Chapter_25: Public Carriages

When Ragnar awoke, they started eating the bread that the farmer had given to Bane. As they ate, they also discussed the main castle and the Royal Knights who defended the royalty.

"Ragnar, are you certain that I am invited there?" Bane inquired as he tore off a piece of bread.

"Don't worry, no one will hold any ill will towards you," Ragnar reassured him, with Garnette nodding in agreement.

"Also, tonight is a special night. One of the Royal Knights will be promoted to Royal Guardian, which is a high rank," Ragnar added.

"Their oath of loyalty will be taken to the next level; tonight will be the contract and promise that the Royal Guardian needs to uphold."

"Lady Ana is also the one promoting the man and the person that he needs to take the oath with," Garnette stated softly.

I wonder if the men were in the same batch. How many years did that man work as a Royal Knight to be promoted to a higher rank like that?

Ragnar gazed at the horizon and asked Garnette, "Why do you think that a man like him deserves the promotion?"

"Two years ago, when I joined as a maid in that castle, was also when the men became Royal Knights. Apollo was already completing orders after orders in just a week, while the others got drunk and behaved badly, causing them to lose their jobs due to their laziness."

"Over thirty men were expelled from their jobs. This led to a protest and a revolution from them. They attacked every woman and child in the Lowfire District and killed over fifty people in total. But Apollo handled the situation easily and exiled every troublemaker and their families. He was different from the other knights from the start, and now, he deserves every achievement he gets."

His leadership was probably his main asset from the beginning.

After finishing his bread, Ragnar stood up.

"Ragnar, are you sure you can walk normally?" Bane asked with concern.

Ragnar nodded in response and began to make his way up the hill.

Garnette and Bane followed behind him. Once they arrived at the gates of the Lowfire Market, Ragnar took out his silver pocket watch to check the time.

"11:09 HP"

Time is moving slower than usual; a lot of things have already happened this early.

Ragnar began to move before Garnette suggested, "We should just take the carriage way; it'll be faster."

"Can the carriages take us to the main castle?" Ragnar asked, puzzled.

"We could've used it to go down, Garnette," Ragnar added.

"I'm sorry, I forgot about it too when we were going down the district," Garnette said in a remorseful tone.

The three of them then made their way to the station, where the carriages were parked. They handed a gold coin to the driver, and they were on their way up to the castle.

"Keep in mind that this drive will take us hours to get to the castle," the driver warned them in a deep and rough voice.

The horses moved slowly as they ascended the mountain. During the journey, the driver remained silent, despite Ragnar's attempts to engage in conversation.

After an hour, the carriage arrived at the Lowfire District. They had to wait for a minute before passing through the gate.

The carriage roads were different from the pedestrian paths in the district, and they were bustling with carriages. After a lengthy journey, they finally reached the circling lands, making their way up to the castle.

Thirty minutes later, the carriage pulled up at the main castle. The carriage stopped at the massive gates, and the guards inspected it thoroughly. After a long inspection, the three of them disembarked from the carriage.

Ragnar checked the time once again as he stepped outside the carriage, retrieving his pocket watch.

"12:54 HU"—I thought it would take longer than that, but still, it was a good ride.

With that, Ragnar left the carriage and decided to stretch his body after sitting for an hour inside.

Before entering the gates, they overheard the driver making a request to the guards.

"Can I go inside for a restroom?" the driver asked, his voice now softer and lacking its previous roughness and depth. He appeared to be an average person in a tuxedo with short brown hair.

The guards mocked the driver, suggesting he use the bushes with a laugh. Despite his pleas, his request was denied. However, a lady with long, crimson hair and a furious expression unexpectedly intervened.

"Guinevere?" the guards exclaimed in surprise.

"Let the poor man in, corrupted guards," she said in disgust to the guards.

She then approached the man and instructed him to follow her to use the restroom. With that, Guinevere and the man passed through the gates into the royal property.

"Let's get in; don't mind them," Garnette said, leading the way through the main gates with the two men following behind her.

Garnette guided them towards the main castle while Bane marveled at the property. His expression mirrored Ragnar's amazement when he had entered the gates before.

"It's really great here," Bane commented on the property.

As he continued to admire the breathtaking scenery of the estate, the sunlight suddenly dimmed, casting a darker hue over the landscape.

After minutes of walking, the main castle finally came into view—a grand and imposing structure that captured their excitement.

They quickened their pace, eager to reach the castle, and within ten minutes, they arrived at the main entrance.

A bustling crowd filled the area outside the castle, men and women dressed in formal attire, each holding a cup of delicious grape wine with various seasonings.

With smiles on their faces, they engaged in lively conversations, enjoying their wine and the company of others.

Carefully navigating through the crowd, the three of them made their way into the main castle, trying not to disturb anyone.

Inside, the hallway was just as lively, with people chatting and mingling as they walked.

They continued on, exchanging greetings with the other guests, until they reached the quieter lobby area, where only a few people were conversing.

Ascending the staircase, they entered a hallway lined with rooms.

"Bane, you should stay in my room for now while Lady Ana is still absent," Ragnar said as he headed to his room.

Using his key, he quietly opened the door and entered the room, taking off his shoes and glancing at himself in the mirror.

Following suit, Bane and Garnette removed their shoes and sat down on the bed.

"Garnette, do you know where Lady Ana is?" Ragnar asked as he checked his reflection in the mirror.

"I do. Shall I call her for you?" Garnette offered.

Ragnar nodded with a smile, and Garnette swiftly put her shoes back on and left the room.

"Bane, it's good to have you here with me again," Ragnar remarked as he changed into fresh clothes from his wardrobe.

...

As Garnette left the lobby, she felt a tap on her shoulder.

Turning around, she saw Guinevere. There was a noticeable change in her appearance—her hair was disheveled, and she looked weary.

"Garnette, your driver has been deceiving us all along," Guinevere said with frustration evident in her voice.

"He stole two golden cores and five blood syringes from the warehouse."

Her face remained tense as she clenched her fist and gritted her teeth.