Chapter 17: Chapter 17 – Banquets and appetizers

The game world of 'Chronicle of Realms' had been large, even for an open-world RPG. It covered the entirety of the Graenal Empire, and many of its cities—such as Freybrook and Kilsfell—were almost wholly traversable, each impressive in its own way. Trekking across the whole map on foot in the game took hours in real life. That's why all means of expediting that movement—such as mounts and fast-travel using the Kilnstones—had been an important part of the game. While those two were the most common methods, there were others. One Scarlett herself had used on several occasions were boats.

The entire southern border of the Empire touched what was known as the Innisling Sea, a rather tempestuous ocean with lots of interesting locations such as the Rising Isle or the Broken Tower in it. In the Empire's southwestern region, not far east of Freybrook, began an estuary—that is, where a river meets the ocean—known as the Mouth of Graenal. It branched out into the river of Three Streams; both the largest and longest river in the whole empire. It continued all the way to the center of the Empire's lands and split into Rellaria Lake, where the Imperial Capital Elystead was, and a delta of three smaller rivers. And to the east of Elystead, at the end on one of those forks of rivers, was the city of Ambercrest.

The whole width of the river could be seen from the hill they found themselves at and its length spread out far into the distance. In the game one could just barely see Rellaria Lake from here, but even as she gazed out the carriage window in that direction Scarlett couldn't see anything but water and land. She'd already felt it with Freybrook, but this really made it all the more clear how large this world actually was compared to the game. She looked away from the distant horizon and towards their new location.

The city of Ambercrest was a walled city built at a point where the end of the river met a high and rocky cliffside. There was a fair distance down from most of the city to the water underneath. Jutting out from the cliffside were two outcroppings—cliff hills, really—that towered over the rest of the city. The hill they were currently on was one of those, while the other outcropping housed a large fort-like castle of almost tan stone. Not far from that was another piece of land that jutted out into the water but down towards sea-level rather than up. From their current vantage point, Scarlett could see a large number of ships anchored in the water around that little island. Ambercrest's harbor wasn't quite the size of Freybrook's, but Ambercrest also wasn't as much of a maritime city as Freybrook was.

After a man in a black uniform similar to that of those men in charge of the Kilnstone back in Freybrook walked up and performed a quick inspection of their carriage and the black carriage that had arrived with them they were given permission to leave. Much like in Freybrook the Kilnstone here in Ambercrest had a large open circular structure around it that was supported by marble pillars. As their driver steered their carriage behind the other carriage and through a large gap in those pillars they passed by a group of guards in red and started leaving the large square where the Kilnstone was behind. Soon they were descending down a broad stone road towards the city itself, passing through an open gate and inside Ambercrest's walls. The coachman seemed to know exactly where they were going as their carriage soon deftly moved through the packed streets of the city. Unlike Freybrook, where many of the buildings were built out of wood and cut stone, the buildings here in Ambercrest were made of light brown and red bricks with colored roofs. All in all the city was much more colorful than Freybrook was, that was certain.

It took around ten minutes before the carriage entered a part of the city that was plainly more well-off than the rest. Mansions began surrounding them left and right, as well as there being a clear difference in the quality of the road they traveled on and the clothing of the people she sometimes spotted. Although unlike Freybrook, where there was enough space in the richer district for almost all the mansions to have large estates attached to them, here all the buildings were built tightly next to each other. There weren't many gardens or other empty areas that she could see from the buildings' facades.

Soon enough the carriage drove up and stopped before the gates of a particularly large mansion which actually had a short walkway up to its entrance. Scarlett only had to wait for a moment before the coachman had moved back to open the carriage door for her.
"We have arrived, my Lady," the man said. It wasn't the same young man that she'd grown used to when she went out on excursions around Freybrook with Kat. This man was much older and more used to these kinds of events. She did wonder whether the Hartford family employed its carriage drivers full-time or if that was done some other way.

Turning her head towards Kat, she spoke. "I will take my leave. The coachman will take you wherever you wish in the city. I trust that you will be fine on your own." It would be a shame if she brought the woman just for her to get lost in the city.

