Chapter 185 - The princess is always in another tower
Scarlett reclined against the cabin wall behind her, eyes half-shut as the carriage swayed gently. She tried to ignore the persistent headache that had plagued her since morning. The day had presented her with a whirlwind of thoughts, far more than she cared to entertain.
From the opposite end of the cabin, Allyssa’s voice broke the silence that hung over them. “Is it really alright that we’re coming along?”
Scarlett cracked her eyes open, studying the girl. “You need not worry. This is merely another facet of your duties while under my employ.”
“I get that,” Allyssa said. The young Shielder leaned forward in her seat, peering out one of the windows. “It just feels strange, being granted entry to a place like this so casually. Don’t they have to vet us or something? And it all happened so suddenly. I didn’t even have time to mentally prepare myself.”
Scarlett couldn’t blame her for her concerns. She hadn’t anticipated this course of events either. Her attention shifted from Allyssa to the world outside, where their carriage approached a set of steep stone walls rising from the cobbled streets. Tall, crenelated towers rose beyond the walls, crowned with fluttering banners bearing the crest of a black and gold lion fluttering in the breeze.
Passing through the gatehouse, they entered a sprawling courtyard alive with a medley of activities.
Lordsfort Keep, in many respects, served as the heart of Bridgespell, and despite also being the personal residence of a duke, it embodied many of the values present in the city. Though it lacked the grandeur of the Tyndalls’ Castle in Windgrove, and wasn’t even close to being as large, it buzzed with people bustling from left to right, ranging from servants to traders and guardsmen. The keep was a melting pot of diverse backgrounds and wasn’t restricted only to the duke’s men.
To the side, smaller structures likely housed armories, servants’ quarters, work offices, and more, while the main stronghold stood as the centerpiece overlooking it all. Its imposing facade featured stained glass windows of vivid hues, filtering daylight into a tapestry of colors. It alone was easily double the size of the Hartford mansion in Freybrook, with guards standing before its entrances.
“We’ve still got our job to do, so try to keep those nerves at bay,” Shin said, placing a hand on Allyssa’s shoulder and pulling her back into her seat to stop her from staring too much. “Maybe you should take a page out of Fynn’s book.”
He gestured towards the white-haired youth seated to Scarlett’s left. Fynn wore a stoic expression as he gazed outside.
Allyssa shot Shin a small glare. “I’m sorry that I’m still not used to visiting castles regularly. I’m sure you have lots of experience visiting the home of literally one of the most powerful people in the empire.” She crossed her arms as she leaned back in her seat with a huff. “And don’t compare me to Fynn. That’s hardly fair. I doubt he even knows what anxious means.”
Fynn turned to her. “Actually, I do.”