Several figures slipped into the shadows, hiding from view. Not far from them, a group of five moved through the middle district of the castle. They appeared unaware of the hidden watchers, their attention fixed on landmarks such as the large fountain that depicted one of the former dukes who had once ruled the region.
Although the observers remained concealed from the eyes of passing nobles and merchants, their intended targets were not fooled. Even now, their movements were clearly displayed on a small screen inside the helmet of the man standing at the rear. His mouth was hidden, but he was transmitting voice messages to the other four. Every motion the hidden group made, no matter how subtle, was being tracked in real time.
“We have four on the left and three on the right. They’re keeping their distance, but it’s obvious we’re the ones they’re after.”
Roland said, trying not to act too unnatural. The others received the message through their devices, and the first to respond was Arthur.
“Are we sure they aren’t just part of my father’s guard? Similar people used to watch over my mother and me when we lived here.”
“That’s a possibility. Was there anything distinct about that particular group?”
Roland asked as he turned toward the large fountain. He looked down into the water and saw a surprising number of coins. It was clearly a place for the wealthy, not just because of the coins but because he spotted silver and even some gold coins within the water.
“Regretfully, no. They don’t use any obvious symbols that would give them away.”
Mary replied. She was the only one besides Roland who could sense the presence of these people. She was also the only one here who had previously encountered the guards keeping Arthur’s mother hostage. Whoever these people were, they weren’t doing a very good job. Their presence had been noticeable ever since the group left the teleportation gate, and their numbers only seemed to grow, which exposed their presence even more.
“So we don’t know if they’re allies or not. That complicates things. If we attack people from the Duke’s house, we could get into serious trouble, but it’s yet to be seen if they turn hostile.”
Roland said, tossing a copper coin into the fountain. He watched it sink while Arthur stepped beside him.
“Let’s just leave them alone for now. They might be here for our safety. Maybe Father sent them?”
Roland didn’t answer right away, but after a moment, he asked.
“Was he the kind of man to do something like that?”
Arthur hesitated, searching his memory before finally responding.
“Not really. Father never seemed to care much. Maybe if it were one of my older brothers...”
The Duke had always been a strict and distant figure, much like Roland’s own father. It was possible that Arthur’s recent notoriety had caught his attention and that he was beginning to take his son’s life more seriously. Still, they couldn’t be sure.
“For now, let’s just act normal. Are there any places we can visit without drawing too much attention?”
Mary thought for a moment, glancing around at the shops and carefully watching the faces of passing nobles.
“There’s a tea house near the western edge of the middle district. It’s popular with younger nobles and is known to be neutral ground. No house banners, no guards inside. People go there to gossip, so it’s full of ears, but relatively safe from open conflict.”
Arthur nodded, clearly interested.
“Sounds perfect. Let’s head there. Roland?”
Roland gave a small shrug.
"Sounds fine to me. I don't think they'll try anything in the middle of the day, but stay vigilant."
The group adjusted their course, blending in with several noble entourages heading in the same general direction. As they walked, Roland noticed that their hidden followers had split up. Some moved ahead, while others lingered behind. They might have been trying to set up a trap somewhere up ahead, but more likely, they were repositioning to find better spots to listen in on the group’s conversations.
The tea house came into view a few minutes later. It was a four-story building made of pale blue stone with a wide veranda on the ground floor. Delicate wind chimes hung from the corners of the roof, softly ringing as the breeze passed through. The tea house's name, "Blue Petal Mansion," sounded grand, but considering the size of the building, it felt appropriate. It was clear that every noble and wealthy merchant would be given a private space inside.
Mary stepped forward first and was greeted by the doorman, who bowed before them. She made sure there was no immediate threat, and they were soon guided inside. Just beyond the decorative entrance, a young woman in a violet uniform was already waiting. She had the refined appearance of a high-class maid and was quite attractive. She bowed deeply and addressed Arthur directly, paying no attention to the others.
"Welcome to the Blue Petal Mansion, honored lord. May I prepare a private area for you, or would you prefer to sit in the open hall?"
Arthur did not smile. He simply nodded.
"A private room, if one is available. Nothing too secluded. A view from a window would be appreciated."
"Of course, my lord. This way, please."
The maid turned with impeccable grace and led them through the main corridor of the tea house. The floor was polished marble, subtly etched with floral patterns that shimmered faintly underfoot. Paintings of mountain landscapes and abstract magical sigils lined the walls. They were not merely decorative; there was real magic at work here, and Roland could sense it.
