My World to Free-use

194: Arriving at the Royal Palace

The carriage finally slowed as it approached the grand gates of the royal palace. The towering white stone walls and golden spires rose high against the afternoon sky, a clear display of power and wealth that made even the nobles' estates look modest in comparison.Guards polished in armor stood at attention along the entrance, while servants in crisp uniforms moved about with practiced efficiency.

Inside the carriage, the atmosphere had settled into a quiet, professional calm after the earlier “necessary task”.

Elara sat with her usual regal poise, her elegant banquet gown perfectly arranged once more.

Valeria sat beside her, back straight and expression perfectly stoic, though the faintest trace of color still lingered on her cheeks.

I sat opposite them, my clothing straightened and my breathing steady. The earlier release had cleared the mental dull ache that I had been enduring for two days, leaving me sharp and focused.

Elara glanced at me, her sharp eyes assessing.

“Remember what I told you,” she said calmly. “From this moment forward, you are Valeria’s grandson. A young attendant from our estate who is under training to assume her duties.”

“Keep your head slightly low, speak only when spoken to, and conduct yourself as a humble servant. Do not draw attention to yourself.”

“The story is simple: the queen has been in a foul mood as of late and requires a low-status individual to vent her frustrations upon. That is your official reason for being here. Play your part well.”

I gave a small, respectful nod, “Understood, my lady.”

Valeria remained silent, perhaps not aware of the full story either, as she gave a small nod to her mistress, conveying she understood as well. Her massive figure remained perfectly composed, the picture of a dutiful senior maid accompanying her mistress and taking the next servant under her wing to teach him the ropes.

The carriage came to a smooth stop. A moment later, the door was opened from the outside by a palace servant.

Elara stepped out first, her movements graceful and commanding. Usually, a servant would have offered her a hand while she stepped out of the carriage, but no one did such a thing with her. No one even had their head raised in her presence. All the soldiers and servants had their heads down, fear emanating from their bodies clearly.

The afternoon sunlight caught the rich fabric of her gown as she descended the small steps with perfect dignity.

Valeria followed next, her stoic face unchanging as she stepped down. Her presence was solid and reliable, the very image of an experienced head maid.

I came out last, keeping my head slightly bowed as instructed. I stayed a respectful half step behind Valeria, playing the role of the young, unremarkable attendant perfectly.

It was already remarkable enough that I was at this banquet, something many servants had noticed already, but in my presence, no one could say a thing.

The palace courtyard was alive with activity. Other carriages were arriving, and groups of nobles in fine clothing were making their way toward the grand entrance. Servants hurried about carrying trays and messages. The air carried the faint sounds of distant music and conversation from within the palace halls.

While the atmosphere was lively, the area surrounding ours was anything but so. Tense would be the simplest and most accurate word to describe.

No servant dared to raise his or her head, and even soldiers remained rooted in their spots, their heads lowered the same. Even the other guest carriages were being redirected to other spots, or behind ours, a distance away, so they do not end up irking Elara in the wrong way.

Battling his fear, a senior palace attendant approached Elara, probably also a noble, bowing deeply and respectfully.

“Lady Elara. The goddess of the battlefield. I humbly greet you and welcome you to the royal palace. It is an honor for the royal family to be blessed by your presence.”

Wait, what?

It wasn’t her honor, but the royal family’s?

That… was something.

Let me tell you why I was so shocked. You see, in times such as this, there was no power above the king, except for God, who was nonexistent to these people. No one was above the king, and the king’s word was the law.

If the king made a mistake, he would never admit it, even if it meant greater injustice.

Like if a king had a family destroyed because his minister coerced him and painted them as heretics. If it was found out to be wrong later, the king would never admit he did something wrong. He would never admit he was coerced by the words of someone and engaged in a slaughter or injustice.

He would instead have the ones who prove his mistake killed to hide that fact.

That was one example. There were many others, but that should be enough to let one know how strange these times were.

And no one in their right mind, especially a servant, would admit that the king was happy to receive someone. They would instead say that the person should be happy and thank their ancestors that the king allowed them to enter his abode.

Even if Elara was a power no one could contend with, no one could claim, even the king’s children could say, that they were happy to receive them. It would be the other way around.

Yet, here it was. I was witnessing the same thing happen right before my eyes.

How could I not be shocked?

Elara gave a graceful nod but kept her head straight, “Thank you.”

As they began to walk towards the grand entrance, Valeria and I followed behind them.

I kept my eyes down as we walked, playing my part as the quiet attendant. Valeria walked beside me with calm, measured steps, her massive figure moving with quiet dignity.

We passed through the massive double doors and into the grand entrance hall of the palace.

The interior was even more opulent than the outside suggested. Tall marble pillars, intricate golden chandeliers, polished floors that reflected the light.

Nobles and attendants moved through the space, their voices low but carrying the weight of political conversation.

Elara’s presence stopped all conversation as soon as she entered.

The attendant announced her presence in a loud, booming voice accompanied by a mana tool, “Grand Lady Elara Von Carlson, the lady of the house Carlson, and the savior of the kingdom blesses us with her presence.”

Damn. That’s some introduction.

The glances of everyone in the hall were directed towards us, but no one even spared a glance at me. Even Valeria was just cursorily glanced at. All eyes were on Elara.

Elara stood tall and commanding, soaking in the reverence from the many eyes in the room. Fear was mixed in those gazes too, but it was fear full of respect.

Valeria dismissed those glances just as easily as she received them, as she moved deeper into the palace. Valeria and I followed her, when Elara spoke, her voice a hushed whisper, “Once we are properly received, I will arrange a private audience with the Queen. Until then, stay in character. If anyone speaks to you, Jack, answer politely and briefly. Valeria will handle most interactions on your behalf.”

Valeria gave a small nod, her expression unchanging.

I kept my head lowered, playing the role of the obedient young attendant to perfection.

Inside, however, my mind was already working.

The real reason we were here, the queen’s sealed power, and the possibility of weakening it, was far more important than the official story Elara had spread.

And now that we were inside the palace, the next stage of the plan could finally begin.

But before that, a little fun.

A little too much of it.

Hehe.

~~

I have Cassandra and Zara's new arts ready, but I'm too tired today to upload them. Trust me, I'm having trouble keeping my eyes open right now. Wait for them tomorrow, and let me know which character I've missed in the comments of this chapter so I can work on that character too.