Chapter 36: Chapter 35 – Homeland III

Hero leaves the Vestili palace with the musketeer woman to his left and Elena to his right, all hastily treading towards a carriage waiting at the wide approach.

They make a stop at the gates where an awaiting soldier hands the woman a sheathed rapier through the window.

「Thank you, Astora,」 Hero says, but is only met with a raised eyebrow from the woman, prompting him to elaborate, 「for giving me a pretext to get out of there,」 he says with a pause, 「Before I lost my temper.」

「It is Margrave Gauden you should be thanking, hero,」 she responds dryly, matter-of-fact diction indicating her disinterest in the conversation.

The carriage passes quickly through the yard and the outer gates, taking them on a wide, paved road.

「Have they found out where Rosaria is...? Or was it only a ruse to get me out of there?」 Hero asks calmly, but his foot tapping the floor reveals his impatience.

Opposite of him, Astora sits with one leg over the other while looking out the window an uncaring gaze. Next to her, Elena keeps her head down and legs together while fumbling with her fingers, hands on her thighs.

No one responds for a few moments until Elena raises her head carefully and mutters in a consoling way, 「Hero, Sir... May I ask you wait for Margrave Gauden to tell you himself?」

The wide road takes them past the massive Royal Quarter gates, then further downhill, straight past the nobility residences and the militia buildings. After being stopped once more at the inner city gates, where the giant statues cast shadow on the carriage, they speed through neighborhood after neighborhood of much less imposing buildings, whose height seems to steadily decrease as they near the outskirts.

At times they have to slow down to take a turn, or let passing pedestrians disperse when they drive past a market street. Here, the road is made out of cobblestone, polished by centuries of various wheeled vehicles.

Finally, having spent almost two hours on the ride, they pass the last clumps of buildings of the outer city, and the land opens up before them onto the capital's outskirts.

For the next half an hour or so, no one says anything besides the occasional quip about the scenery here and there as they ride on rougher, gravel roads, passing numerous orchards and a well-tended field of rye before a stone gateway announces they are entering the yards of palace Celesion — Margrave Gauden's abode.

A guard at an outpost stationed by the end of the gravel road waves them by as soon as he notices the carriage, and they continue down a cobblestone path which picturesquely weaves itself between groves of conifers, once hugging a cliff overlooking a meager, soft-sloped wooded valley, at other time crossing a decorative bridge over an artificial stream. Having made a final, long curve around a grassy hill with tall pines on top, the carriage rolls onto a straight, wide path leading through a magnificent, green field.

With no visible blemishes or weeds growing on it, and decorative fountains arranged in rows, each increasing in size until they culminate at a singular one in a center of a grand court tiled with marble, the whole area lets any guest know the owner has plenty of space to use for nothing other than conspicuous decoration.

The carriage rides around the fountain, stopping at a spot just a few steps away from the entrance door. The massive, two-winged union of gold-plated steel and dark wood stands wide open, with two maids awaiting at each side.

A skinny-looking servant in a dapper suit comes, stepping quickly towards the carriage door and, having opened it, gestures with a low bow, inviting Hero, Elena and Astora to step outside.

As soon as the three start walking towards the lobby the maids bow gracefully and wait until they pass before following in tow.

Not quite as spacious as the entrance to Vestili, the guest hall is nonetheless a very extravagant-looking room. Tall pilasters spaced every few steps along the white marble walls echo the exterior motifs as they reach towards a tall ceiling.

In front of the trio, above a portal towards an interior corridor, is a small balcony overlooking the entrance, with doors to upper floor rooms on each side.

No sooner does Hero step onto a lush red carpet running from around half length of the room all the way to the inner corridor than a man of curious proportions and attire waltzes in from the rightward upper door, and onto the balcony.

Margrave Gauden, as it is unmistakably him, is a tall, middle-aged man with an angular face, straight nose, bushy eyebrows and equally bushy mustache, which together with his cleft chin take all the attention from his blue eyes and dirty blonde, short hair, or his strange ears, resembling a mixture of a human and half-elf's.

His chest, puffed out, emphasizes his neat, white, high collar flannel shirt, tucked under a brocade belt, which holds a pair of black trousers on his thick legs, giving his body an imposing, squarish silhouette. The look is completed by a long-sleeved thick leather jacket he keeps draped over his shoulders.

Upon spotting him, Elena and Astora rush forward and take a knee.

「Your Grace, we've brought Hero per your request,」 Astora announces.

Margrave Gauden ignores them, settling his gaze directly on Hero who bows his head upon meeting his eyes.

