Cremia had already grown use to the sighting of a dragon. Their reactions were not as animated as the first time I was here. Many even came closer to watch us land.
Ophelia jumped down effortlessly and landed with easy grace, despite the height. I slid down, watching myself, until it was an easy feet away from the ground then leaped off.
"We will find our way back, thank you" I said to Eowyn.
Her dragon face curled into a form of a smile, and then she shot up to the skies, spraying us with dust.
I covered myself until the dust settled. When I finally looked up, I saw Ophelia dusting herself.
She looked totally unrecognizable. It was a battle to get her to clean up properly, and an even bigger battle to have her change into a new outfit for the event. It was perfectly form-fitting, and a deep black and bronze-leather. A corset-style top with intricate gold detailing, fastened with sturdy buckles and adorned with ornate clasps. Her trousers have even more straps and buckles, mostly along the thighs. The trousers were tucked into high, laced boots that reached mid-calf with a slight heel. Over all this, a flowing, dark cape secured with prominent gold medallion.
Cost me quite a number of silvers, and there are more of them.
We made our way to the Warp castle.
The last time I used it, Mustapha had arranged everything, but since I don't have that luxury I just walked straight to it. I walked past the waiting crowd and climbed the platform.
"Mittelreich?" I asked one of the two operators.
He glanced at the people behind me, as if to ask for permission, and then turned to me and answered, "Yes, Your majesty"
I walked on, into the warp gate.
As we came out the other side, an attendant, in the colors of Mittelreich, was waiting for us.
"Welcome to Mittelreich, Your Majesty" he greeted, then led us to a waiting carriage amid a bustling sea of attendants and coaches—arriving, departing, endless motion.
He opened the carriage door for me but ignored Ophelia. Neither of us cared. As he took his place up front, I spotted Aleksander through the window.
He was dressed near similar to me, like all young people do here, but his was blue with a touch of black, mine was black with a touch of white. He had a serious face, not to be bothered by anything happening around him. He was accompanied by a proud lady I assumed to be his mother, and a very aged man whose pace they were trying to maintain. He is probably his grandfather.
As I watched them, the old man turned and locked eyes with me. Despite the distance and the bustling crowd, it was as though he knew exactly where I was. His gaze pinned mine—calm, unblinking. It was unsettling, and I think if our carriage hadn't moved, he would have held it much longer.
I tried to push the gaze out of my mind, looking around as we moved. The streets to the castle were lavishly decorated. Mittelreich banners hung from tall iron lampposts, and petals scattered the ground in fresh white and blue. I didn't see that much civilians on the way so I assumed they were forced inside.
At the castle, small round tables with single silver legs dotted the sprawling courtyard, with people already seated, chattering with drinks in hand.
I stepped down, and as always, had most of their attention. I walked into the castle, a servant led me to the main hall.
Second time seeing the hall, second time being overwhelmed. The gigantic pillars, the beautiful blue banners draped on them. The chandeliers shined new.
There was a long table, piled high with platters of roasted meats, fruits, and bread. No one was seated. Everybody crowded around the table, chattering with drinks in hand as if the table was for decoration.
I made my way through the crowds and found a seat. At first I thought their eyes turned for me, but then I realized it was mostly for Ophelia. Though when I took a seat to eat, the eyes were for me. I didn't mind them enough to know what their reactions were, I was just eating, with Ophelia standing closely behind me. Though I did try to eat with at least some dignity despite the hunger.
I was almost immediately filled, but I continued eating. I was biting through some meat that looked like chicken, but tasted infinitely better, with whatever peppered sauce they painted it with.
"I must say I'm surprised to find you here, boy" came a voice behind me.
I turned to find the king of Montreal with a smirk on his face. He was accompanied by a knight I recognized.
I stood up, wiping my hand clean with a napkin.
"Thought you'd have your hands full," he added when I faced him.
The knight had his eyes on Ophelia. No doubt he recognized her. Even though her face was protected, it was evident she was one-armed.
"You thought wrong" I said to King Cedric, returning his smile.
"Is that so?"
"Yes" I said. "Though I must admit I couldn't find the skull of your grandfather that my great grandfather stored in our vault. You wouldn't happen to have it, would you?"
He scoffed—keeping his temper better than expected.
"Don't worry," I pressed, still smiling. "Another will take its place soon. This time, the birds will clean it off quicker."
No doubt if we were alone he would have laughed at that, before beating the shit out of me just for the sake of it.
But we were not.
Our encounter drew eyes, so it could not be taken as a joke. It was a blatant insult from someone he considered less than him. Yet he did nothing.
