Kapitel 12: Embodiment of Authority
Before we continue, let's rewind back a bit to what happened before the calamity struck.
Marquis Briant was chilling in his own room after a despicable session. He had his white robe on and is seemingly satisfied by the pleasure that he has acquired from abusing someone's mother.
He ordered the rest of his guards to take care of her after his personal time but who knows what they will do? As someone who's living on the top, specifically nearing the top brass, he doesn't really care about other people or what they will do afterward. He would just deal with them and after that, they will throw them away like trash after getting everything he needs.
Such selfish desires driven by his thirst for pleasure and also deep indulgence in his position as a noble are what shape his life every single day. For him, having this kind of pristine life where he can do anything that he wants is an honor. He basically didn't have anything to worry about.
This degenerate man built with pompous and arrogant stature is what leading the wheel in the current times. His position negates whatever he is feeling about the Damniants. He doesn't have any interest in sailing the regression in morality between them and the Damniants. He lives the way he wants to live. And that's why he treats them like trash but never really despises them in a biased way.
"Mm... Such a fine taste for this day," Briant sat like a boss. He held a glass of rich wine in his hand while savoring the view. Though it could be that he's just looking down on the people below like bugs. His conceited attitude blared like a disease that cannot be excised. And once again, his stares were all blemished—At least, that's what he mostly thinks.
Upon sipping on his wine, a knock came in. "Hmm? Who is it?" He asked.
"It's me. Do you have any spare time?" Someone replied behind the door.
"Oh, please come in..."
The aesthetically pleasing door slowly opened and a well-dressed man came in. He then shut it gently and proceeded to walk forward near the couch.
"My my if it isn't the renowned head of the Bluesy House. How are you faring these days, Duke Bluesy?" The arrogant Marquis's words were sharp. Even though his rank was beneath, he still showed such an informal and pretentious way of greeting the Duke. It was almost as if he doesn't have any modicum of respect left for anyone as long as he was in vain.
"I'm not good, thanks to you..." Duke Bluesy replied nonchalantly. The Marquis may have taunted him with his flashy words but such a distasteful greeting didn't work.
"Haha! I apologize. You don't really have to take me seriously though..." He giggled. Briant placed the glass on the table and stood up. "So? What do you want from me?"
As if he's prompting him to get straight to the point, Duke Bluesy narrowed his eyes and sighed. "I heard that you made a humiliating commotion yesterday. Do you know how bad your situation is right now?" His question pierced right through his soul. His stern voice mixed with deep terror punctured the Marquis for a second.
"H-Humiliating? It's not what you think, Bluesy. I just made a public arrest because someone holds a precious object that belongs to our nation. The Damniants don't deserve such an important artifact that could affect our value and economy." Briant scoffed.
"As usual, your reasoning is so bad that you earned the title of the stupidest noble in this nation. I don't want your silly jokes, Briant. Where's the woman that you arrested?" Duke Bluesy shredded his confidence in mere seconds. There was no hint of a joke in his words. They may have been in an entitled position but no one can shed that much authority and dominance apart from him.
"G-Guh!" The Marquis lost his composure. He averted his eyes away from the demon in front of him. "I sent her off already. If you want to see her, you could go ask the guards..." He answered.
"You freaking bastard... You're a waste of space in this world. Are they really just playthings for you? Do you know how evil you look from the eyes of the oppressed? You're no different from those degenerates who don't deserve to live..." Duke Bluesy pressed forward, icy blue mana extended from his arms, and wandered around the room.
"W-Wait! What are you doing?! Stay away from me!" He couldn't do anything about it. He possesses the ability to wield Divine Arts but for some reason, he couldn't use it in front of the Duke for his defense. It was like his mana was being negated by some unknown field that shuts off his entire utility.
With his bluish mana swirling around, the Duke grasps Briants' neck tightly and forcefully pushed him near the window. The glass broke and the table fell down. His rich wine poured over to the mesh of the carpet, staining it with red color. The glass from the window then cracked, and bits of shards fell outside as he pinned him directly.
"Grah—!" A subtle fracture sound can be heard from the room. It must've been from his back or one of his limbs got broken. Either way, Briant grunted like a child. Three icicles woven from the Duke's imperial power sprouted across his neck. Its pointy tip was half a centimeter away from touching his skin. If he wriggles, that will be the end of his life.
The Duke's eyes glowed. Its sky-blue reflection conjured enmity from beyond. It's like there is a monster in front of him that he couldn't counter no matter what he does.
"H-Help—!"
"Struggling is futile. I just invoked a sound repellant in this room." Bluesy warned. "Honestly, I shouldn't really be doing this but you just did a crime... If the members can't arrest you then I'll gladly be your punisher..."
