Grand Duke Fisablen kept his word. When they reached the southern gate of Wendebury Royal City, another fanfare of welcoming horns rang out. The city guards who had been standing watch at the gate and along the walls quickly assembled, turned at a command, and marched off. Only three guards remained by the road, awaiting everyone's arrival.
"Count
Pat led a thousand retainers forward, and under the guidance of the three guides, quickly assumed control of the southern gate's defenses.
"Ah, yes — I'm hosting a banquet this noon to welcome young Prince Doc of the Fulentuo Duchy, Count Dalak of the Sabaji Duchy, and Count Churchwick of the Handera Duchy. If the four of you would do me the honor, please join us as well. Organizing this knight tournament has practically emptied the family coffers, so I need to save where I can. You wouldn't make me throw a separate welcome banquet on top of all that, would you..." Grand Duke Fisablen said with a grin.
"We couldn't possibly trouble Your Highness to that extent. We'd be delighted to make new friends." It was Count Kemmais who spoke, and he glanced at Lorist before doing so. Lorist gave a slight nod.
"What better opportunity than a chance meeting? The Northland has always been remote. We've long heard that the four central duchies were the most prosperous and illustrious lands of the old empire, producing talent in great numbers. This is the perfect chance for us northern nobles to witness the refinement of the central aristocracy. We'd be grateful if Your Highness would introduce us."
"Heh heh..." Grand Duke Fisablen regarded Count Kemmais with open pleasure. "Introductions, of course. I never expected that hosting a knight tournament would draw the attention of the four central duchies and bring them all this way. That's why I had to fold your welcome banquet into one reception for both sides — I hope you won't mind. Come, come, everything is ready. We're simply waiting for your honored selves."
Grand Duke Fisablen was staying at the Rose Palace, the former residence of the
Young Prince Doc of the Fulentuo Duchy was quite young — only about twenty-four. The gold-trimmed noble attire he wore only enhanced his dashing appearance: fine features, handsome face, effortless elegance. Lorist had to admit that this young prince was far better-looking than himself. Young, handsome, and though he wasn't mounted on a white horse, he was still the very image of the prince charming that girls dreamed about.
Behind Prince Doc trailed two attendants. One was a ruddy-faced old man. Lorist studied him carefully — a second-rank Great Swordmaster, though his cultivation level seemed roughly comparable to Great Swordmaster Hughes, who stood at his own side. The other was a gold three-star knight, whom Lorist barely glanced at. As for Prince Doc himself, his
"So this pale little prince plans to woo Princess Silvia with his looks and charm. In my previous life's image-obsessed world, he might have actually stood a chance. Too bad — the first criterion for the man Silvia wants is someone who can beat her in a fight. Poor kid doesn't stand a prayer..." Lorist grumbled inwardly while wearing a practiced smile of false admiration, exchanging warm and courteous greetings with the waiting nobles.
Count Dalak of the Sabaji Duchy was a tall, brawny man — probably around thirty, gold two-star, and not one for smiling or small talk. Though he kept a dignified bearing when greeting Lorist and the others, Lorist keenly noticed that when Grand Duke Fisablen introduced them as being from the Northland, a flicker of contempt crossed Dalak's eyes.
Count Churchwick of the Handera Duchy struck Lorist as a younger version of Count Kemmais, though he was superior in that he was a gold one-star knight. Eloquent and refined in manner, Grand Duke Fisablen treated him with even more warmth than he showed Prince Doc. When the introduction reached Lorist, this Count Churchwick asked with some surprise, "My lord Count, may I ask whether Shilovas Island is also a territory of the Norton family?"
Lorist smiled and nodded, then turned along with Grand Duke Fisablen's introduction to greet the next person. But he noticed that Count Churchwick's gaze lingered on him for quite some time.
Besides these nobles from the four central duchies, three Iblia Kingdom nobles were in attendance. Lorist only found them vaguely familiar, but Count Kemmais was clearly well acquainted with them — he even exchanged embraces. After the introductions, Lorist realized that these three had dealt with him before. When he had captured Wendebury Royal City, they had represented the Queen in negotiations with him. No wonder they looked familiar.
The last two introduced by Grand Duke Fisablen were a pair of Fisablen family gold knights: a gold three-star named Brudo and a gold two-star named Loshov. These two seemed to be Grand Duke Fisablen's right-hand men. The one Lorist had actually hoped to meet — Viscount Christoph — was not present. Grand Duke Fisablen said he was currently stationed in Jinchuan Province.
