After having finished their breakfast, Belisari, Lily, Aurora and the knight began their journey to Latila Palace.
The distance between Voyage and Latila Palace is around one hour by carriage, or to put it into geographical perspective: half of the city of Latila, and a sixth of the entire nation. Aurora did expect the nation to be relatively small, but she was frightened to see how small it is compared to any state in the region, aside from Vlenna, or course. But to Elestovakia…even in the impossible scenario of the Elestovakian Army suddenly disappearing and Latilians could just march straight to their capital, Aurora is not sure if they could make it.
That said, she’s not a tactician, while Belisari is. Who knows if he is having something in his mind. She intended to ask, but seeing the man and Lily are having a conversation, Aurora decided it is wise not to interrupt them.
The girl looks outside of the windows. The dwellers in this city, as she had observed yesterday, are very diverse in races, both human and non-human. Elves, of course, look just like descriptions from any kind of fantasy books or mangas people could find in a cheap store uptown, with pointy ears and bright hair color. Their attire however resembles a modern version of toga instead of green maneuverable and camouflage costumes, probably to blend into urban society. The Fliers, on the other hand, are more explicit in their style of clothing. The airborne creatures whose home is located in the further north of the continent tend to wear a light tunic, with exposed back and flexible shoes to support their flight ability. At first, Aurora pictured them to have bird-like wings, with feathers and peaks even, like any bird she had ever seen in her hometown. What turned out to be is that these people have very geometrical wings, as if they were planes, specifically B-2 or something similar with human form, 75% human 25% plane. Nevertheless, as their name suggested, they can fly, unlike any other race in this world aside from pure blood vampires.
“Latila is open to all kinds of creatures who are willing to be its citizens.”
Behind Aurora, the knight in the black armor spoke. He seems to has been looking at her from the beginning, and noticed how Aurora glaces at non-human people with a look of curiosity:
“It’s not like there were no other native arcane creatures in Milishila”-he continues-”If I remembered it right then there were dwarfs. But they primarily live in mountain regions, I heard, so encountering one is almost impossible, and I had only met one in my entire life. I guess you had no chance to encounter one before, right?”
Aurora nodded, although she had no idea about whatever Gerald said.
“Well, why don’t we reintroduce ourselves a little bit”-the man continues-”My name
is Gerald de Payens, a Knight Cathedraller as I said earlier. I’m also from Milishila, from the city of Belkut to be specific. Again, nice to meet you, Aurora Borealis. I have a granddaughter around your age, hope you two can be friends.”
“Nice to meet you too, Mr. Payens. And I am looking forward to seeing your granddaughter as well.”
The knight raises his gloved-hand for a handshake. He is smiling, with the kindest face expression Aurora has ever seen in her life aside from her parents. People in this world are weird, they might seem very scary, but they are very gentle. Lily and this person for example, Aurora thought of that for herself, but did not speak that out loud.
The girl again looks out of the window, she gazes at the houses and infrastructures. The road they were moving on right now was covered by a layer of flattened large stone, unfit for carriages like this chariot, but very well made and durable. Other buildings such as houses and churches are made from stones and wood logs, some luxurious buildings even possess marble walls and pillars. And there was the port she arrived at yesterday…a marvel of construction…If there is any ancient civilization on Earth that was capable of building houses like this, it must be the Romans, or to be fair, Hellens and Carthage as well. Nevertheless, they speak Latin here, modern Latin. This nation is more Roman in its core-
“Woo!”
Aurora was caught by surprise, the chariot had just taken a tight turn on the road. Her view changed from a row of home establishments to a public street. As the descriptions said, buildings here mainly serve public needs, such as public baths and churches, taverns and storages of a union of countries named the Maritime Federation. Aside from Milishila and Vlenna, the Maritime Federation, a Western nation consisting of four major trading port cities: Ganeo, Vineci, Milin and Nakoli, is also an ally with benefits of the Kingdom.
The Latilus Latilae palace is now within a short distance. From the carriage, Aurora can tell that it is really smaller than the Voyage Latilus palace:
“Hey Aurora, how do you see this country?”-asked Payens the noble knight, to which Aurora replies-”Something worth to discover and deserves being protected”
The chariot stopped right in front of the Latila palace, where it was surrounded by soldiers equipped with shields and crossbows guarding from every side of the wall, their armbands carrying the insignia of Latila and the Maritime Federation mercenary corp. Already familiar with the knight order’s men, the crossbowmen look not so imitating to Aurora.
“Let’s go, Aurora.”
Said Belisari, as the prince opens the gate for Lily to come out first, then Payens, then himself. Aurora steps out. In contrast to what she imagined earlier, there was no one greeting them with red carpet or guards playing trumpets, the entrance of the prince was just as quiet and humble as the entrance of a normal guest.
No, not really, there was a person that is waving at them from the palace, someone that look like Belisari:
“Your Highness Aurelian, long time no see.”
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“Good morning, Aurelian. How is father?”
“He is okay. And is that the woman you told me earlier?”
The man points at where Aurora is standing.
Aurora, later being told, that person is Aurelian Dominitate Latila, the second prince of the Kingdom, brother of Belisari. And behind him:
“Your Majesty.”
Justinius Sabbarius Latila, or Justinius the First, king of the Kingdom of Latila and father of both princes. He is here for Belisari and the special individual he brought along. Taking a few steps forward, the king meets up with the visitors.
