Chapter 280: The Last Guest
The escorts stopped right at the passage to the main hall. They bowed deeply and gestured broadly inside, inviting them to proceed further.
As soon as Edriac and Lucius crossed the threshold, the massive gates behind them began to slide shut, finally closing with a dull thud.
A massive, incredibly colorful room opened up before them. The hall stretched not only outward but also upward, with numerous balconies and galleries on several levels overlooking the activity below. Down the middle of the hall stretched long tables, literally groaning under an abundance of exquisite dishes, appetizers, and drinks. Lively conversations were happening everywhere, accompanied by quiet laughter and the clinking of crystal.
As they entered, dozens of aristocrats cast brief, appraising glances at them. However, seeing nothing overtly suspicious, most of the guests immediately returned to their conversations.
However, two men in rich garments broke away from a nearby group and headed straight toward Edriac and Lucius.
"Hello," the first of them said politely, bowing his head slightly. "My name is Faun de Lurt."
The ruler standing next to him also gave a small bow:
"And my name is Marcus von Rhein. And you are...?"
"Hello," Edriac replied. "I am Edriac Thornsvald, ruler of Avers. And this is my son, Danial Thornsvald."
Lucius, standing slightly to the side with a cane in his hand, bowed politely, maintaining the persona of the crown prince.
"Hmm, the Kingdom of Avers," Marcus said thoughtfully, nodding. "I have heard of your nation. It is renowned for its impeccable cleanliness, strict laws, and rich culture."
Edriac smiled faintly:
"That is correct. I, in turn, have heard much about your kingdom — Kiuri. Specifically, that it is a dual state with two equal capitals."
Marcus raised an eyebrow in surprise:
"Oh... You are actually right. I didn't think the ruler of such an advanced and closed-off kingdom would be aware of how our lands are structured."
"Before accepting the invitation and coming here, I tried to study everyone in attendance as thoroughly as possible," Edriac answered calmly.
While the guests were absorbed in their conversation with Edriac, Lucius quietly stepped back and blended into the crowd of bustling servants and guests. Without drawing any unnecessary glances, he slowly made his way along the long buffet tables.
Feramir paused by one of the plates, picked up a small, glazed sweet on a thin wooden skewer with his fingers, and popped it into his mouth. As he chewed, he continued walking at an unhurried pace down the hall, turning his head slightly as he scanned the faces of the surrounding aristocrats through his lens.
Walking a little further, Lucius ran into a small group of aristocrats. Noticing the young man in the striking red jacket and top hat, one of them paused and politely addressed him:
"Hello. Your name, if I'm not mistaken, is Danial Thornsvald? Son of Edriac Thornsvald?"
Lucius stopped, leaned on his cane, and bowed his head slightly:
"Hello. That is correct, I am Danial Thornsvald."
"Nice to meet you," the aristocrat nodded. "I am Ron Graut."
"Likewise," Lucius said calmly.
"Um, we were just discussing the structure of the northern lands. As the heir, how do you evaluate the current state of Avers?" Ron asked to build rapport with Lucius.
"Well, as you understand, I am still a prince and will only take the throne in a year, when my father retires for a well-deserved rest," Lucius said in an even tone. "However, the development of our state is built on a very strict balance. We focused on three key pillars: rigid transparency in tax collection, closed trade logistics, and direct subsidies for craft guilds."
He took a short pause and continued, maintaining a light, polite smile:
"Instead of raising duties for foreign merchants and provoking shortages, Avers lowers internal costs through state centralization of warehouses. The treasury generates revenue not through high tax rates, but through the rapid turnover of goods. And automation combined with strict control over officials completely eliminates local budget embezzlement. As a result, the economy is stable, and the treasury is constantly replenished without putting pressure on the common folk."
The aristocrats listened in stunned silence, exchanging glances. When Lucius finished, one of them shook his head and let out an admiring sigh:
"Wow... You have an incredibly deep understanding of politics and public administration! You have a very bright future."
Lucius lowered his head slightly in a neat bow:
"Oh, please... I still have a great deal to learn."
Lucius paused for a moment, then asked:
"And why did you agree to come today?"
"I came primarily to build relations with the Kingdom of Versailles," one of the rulers shrugged.
Lucius nodded in understanding.
"And I genuinely want to find a strong and understanding ally," another aristocrat joined the conversation, "with whom I can gradually make our kingdom even better."
"The main thing is to assess the current balance of power," added a third. "And you, Danial? Why did you accept?"
"I have the exact same reason," Lucius replied with a slight smile.
The conversation continued for a while longer. At some point, carefully seizing the moment, Lucius asked another question:
"And what is the current state of your kingdom right now?"
At those words, the atmosphere among the group noticeably changed. The rulers instantly fell silent, and their faces visibly darkened.
"I'd rather not talk about it..." one of them muttered in a grave tone.
"God, these subordinates piss me off!" the second one lashed out, setting his glass down on the nearest counter with a dull clatter. "They don't know how to do a damn thing! Nothing but a headache with them."
Lucius calmly looked him right in the eyes and quietly asked:
"Are you sure the problem isn't you?"
The ruler immediately shot back:
"No."
"I see," Lucius replied reservedly. Realizing there was no more useful information to extract here, he bowed slightly: "Excuse me, gentlemen, but I must take my leave."