He kept his smile, but I saw his rage. He was not a child, he knew exactly what I was trying to do, but he has his temperament.
"Pa!" a little girl broke the tense moment.
She was probably not even up to four, and she hugged his leg. He didn't look at her, he just placed a calming hand on her head.
"You wouldn't be playing games for long" he said, voice low.
"I know." I glanced at the child, her wide, innocent eyes meeting mine. "Adorable kid."
The smile left his face, and his eyes burn into my back with so much rage as I walked away.
"Father what did he mean by that?" I heard a woman ask, but there was no reply.
I left the hall, and went outside. The courtyard buzzed faintly, the celebratory air and chatters muted by my thoughts. I guess it is safe to say Montreal is not part of the equation? That doesn't feel right. What am I missing?
I need to get [Regeneration] before I confront King Karim for clarity, but where do I even begin?
I was still thinking about how to go about it when I heard the sound of soft steps and a walking cane coming towards me from behind. I turned to see that it was the old man that I had seen with Aleksander.
As he approached there was a feeling about him that was disturbing yet I held his eyes.
[Name :??? ]
[Class :??? ]
[Level :??? ]
[Strength :???]
[Attack :???]
[Defense :???]
[Agility :???]
[Stamina :???]
[Skills:???]
Fuck.
He stopped before me, looking deep into my eyes. "What are you?" he asked, but it was as if he wasn't asking me.
I couldn't get what his deal was. At first I thought it was about Aleksander, but it was no such thing. He seemed genuinely confused and curious, but the thing that weirded me out the most was, WHY THE FUCK WAS MY HEART NOT POUNDING?!
When he got closer I felt zero fear, even though I knew I should. I've felt fear from mere slaves, and sometimes from maids, but nothing from this man. It was like he pose zero threat to me, and that freaked me the fuck out, because I could tell he was not a good person.
"I don't like being stared at" I finally said.
The old man blinked, as if waking up from a dream. For a second, he looked almost lost. His eyes, still fixed on my face, softened—not with kindness, but with a fog of sudden awareness. He took a shallow breath, turned and went back inside.
I watched him moving slowly as his age permit, still wondering what that was all about.
When he disappeared into the crowd, I turned away. I have better things to do. I still don't know how to go about looking for girl. It is too obvious to go looking for her at her academy, which is at least an hour from here, but based on my Intel, she wouldn't even be there. Though her father is a mere Baron, she is to be betrothed to the crown Prince of Estonia. That means she would most likely be here.
I turned, and walked back to the hall. I stopped at the entrance, watching the people chat and move. Music had began playing in the background, and people were now mostly facing north.
I sighed, and walked back in.
[Appraisal] only covers about 6 feet around me, so I would walk towards where a girl, or girls within the range of the Paladin's age and then used it, without making it too obvious that I was doing something. It made me collect a drink, to make it more conspicuous, but I whispered to Ophelia to make sure that I never attempt a sip.
As I was searching, I noticed an older man staring at me from across the hall with so much hate. His hateful stare followed me, and I couldn't place where I knew the face from, but he was too far and I was too busy to be bothered.
A young woman beside me was staring at me too. She wore a fashionable purple frock with high collar and full bodice and long, low skirts that were tight and descended over her ankles.
"You are the one who slept with my mother?" she said in a quiet, tired manner.
"I suppose I am" I said, now confirming the hateful stare of the man I now identified as the Duke.
"Everyone says you are of the devil" she said.
I looked at her, confused at the usage of the word. "Devil?" I asked.
She turned to me, surprised. "You know," she said, not knowing how to say it. "evil being other than the heavens?"
Hmm, I thought to myself. Makes sense.
"What are you doing here?" I asked. "You look like you don't want to be here"
"I'm here to catch the eyes of a noble who will marry poor old me" she said mockingly in her quiet tone, as if repeating exactly what she was told.
She took a sip.
I laughed softly.
She was at most 3 years older than me.
"You sure standing close to one of the devil would do you any favors?" I said.
"It doesn't matter." she said, taking another sip. "No one ever comes anyway"
I laughed softly, and we continued in silence, watching the guests.
"Nice meeting you" I said.
She raised her glass with a thin smile in reponse, and I went somewhere else and continued.
Few minutes later I saw Amara coming towards me. I sighed and unconsciously raised my glass to my lip but Ophelia quietly held my hand down.
"I should be hurt that I think you have no intentions of even trying to look for me" Amara said with a casual smile, and then she looked at Ophelia, and as if seeing her for the first time, she laughed. "You sure do know how to make an impression."
