Chapter 868: Similar condition
One of the maids had strongly urged him to wear more crystals across his chest, insisting that men of real standing often displayed four or five gems as a sign of rank.
Julian refused and wore only two.
Even so, the effect was striking.
Behind him, the maids exchanged satisfied looks. He really did look different. Olivia had already left midway through the process, after telling the maids to take full care of him and scolding Julian not to interfere with their work.
She was no doubt occupied with her own preparations.
Still, if she had been present now, Julian could already imagine how pleased she would be to see that her instructions had been followed so thoroughly.
"My lord, you look so magnificent," one of the maids could not help but mutter.
The others nodded in agreement.
"Thank you," Julian said with a small smile. "Are we done now?"
The maids bowed almost in unison.
"Yes, my lord. You are ready."
Julian took one final look in the mirror. The figure reflected there still felt slightly foreign. Then he turned and walked toward the door. Two of the four maids followed him out, while the remaining two stayed behind to clean the room.
"Where are the others?" he asked as they entered the corridor.
"His Grace has summoned you to his office, my lord," one of the maids replied.
Julian nodded and adjusted the hem of his cloak as he walked.
The halls were already livelier than usual.
From every angle, the castle looked perfect and complete. It no longer resembled the dwelling of a duchy at all, but rather a royal castle itself.
When they reached the Duke’s office, the door was already open.
"Come in," a voice called from inside.
Julian stepped through and immediately understood why the summons had come with so little explanation.
The Duke stood near the center of the room, surrounded by five maids, each attending to a different part of his appearance. One adjusted the line of his collar. Another fussed with the fastening of his outer robe. A third held up two alternative clasps as if the fate of the duchy depended on the choice. The remaining two hovered with brushes, cloths, and a small tray of formal accessories.
The usually commanding ruler of Astran looked, for the moment, thoroughly outnumbered.
"Your Grace, stay still."
"Lady Olivia will not be happy if this sits crooked."
"Yes, this color suits you better."
"No, how about this one instead?"
Julian stopped just inside the doorway and watched with open amusement. The Duke was so occupied that he did not even spare his son a glance at first. Orders, corrections, and soft arguments continued around him until three of the maids finally stepped back to retrieve something from a side table.
Only then did the Duke look up.
His eyes landed on Julian and widened at once.
"My God, Kraven," he said, breaking into a short laugh. "You look more like a duke than I do."
Julian bowed his head, the corner of his mouth lifting.
"Yes, Father. Mother stayed for half an hour and instructed the maids herself."
He gave the Duke a knowing look.
"You seem to be in the same situation."
The Duke barely had the time to sigh before one of the remaining maids immediately seized the opportunity and jumped on him.
"Your mother has turned the entire household into an army," he muttered. "I have fought border skirmishes with less interference than this."
One of the maids cleared her throat pointedly, and the Duke obediently followed whatever order she had. Julian remained where he was, watching the rare sight of his father being ordered about in his own office.
Then, after a few minutes, the Duke finally found a gap between the maids’ attention.
"Kraven," he said. "While I am busy here, go to the front yard. Commander Aldric has already summoned every knight. Brief them on what to do, how to behave, and what is expected once the royal party arrives."
Julian was taken aback by the sudden request.
Still, he bowed without protest.
"Yes, Father."
The Duke looked pleased.
"Go."
Julian left the office at once. The moment the door closed behind him, a laugh escaped his mouth.
Brief the knights? This is going to be interesting.
He went downstairs without delay. The main hall was even more heavily decorated than the corridors above. No matter how many times he passed through it, the transformation still caught his eye.
However, he did not waste any time by lingering.
**
The front yard was already buzzing when he arrived.
Commander Aldric stood at the center of the formation, overseeing a final round of drills. The knights under him moved with sharp, disciplined movements, their armor catching the morning light as they followed the command.
These were not the ordinary guards assigned to corridors and gates.
These were the Duke’s private soldiers and many of them were high-ranking magic swordsmen. Their presence alone could alter the weight of a battlefield.
As Julian approached, he studied them carefully.
He was impressed.
Nearly every man was at the level of a Supreme Mage. Among them, four or five had even reached the Sovereign realm.
With Commander Aldric, an Arch Mage, leading from the front, the force was strong enough to stand against almost any military unit in the kingdom.
Well...maybe not the royal army, and perhaps not a handful of the most elite houses.
But they were forces not to be reckoned with.
What drew Julian’s attention even more was the number.
There were more of them than he remembered.
**
As soon as he drew close, the knights dropped to one knee in unison. Commander Aldric bowed deeply as well.
"Young Lord," he said. "You are here."
Julian came to a stop before them, letting his gaze move once more across the ranks before settling on the commander.
"Are you running final drills?" he asked.
"Are you running final drills?" he asked.