Chapter 217: After 7 Days
"Your Highness, next time you return to Eldora, we’ll be able to toast at your wedding feast!"
Outside the gates of Eldora, a thousand cavalrymen clad in fine plate armour stood in formation on either side. Lancelot and Liam, also in full military attire, waited nearby.
At the city gate, Reece, Maxwell and Daniel had come to see Simon off. Before leaving the city, Simon had already bid farewell to Emperor Alaric and Lady Isolde. Though the Emperor could not come in person, he had sent Hughes and Lancet to see him off, along with Samuel, Greg and Austin.
When Simon saw this lineup, he couldn’t help but feel a little helpless. It seemed his every move in Eldora these past few days had not escaped the Emperor’s notice; this was a clear message: I’m watching you.
"Haha, next time I return, I’ll take you all boating on Swan Lake again," Simon said, clasping his hands in salute.
Reece and the others returned the gesture.
At this moment, Lancet spoke up. "Liam, from now on, you are the family general of His Highness, Prince Simon. Do not betray the trust he has placed in you. Do you understand?"
"Father, don’t worry. I won’t bring shame to the Quake family." Liam replied, saluting firmly.
Over the past two days, Lancet had indeed petitioned Emperor Alaric to grant Liam to Simon as a family general. Now, Liam no longer had to wrestle with conflicting loyalties. Hughes wore a faint smile, while Samuel and the other two appeared deep in thought. Though they had come under the Emperor’s orders, by seeing Simon off, they had inadvertently aligned themselves with him in the eyes of the other princes.
The Emperor has really thrown us to the wolves.
Lady Isolde glanced at the sun and said. "It’s getting late. You should set off soon, it’s still dozens of miles to the next town."
"Yes, Mother." Simon nodded. Lady Isolde’s eyes were slightly red, clearly suppressing the pain of parting.
Not wanting to prolong her sorrow, Simon mounted his horse and rode east.
Lady Isolde turned to Ysabeau and Joan and instructed them. "You two are the ones I trust the most. You must take good care of the Prince."
"Your Majesty, rest assured." Ysabeau and Joan replied with a curtsy.
After her final words, Lady Isolde turned away, unable to bear watching Simon leave.
With a sigh, Simon flicked the reins and galloped ahead. Lancelot and Liam followed, and the thousand cavalrymen thundered after them, their hooves kicking up dust.
As the group gradually disappeared into the distance, Hughes turned to Lancet. "What were you thinking? Are you so certain Liam will achieve great things in Brambleford?"
"Honestly?" Lancet asked.
"Of course."
"Randy is already in the Imperial Army. If Liam stays, he’ll always be overshadowed by his elder brother. In Brambleford, at least he can reach his full potential." Lancet said.
Hughes chuckled helplessly at this and turned back toward the city gates.
Seven days later, Simon and his party arrived in Brambleford.
As the familiar scenery of Brambleford’s official road came into view, Simon felt a warmth in his chest, home. Ysabeau and Joan also relaxed, pointing out familiar sights from the carriage.
This trip to Eldora, including the journey there and back, had taken nearly a month.
Commoners and merchants along the road whispered among themselves, some even recognising Simon. A few stood by the roadside, bowing respectfully. From horseback, Simon returned their greetings. These are my people, my subjects.
"His Highness has returned! His Highness has returned!"
Before they even reached the city gates, excited shouts erupted. The guards on duty, spotting Simon’s group from afar with their telescopes, were cheering loudly.
"Those damn brats! No discipline at all, shouting like that, what kind of military conduct is that? I’ve only been gone a month, and they’ve already lost their minds!" Lancelot grumbled from his horse.
Liam smirked. "You’re just jealous. Those boys only recognise His Highness now, not you."
"Liam, don’t think just because you treated me to a few brothel girls in Eldora that I won’t beat you up! I am a man of principle!"Lancelot glared at him.
Liam scoffed. "Now that I’m His Highness’s family general, I won’t hold back just because you’re an outsider."
"Oh yeah? Let’s see you try!" Lancelot cracked his knuckles.
In Eldora, the two had been inseparable, drinking and carousing together. Now, they were back to their old bickering, the same camaraderie they’d shared during the battle at Dunmere.
Simon cut in. "Both of you, listen up. In Eldora, I indulged you because of your merits, letting you blow off steam. But back in Brambleford, you’d better not act like that again, unless you want me to discipline you."
"Yes, Your Highness!" They replied in unison.
As they reached the city gates, the guards stood ramrod straight, eyes forward, all traces of their earlier chaos gone. In unison, they placed their right fists over their left chests.
This was the military salute of the Brambleford Army, a clenched fist for unity, pressed to the chest for loyalty.
"My hohonours loyalty!"
The moment Simon entered Brambleford, the guards roared the slogan in unison.
"My hhonouris loyalty!"
Simon mirrored the gesture, fist to chest. Behind him, Lancelot, Liam, and the cavalry echoed the cry, their voices ringing through the city.
This was now the battle cry of the Brambleford Army, a pledge to defend the principality with Simon at its core, unto death.
The commotion at the gates quickly spread, and news reached the Governor’s residence. Baldwin emerged with a crowd of Brambleford officials to welcome him.
"Your Highness, you’ve finally returned!" Baldwin said with a smile.
Percival flattered. "In Your Highness’s absence, we’ve had no energy for governance. The people were uneasy, fearing you might not return. Now they can finally rest easy. Truly, Your Highness’s prestige in Brambleford is unmatched."
"Hahaha... Is that so? Your skill at flattery has improved in prison, it seems. Maybe a stint behind bars did you some good." Simon laughed.
Lancelot smirked darkly. "He’s not wrong. This bastard nearly got Your Highness killed, serves him right."
Percival wore a pained expression. "Captain Lancelot, must you bring up such old grievances?"
The group burst into laughter.
After the Chandlier family was dealt with, the war in Dunmere had erupted, and in the chaos, Percival had been forgotten, left to rot in prison for over a month. Convinced Simon meant to execute him, he had nearly died of fright.
It wasn’t until the merchant guilds descended into chaos and appealed to the Governor’s residence that anyone remembered to release him.
Back on his own turf, Simon felt a weight lift from his shoulders. With his initial power network in Eldora now established, maintaining those connections would suffice. From now on, his business ventures in the capital would have allies.
Now that he was back, he could finally focus on development.
Amid the clamour, Baldwin spoke up. "My Lord, since your return, a joyous event has occurred."