"I... I don't understand! W-Why are you doing this?!" As the Marquis struggled, Duke Bluesy tightened his grasp even more.
"I guess you skipped education with your daddy's money. Let me tell you something, Marquis Briant. People are not tools that you can acquire through despicable means. They're not playthings to sate your lust and desire for pleasure. They're not slaves that you can abuse for the sake of entertainment. What you just did is a diabolical crime. You sexually abused someone's mother while instigating a fake arrest just so you can indulge yourself... And you still don't understand what I'm trying to get?"
"Ugh! W-Why do you care about them? T-They're just trash! They don't deserve respect! They are born to serve us—AAHHHH!!!"
One of the icicles he produced scratched Briants' neck and blood started dripping out of it. It was the Duke's way of warning him that every single word he would say will be not be taken lightly.
"What's more, that woman you enslaved is the mother of my daughter's best friend. Any connection that she has with me means that it is also my business so I'm here to take responsibility for that." The pressure was on and the Marquis was already having a hard time breathing but the Duke didn't stop.
"W-What are you going to do..." Briants asked.
"I wish I could kill you here right now and send off your assets to the Damniants. That way, their economic regression wouldn't be so severe and their livelihood won't plummet. I could also use your money to facilitate a supply line construction here so that they won't go that far to order things from the capital."
He was definitely serious. The amount of money that he could take if he were to execute the Marquis right now could literally change the Damniants' lives in so many different ways. Even the poverty-stricken alleyway can change depending on how he will utilize his assets. And more importantly, the supply lines and constructions of institutions might be the best solution for the regrowth of Fier's economy.
"Can you imagine how many people you can help with your death...?" The Duke's deep voice resonated. There was a terrifying tinge of eerieness from his tone.
"Eeek!" This was probably the scariest experience he'd ever had and it's not really difficult to explain why.
"But then again, I'm not a cold murderer. I'm a businessman who respects equality and human rights. I'm here because I wanted to protect these people who've been stripped off of their precious lives because of you damn retarded elitists..." After a few seconds, the icicles vanished. The Duke's mana dissipated into the air and threw Briants' body into the ground.
"You cannot change the pain—you cannot revoke the trauma that you gave to his sick mother. These two have struggled for so many years and you gave them more pressure and problem. Not to mention, you also stole and tainted them with your disgusting stench. There's no place for bugs like you in this world..."
"Huh—! Gurgh!" Duke Bluesy kicked Briants' chin. His face smashed through the wall and his body crumbled like a fly.
"Go home you shitty cockroach, before I destroy your whole house... I don't want to see your face in this town again..."
"Eeek!"
And so the egotistical Marquis packed his things with his confidence shattered. After receiving such a grave warning from the Duke, he declared to abort his visit to the town and went back to the capital on short notice.
The Duke also punished the guards who threw Auelina from the mansion like trash after escorting her back to the Bluesy grounds. He made sure that they will be killed afterward which succeeded after some time.
He kept this operation secret from anyone including the victims as he didn't want them to feel guilty.
Though it is also because of this that the Marquis couldn't experience the tragedy that occurred in the town.
And now he's back in the capital alongside the other Eliads who are involved in the extermination of the Calamity Invokers monsters.
* * *
After fixing the settlement and packing things, the dispatched group finally moved from the desolated spot and went on to proceed through the capital. They ordered multiple carriages from the transportation faction and headed north through the central road while carrying the survivors.
"I'll say this in advance: Since there are only five of you who survived the calamity, you will be transferred to the church for further assistance. I'm not sure if the board members will approve refugees from that town but I don't want you to expect much considering where you're coming from. Leave the process to us and don't worry about anything." Captain Noya reminded them.
Rin, Bell, and the other kids nodded as they listened. Although they're still scared of what's coming, his reassurance made them comfortable. Now that they're living individually, they don't really have any places to go home. They're just wandering souls who managed to survive the deadly storm. And if no one wants to accept them, then it's going to be pretty bad.
(If it comes to it, I will at least adopt two of you so that you will prosper in this world...) Noya had that thought in his mind for a while now but he didn't voice it out. It was still a draft of a plan as he doesn't know if it is alright to take care of them. But if he is going to guess the future, it is already guaranteed that these children wouldn't have any hope for the future.
After all, even if their circumstances are bad, they are still part of the Descendants of the Cursed King. That title still exists even with their pitiful state so it's difficult to grasp any actions that will be better for them.
"Rin, We're going to be fine, right? You're not going to leave me by myself, right?" Bell asked as she snuggled beside him.
"Yes. No matter what happens, I will not leave you. We will stay together forever..." Rin's words may have weight for them but he is still doubtful about the future.
Captain Noya watched their promises together but could only clench his fist.
