บท 20: Prelude to Meeting the Royalty
When Vincent agreed to join the Royal Guard Captain, they were immediately beckoned to follow them back to the capital. At the city gates, citizens of the Kingdom were looking at the soldiers and adventurers with hopeful expressions. Questions like "Did they drive off the monsters?" and "Are we safe now?" echoed through the crowd.
Vandar raised his hand to quiet the crowd. "We have driven off the monsters and secured the city. Thanks to the valiant efforts of the adventurers and the city knight and these brave volunteers," he said, gesturing towards Vincent and his team.
When Vandar announced that, all eyes turned towards Vincent and his team, and moments later, a wave of cheers erupted from the crowd.
Vincent couldn't help but wave a hand back, the special forces too waving their hands. Then the walk continued, towards the city square where an erected platform stood waiting for them.
Vandar stepped up onto the platform and addressed the gathered citizens again. "Citizens of Eldoria, tonight we celebrate a hard-fought victory. The monsters have been driven off, and our city is safe once more. You can now sleep peacefully, knowing that our brave soldiers and adventurers are always ready to protect you. Rest assured, there will still be guards watching over our city to ensure your safety."
He paused, letting the crowd's cheers wash over him before continuing. "All the adventurers who joined the fight will be compensated for their bravery and efforts. Your courage will not go unrewarded."
After his speech, Vandar walked over to Vincent. "Your team's efforts have been nothing short of extraordinary," he said. "You have more than earned an audience with the royal family. They will want to thank you personally for your bravery and the crucial role you played in defending our city."
Once he heard those words, Vincent let off a small smile. Things are moving pretty fast for him and his crew. First they rescued the Duke's daughter and now a country? His plan was to be discreet and gather information about the world, yet it continued to escalate into more significant events that put them in the spotlight. Nonetheless, Vincent knew that gaining favor with the royal family could provide them with valuable resources and allies.
"I look forward to it. But I'm sure it won't be around this time right? Considering that it is evening."
"It will be arranged in the afternoon," Vandar confirmed. "For now, you and your team should rest. Do you have a place to stay here in the city?"
"Yes, we still have our accommodations in the Golden Stag," Vincent replied.
"Golden Stag, eh? That's our famous inn. In that case, we will reimburse your expenses and offer you more comfortable quarters here in the castle," Vandar insisted.
Vincent started to protest, "That's really not necessary, we're fine at the inn—"
But Vandar shook his head firmly. "Nonsense. You've done more for us than we could ever repay in gold. It's the least we can do. Besides, the royal family would prefer to have you close by. Please, consider it a token of our gratitude."
Seeing Vandar's determination, Vincent relented. "Alright, we'll accept your hospitality. Thank you."
Vandar smiled, satisfied. "Excellent. Tomorrow, we will pick you up at the Golden Stag. Have your men prepared and ready."
Vincent nodded. "We'll be ready."
With that, Vandar gave a final nod and left to attend to other matters. Vincent turned to his team. "Alright, let's head back to the Golden Stag for now. We've earned a good night's rest."
The special forces followed Vincent through the ]streets of Eldoria, still filled with celebrating citizens. They reached the Golden Stag. As they entered, the innkeeper greeted them warmly.
"Welcome back, saviors of Eldoria!" the receptionist bowed her head reverently.
"Thank you," Vincent replied with a nod.
"You have done a great service for our city," she continued, "and we are honored to have you stay with us. Your rooms are ready, and if you need anything at all, please don't hesitate to ask."
Vincent smiled. "We'll keep that in mind. Thank you."
***
As they arrived in their rooms, Alpha 3 and Alpha 5 jumped onto their beds and moaned in relief.
"Oh man, I could sleep for a week," Alpha 3 said, stretching out and closing his eyes.
"Tell me about it," Alpha 5 agreed. "These beds are a godsend after that battle."
Alpha 1, standing by the doorway, sniffed the air and made a face. "Before any of you get too comfortable, we all need to hit the baths. We reek of sweat and grime."
Alpha 2 chuckled, nodding in agreement. "Yeah, no kidding. We could probably scare off another wave of monsters with our smell alone. And besides, what clothes should we change into? The ones that we bought from the clothing store earlier? Didn't we already wear that?"
"But unlike those clothes, our combat gear was built to handle more than just one wear. It's been through worse," Alpha 4 pointed out, grinning.
"True, but we still need to clean up," Vincent interjected. "Let's hit the baths and then we'll figure out the clothing situation."
The team gathered their things and made their way to the bathhouse, which was just down the hall from their rooms. The warm water and soothing atmosphere provided much-needed relief from the day's battles. As they soaked, the team began to relax.
"Who would've thought we'd end up here?" Alpha 1 mused, leaning back against the edge of the bath.
"Yeah, rescuing a Duke's daughter, even though we are not present there, and now saving an entire city," Alpha 5 added. "We're making quite a name for ourselves."
Vincent nodded thoughtfully. "It's not what we planned, but it's working out. Let's just stay focused and take things one step at a time."
After their bath, the team returned to their rooms feeling refreshed and rejuvenated. They changed into their old clothes and went to sleep.
***
A day later, a luxurious carriage pulled up next to the Golden Stag. The intricate design and golden accents made it stand out even among the fine carriages of Eldoria. The Royal Guard Captain Vandar stepped out and entered the inn, heading straight for Vincent and his team's rooms.
When Vandar knocked, Vincent opened the door, already prepared but still in their tunic clothes. "Good morning, Captain. We're ready."
Vandar smiled but shook his head slightly. "I appreciate your punctuality, Vincent, but you'll need to dress more formally to meet the king." He handed them several paper bags filled with fine clothes. "These should fit you well. Please, change into these before we leave."
Vincent and his team took the bags. "We'll dress right away."
The team quickly changed into the provided attire, feeling slightly out of their element in the formal clothes but recognizing the necessity. Once they were ready, they gathered in the inn's common room.
"How do we look?" Alpha 2 asked, adjusting his collar.
"Like you're ready to meet royalty," Vandar replied with a nod of approval. "Now, let's not keep the king waiting."
They exited the Golden Stag and entered the luxurious carriage.
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