Just like the first day I saw her, she really do put efforts in her looks for events. After knowing the kind of person she is, I find it surprising. She didn't look like the type that would want to dress to impress, but here she is.
She wore a striking outfit of deep teal and gold—tight trousers with golden embroidery, a fitted waistcoat over a loose white blouse, and tall matching boots. A long cloak hung from her shoulders, trimmed with gold and clasped at the neck with a sapphire brooch. Seeing it with your own eyes is incredible. She impressively looked noble, confident, and in control.
I looked at the person she was with. He was a really handsome young man. Most probably younger than I am or around the same age. He was almost as strong as she is, though she is stronger, so that means he was no bodyguard. He didn't like me at all and he wasn't hiding it. I glanced back to her, but she had seen me look too long at him.
"See you around, princess" I said to her, and walked away.
I could feel her turn to look at me. Probably stunned, or confused, but I didn't have time for nonsense.
I heard the loud laughter of King Karim somewhere in the party. I casually looked for him to know where to avoid. Saw him far across the other side, wearing a deep blue robe, richly embroidered with gold patterns. A lavish white fur cape, speckled with black, drapes over his shoulders, fastened by ornate gold clasps with red accents. He was wearing his crown. A tall, golden crown adorned with a central red jewel, that looked very expensive.
I looked away and continued on what I was doing, really needing the drink to keep my frustrations down.
Just when Ophelia had stopped me for a 5th time, I found her. Not very pretty, but a finely developed young woman, with light red hair, rosy cheeks, and such a pair of deep gray eyes, full of mischief, as they looked one through.
She held me for not more than a second, as if she only wanted to check who was staring at her. She was with a tall boy with a mane of black hair that fell in thick curls to his shoulders. He had his back to me.
I stayed around for awhile, flirting with interest but after a second look she ignored me. They were not talking. They were both silently watching people. I figured the dude was her man to be so I couldn't approach her. I was waiting for my chance but it didn't seem like it would ever come.
Finally, a servant was moving by, closely behind them. I used [Blood Arts] on her and she crashed into the man, nudging him forward, the tray of food and drinks she was carrying splattered across his back.
He froze, turning slowly to the young girl, who crumpled to the ground pleading. He was rage stricken, but expectedly well controlled. The Paladin, who was also watching the pleading girl, took a casual peak at me, as if she suspect I had something to do with it. I gave her a slight smile, and she looked away.
Her man didn't even give a sigh of relief, he just walked out, towards where I presume was a private room that he has access to or something.
The Paladin walked away while the girl was cleaning the mess, but she didn't go far.
I waited a few moment, before I approached her silently.
"Want to get out of here?" I asked softly.
She ignored me, took a sip, then walked away to a group of girls her age. She didn't even join the conversation, she just stood there.
I guess that's a no.
I watched her, thinking on how to go about it. She must be very young because she was as strong as I was, which meant [Blood Arts] can work perfectly on her, but if I keep looking at her for too long it will give it away. I can't do it here either, even if the chance comes, because forcing yourself on the wife to be of a Crown Prince is too big a scandal. One that can only mean war.
As I changed location, I saw two knights of Mittelreich, closely behind a young man who was greeting some old guests. I instantly knew him to be Amara's brother, the one that would be king.
He caught me looking. I gave a quick thin smile, and he excused himself from the group and walked over to me.
"King Daran Dragonhart" he greeted with a very diplomatic smile, and hand extended for handshake. "I'm glad you could make it. I know it must had been hard"
I smiled. I didn't know if that was a dig because it was said so diplomatically.
"It was worth it" I said, accepting his handshake. "The food was amazing."
"That it is" he said, then noticed Ophelia, and his face changed, though still diplomatic. "You brought That here?" he asked, referring to her.
"Yes" I replied, glanced back at Ophelia. "is that a problem?"
He scoffed, gave a half smile. "Nothing that would ruin a perfect night." he said. "It looks like the stories about you are not all unfounded"
Now I was more curious on what he wants from me for him to let it slide because I could see that he was not okay at all. Ophelia really bothered him. As he was talking, he was trying not to acknowledge that she was truly there, like one avoiding a patch of feces on his well cleaned floor.
"Let's have a conversation at the end of the party" he said. "I would like to talk with you about something of great importance"
"Sure" I said.
And he nodded and left.
What does he want to talk about? An ultimatum? His father is still very much alive? Or was it the prince's doing?
He went out of view in the crowd, and I turned to find the Paladin, but she too was gone.