Unlike the low tables of old tales, these long tables had proper rectangular frames rather than sitting flat on the ground, and were covered with crisp white linen tablecloths. Furthermore, instead of sitting on the floor, small round stools were placed behind the tables.
Grand Duke Fisablen naturally took the central seat of honor. Lorist chose the seat to his left, followed in turn by Count Kemmais, Baron
Behind Lorist stood Schwad. He noticed that across the table, Prince Doc had two beautiful maidservants attending him. Count Churchwick — the one who reminded Lorist of Count Kemmais — had brought neither retainers nor maids. He simply sat by himself, and when he caught Lorist's gaze, he smiled and nodded.
Once everyone was seated, groups of maidservants and servants promptly brought out wine and food. Several bare-chested, muscular servants carried in a large rack bearing a half-roasted calf — cooked fresh on the spot for immediate consumption. Call out whenever you wanted a portion, and a servant would carve the roasted meat and bring it to your table. Then a troupe of maidservants carrying various instruments filed into a corner of the side hall and began playing a lively, spirited tune...
Grand Duke Fisablen raised his golden goblet. "Everyone — welcome to Wendebury Royal City. This first toast is mine. That you have traveled so far to attend this knight tournament is an honor and a source of pride for the Fisablen family. I offer my heartfelt thanks... I'll drink first — glug, glug, glug..."
Grand Duke Fisablen drained his golden goblet in several hearty gulps. "Please, enjoy yourselves."
The assembled nobles rose as one. "We thank Your Highness!" "Your Highness is too gracious." "We are truly unworthy of such praise." "A toast to Your Highness..."
Lorist also rose and returned the toast. He had just finished his polite words and drained the wine in his silver goblet when he heard Prince Doc ask from across the table, "Your Highness, I have long admired Princess Silvia as the greatest beauty of the Iblia Kingdom. Might I trouble you to have her join us? I've admired the Princess for quite some time..."
Well, damn — this kid had come here with his sights set squarely on Princess Silvia.
"Heh heh..." Grand Duke Fisablen chuckled. "Prince, don't be hasty. There was a small matter at home a few days ago, and Silvia had to rush back to handle it. She should return in three or four days, and I'll certainly arrange for the two of you to meet. It's just that my granddaughter has been rather spoiled, and her temper isn't the best. I do hope you'll be understanding."
Prince Doc sat back down with a sullen expression, his face a picture of disappointment.
Only then did Lorist understand. No wonder he hadn't seen Princess Silvia upon arriving at Wendebury, nor at the banquet — she had gone home to deal with a family matter.
Count Kemmais rose. "Your Highness, I've heard that you organized this knight tournament specifically to find a worthy match for Princess Silvia. Is that true?"
Grand Duke Fisablen sighed softly. "Indeed. Time flies — before I knew it, Silvia has grown into a young woman. I still remember how small she was, how fragile in my arms, and now she's become a radiant gold-rank female knight. She's already twenty-five this year, and I can't let her delay any longer. This knight tournament was organized for the sake of her marriage. But that girl has impossibly high standards — she's turned away suitor after suitor. As her grandfather, this is the only approach I can take. I hope to find her a worthy husband through this tournament..."
"Your Highness, Princess Silvia is the most beautiful flower and the most precious, radiant jewel of our Iblia Kingdom. Her marriage naturally demands the most careful consideration. But when selecting a husband for the Princess, Your Highness should also consider whether the Princess herself is pleased. At twenty-five, she certainly has her own opinions. If the match Your Highness approves isn't one the Princess desires, then even a forced marriage won't bring her happiness..." Count Kemmais spoke eloquently.
Grand Duke Fisablen nodded, but his eyes were fixed on Lorist. "You're right, Count. I've promised Silvia that she may choose her own husband. I'll only be verifying whether the other party has the sincerity to join our Fisablen family."
"Heh heh, Grand Swordmaster Fisablen, I must disagree with that." It was the second-rank Great Swordmaster seated beside Prince Doc who spoke. "We are nobles. Noble marriages have always been decided by the family. Only commoners do as that Count just described — find someone they fancy and muddle through life together. Born as nobles, enjoying the family's glory and wealth, when they come of age their marriages are no longer their own affair. They must consider the family and be prepared to sacrifice for its interests. Personal happiness need not be a concern."
"Mm, Great Swordmaster Limad speaks most wisely." Grand Duke Fisablen stroked his beard and nodded.
