Chapter 48: The Royal Encounter
Chapter 48: The Royal Encounter
The soft, rhythmic clatter of hooves suddenly ground to a sharp halt, causing the grand black-and-gold carriage to sway gently on its enchanted iron springs.
Inside the plush leather cabin, Rael blinked, lowering the map he had been studying. "Hmm? Why did we stop?"
Saint Solenne frowned slightly. She leaned toward the small wooden shutter near the driver's seat, sliding it open to address the coachman outside. "Is there an obstruction on the road ahead?"
"M-My deepest apologies, Lady Saint!" the coachman's anxious voice filtered through the wooden shutter. "A grand royal carriage has taken up the entirety of the central intersection directly ahead of us. Their imperial guards have completely locked down the thoroughfare."
Solenne’s pristine, saintly expression stiffened for a fraction of a second. A look of deep, bitter annoyance flashed across her features before she managed to compose herself.
(I hope it isn't who I think it is...) Solenne thought, a headache already beginning to throb behind her temples.
She let out a soft breath, keeping her voice even. "Can you not simply steer around them through the side avenues?"
"I am afraid not, Lady Saint," the coachman replied nervously. "The imperial knights have cordoned off the entire avenue for a high-priority escort."
Before Solenne could issue another order, the ambient noise of the bustling city market outside dissolved into a deafening wave of high-pitched cheering and frantic whispers.
"Look! It's the royal crest!"
"His Highness is actually here in Empyrium City?!"
"Glory to the Valerium Empire! Long live Prince Damien!"
Through the tinted glass windows of the carriage, Rael watched as two figures stepped out of the golden royal carriage parked fifty yards ahead. The crowd parted like the red sea, bowing and cheering as the two men made their way directly toward Solenne's carriage.
The man walking in front was undeniably striking. He possessed cascading golden hair that caught the bright morning sunlight, sharp blue eyes that radiated absolute confidence, and an immaculate velvet coat trimmed with gold embroidery. Every inch of his posture exuded the effortless charm, authority, and dangerous political clout of a true crown prince.
Walking half a pace behind him was his personal guard a towering knight clad in heavy silver-and-obsidian plate armor. The guard had short, messy silver hair, cold green eyes, and carried a massive broadsword strapped across his back. What caught Rael’s attention, however, was not the armor, but the dense, visible vapor of blue mana wafting from the weapon's scabbard a cold, eerie aura that pulsed like a sleeping beast.
"At ease, good citizens," Prince Damien announced, his smooth, melodic voice carrying effortlessly across the crowd. He raised a hand in a lazy, gracious gesture, prompting the imperial knights and commoners alike to bow in absolute deference.
KNOCK, KNOCK.
Prince Damien tapped his gloved knuckles against the wooden door of Solenne's carriage.
Rael leaned slightly toward the window, looking out at the golden-haired royal. "Solenne, I think a remarkably handsome man is knocking on our door."
Solenne peered through the glass. The moment her eyes locked onto Prince Damien's face, her prediction was brutally confirmed.
"Oh, god..." Solenne muttered under her breath, rolling her eyes in absolute dread. "Not him..."
Rael carefully read the micro-expressions breaking through Solenne’s usual holy mask. It was painfully obvious that she held a deep disdain for the prince and wanted nothing to do with him. However, Rael decided to stay quiet for the moment. As an outsider knowing nothing the situasion, he had no intention of recklessly inserting himself into local political feuds without knowing the full board.
Solenne took a deep, steadying breath. In the span of a single heartbeat, her annoyance melted away, replaced by her perfectly crafted political mask a radiant, breathtaking smile that exuded warmth while hiding a complete lack of genuine emotion.
She slid the carriage door open.
Prince Damien stood outside, his bright blue eyes lighting up with satisfaction as he looked at her. "Ah, the bright star of our realm. It is always a pleasure to gaze upon your divine radiance, Saint Solenne."
With the grace of a seasoned nobleman, Damien extended a gloved hand toward her.
Solenne hesitated for a microsecond before placing her fingers lightly into his palm, allowing him to assist her as she stepped down onto the cobblestone street.
She had no choice. In front of hundreds of watching citizens and noble spectators, she had to maintain flawless public decorum. Over the past decade, the delicate balance of power between the Holy Faction and the Royal Family had shifted significantly. The Royal Family currently possessed far greater military leverage and political influence throughout the Valerium Empire. If Solenne displayed even a hint of coldness toward the Crown Prince in public, it would instantly spark dangerous rumors that the Church and the Crown were on bad terms a political disaster she could not afford.
"Thank you, Your Highness," Solenne spoke, her voice melodious and sweet as sugar, accompanied by a flawless, practiced smile.
