Chapter 296
The palace gatekeepers were playing cards with strips of dried meat hanging from their mouths. Even during shift changes, such conduct would normally be unthinkable.
But who cared? Bariel was celebrating, and cheers could be heard even from atop the walls. In a world drunk on wine and laughter, weren’t they citizens of the empire before being gatekeepers?
“Did you see Clifford earlier?”
“Yeah. They were killer. How can human bodies move so lightly? It wasn’t even dancing – more like acrobatics.”
“I thought it’d be just a show parade, but they didn’t stop even when entering the palace. Damn, they’re overflowing with energy.”
Above all, entry was restricted except for foreign guests. Something about ensuring smooth palace operations. In other words, they were bored.
“Dammit! Who shuffled these cards?”
“I fold. Can’t even wipe my ass with this hand.”
A gatekeeper who’d given up on the game leaned against the outer wall, clicking his tongue. Soap bubbles and flower petals rained down among the crowds moving like ant colonies.