want to die."
Seeing that she had stopped, I stopped as well, but remained cautious nonetheless.
"Don't take my warnings carelessly… and stay away from the north, as long as possible." She finally said, putting her hands down as she sighed, crystalline purple points glowing around her as she vanished from the spot.
Seeing that that trick didn't trigger any alarms, I scowl, heading back inside the palace to find Viscount Kentucky.