Chapter 127: The Carriage (3)
Two fire mages and four guards followed her.
She did not look at Ravencroft first.
She looked at Robi.
Then she looked at Lucard.
Her expression did not change, but the air around her became warmer. It was not enough to be called an attack. It was only a warning breath of mana, the kind strong mages released when they wanted everyone nearby to remember their family name.
Robi spoke quietly. "Lady Mirena Velkhur. A sixth circle battle mage. She is the big sister of the current head of house Velkhur’s."
Celia’s hand moved slightly toward her sword. "She is not as rash as Dorian."
Lucard said, "Good. Rash people die before answering questions."
Celia glanced at him. "Do not say that near her."
"I have not decided."
"Please decide against it."
Lady Mirena stopped across the road, far enough not to start a scene, close enough to show she had every right to stand there. Her eyes remained on Lucard for several long breaths. She was not looking at him like Tina had looked at him, with wild hatred and poor control. She was looking like someone placing his face inside a list that would be opened again later.
Lucard met her gaze without lowering his own.
The street became heavier.
Everyone knew the imperial carriage was coming, but before it arrived, the city had already arranged itself into sides. Marovain stood at the shop entrance with wealth, guards, and control. Velkhur stood across the road with anger, fire, and military pride. Ravencroft stood near the smaller nobles like a man wishing the ground would accept him as a relative. Karswell stayed near the edge, pretending to be less involved than they were. House Vardros stood slightly to the side, watched by everyone and protected by no banner of their own.
Not yet.
Then the sound of wheels came from the main road.
A plain carriage appeared.
It had no royal banner. No golden lion. No shouting riders. Only three mounted men came ahead of it, dressed like traveling guards. But the horses were too well trained. Their steps were smooth even on the uneven road. The carriage was too finely built despite its plain covering. The guards’ eyes were too sharp, and their hands stayed close to their weapons without looking nervous.
Every noble on the street felt it at once.
This was not an ordinary arrival.
The carriage rolled toward the Marovain shop and stopped in the cleared space. The horses halted together, as if they had practiced the same movement a hundred times. One of the mounted men came down first and opened the carriage door. Another looked across the gathered nobles, counting faces without moving his head too much.
For one breath, nobody moved.
Then the door opened.
A young man stepped out first.
He had golden yellow hair that caught the sunlight even under the gray sky. He looked around twenty, handsome, clean, and dressed in travel clothes too fine to belong to a simple noble son. His posture carried palace training. His chin lifted naturally, not because he was trying to look proud, but because people had lowered their heads around him since childhood. His eyes moved across the gathered nobles with curiosity, pride, and a little irritation from the journey.
Every noble nearby recognized him at once.
Second Prince Caelan of Valoria.
The road bowed without being told.
Robi stepped forward with Celia beside him. Lord Havel lowered himself quickly. The lesser nobles followed like grass pushed by wind. Even Baron Ravencroft bent his head deep. Lady Mirena Velkhur lowered her head with controlled respect, though her back stayed straighter than most. Jenny lowered her head with dignity. Jake copied her carefully. Peter stood behind them like a shield forced to bow but not stop being a shield.
Behind the prince, Sir Aldric Veyne stepped out of the carriage.
His gray cloak moved with the wind. His travel armor was simple, but his presence was not. Two trusted men stepped down after him and stood quietly at his sides. Aldric did not look around like a guest. He looked around like a man counting every knife in the street. His eyes moved over Robi, Celia, Mirena, Ravencroft, Karswell, the smaller houses, and the guards on the roofs.
Then his gaze reached House Vardros.
It rested on Jenny first, then Jake, then Peter, and finally Lucard.
Lucard noticed.
The envoy’s gaze did not stay too long, but it measured too much.
Interesting.
Robi approached first.
"Your Highness. Lord Envoy. House Marovain welcomes you to Gravehold."
Prince Caelan lifted one hand slightly, accepting the greeting as if he had done it all his life, which he had. He looked at Robi with polite confidence, then at Celia for half a breath longer because she was beautiful enough to make most young noblemen forget their next words. Celia bowed with perfect control and gave him no extra smile.
Aldric remained beside the prince, quiet and watchful.
Robi began to speak again, but Prince Caelan raised his hand higher.
Everyone stopped.
The prince’s voice carried across the quiet street.
"Before we go anywhere, His Imperial Majesty has sent a decree."
The word decree struck harder than a shout.
Every noble moved at once.
Robi lowered himself first. Celia knelt beside him. Lord Havel dropped to both knees. Baron Ravencroft bent so fast his robe nearly caught under his boot. Lady Mirena Velkhur knelt with a stiff back. Counts, barons, guards, merchants, and servants all lowered themselves in the street.
Jenny knelt with Jake beside her.
Peter dropped to one knee behind them.
Lucard looked at the prince, then at Aldric, then at the sealed golden scroll being brought forward.
For a brief moment, the old Blood God inside him found the whole thing absurd. Once, gods had knelt because he had made the sky rain blood over their temples. Now he was kneeling in a lower world street because an old emperor had sent a painted scroll with gold on the edges.
Then he lowered himself to one knee.
It was not for worshipping anyone. It was for the game.
Aldric took the sealed imperial decree in both hands.
The street became silent enough to hear the banners moving in the wind.
Prince Caelan looked over the kneeling nobles.
Then Aldric broke the seal.