Count Kemmais spoke again. "Your Highness, if Princess Silvia herself is fond of the match, and it also serves the Fisablen family's interests by granting them a powerful new ally — then such a match would be truly perfect, and the Princess would find happiness."
During the campaign against Ogsero's remnants, our young prince distinguished himself with considerable merit.
If Your Highness is willing to forge a marriage alliance with our Fulentuo Duchy, then — given that the four central duchies have always stood as one — the Fisablen family would effectively gain four powerful allies at once. This match would truly be the Silver Moon Goddess's finest arrangement. As for Princess Silvia, I'm confident that once she meets our prince, she will certainly come to admire him. Though our prince's Combat Force talent may not match the Princess's, he is renowned throughout our duchy for his literary gifts and refined charm. I'm certain that with more interaction, Princess Silvia will come to greatly appreciate and admire our prince's talents..."
Good heavens — no one had expected that Great Swordmaster Limad, a second-rank Great Swordmaster, would shamelessly deliver such fawning flattery in public without so much as a blush. Even Grand Duke Fisablen was left momentarily speechless. As for the flattered Prince Doc, he looked thoroughly self-satisfied, preening with his head held high, his eyes tilted at a forty-five-degree angle toward the ceiling, as though the side hall's vault held something worthy of intense study.
Lorist couldn't help but laugh inwardly. This was nothing more than a spoiled brat who had grown up surrounded by flattery and didn't know his own limitations.
Sure enough, a heavy snort came from Prince Doc's vicinity. "Our prince personally went to the front lines? I find that hard to believe. If that were so, why was it that when I was bathing in blood, being the first to scale the battlements and looking back to call for reinforcements, I didn't see a single Fulentuo family banner?"
It was Count Dalak of the Sabaji Duchy who spoke. Though the four duchies were allies, he was under no obligation to give face to a young prince of the Fulentuo Duchy. Had Great Swordmaster Limad merely flattered Prince Doc in general terms, he couldn't be bothered to comment. But Limad had gone too far — especially when he brought up the battle for Fedeliga Royal City.
"Heh heh, brother Dalak, you fought bravely at the forefront. Your achievement as the first to scale the walls of Fedeliga Royal City will certainly not be forgotten. But the Sabaji Duchy's main assault was on the northern gate, while our Fulentuo forces were at the southern gate. It's only natural that you didn't see us..." The gold three-star knight who had come with Prince Doc stood up to try to salvage the situation.
But Count Dalak of the Sabaji Duchy looked at him oddly. "The southern gate? That was the Commercial Alliance's sector, wasn't it? What were your people doing there? No wonder — we didn't see a single Fulentuo unit until we'd cleared all resistance from the royal city and opened the southern gate to let the Commercial Alliance forces in..."
"Pfft—" Baron Filim and Baron Shahin couldn't contain themselves and sprayed the wine from their mouths.
The gold three-star knight, already flushed with embarrassment from Count Dalak's retort and desperate for an exit, seized on this new target. He glared at Baron Filim and Baron Shahin, snarling, "What are you laughing at?!"
"Oh?" A cold glint flashed in Baron Filim's eyes. He wasn't the least bit afraid of the Fulentuo Duchy and was about to speak when Baron Shahin beat him to it. "My, my — so we need the Fulentuo Duchy's permission to laugh at a banquet hosted by Grand Duke Fisablen, do we?"
The moment those barbed words left his mouth, the gold three-star knight realized his mistake. This was a welcome banquet hosted by Grand Duke Fisablen — not Fulentuo territory. This was no place for him to throw his weight around. He stole a glance at the head table and saw Grand Duke Fisablen's face as dark as a thundercloud. The two Fisablen family gold knights below wore expressions of barely contained anger, their eyes fixed on him like daggers...
Fortunately, Great Swordmaster Limad stood up just then to defuse the situation. "If you've had too much to drink, keep it down. Even if His Highness's wine really is that good, there's no excuse for losing composure. How embarrassing. As gold-rank knights, if you have something to prove, do it in the tournament ring — not here with empty boasts. Your Highness, my deepest apologies..."
Grand Duke Fisablen waved his hand dismissively. "Forget it. No harm done. But I've heard that last year, you captured Fedeliga Royal City and destroyed the Second Prince's remaining forces. Would you care to tell us the full story of that campaign?"
"With pleasure, Your Highness," said Great Swordmaster Limad.
...(To be continued.)