「Hm,」 he lets out, almost sounding like a forceful grunt, though, not quite like a harrumph — more like a sound of approval.

「I am happy that I made the summons in time, Hero. I hope the princes were not too harsh on you,」 he adds.

「Master Gauden, you mean to say that you anticipated they would confront me today?」 Hero asks.

「Hm. Indeed,」 the noble nods, 「They seem to have gotten impatient, but knowing Prince Targin, he might have done it deliberately to force my hand,」 after a pause Margrave Gauden's somber words come forth, 「Times are changing, trouble is brewing ahead.」

「What was the matter about Princess Rosaria? Have you found her yet?」

Hero starts approaching the balcony, but a raised hand from the margrave gestures him to stop.

「Where are my manners. I keep forgetting you're not the little apprentice I used to train back in the day. You've defeated the Demon King, your title should, by all means, be higher than mine now.」

He pauses for a brief moment to clap twice, the sound echoing off the smooth walls of the lobby.

「Enowen, bring them to the dining room!」

In the same moment, several servants rush out from seemingly nowhere and start taking away their belongings and removing their armors.

They take off Elena's vambrace and pauldrons before briskly removing the breastplate, revealing a slender figure with a modest bosom. Her breasts bounce around very slightly and stretch against her skin-tight shirt. Her arms and shoulders look fit, but lack any extra fat or muscle, making her skin and contour still retain their feminine charms. Once the leg armor is also removed, her thighs and calves display the same curvaceous look.

An elder man with grey hair and a mustache resembling his master's takes the stage in the center of the room before bowing steeply and saying, 「Please, this way.」

While being unclothed, Hero signals for the servants to stop and shouts, 「With all due respect, Master Gauden, I am not here to enjoy a frivolous dinner. I trust that you did not invite me solely for an evening of food, wine and friendly chatter!」

Margrave Gauden studies him with keen eyes while caressing his mustache. He then raises his right hand, gesturing for the servants to disperse.

「Hm. As you wish. We will talk in the meeting room. Enowen, show the way!」

The servant bows once again and, hand stretched out, leads them through the corridor and to the right, then upstairs to a massive study, at the end of which, and against a window, stands an ornamented birch desk with metal legs, silver insets, and a layer of glossy, red varnish.

In front of it, on a thick carpet with leaf patterns, stands a low coffee table, about four meters long and surrounded by armchairs with green-and-white striped upholstery.

Four porcelain teacups that are waiting to be filled have already been prepared on the coffee table together with a tea set in the center. The servant walks up with sure steps and grabs the pot of tea to fill all the cups before retreating to a corner of the room where, in wait, he stands completely still.

Soon after the three guests stand by a chair each, a side door opens, and in comes the margrave, energetically stepping up to the desk and sitting behind it, gesturing Hero, Elena and Astora to take their seats at the low table.

With the light shining in from behind Margrave Gauden, the three of them find it difficult to look straight at him.

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「Hero, what you've just experienced is the princes starting to play their cards. Hm. Indeed, they have already started putting their claws into the Church, with Archbishop Mardwin having recently announced his support for Prince Targin. I believe that in a few more years, once the goodwill towards their savior wanes, even the public will easily get swayed by these...」 he pauses for a moment without finishing the sentence. 「The longer we stall this, the better their chances get.」

Hero looks down at the table and bites his lip, 「I know, that's why we must hurry and find...」 his voice tapers off.

Elena looks at him with a worried face. She opens her mouth wanting to say something, but Astora's hand on her shoulder makes her hold and shrink back in her seat. Astora goes back to sipping her tea with her pinky finger out and eyes closed, her naturally long eyelashes fluttering in the light.

「We cannot afford to wait any longer. We must act now,」 the margrave announces with a pause, tapping all fingers of his right hand on the table at once.

「There is only one way to resolve this now, Hero.」

Leaning forward with expectant eyes, the Hero asks, 「What is it?」

「Hm. You must wedlock Princess Lumira.」

Hero and Elena gasp in shock. Astora keeps her disinterested look while tracing her finger on the edge of the teacup.

「B-but, Princess Lumira is not of age!」 Elena retorts.

「It is of no importance. I will take care of all the formalities and ceremonial issues. We just need to convince the King,」 the margrave answers with a serious expression.

