Chapter 8: Chapter 8 - The Royal Wedding (Part 2)
The carriage with the Queens family drove through the impressive gates of the Royal Palace.
Silently, Jennie looked outside.
The palace complex was more beautiful than she recalled.
Fountains made from crystal sparkled under the sunlight of an afternoon.
Flowers gardens covered the courtyards with roses of all colors.
Hundreds of royal knights waited at attention on the marble road.
Servants moved from one building to another preparing the palace for the royal wedding.
The palace was alive.
"So, this is the Royal Palace..."
Lucas whispered.
Arthur smiled.
"Yes, it has changed a lot in the recent years."
However, Jennie had other opinions.
"The eastern courtyard used to be a training ground..."
"There was no tower here..."
"They’ve finally extended the royal library."
One thousand years have passed.
Yet, the memories of her kingdom lingered.
The carriage stopped in front of the palace.
Royal butler approached.
"Lord Arthur Queens."
"His Majesty has been eagerly awaiting your arrival."
Arthur nodded politely.
"Please lead the way."
As they entered the palace, the nobles from all corners of Seraiya gathered in the palace hall.
Elegant dresses.
Decorative uniforms.
Family crests in the golden embroidery.
Everything was luxurious.
But beneath those smiling faces...
There was something else.
Competition.
Pride.
Jealousy.
Politics.
"Some things never change."
At the far end of the hall...
Laughing loudly.
"Hahaha!"
Middle-aged man with royal robes approached Arthur with his arms wide opened.
Unlike others around him, he didn’t care about royal customs.
"Arthur!"
Arthur smiled warmly.
"Aldric."
Nobles around them stopped.
"...His Majesty?"
King Aldric paid no attention to any royal traditions.
He hugged Arthur like an old friend.
"It’s been too long."
Arthur laughed.
"Yes, it was."
"I was starting to think that you forgot about me."
"Impossible."
"You still owe me three bottles of wine from our college years."
Arthur laughed.
"You remember it?"
"I remember everything."
Both men laughed.
Nobles exchanged uneasy glances.
They never saw their king behaving so informally.
Jennie watched silently.
"So, Father wasn’t exaggerating."
"They are really good friends."
Finally, King Aldric paid attention to the rest of the family.
His face softened.
"So, this must be Lady Elena."
Elena bowed graciously.
"It’s an honor, Your Majesty."
"And..."
King Aldric turned toward Lucas.
"You’ve grown."
Lucas nervously bowed.
"It’s my honor to meet Your Majesty."
Aldric laughed.
"Relax."
"You look exactly like your father at your age."
Lucas awkwardly scratched his head.
Finally...
King Aldric looked at the youngest member of the family.
Jennie.
Her snow-white hair shimmered under the palace lights.
Her crimson eyes calmly looked at the king’s face.
For a short moment...
Strange feeling appeared in Aldric.
Those eyes...
They held the wisdom of a child.
Then, Jennie smiled sweetly.
Feeling vanished.
"My..."
"What a lovely little lady."
Jennie curtsied politely.
"It’s nice to meet Your Majesty."
King laughed.
"Excellent manners."
Arthur smiled proudly.
"She surprises us every day."
Unfortunately...
Everyone wasn’t as kind as the king.
Standing several meters away from them, one noble looked at Arthur with clear dislike.
It was a tall man with neat blond hair and costly robes decorated with silver ornaments.
His sharp green eyes showed nothing except arrogance.
Duke Reginald Ashbourne.
One of the most influential nobles in Seraiya.
Rich.
Powerful.
Ambitious.
And maybe...
The man who hated Arthur Queens the most.
By his side, stood his son.
Seventeen years old youth with blond hair and smug grin.
Cedric Ashbourne.
Unlike Lucas, whose strength was based on endless training...
Cedric preferred showing himself.
He watched King laughing with Arthur.
His face darkened.
"So..."
"The common frontier noble has arrived."
Reginald folded his arms.
"His Majesty is far too kind."
"A man who refused to become Royal Hand should know his place."
Cedric smirked.
"I’ll remind him."
Without waiting for permission...
He approached Arthur.
Laughter in the hall slowly disappeared.
Cedric stopped only a few steps away from him.
"So..."
"You must be Lucas Queens."
Lucas nodded.
"I’m."
Cedric looked him up and down and laughed.
"I expected more."
Lucas frowned.
"Why?"
Cedric shrugged.
"Nothing."
"Just surprised."
"Son of the greatest disappointment of the kingdom looks not so good."
Silence filled the hall.
Smile disappeared from Arthur’s face.
Elena looked worried.
Lucas clenched his fists.
"What did you say?"
Cedric grinned.
"You father refused to serve by His Majesty."
"He threw away the greatest honor that any noble could get."
"And now..."
"He’s hiding in the countryside pretending to be humble."
Several nobles nodded quietly.
Other simply didn’t look at Arthur anymore.
Jennie’s crimson eyes slightly narrowed.
"Interesting..."
"The snakes have revealed themselves."
King Aldric’s face grew harsh.
"Cedric."
"That’s enough."
Young noble bowed slightly.
"My apologies, Your Majesty."
"But I just said the truth."
Reginald stayed silent.
He didn’t even try to stop his son.
King’s face grew cold.
However, Arthur gently raised his hand.
"It’s alright."
"They’re only words."
Lucas turned to his father.
"But—"
Arthur shook his head.
"Forget it."
Cedric laughed.
"What?"
"Has Queens family forgotten how to fight with swords?"
Lucas took a step toward him.
"No."
Cedric’s smile broadened.
"Then show it."
He pointed at the training grounds of the palace which could be seen through the open windows.
"Let’s have a friendly duel."
"Sword against the sword."
"If your family really deserves His Majesty’s respect..."
"Prove it."
Nobles instantly became interested.
Whispers started to flow across the hall.
"A duel?"
"This will be entertaining."
King Aldric sighed.
"This is a wedding celebration."
"Not the place for meaningless disputes."
Cedric bowed respectfully.
"I only want a friendly exchange between young nobles."
Lucas looked at his father.
Arthur looked in Lucas’ eyes.
After long moment...
He nodded once.
"Don’t forget your training."
Lucas smiled confidently.
"I won’t lose."
Cedric laughed.
"Perfect."
"I’ll make sure of it."
Watching everything from the edges of the hall, Jennie quietly crossed her hands.
Small smile appeared on her lips.
"This will be... interesting."