His gaze remained fixed on the screen. He could already tell that some of their earlier pursuers had infiltrated the tea house and were now hidden on the ground floor. Their clothes had changed, and their faces were visible. They blended in as customers, though none of them posed as staff.
The enchantments present served several functions, but none were harmful. They controlled the temperature, softened sounds, and adjusted the lighting. Clearly, they were meant to enhance the atmosphere rather than to harm anyone inside. There was a notable absence of armored guards, suggesting that the people here were confident that few would dare to cause trouble.
"This room should suit your needs, my lord."
The maid said, bowing once more.
"Your server will arrive shortly. Please ring the bell if you require anything else."
Their private room was on the second floor, though two additional floors rose above them. Those were likely reserved for only the highest nobility. Arthur nodded at the woman, and Mary placed a gold coin in the other maid's hand. She showed no reaction. Generosity was customary here, and they had already set aside a considerable amount of money for their travels.
Once she was gone and the door clicked softly shut behind her, Roland moved first. He placed a small coin-sized plate in the center of the table. It blinked twice, then emitted a silent pulse.
“The room's clean, you can talk freely now.”
Mary stood near the window, casually watching the street below. Gareth and Moiren stayed by the door, ears alert and eyes sharp. Several closed rooms lined the main corridor, each guarded by heavily armored soldiers who looked in their direction while protecting their own lords. Arthur sat cross-legged beside the table, his eyes fixed on the steam rising from the porcelain tea set that had already been arranged.
"This place seems so peaceful.”
He turned to look out the window, where children were playing. The area around them appeared calm, and a few of the younger ones ran about freely without a care in the world. It was a sharp contrast to the rest of Dragnis Island, where criminals often ran unchecked. This neighborhood clearly belonged to the wealthiest of the wealthy, a sanctuary made possible only by the towering castle walls and the thousands of soldiers stationed outside.
“There is a price for peace like this…”
Arthur responded, but his thoughts were elsewhere. Roland didn't press him for an explanation, as he could already imagine what Arthur meant. Although the castle felt relatively safe and peaceful, that did not mean the people beyond its walls were truly free. Everyone was separated into groups and bound by strict laws. Those who belonged to prestigious families were allowed to stay here, but the moment their status declined, they would be cast out and replaced.
"I propose we have some of that tea. Like it or not, we still have to stay here for nearly two days before the assembly begins."
"You're right, my friend. I'm sorry for bringing down the mood. How about we order something? Is anyone hungry?"
Once Roland suggested having tea, the atmosphere shifted. The place was called a tea house, but it functioned more like a restaurant. If they wished, they could even request entertainment and have someone sing or play music for them. For a few hours, they remained there, drinking tea and eating sweet pastries, most of which ended up in Mary's hands.
“Let’s go. We’ve stayed long enough without incident. If nothing else, they’re patient.”
Arthur made his comment after they had spent more than two hours there. They had been resting and chatting while keeping an eye on the people who were trying to spy on them. Mary stretched her arms and stood, brushing the last crumbs of a glazed pastry from her maid uniform. They left a few golden coins on the table and began to leave. Once they were gone, someone would come in to clean up after them.
The group moved in an orderly line, with Roland leading and the others positioned to guard Arthur from every direction. As they left the private chamber, the same maid who had escorted them earlier offered a graceful bow. Just as they were about to reach the stairs leading downward, Roland raised his hand, signaling them to stop. Four figures appeared and blocked the passage from all directions. They were armored knights, and based on the design of their armor, they belonged to the Valerian household.
"A distant relative? But why would they bring so many people with them..."
Roland could tell these four were not the only knights present. He had already noticed movement and voices coming from the floor below and had assumed that a high-ranking noble had arrived with permission to bring extra guards. However, the Valerian crest on the armor suggested something more troubling. Footsteps echoed from the stairwell as someone began to ascend. The first figure to appear was a noblewoman with her face concealed behind a violet veil.
Even though her face was covered, it was obvious she was a rare beauty. Her gown, woven with silver thread, shimmered as she ascended the steps and clung tightly to her figure. Her waist was narrow, accentuating her hourglass shape. Her hair seemed almost unnatural, nearly the same color as the veil she wore, long and loose. While he paid little attention to her, Gareth and Morien were completely stunned and only snapped out of it when Mary kicked one of them in the shin.
But Roland and Arthur were focused on someone else. Their attention was drawn to the man beside her. He was tall, with broad shoulders wrapped in dark noble attire. His hair, a deep shade of crimson, was tied neatly at the back with a silver band, and a well-groomed beard framed his angular jaw. Though he appeared to be engaged in conversation with the woman, his gaze briefly shifted, and he paused mid-step.