"Yes, of course, don't worry about it," the aristocrats answered. One of them smiled: "You are a very pleasant person to talk to. If the question of an alliance ever arises, know that our doors are always open to you."
"Likewise," Lucius nodded and, keeping a polite smile on his face, turned around and slowly walked on through the crowd of guests.
Passing by another group of laughing rulers, Lucius swept his gaze over the hall and shook his head, saying mentally:
Wow... Gathering so many aristocrats in one castle... Volgar Bjornsson, you manage to surprise me more and more every time.
At the same time, Valerius and Chris stood atop one of the castle's high towers, exposed to the cool night breeze.
Valerius cautiously approached the very edge of the stone ledge and looked down. His sharp gaze took in everything, from the number of patrols along the outer walls to the concentration of guards on the streets surrounding the castle. He mentally measured the radius from the residence walls to the nearest commoner residential blocks, calculating the future blast zone and making quick mental notes.
Near his feet—to hide the glow from the duty mages on the neighboring towers—a dark, barely visible hologram flared up.
It was an isolated projection, divided into dozens of neat squares. Each of them displayed the face of a ruler, his name, and a condensed biography barely a couple of sentences long. Lucius had previously divided the list of aristocrats who had yet to arrive, based on his initial scan of the hall, equally between Valerius and Chris.
Down below at the southern gates, another elite carriage stopped with a dull clatter, accompanied by heavy mounted guards.
A tall man in a fur cape with a thick, graying beard took his time stepping out of it. Valerius peered at his face and immediately found the match on his panel.
It was Duke Darian from the northern Duchy of Olden—the ruler of harsh mining lands, renowned for his protracted feud with the southern trade houses.
Valerius tapped the corresponding dark square. It was instantly crossed out with a neat green checkmark, and the entire ruler card collapsed and vanished soundlessly.
In that same second, this data went straight to Lucius's tablet.
Feramir himself was already sitting in a shaded part of the hall by this point, having settled alone in a plush armchair near a massive column. Feeling a slight vibration under his jacket, he discreetly pulled the thin tablet from a hidden pocket. A short line flared on the screen:
"Entry logged: Duke Darian, Duchy of Olden."
Lucius skimmed the text, gave a slight shake of his head, and calmly tucked the device away.
Afterwards, he carefully took off his top hat and placed it next to him on a small table.
Barely had he done so when a king standing nearby cast an attentive glance at him, and he and his companion began to whisper quietly.
"Isn't that the killer who was in the Kingdom of Eldoria?" the ruler asked in a half-whisper, frowning.
"What killer?" his companion asked back in surprise. "Sorry, but I don't know him and haven't heard of anything like that..."
Lucius, of course, heard everything. Maintaining his composure, he rose, leaning on his cane, then slowly approached the whispering rulers and bowed politely:
"Excuse me, of course, but judging people solely by their appearance and rumors is quite cruel."
The ruler who had started the rumor studied Lucius closely.
"And yes, I am Danial Thornsvald."
Meanwhile, the ruler mentally cross-referenced the reports and descriptions he had received earlier from King Geran. After getting a good look at the youthful, fit, and courteous young man before him, the ruler shifted awkwardly and shook his head:
"Yes... I'm sorry, I truly was mistaken."
Lucius smiled politely and openly:
"Oh please, no need to apologize. Tell me instead, what is your relationship with Volgar Bjornsson?"
"I am visiting this country for the first time," the ruler replied, relaxing his shoulders slightly. "I'm currently assessing the country to decide whether it's even worthy of consideration as a potential ally."
Lucius spread his hands slightly:
"Well, as you can see, I think it is quite worthy."
"I wouldn't say so," the king objected reservedly.
Lucius looked at him with mild bewilderment:
"Could you explain why?"
"For any ruler, an event like this is merely a matter of morality and politics," the ruler sighed. "Do you think such high-ranking guests would have come to you if you weren't a king?"
Lucius paused thoughtfully for a second, then replied:
"I suppose not."
"I am of the same opinion," the king nodded. "I won't speak for the others, but personally, I attend such events exclusively to find myself a good ally, or simply to take a break from the constant political hustle."
Lucius chuckled softly, genuine understanding flickering in his eyes:
"Oh, I understand you perfectly well. To be honest, I'm the same myself. I accompany my father mainly to take a break and relax... And, of course, to eat."
The ruler nodded approvingly, and the tension between them faded, allowing the conversation to flow more naturally.
However, just a couple of minutes later, a short, barely audible signal sounded directly in Lucius's earpiece, followed by a crisp voice:
"All the aristocrats have entered the castle."
Lucius subtly touched his fingers to his right ear, activating the transmitter with a single click so that Valerius and Chris on the roof could hear his every word.
"Excuse me, sir, but I must take my leave," Lucius said with a bow.
"Yes, of course, Danial. It was a pleasure speaking with you."
Lucius turned and made his way across the hall. Taking a few steps toward a shaded archway, he moved his lips imperceptibly, broadcasting a whisper into the comms channel:
"Well, any commoners detected in the zone?"
Valerius's even voice immediately sounded in the earpiece:
"Nope."
"Right, I haven't spotted any ordinary citizens either," Lucius said quietly, walking along the colonnade. "Now, proceed with the main objective..."
At that moment, on the highest tower of the castle, Valerius and Chris, who had been sitting on the stone parapet, vanished simultaneously, and Lucius finished his sentence in a calm, cold tone:
"...planting the bomb."