Chapter 47: King James
The scene shifts, moving far away from the bloody corridors of the Spider Syndicate’s hidden base and the chaos in Crestport City. We are now in the Roland Kingdom, a powerful rival nation bordering Sir Karlos’s former homeland.
After days of hard travel through the desolate Sunken Sands desert, Karlos and the heads of the three noble families who had fled with him finally reached the capital city of the Roland Kingdom.
It was a large, imposing city, its walls strong and its banners flying proudly. As their dusty carriages and tired soldiers approached the main gates, they saw a contingent of the Roland Kingdom’s Royal Army waiting for them.
These soldiers looked impressive and disciplined. They wore bright red uniforms under gleaming golden armor, their helmets polished, their spears held perfectly straight.
Standing at the head of this welcoming party was a young man with an air of command. He was tall, with a stern expression, and wore armor even finer than the soldiers behind him.
This was Prince Alaric, the First Prince of the Roland Kingdom, the heir to the throne. Behind him stood a unit of his personal Royal Guards, looking just as formidable as the army soldiers.
Sir Karlos, despite his own high rank in his former kingdom, immediately dismounted from his carriage as he neared the Prince. He walked forward and bowed deeply before Prince Alaric, his head bent low in a show of respect and submission.
The heads of the other three noble families who had accompanied Karlos quickly followed his example, dismounting from their own carriages and bowing low beside him. They were now refugees seeking asylum, and their actions reflected their vulnerable position.
Prince Alaric watched them bow, his expression unreadable. He didn’t smile or offer any words of welcome. He simply gestured forward with one hand, a curt, impatient movement. "Follow me. Quickly," the Prince commanded, his voice sharp and clear.
Karlos and the other nobles straightened up, relieved that they were at least being received. They started to walk forward, intending to follow the Prince and his guards into the city.
But they had taken only a few steps when Prince Alaric suddenly stopped and turned around, looking back at them with a frown. "What are you doing?" he asked, his voice laced with annoyance.