‘Why is this man here?’
Roland recognized him instantly. He had seen portraits and heard enough descriptions to be sure. He didn’t need to look at Arthur for confirmation. The sudden spike in his heartbeat told him everything. This was no ordinary noble. This was one of the Valerian siblings.
“Why are you here? Who let you in?”
The man just stopped and instantly frowned when he looked in Arthur’s direction.
“...”
It was clear that Arthur was momentarily baffled by the encounter. Although he had prepared himself to face his brothers, that did not make it any easier. A scowl formed on the man's face as he grew visibly displeased with Arthur's silence. Instead of repeating the question, he turned to one of his knights. The armored man seemed to understand his lord’s intent and stepped forward, likely preparing to grab Arthur and demand a clear answer.
“What are you doing?”
“I… I can’t move, my Lord.”
To everyone's surprise, something strange occurred. The knight managed only two steps before becoming rooted in place. Roland had reacted swiftly, using his runic magic to restrain him. To most observers, it appeared as though he had been stopped by an invisible force, but a mage would have seen the swirling threads of mana wrapping around him and holding him still.
“Don’t approach Lord Valerian without his permission.”
His wristbands began to glow as he raised his hand in a silent display of power. He made no attempt to conceal his strength, choosing instead to demonstrate that he was not afraid to retaliate against what he perceived as an imminent threat. Mary stepped closer to Arthur while Gareth and Morien moved forward, their hands hovering near their weapons.
“Lord Valerian? Is that what you call yourself now, bastard?”
The older man with crimson hair shouted the insult loudly enough for everyone to hear. Nobles peeked from their private rooms, drawn by the commotion in the corridor. Servants froze mid-step, and hushed whispers spread across the hall. Arthur’s face lost its color at the insult, but he didn’t waver. He stood firm and responded without hesitation.
“At least this bastard didn’t lose an entire city to a cult’s corruption.”
Roland was genuinely surprised. Arthur was usually calm and composed in situations like this. The man standing before them was Ivan Valerian, the third-oldest brother and the overseer of Reeka. That was the very city where Roland had gone to upgrade his adventurer credentials and where the cult had launched its devastating attack. Now that Ivan had arrived at the same time as Arthur, it was clear that his reputation had deteriorated even more than anyone had expected.
"You damn bastard, you dare talk back to me? Have you lost your mind?"
The man was clearly taken aback by the sudden defiance his younger brother was showing. Arthur stood there with a blank expression, concealing all emotion as if he were completely unaffected. Ivan, on the other hand, was a mess. He was becoming emotional and enraged, something the other nobles around them were quick to notice.
"Dear? Why have we stopped?"
Before the confrontation between the two brothers could escalate, a woman's voice interrupted. It was sweet and sensual, coming from the lady standing beside Ivan. The moment she spoke, it was as if a spell had been cast over him. He immediately straightened his posture and turned to face her.
"It's nothing, my love. Just an annoying fly."
“Then let us just ignore this fly and go upstairs, not like it can follow us there.”
“Indeed, my love, you are right!”
The man burst out laughing when he realized that Arthur had only been granted access to the second floor of the establishment and was not allowed any higher. Roland’s eyes narrowed as Ivan’s laughter echoed through the corridor. He did not react, choosing instead to focus on the woman standing beside Ivan. He tried to examine her status, but she was protected by sophisticated enchantments that prevented him from seeing anything at this distance.
There was something unsettling about how effortlessly she had taken control of the noble. Roland wondered if he was simply overthinking it, though a part of him remained uneasy. Her timely intervention had defused the situation, and Ivan, clearly satisfied, smirked and walked upstairs. His posture and pace made it obvious he wanted to assert his superiority over Arthur.
Arthur, to his credit, remained silent. He watched without a word as Ivan ascended the stairs, the woman on his arm and the knights marching in step behind them. Roland snapped his fingers, releasing the restrained knight. The man stumbled slightly before regaining his balance, offering no sign of resistance. Even Ivan seemed to understand that pushing further would attract the wrong kind of attention.
Roland waited until the sound of their footsteps faded beyond the second flight of stairs before finally stepping aside to let Arthur descend. There were too many eyes in the building for them to speak freely about the situation, but it seemed Arthur's position was not as dire as they had originally believed. His older brother's status seemed to have diminished while his rose. Still, there was a chance that Ivan would come looking for trouble, and they needed to be ready…
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