Chapter 112
A Dinner Invitation
The result of the Trial was something beyond the imagination of the people. Even for the ones who witnessed it in the Chamber of Licai, the things that transpired felt unreal. From something straightforward as looking for someone to blame quickly escalating into something that threatened the very foundation of the Alliance. All within an afternoon.
King Gerard quickly took action and ordered the people within to keep their silence regarding the Demons. He then ordered the Knights to escort Connie and those involved back to the Mansion, no longer in chains.
The King sighed inwardly, envisioning the trouble ahead. And all of this was the doing of a little girl. Well, from the performance she showed in the Trial, no one would think of her as useless anymore.
The next day, Official Criers were sent from the Castle to all parts of the Courandhel, announcing the result of the Trial. That Connie was declared innocent and was to be conferred an honor at a later day for her action in uncovering and protecting Calendia from Vorzenny and their Hero’s attempt to harm the Kingdom. Of course, he did not include the bit about the Demons or the details regarding what the Hero was up to, as he did not wish for this incident to go out of hand.
And not long after, they turn from jeering and booing to cheering and praising her name.
Yet for the people involved, the criminals turned heroes, these things matter little.
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A few days after the Trial, Kim Sooyoung came over to the Mansion to take off the cast. She was having a bit of a chat with Connie while she and Illumca were cutting through the bandages.
“Don’t you find it funny, Kim?”
“Funny?”
“The city. Its people. From the top to the bottom,” Connie smirked. “The absolute absurdity of them all. The fragility of their psyche, like sheep in a herd being led around by a shepherd.”
“One day we are being hooted and jeered like common criminals, and now we are being praised as heroes.”
“Oh, you are talking about herd mentality?” Kim inquired as she removed the cast.
“Herd mentality? What’s that?” Illumca asked.
“It means being influenced by the behaviors of the people around them,” she said. “There. Try moving them around.”
Connie tried moving her arms. It felt like ages since she actually felt like having them. “This feels very odd.”
“It’ll go back to normal soon. But I’m sure you don’t need me to tell you that.”
“This type of treatment is foreign to me,” Connie answered. “I’m always open to advice. Anyway, thanks for this. Would you like to stay for lunch?”
“Thank you, but I promised to have lunch with Akula. She invited me to a tavern she found.”
“I see,” Connie answered lightly. The Centaur had been acting rather distant after the Trial. Well, perhaps she has her own things to worry about. “Have fun then. We’ll see you out.”
Downstairs, Kasheem had been waiting for Kim, chatting with Nick who was being his usual slovenly self. He had been reinstated as Kim’s private guard after the whole debacle was finally finished. Unfortunately, with the new information of Vorzenny being in cahoots with Demons, the Red Prince had to stay a few extra days to discuss the situation with Calendia.
After a brief salute from him, he and Kim soon went on their way.
“Aah, I’m going to miss that chair,” Connie said as she stretched her body. “But nothing’s better than being able to stand on your own two legs.”
“By the way, is Martell still with the Red Prince’s tutor?
“Yes, he’s been making his way there earlier and earlier these days,” Illumca answered.
“Mmm, that’s fine. Gathering knowledge is also a good way to learn. You too could stand to read a book or two.”
At this, Illumca made an expression that Connie could only interpret as, “Egh.”
Then, they noticed one of the guards that was standing in front of the gate walking towards them. It was a different guard than the one that guarded them before. There was respect in his mannerisms.
“Lady Steelheart. There is another letter for you.”
Illumca gestured to him coldly. The guard quickly and politely handed a letter to the Dark Elf, who glanced at it briefly.
“Another invitation?” Connie asked. The Dark Elf’s silent stare was already enough answer for her.
“Tea party.”
“Haah…you know what to do,” she said.
Illumca let the letter fall onto a pile of grey ash near where Nick was sitting and casted a Fireball, which quickly ate up the letter. It soon joined the small hill of ash under it.
“You know, you should at least answer one or two of them, Milady. Just to make friends.”
“I have no interest in making friends with sheep,” the blonde-haired girl said. “Anyway, now that I’m free from that chair, I’d like to take a walk and get some lunch. And then do some errands.”
“I’m coming with you then,” Illumca said with a smile.
“Of course, you do. Nick?”
“Why are you asking me that when you know what the answer is?” Nick glanced at the death glare coming from Illumca. “I’m just gonna go and have a beer all on my lonesome. Alone.”