「Joining the royal lineage is still possible if you marry Princess Lumira. The princes will be forced to concede, and you can ascend the throne. I have already talked to Her Highness Lumira, and she's agreeable to the pro—」

「I shall not marry Princess Lumira,」 Hero declares, interrupting him with clenched fists. 「Me and Princess Rosaria were meant to be together!」 he looks left and right with hesitation before adding, 「Not like two lovebirds who insist on getting married out of passion clawing at their hearts, but as two parts of a divine plan! She is the only one who can fulfill the prophecy, and she has to do it by marrying me! You already know this, Master Gauden!」

「Do not be a child!」 Gauden bellows as he leans in over the table as much as the bulk of his torso allows, 「Realize what is best for the people, the Kingdom, and the greater good!」

「I won't have it!」 Hero exclaims.

Margrave Gauden closes his eyes, and rubs the area between his eyebrows, letting out a sigh. He rises from his seat with his palms on the table, obscuring the light behind him with his sizable body. Turning around, he approaches the windows with his hands together behind his back, and looks outside with a distant look.

He casts his eyes on the servants tending to the magnificent lawn, then further onto the edge of the deliberately sculpted groves of trees, finally journeying to the horizon.

After a couple of moments of suspense, the margrave's voice resounds.

「We already know the whereabouts of Princess Rosaria and Xalvari,」 he announces, for the first time sounding timid for a moment.

The room returns to a deafening silence that would make the sound of a single pin seem loud.

Hero rises with a shocked face, slamming his hands on the table in the process. Noticing the two other women's mild reactions, his shock turns into a frown.

「For how long have you known?」 Hero growls, the light from the window suddenly brightening up his bright-golden eyes. Settling his gaze at Elena, he clamors, 「Even you Elena!?」

Elena looks away with guilt in her eyes while Astora leisurely sips the last of her tea with the same disinterested face. Her eyes appear to study the carved trellis at the edge of the table.

About to mutter an apology, Elena gets interrupted by the margrave's booming voice.

「It was at my request that we keep it hidden from you, Hero!」

The room seems to vibrate when he raises his voice.

「Master Gauden!? Why!? 」 Hero shouts in disbelief.

The margrave squeezes his hands behind his back, still facing away from the guests.

「Hero, if you were told of this, you would have pursued her immediately, disregarding the situation here in the Kingdom. Do you think the princes would let the chance slide?」 the margrave pauses, turns around, and looks at him solemnly before adding, 「Hero, you need to face that Princess Rosaria has chosen her destiny. If it's about the prophecy and the divine then we're already having Pope Leminas guide Princess Lumira through several prayers. Surely with time the Heavens will unders-」

「I do not want to hear it! First, it was Xalvari, but now you too Master Gauden are trying to ridicule me!?」 Hero screams and hits the table with enough force to cause the tea set and cups to topple over, some falling to the ground and smashing into pieces.

Astora lets out a quiet yelp while holding her teacup close to her chest, protecting it from suffering the same fate.

「Hero...!」 Elena rushes to Hero's side, consoling him by putting her hand on his back.

The margrave and Hero stare at each other intensely while Enowen hurries out of the room and quickly comes back with a piece of cloth to begin wiping the tea.

「I already said, I do not care about the throne if I can't have Princess Rosaria at my side,」 Hero claims through gritted teeth. 「Now, tell me. Where is she?」

Margrave Gauden lets out an exhale and rubs his forehead.

「Stubborn. So stubborn. You have always been the most stubborn one among you five. Whether it's a blessing or not, only Goddess can tell.」

He sighs resignedly, 「Word travels slowly, but our scouts have followed up on a supposed sighting of some people matching their descriptions, down in Wilderness,」 he begins. 「One of our spies has confirmed seeing the Princess herself, dressed up incognito, in a town deep in the southern regions, past the Howling Peaks.」 He gets back in his seat and gestures for Hero to do the same. Elena stays standing behind him with her hand still touching him.

「I knew it would turn out like this so settle down. I am already in the process of assembling a formidable search party that will go in place of you. Hero, remember, you have a duty to lead us into a new age, one free from the deadly remaining curses of the Demon King, now that he has been defeated. Hm. We cannot afford that you stray away chasing them on your own, not when the princes have their eyes set on the throne.」

Hero weighs his words with a grimace, sitting silent and looking as if he had just drank vinegar.

The margrave knits his big hands, resting his elbows on the table before looking at him, absent-mindedly pointing his index finger in the general direction of everything behind the three guests.

「I've put Master Kharan to lead the task. I've told him to bring back the princess by all means. He's many things, but he's also a trustworthy ally, and I believe he'll do the job.」

「What about Xalvari?」 Hero asks, teeth clenched in dissatisfaction, 「He might be a wretched cur, but he is no fool. What if he retaliates? His power should not be underestimated.」

「Hm,」 Margrave Gauden caresses his mustache while going into deep thought.

「If I may,」 Astora speaks for the first time since entering the room.

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