Chapter 674 - 321: Northern Duke
...
...
Outside the city gate of the frontier town.
Two convoys slowly approached from the southern and western roads.
Thick snow covered the road, producing a crunching sound as the wheels passed over.
The Eldest Princess’s convoy was at the forefront.
Three carriages were lined up, with shield emblems featuring crack patterns hanging on their sides.
The royal guards were decked out in exquisite silver armor, the surface of which reflected the faint winter sunlight.
Their warhorses donned iron helmets, and their backs were covered with heavy horse armor, appearing dignified and mighty.
The horses’ hooves left a neat trail on the snowy ground.
The Duke of Flowers’ convoy followed closely from another road, equipped with three carriages as well.
The carriages were adorned with the family crest of intertwining roses and thorns.
The two teams maintained a subtle distance on the road, neither speeding up.
However, just as the Eldest Princess’s convoy was about to reach the city gate, several guards from the Duke of Flowers’ emissary group suddenly spurred their horses, waving flags, and dashed to the front.
These guards positioned themselves across the southern road, blocking the path of the Eldest Princess’s convoy.
"The emissary group of His Majesty Aegon is about to arrive!"
The voice of the guard leader was loud enough to be heard by every member of the Eldest Princess’s emissary group.
The so-called His Majesty Aegon referred to the youngest prince.
"Everyone, hold your position!"
The guard held his head high, his expression clearly provocative.
In the next moment, the royal guards of the Eldest Princess responded.
Five silver-armored guards swiftly broke from their ranks, charging forward.
"The emissary group of Her Majesty the Empress has arrived! Get out of the way!"
The royal guards roared, spurring their horses forward, directly charging at the guards of the Duke of Flowers’ emissary group!
The charging royal guards exuded a fierce aura, with an air of aggression!
The guards blocking the way were startled as they witnessed this scene.
They originally thought the royal guards would stop for negotiation, but did not expect them to charge directly!
The momentum of the charging horses made them uneasy, quickly clearing the path!
"Oh!"
The royal guards at the forefront reined in their horses.
The horses reared up, tracing arcs in the air, scaring the guards into retreating once more!
And the royal guards aggressively spread out to both sides of the road, clearing the passage, disdainfully glancing at the guards beside them.
Though they said nothing, their faces were filled with arrogance.
Their aloof attitude was as if they were looking at a group of country knights ignorant of the wider world.
"Pawns of the false Empress!"
The guards of the Duke of Flowers’ emissary group felt insulted, their faces flushed red.
"They dare to disrupt the emissary group of His Majesty Aegon!"
The guards drew their longswords!
The royal guards naturally refused to back down, drawing their swords in response!
The clanging sound of metal friction echoed, especially harsh in the empty snowy field!
Tensions escalated at the crossroads!
The guards on both sides glared at each other, and the horses, sensing the tense atmosphere, breathed heavier.
"Relay Lord Rod’s orders!"
At this moment, a stern voice suddenly interrupted the tense standoff between the two sides.
All eyes were immediately drawn to the owner of the voice
— it was Sao, the Frost Winter Knight Captain of Rod.
Sao spurred his horse, approaching slowly from the direction of the city gate.
Behind him followed a dozen Frost Winter Knights, all clad in heavy armor.
Sao’s cold gaze swept over the confronting crowd, paying no heed to the drawn swords or the anger on the guards’ faces.
He merely announced loudly in a calm manner:
"Recently, frenzied and hungry fierce beasts have been appearing around the frontier town!"
"To ensure the safety within the city, the closing time of the city gate is advanced!"
"If you want to enter the city, hurry up!"
"Otherwise, you’ll have to spend the night in the wilderness!"
After saying this, Sao paid no attention to the two emissary groups, lightly nudged his horse, and turned toward the city gate.
The Frost Winter Knights who were meant to escort the two emissary groups also tactfully spurred their horses, leaving the emissary teams to follow Sao.
This situation immediately left the guards on both sides in a stalemate.
They held their swords but were unsure of what to do next.
The Frost Winter Knights’ indifference suggested they didn’t care about the dispute at all.
This feeling of being ignored left both sides’ guards feeling somewhat awkward.
The tense atmosphere gradually dissipated, replaced by a subtle silence.
Soon, two nobles stepped down from the carriages on either side.
The two exchanged a few words quietly and then had their guards disperse.
Then the two nobles walked shoulder to shoulder into the frontier town, their convoys slowly following, one by one entering the town.
At this moment, on the city walls.
Rod stood behind the merlons with Durant, quietly watching it all unfold.
"It seems, your weight in their minds is not insignificant."
Durant’s face was filled with excitement.
Since having the gauntlets, Durant had been smiling much more than before.
Of course, it might also be from spending so much time with Gang Le, he had been influenced.
Rod nodded slightly.
He watched the two convoys slowly entering the frontier town, a slight smile playing at his lips,
"I didn’t expect that these people could be so adaptable."
Rod had no malicious intent; arranging for the two emissary groups to arrive simultaneously was not to watch them clash.
Rod simply wanted to see how much his words could influence their conflict.
In this way, he could determine how much these emissary groups truly valued him.