Adoption is a long process. And he does not particularly have any power to authorize such a note in a short time, let alone ask the brass for permission. The King ordered them to rescue every single survivor from the area and bring them back to the capital for judgment. This was also an additional request from the church as they are looking for a solution on how to deal with the refugees.
(If they're going to assure their safety through the orphanage, then I guess it's fine?)
That's what he is thinking, at the very least. But he couldn't exactly feel comfortable with that kind of idea. There was something ticking him off inside and he doesn't know why.
After a long ride, the carriage finally arrived at the central district of the capital.
The whole place was blooming in positivity and liveliness. Enthusiasm was lingering throughout the streets as if there was a festival ongoing. Rin could feel how different the capital is compared to the town. Its energetic aura was ten times stronger than the shopping district and it's not exactly difficult to understand why.
The capital—known as the Roseland is the head of the blooming state. From a richer standpoint, it is probably the most distinguished place apart from the domains and other attractions. Modern buildings that are not made out of sandstone can be seen across the line. Polished walls, fortified foundation, and luxurious mansions covered with exquisite paints alongside an aesthetic that is incomparable from other nations clouded their vision.
Even the architectural design is unique. Each construction screams elegantly as if it was catered directly to appease the Eliads. Well, it's not that big of a deal for them but from Rin's perspective, having a place like this means eternal peace.
"So this is the capital..." Rin mumbled.
"Everything looks beautiful..." Bell's eyes sparkled. For once, they forgot about their purpose for coming to Roseland and just took a moment to appreciate its beauty.
"We'll arrive at the castle shortly. Remember, do not act recklessly in front of the King and just pay respect, got it?" Captain Noya reminded them.
"I understand.." Rin answered and everyone else nodded.
"You'll be in the presence of our Majesty so exercise caution... If you want, I can teach you a few respectful greetings so that you wouldn't anger him..."
And so Captain Noya borrowed the remaining time to teach them about basic etiquettes and formal greetings. He also mentioned the bow and what kind of expression they are going to make in the presence of the King.
(This should at least give them some proper impressions...) He thought.
Increasing their chances of being adopted through formal means is the strategy that he is trying to employ. It is only a process of elimination. Since they are not educated, he should at least guide them about decency and how to act like educated kids. They may do it wrong during the meeting but it should work fine as a way to impress the other members of the Royal family
* * *
The Royal Castle of Querith extended through the central district. Its large walls covered the entire grounds and you could even see internal buildings on the path.
Royal mages and knights are stationed everywhere. Each was inclined to fulfill their duty in the schedule. There are a few nobles coming in and out from the grand entrance. Noya figured that it must have been visitors but he couldn't really discern their purpose. Perhaps it has something to do with the latest news?
"We're here..." The carriage driver stopped near the massive gate. Rin and the others leave and went to scope the whole place in person.
"Wow!"
"This is awesome!"
"Rin, can you see that? The castle is really big!"
The other children were excited but it was different for him. Rin doesn't see anything grand about the castle. For him, such a large building is more of a direct embodiment of authority and torture. There was nothing positive about it. His mind was filled with uncertainty and worries.
Captain Noya noticed it from his expression and so he approached him. "It's gonna be fine..." He pats his shoulder.
Rin gulped and composed himself. Seeing his nervous expression, Bell walked alongside him and grasp his hand tightly. Their reassurance boosted his confidence for a bit and he managed to enter the gate without any problem.
(It's gonna be fine...)
Whatever happens in this meeting will dictate their future. Would the King and the members of the Church of Yddra approve of them or will they die alone? These two choices are the only ones that form in Rin's mind. Captain Noya was aware of it as well. Naturally, the two of them couldn't disregard the worst-case scenario but still, Rin chose to believe that it will be fine...
As they entered the castle, Captain Noya was greeted by the Knights and escorted them to the throne room.
The sound of the knocking resonated through the entire space.
"Your Majesty, Captain Noya is here..."
"Come in..."
Beautiful, exquisite, and full of authority.
Majestic, pleasing, and gracious.
Words couldn't describe the exuded presence oozing out of the audience room. The spatial interference made Rin dizzy as he proceeded with respect. Several retainers were staring at him and he felt extremely uncomfortable.
He wasn't exactly fond of the atmosphere but he knew that he needed to suck it up and pretend that he is okay. He doesn't want to ruin the image that they have built up to this point.
If a decent impression would score them a future, he will do his best to survive this. It's not guaranteed, but he will still try it regardless.
"Ah—!"
It was actually getting better up until this point...
"You! What are you doing in here?!" A certain someone jumped out of his seat to confront Rin. He pointed his finger at him and shouted.
Rin's eyes widened in surprise. There's no doubt about it... This man's foolishness is the reason why everything went downhill for him.
"Marquis Briant..."
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