“Archduchess of Voyage, Sir Payens, Belisari…”
The King looks quite old. Although he is just forty, Justinius’s appearance, adding to that is his tiredness makes him look like he is around Payens’s age. The labor of managing this mid-crisis nation for ten years has worn down the person once the master of a great kingdom:
“...and you are Aurora Borealis, if I was right.”
Justinius glances at Aurora, his eyes show a sense of suspicion, like a true wise emperor looking at his enemy, but he still welcomes her to his palace as a foreign guest. After all, it was his first trustworthy son who introduced this individual to him:
“I am King Justinius of the Latilian Kingdom. Aurora Borealis, welcome, and you may enter my palace.”
Said done, the king turns and walks away. It was not exactly a warm greeting, but that means Aurora was approved:
“Alright”-Belisari claps his hands-”Let us enter, Aurora. Hey Aurelian, would you mind spending some time with us?”
The first prince turns his attention at the second, the one that is staring at Aurora, especially her hair, and makes her extremely uncomfortable:
“Okay, I will see what this woman used to interest you.”
**
Walking along the hall of Latila palace with her companions, Aurora can’t help herself but turning all around to capture as many things into her eyes as possible. She wishes she had some independent moving eyeballs to see for more, because her pair is not even enough to witness the magnificent of this palace.
The palace was built on marble structure, with walls and the ceiling supported by granite pillars covered with fabrics in many colors, even purple, something that should be considered luxury pre-19th century on Earth. A main large entrance-not the entrance they used to enter-in the middle of the building made of fine wooden planks and plated with silver., serving for ceremonies or triumphs.
Paintings covered half of the ceiling, half of which were mosaic, showing the imperial history of Latila, and an old map of the country when it was a great kingdom. Aside from some states that are still existing, a few old nations are there as well, the Empire of Nosfetura, the Kingdom of Carthagia, the Aeropostale Republic, the four Maritime Republics before they united, etc.
Soldiers and guards moving around, not just the crossbowmen, but musketeers and halberdiers as well, and they are all wearing shining steel armors and shoes, and all of them are looking at Aurora as they journey through the hall. Her hair color again is the spotlight of everything, but she is used to it already.
“Here”
The six stopped in front of a small door, this is Justinius’s office, where he would stay all day long managing the country from there, but today it is being used to welcome guests:
“You may take a seat.”
Aurora sits down on the wooden long couch, on her side there are Lily and Payens. It feels like they were her bodyguards. Belisari and Aurelian on the other hand lie down on the ottomans in the corner of the room, and the king himself is in his usual position, behind the table and the tower of paper scrolls.
“Aurora Borealis, welcome you to this country of Latila. I’ve heard that you were hired by Belisari to support this nation. And although you look like a vampire with that hair color, you are not.”
“Correct, Your Majesty.”
The king nods his head, he goes on:
“But Belisari said that you are capable of producing explosive shells and may help expand our military arsenal with a renovation plan. Is that right, Belisari?”
“Yes father”-the prince says.
“You are correct, Your Majesty.”
“That is somewhat hard to believe, I must say, but my son told me that he witnessed you perform the capability of that weapon per his request. If that was true, then it is amazing. We’ve asked Milishila to share that technology, but they refused to. Your help would be vital.”
The relationship between Belisari and Justinius, it is hard to describe it, but it seems like Justinius placed his belief in his first son, no matter how disbehave he is, running around the country without protector, without informing his father or anyone else, even, he still trust his son. The king might not be a person that is good at speaking with others, but he is excellent at trusting the right people at the right time when it is needed. Knowing so makes Aurora feel relieved.
“In spite of our lack of finances, I will provide funds and workplaces for the plan if it is necessary. Of course, Belisari- no, Aurelian will manage the budget, to avoid any risk of corruption.”
“ Thank you for your cooperation and generousness, your Majesty. But the budget need not be supervised, since I will personally provide finance for this project.”
“You will pay for us?”-Justinius surprises-”We would be delighted to receive any support. But what can you offer-
“What!?”
What followed made everyone in that room shocked. The monarchs and the knights almost jumped out of their seats.
Aurora, while the king was still speaking, took out a bag full of large pieces of gemstone, specifically white diamonds, out of her backpack and poured them onto the table, where everyone could take a look. They are not ordinary big, but extremely huge, cutted, and are shining the most shiny light they’ve ever seen, each one of them outshine any gems in a Milishilian king's treasure room, more expensive than the most valuable real estate of the richest Maritime dye traders, than the crown of the monarch of the old Nosfetura empire.
(Hehe, that did the trick)
Of course, they are all synthetic diamonds, they are not valuable, and cost much less than steel back on Earth, where these gemstones originate from. But in this world, where nothing is known about synthetic diamonds, to these medieval people, these are real, biggest, shiniest diamonds in the entire world. And the amount on Aurora’s right hand alone can buy a whole small kingdom:
“H- how?”-Justinius stuttered, so did Belisari and Aurelian-”Where did you have this!?”
“It does not matter, I brought it from home”-Aurora speaks-“I’ve heard of the Maritime Federation. Your Highness Aurelian and Your Highness Belisari, may you contact them for me. I want to have a deal with their merchants.”