Chapter 205: Fine, Let’s Go!
Simon and Lancelot walked slowly, one in front and one behind.
Now living in Eldora, even though Simon missed the affairs of Brambleford, since things were not yet settled, he couldn’t go back.
With nothing to do, he felt very relaxed. But life in Eldora was indeed boring, or else Lancelot wouldn’t be so idle as to want to visit the brothel to relieve boredom.
Facing Lancelot’s slightly resentful expression, Simon smiled and explained. "Father has granted me a marriage soon. At this time, going to such a place is really inappropriate. You’d better go with Liam instead."
"To tell the truth, Your Highness, it was that kid who just talked a lot about such things and got me all fired up. Who knew that kid would be dragged back by General Lancet?"
Simon gritted his teeth with frustration. So this was why Lancelot suddenly brought it up; it turned out to be the fault of Liam, that spoiled rich kid.
As the two were talking, suddenly Liam’s voice came from far away. Before long, he arrived in front of them. At this moment, Simon asked curiously. "Didn’t Lancelot say that General Lancet took you back? Why are you back again?"
"My Lord, I just went to ask about something. Since Your Highness came to Eldora, my main job is still to serve you." Liam grinned.
Simon looked at Lancelot, who was staring at Liam with a murderous look, and said. "You’d better serve Lancelot, or he might beat you up."
"Hahaha..." Liam laughed at Lancelot’s expression and said. "My Lord, I know you’re going to visit the Baker residence soon, so of course we can’t go to the brothel. Otherwise, my father would beat me to death. But, Your Highness, did you forget what day it is today?"
"What day?" Simon asked, confused.
"It’s the Autumn Drying Festival." Liam suddenly said.
Simon immediately understood. The Festival was actually the modern Halloween Festival, but in the Eldorian Kingdom, it is called the Autumn Drying Festival. Every year at this time, the scholars and poets of Eldora gather at Swan Lake to drink and enjoy chrysanthemums.
Because the Autumn Drying Festival also has another meaning, it’s about walking and enjoying the autumn.
"I’m not interested," Simon said lazily. In the past, when he was in Eldora, he used to enjoy going to Swan Lake every year around this time. But he would usually end up humiliated by other princes and then leave in anger.
After all, drinking and admiring chrysanthemums naturally includes writing poetry, which, in modern terms, is basically a day for scholars to show off.
Because at the same time, there would be two poetry gatherings at Swan Lake. The poetry gatherings are divided into two sides, separated by a curtain, one side for men, the other for women.
"My Lord, if you don’t go this time, you’ll definitely regret it. This year’s poetry gathering is hosted by Princess Lisa herself. It’s said that many noble ladies from Eldora will be there, especially talented women from famous families. It’s even said that Lady Elin, your future bride, will be among them."
Saying this, Liam calmly smiled.
"What poetry gathering? Nonsense! His Highness won’t go. I want to go to the brothel. What’s so great about poems?" Lancelot shouted, almost ready to roll up his sleeves.
Liam said unhappily. "Which is more important, what’s under your pants or His Highness’s matters? Looks like you haven’t spent enough time in the little black room."
At the mention of this, Lancelot suddenly got angry. "Say ’little black room’ again, I dare you!"
Seeing that Lancelot was really angry, Liam immediately softened and said seriously. "Anyway, going to the brothel now is useless. On this day, all the best courtesans are already at Swan Lake. When the time comes, I’ll take you to find a decorated boat instead."
Hearing this, Lancelot immediately stopped being angry and smiled. "See, you should’ve said that earlier."
Then he looked at Simon and said. "My Lord, let’s go. No one knows if this Elin girl is tall or short, fat or thin, ugly or pretty. If she turns out to look like a monster, even if she’s from the Baker family, for Your Highness’s sake, you can’t marry her. Just imagine, if you lift her veil and get so scared that something happens to you, what would we do?"
"Go, go, go!" Liam waved his hand like shooing away a fly. "Back then, I actually saw a painting of Elin. Your Highness, she definitely doesn’t look like what Lancelot said."
Lancelot laughed even louder. "A painting? That’s nothing! Maybe Minister Baker was worried his daughter wouldn’t get married, so he made a fake painting to trick you all into dreaming about her and treating her like a treasure."
Simon didn’t doubt it before, but now that Lancelot said it, he started to feel a bit worried.
After all, very few people in Eldora had actually seen Elin. If what Lancelot said turned out to be true, it would be too late to cry later.
Lady Isolde arranged for him to marry a girl from the Baker family for his future safety, but to Simon, all he needed to do was please Emperor Alaric for a few more years.
By then, even without the Baker family, who could stop him?
Besides, this wasn’t a love marriage. There was no way to understand someone’s personality in advance. In modern times, even blind dates look at appearances. Not to mention, before the wedding night, he might not even get to see her face.
Thinking of this, he said. "Go?"
"Of course we go!" Liam said with a smile. This was a rare lively event. For noble sons like him, there was no reason not to go.
"Since you both insist, let’s go then," Simon said.
Liam and Lancelot were delighted and said. "Your Highness, after you!"
After that, Simon returned to his residence in Eldora and changed into casual clothes. Lancelot and Liam also went to change clothes. The three of them agreed to meet at Swan Lake.
*Your Highness is going to the Swan Lake, right?" Ysabeau seemed to already know everything.
"How did you know?" Simon asked in surprise.
"Every year at this time, Your Highness always goes. Now that the court session is over and Your Highness is free, where else would you go if not the Pool?" Ysabeau said softly.
Joan’s face turned red with excitement. "Your Highness, take us with you. At that time of year, there are the most people selling malt sugar by the Swan Lake."
Ysabeau also said. "Your Highness, please take us. It’s too boring staying in the yard."
After thinking for a moment, Simon figured that since the poetry event is divided into two halves, if he couldn’t see Elin, maybe Ysabeau and Joan could go to the women’s side and help look for her.
So he said. "Alright. But when we get there, you two mustn’t run around. The poetry gathering has all kinds of people. Many sons of nobles aren’t good people."
"Yes, Your Highness." Ysabeau and Joan replied joyfully.
After changing clothes, the three of them, along with guards also dressed in plain clothes, set off for Swan Lake. Generally speaking, the poetry event would last from noon until evening.
This was the time when people were heading to the Swan Lake. On the road, Simon saw many fancy carriages heading in that direction.
Simon was in no hurry. He enjoyed the scenery of Eldora while thinking about how to expand the business into the Eldorian market. After all, according to the business guild’s statistics, nearly a quarter of Brambleford’s products had been sold in Eldora in the past year, showing just how terrifying the spending power of Eldora was.