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Back at the Red Prince’s temporary abode, in a cramped room intended for servants, Martell was listening to an old man in brown robe reciting one of the laws of Calendia.
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This man was named Alugor, an ancient name from the far North. He was a famed Scholar who once tutored the King and his brother when they were little. He was a deeply vain old man who cared for nothing but knowledge and face.
When the Red Prince asked to employ him, he had to offer him the best of the best. His offer would bankrupt any normal Noble.
So, when he was first told that a slave wanted to learn from him, he immediately refused. Refusing to back down, Martell asked to show him what he knew. Alugor was surprised by what he could do.
The boy knew his letters, and for some reason has the etiquettes of a noble down pat. Perhaps the son of a disgraced noble? Or the illegitimate son of some acquaintance of the Red Prince? Was his first thought. However, he was a slave now and thus unworthy for his tutelage.
However, Martell had lived most of his life fawning and praising his Masters. And most of all, the young Beatsfolk had no sense of shame. And while they were guests in the Red Prince’s Compound, he spent the next few days lavishing the vain man with such praise that he finally relented on the third day.
Nevertheless, the man refused to be called his tutor, for he disdained to lower himself to teach a slave.
“If you happen to be in my vicinity while I a few verses or ponder a thought,” the man said to him. “Then I could not help it if you learn something.”
And today was the day that they could finally resume learning, and Martell intended to make the most of it.
However, today the man seemed to regard him when he said.
“There is a war coming.”
“Lord Alugor?” he asked.
The old man closed the book that he was reciting from and fixed the dusty glasses perching on the bridge of his broken nose.
“Do you know why the Alliance exist, Martell?”
“…to guard against Demons?”
The man nodded. “And?”
The boy scratched his head. “And…for…trade?”
Alugor snorted an approval as he began. “The Alliance exist to guard us from the Demons, yes. This is the main goal. It also serves as a way for trade agreement between the Kingdoms to happen. For example, Al- Khemiya needs produce that only comes from Calendia, while Calendia needs the Alchemical products that came from the Alchemists. The same goes with Vorzenny, they are rich with precious minerals, but as their territory is mostly mountains and cliffs, they can only rely on trade to feed their people.”
“It is natural to say that with what your Mistress did at the Trial, she is going to make a lot of enemies. Powerful enemies whose interests are being disturbed,” he said with groan as he pulled out a few books from his bag. “If you plan to stay with her, little one. Then you better be ready for worse things to come.”
Alugor then placed a few dog-eared books in front of him. “These are some low-level books that I don’t need anymore. You can do what you want with them. Throw them out if you don’t want them.”
Martell saw the books and saw that they were rare books about strategies and laws. “T-thank you, Lord Alugor.”
The man grunted with an annoyed look. “I’m just asking you to throw out some books I don’t need. Why are you thanking me?”
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After having a good, hearty lunch. Connie and Illumca set out to the Hunter’s Guild.
As soon as they walked in, one of the Guild Receptionist was surprised and reflexively called out to them. “Lady Steelheart!”
“Hm?” Connie raised an eyebrow. “Why are you looking at me like that?”
“Look that’s her!” a nearby Hunter said.
“So, that’s her? The one who killed the Hero of Vorzenny?”
The young man that called out her name looked starstruck and struggled to speak. “L-lady Steelheart! What brings you here?! Do – do you want a Quest?”
“No, I’m here to dismantle a quarry. And what is this stuttering and muttering about?”
“Y – yes, of course! I’ll call for our Chief Dismantler!!!”
The young man quickly disappeared to the back and brought with him a bald man with the stench of blood thick upon him. He wore the leather apron characteristic of a Dismantler upon his naked torso. He had a burn scar upon his face that made him unable to move the left side of his mouth. His thick white eyebrows furrowed upon landing a look upon Illumca and Connie.
“So, youse the girl they’ve been talkin’ about? The boy said you want to dismantle sumthin’.”
“Yes. I want to dismantle a Demon,” Connie said. This earned her a few stares.
“’see. Come with me.”
The man took them to the back. The stench of flesh, guts and bone filled the room where the dismantling was taken care of. The place was much bigger than the one in Cairula, with more people handling everything based on their posts. It was certainly more organized than Cairula.
“Show it ta me, then.”