Kat grinned. "I'll manage. I've been to Ambercrest before and know some of the local Guild members. It'll be fun to meet up with them."
"Good." Scarlett gave Kat a short nod before rising from her seat and stepping out of the carriage.

"I will bring Miss Breedan to her desired location and return immediately, my Lady," the driver told her. "There is a spot for the carriages nearby. I will wait there for when you wish to leave."

With that, the man gave a short bow and closed the carriage's door before climbing up at its front and getting the horse into motion with a click of his tongue and a light whisk of the reins. Scarlett observed them leave for a moment, pondering how she was supposed to inform the man when she wanted to leave. She turned to the gate of the mansion. Well, a servant was bound to be able to help with that. Hopefully.

She walked towards the gate where two guards with truncheons at their side looked at her. A brown-haired man in a suit—he looked to be a servant of some kind—had exited from a small sentry box and greeted her as she closed in.

"Welcome, my Lady. Are you here for the reception?" he asked with the same kind of smile you'd see on a salesman trying to convince you of the perks of getting a new vacuum cleaner.

"I am," she answered curtly.

The man took out a small book from his inner pocket and opened it. "May I ask for your name?"

"Baroness Scarlett Hartford."

The man looked down at the book, flipping through its pages as a small frown appeared on his brow.

"Is there a problem?" She meant it as a question, but the way it came out it sounded more like a demand.

The man looked at her with an awkward expression, trying to avoid her gaze. "N-Not at all my Lady. It's just that..." She saw drops of sweat begin to form on his forehead. After a moment he turned around and gestured to the guards to open the gate before turning back to her. "It seems like there might have been a slight mistake with bookkeeping on our end. Nothing your Ladyship has to worry about. You may enter the estate immediately." He performed a bow. "The pre-ceremonial banquet has already begun in the inner garden. If you ask a servant they will lead you there. The ceremony itself will begin at one o'clock." He cautiously looked up at her. "Does the Baroness have any companion that will arrive later?"

She scowled at him. Were one not supposed to go to these kinds of events by themselves? As far as she was aware she had only received an invitation for one person. Although maybe she was expected to arrive with other attendees or something like that. She had seen that kind of thing in books and shows.

"I am by myself," she told him in a cold voice. "Any further questions?"

A half-panicked expression appeared on his face. "N-No, of course not your Ladyship. How would I dare to question one such as you? Please, the bride and groom bid you welcome." He gestured towards the mansion.

Deciding not to frighten the man more than necessary Scarlett let him be and began walking towards the building. When she reached the double-doored entrance it was opened from the inside by a short blonde woman in servant's clothing who stood to the side of the entrance. Scarlett gave the woman a short look before entering the foyer of the mansion. It was lit up by a large chandelier hanging from the roof and had two flights of carpeted stairs that led to a second floor as well as several doors that seemed to lead to other parts of the building.

"The reception is held in the gardens, my Lady," the woman who'd opened the doors told her. "Shall I lead you there?"

Scarlett examined the room for a moment longer before turning to the woman. "Yes. Lead the way."

The servant threw one last glance out the doors before closing them and curtsying to Scarlett. "Then — follow me, my Lady." She leaned her head down as she spoke and didn't meet Scarlett's eyes as she spun around and started leading Scarlett through the mansion. They passed through a door at the far end of the foyer into a hallway that led past what looked like a reception hall and music room before coming out to an open pathway between two different parts of the mansion. The left side of the pathway opened up into a large garden that was completely enclosed on all sides by other sections of the mansion, with the garden itself being packed full of tables and people socializing. At the center of the garden stood a tall statue of some man Scarlett didn't recognize, and at the other end of the area—she could barely make out through the throngs of people—a raised white platform with a roof that had what resembled suns hanging from it. Probably made out of paper or something like it.