Damien smiled smoothly, but his sharp gaze immediately darted past her shoulder, peering into the dark interior of the carriage. He spotted three unfamiliar individuals sitting inside: a young man in a dark coat, a towering behemoth of a warrior, and an impossibly attractive woman.
"My, Saint..." Damien raised an eyebrow, his tone dripping with polished curiosity. "Are these three your personal guests?"
Solenne turned her head back toward the carriage. For a split second, her fake smile dropped, replaced by a desperate, silent look toward Rael that practically screamed: Please, help me out here!
Inside the cabin, Rael let out an internal sigh.
(Guess I can't just play the silent spectator) Rael thought dryly.
He uncrossed his legs and gracefully stepped out of the carriage, coming to a stand beside Solenne. Rael offered a polite, measured bow—neither overly subservient nor disrespectfully stiff.
"Your Highness," Rael spoke with calm, clear humility. "We are merely humble companions traveling under the gracious protection of Her Majesty, Saint Solenne the Radiance. Please forgive us if our presence appears rude or improper. My name is Rael, and I am currently accompanying Her Majesty on her journey."
Directly behind Rael, inside the shadows of the carriage, Vhal'zhar’s jaw clenched so hard a faint popping sound echoed.
Vhal'zhar’s dark eyes flared with raw, murderous indignation. To watch his supreme Master the absolute ruler, bow his head and speak with polite humility to a lowly, fragile mortal prince was an insult that made Vhal'zhar’s blood boil!
A tiny sliver of Vhal'zhar’s oppressive, dark aura leaked out, threatening to crush the surrounding air. But before it could fully materialize, he remembered Rael’s strict, nagging scoldings many times {"Do not emit murderous intent, do not act recklessly, and do not cause a scene."} of course now he try to learned his lesson.
Gritting his teeth, Vhal'zhar forcibly choked his killer instinct back down, keeping his massive frame perfectly still, though his eyes burned like hot coals.
Prince Damien chuckled softly, waving his hand in a magnanimous, dismissive gesture. "There is no need for such deep apologies, Lord Rael. Any guest of our beloved Saint is naturally a guest of the Royal Family as well. There is no need to escalate formalities."
Rael bowed his head slightly once more. "Your Highness is far too humble and generous."
(Man, playing the diplomatic noble is exhausting,) Rael added mentally, keeping his face perfectly stoic.
At that moment, Vhal'zhar and Vespara stepped out of the carriage to join them on the street.
The moment Vespara’s feet touched the cobblestones, Prince Damien’s attention completely shifted. His eyes widened slightly as he took in her voluptuous figure, her mesmerizing crimson eyes, and her exotic, breathtaking beauty.
Stepping forward with smooth, practiced charm, Damien reached out and offered his gloved hand to Vespara. "My, my... what an extraordinary beauty traveling in such holy company."
Vespara—who was immensely relieved to be out of Vels' immediate divine shadow—instantly slipped back into her natural, playful demeanor. She rested her fingers in the prince's hand, tilting her head with a coy, alluring smile. "Oh my... what a true gentleman."
Damien lowered his voice into a smooth, hypnotic register, flashing a dazzling smile. "What wouldn't I do for a woman as stunning as you?"
A collective gasp echoed through the surrounding crowd. Several noblewomen watching from their carriages bit their lip in sheer envy, while commoner girls whispered frantically behind their hands, wishing they were the ones receiving the Crown Prince's personal flirtations.
Beside them, Saint Solenne rolled her eyes so hard it almost shattered her holy demeanor.
She took a sharp step forward, placing herself directly between Damien and Vespara, breaking up the romantic display.
"Your Highness," Solenne interrupted, her voice sweet on the surface but carrying a razor-sharp edge beneath. "Surely the Crown Prince of the Valerium Empire did not travel all the way to Empyrium City simply to flirt with travelers on the public highway. What urgent business brings you here?"
Damien pulled his hand back, chuckling lightly as he turned his piercing blue eyes back to the Saint.
"Direct as always, Saint Solenne," Damien said, his smile turning slightly sharper, revealing the true political ambition beneath his charming exterior. "Very well. I came searching for you personally because the Imperial Capital has finalized preparations for the grand ceremony."
Damien leaned in slightly, his voice dropping into a tone of immense gravity.
"We are preparing to summon another batch of Heroes from another world," Damien revealed. "And as you well know, Saint... without your divine authority to channel the sacred array, we can never tear open the dimensional rift to pull them here."
Standing just a few feet away, Rael’s eyes widened slightly.
His calm, detached facade almost slipped as a massive shockwave echoed through his mind.
(Wait... what?!) Rael thought, his mind racing. (Summoning heroes from another world?! I want to see it! Is that true that they summon from earth or from another universe different earth!?)
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