Connie then took out the body of Karshim, along with the head. All the Dismantlers suddenly stopped their work and gathered around it, curiosity plastered on their faces.
“Hans said that you can help me with this. This was a Named Demon named Karshim. Hans did not have the tool to properly take care of it.”
“Hmm, ‘see. Named Demons, we dun get many of ‘em round here. But I’ve dismantled my share of Demons on the frontline. That’s where I get this badge of honor,” the man guffawed.
“It’s a nice specimen. Seems that there Essence Crystal’s missin’,” The man grunted as he poked around the body with a stick.
“I took it out. Is that a problem?”
“Nah. My job’s ta dismantle what’s set before me. Din’t matter how it got where it got,” The man threw the stick to an apprentice and said. “Give me a day. I’ll take care of it meself.”
“Excellent.”
“Which part youse want me ta set aside?”
Connie appreciated this no nonsense, efficient old man and listed the parts she wanted and sell the parts that she did not need. A Named Demon was a rare thing and the Guild would pay a lot for it, so Connie was quite happy when she returned to the mansion that afternoon.
Once they got back to the Mansion, they find that Jorge was standing in front of the Gate, his face all smiles. He was chatting with Nick, whose face was red from the early drinking he just had.
“Ah, Lady Steelheart! I have been waiting for you,” the man bowed in greeting.
“What are you doing here?”
“The guards told me that he’s been waiting here since this afternoon,” Nick said.
“Ah, you don’t have to worry about me, Sir Nick. I am quite durable, despite the poor showing you saw the night those terrible Assassins attacked,” the man joked. “but enough about my gaff. Lady Steelheart, My Master is going to have to a small dinner party tonight.”
“By Master…you mean the King’s brother,” Illumca said. She did her homework during the nights after she took care of Connie.
“The very same,” he answered with little reaction. “And he wishes to invite you and your companions.”
“All of us…” Connie rubbed her chin. “All of us?”
Jorge smiled at the implication and nodded. “Yes, Milady. Zalkhin Altanghazar and Mr. Martell are also invited. As do Sir Nick here.”
“Well, we do owe him for the luscious meals,” Connie said. She was not opposed to tasting rare morsels. And Prince Elhart did not seem a typical Noble by the way he groomed his servant. “We will be there.”
“Most splendid!” The man bowed respectfully. “I will be here with the carriage as soon as the sun sets.”
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As soon as Akula and Martell were back to the Mansion, Illumca told them about the invitation.
“Really? All of us?” Martell asked in disbelief.
“Connie did ask that. And the answer is yes.”
“What a strange man,” Akula rubbed her neck awkwardly. “Most Stonemen would rather try to not interact with Beastfolks if they could.”
“Well, what does that say about me, then?” Connie asked in teasing.
“You are…different,” she replied with an incredulous expression.
“But Zalkhin Altanghazar is right. Nobles do not like to relate with the…lesser Races. Especially not former slaves,” Martell added. “Do you think he has a different goal?”
“Who knows?” Connie yawned. “We will see tonight.”
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Not long after the sky became dark and the men and women of Courandhel had started to lit their candles, Jorge arrived with an extremely decadent carriage and an exotic looking palanquin.
When Connie and her companions came out, they were surprised.
In front of them was a luxurious carriage intended to bring them to Prince Elhart’s little party. But what grabbed their attention was a large palanquin stacked with richly colored pillows rimmed with golden threads. Upon which a large umbrella that could cover a family of six were placed.
“A Panghur?” The Centaur asked incredulously. A Panghur was a type of Palanquin used in the Grasslands. This was a simple one used to honor guests. The ones used for great ceremonies were bigger and more elaborate, needing more than six full grown Centaurs to lift.
“Yes. Our Master seldom like to show himself to the world, but it does not mean he knows nothing of the world. This particular Panghur was a gift to my Master by Zalkhin Bajaral.”
“Khikhikhi. Such an honor to be given a Panghur. That is like a man giving away his daughter, you know. And this Sukheri is not bad either.”
“Sukheri?” Martell asked.
“It’s this umbrella here. The weather in grasslands are merciless. So we have Sukheri to protect us from rains and arrows.”
“...what do you mean, arrows?” Illumca added.
“Exactly what I mean,” The Centaur replied as she got on the Panghur.
With that, Jorge climbed up to his seat beside the Coachman and led them to the place where the party was going to be held.