"The bride and groom have yet to make their entrance but you are free to take part in the festivities," the servant said and Scarlett turned her attention back to the woman, only for the woman to give her another curtsy and immediately take her leave. Scarlett raised a brow at the action before looking back out over the mass of people. She spotted a table that appeared to hold some manner of hors d'oeuvres not too far away from her and decided to go there for now. Some of those who were nearby seemed to take notice of her, but she didn't pay them any mind. It'd been a while since she ate, and while she didn't want to go against whatever norms there might be around here, she also doubted the original Scarlett would have cared much about small things like this. Stopping at the table, she eyed the different side dishes for a moment. Picking up something that looked a lot like some kind of crostini with cheese cream on it, she tried a bite. It was decent. Not as good as some of the other stuff she had tried in this world.

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Maybe the Hartford's chef was just that good? She reminded herself that she should meet the person sometime. Picking up another small dish, she turned her head and examined her surroundings.

To be honest, she was at a complete loss as to what she should do next. This whole wedding business had been sprung on her quite suddenly. She was still hoping she'd find some book on noble etiquette in the mansion, but even if she did it would be unlikely to cover subjects like these. It would have been useful if she had someone to ask about these things, but doing that would undoubtedly arouse suspicion she didn't want.

As her gaze moved across the attendees of the wedding she suddenly heard a voice approach her from the side.

"If it isn't Baroness Hartford. I'm surprised to see you here at this wedding."

Scarlett turned around to see a middle-aged man in what she could only describe as a black half-open fantasy suit with gold inlays and buttons moving towards her. He had deep golden hair and walked arm-in-arm with a raven-haired woman in a wide dark-blue dress that looked at her with a small smile.

"It has been a while, Baroness," the man said as a greeting.

"You look great in that dress dear," the woman gestured her hand towards Scarlett.

Scarlett examined them both closely for a second before ever-so-slightly nodding her head towards the man. "It has," she said, before turning to the woman. "And your dress is quite fitting as well."

The man smiled and brought his hands forward. "Let me introduce you two. Baroness, this is my wife, Viscountess Irena Clapham. Irena, I'm sure you were already aware, but this is Baroness Scarlett Hartford."

Scarlett glanced at him. That had to make this man Viscount Clapham.

"Why of course I knew!" the viscountess waved her hand in her husband's direction. "I'm sure her name has been on the lips of everyone who has read this week's issue of the Empyreal Chronicle."

Scarlett lifted an eyebrow. That wasn't a name she was expecting to hear here. The Empyreal Chronicle was the national newspaper in the Graenal Empire. In the game it was released on a weekly basis and was mostly a way for the player to learn of potential events and quests across the world during the course of the game.

"I am afraid I am unaware as to exactly what it is that you are referring to. I have not been informed of any article or the like regarding me," she said.

"Goodness!" The viscountess covered her mouth. "You didn't even know? I read it just yesterday. To think that such vile criminals were present in Freybrook of all places! I'm glad that you dealt with them."

What did they write about her? And why had she missed this? She would have to ask Garside about it when she returned this evening.
"It appears as if my contribution in the matter has been exaggerated." Getting too much attention on herself at this time might introduce unexpected factors. It sounded like more trouble than it was worth at the moment. "Much of the recognition goes to Count Knottley and the members of the Shields Guild who participated in the subjugation of the criminals."

"Oh my, how humble."

"How unexpected. For you to give the credit to others, Baroness," Viscount Clapham said.

Scarlett met his eyes. "I do not make it a custom to take what isn't mine. I am not 'giving' any credit; merely ensuring that it is acknowledged where it should be."

The viscount smiled. "Of course. Pardon my gaffe. I'm simply glad those kinds of unsavory elements were dealt with appropriately."

"As am I."

"Speaking of, how are things over in Freybrook? It has been a while since I last visited. How's your sister?"

Scarlett kept a neutral expression. "She is well, although we are both quite busy due to the current circumstances."

"As I thought you would be. I'm sure there's much to deal with after—"

The viscount went quiet as his eyes moved to behind Scarlett. A moment later she felt a hand grab hold of her left shoulder and forcibly turn her around. She was met face to face with a handsome man with dark black hair in a black military dolman that had a gold trimming and collar. His sleeves were white with wide gold bracelets and on his chest hung dozens of small medals as well as a large golden medallion in the shape of the sun. He looked at her with a large scowl.

"What are you doing here?"

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