156 The wedding anniversary Part-2

Samuel had helped Ryuu to shop for a nice suit and matching mask to compliment for the party at General Vincenzo's place.

Samuel: "Daoist Sir I will arrive along with my wife to pick you around 6 o 'clock in the evening."

RYuu nodded at consent as he watched Samuel leave, Ryuu entered the Inn he was staying in as his eyes widened, 'Damn I forgot to buy any gift for the person, hmmm may be one of my oils will suffice ah yes I have that pill with me still.', he went to the receptionist of the inn as he spoke, "Excuse miss but do you know where I may buy a pill box."

The receptionist was a young brunette dressed professionally with a pleasant smile plaster on her face making Ryuu think, 'How do they always have a smile on their face all the time, are they born with it is that something else.', he knew very well in normal circumstances he himself would fail to keep a smile like that all the time.

The smiling receptionist spoke, "Of course esteemed Guest there is an alchemist shop a few blocks down this road, 'The Alchemist's Cauldron'."

Ryuu bade her good bye as he went towards the shop, he had his hood down but unlike last time he had a mask on his face which he had gotten yesterday evening under Samuel's suggestion it would be bad if people left and right starts obsessing about him.

A porcelain white mask with an inverted 'U'-shaped cut near his mouth, and thin slits for him to see through, he had placed a good few arrays on the mask to make it more durable and can only be removed by his will moreover it was comfortable.

As he opened the door a bell attached to the top of the door jiggled as he entered he was greeted by a young man no a boy few years older himself wearing an apron.

"Hello! Welcome to The Alchemist Cauldron my name is Nikolai Tyson how I may help you Sir."

Ryuu: "I want a pill box big enough for a single pill, I will be gifting someone a unique pill as such I would require the best pill box you could offer."

After a few minutes of choosing haggling and many shenanigans Ryuu was owner of a royal blue colored pill box with various patterns drawn using silver.

At 6 o'clock sharp that evening a carriage drawn by 4 Skylark horses, a special breed of horses found in this planet, Ryuu was already waiting by the lobby wearing a black suit with matching shoes he had a black masquerade mask hiding his face with various patterns in grey drawn over it.

As he entered the carriage Ryuu saw a woman richly dressed sitting by Samuels's side, a masked Samuel spoke with a smile, "Daoist Sir, the woman beside me is my beloved wife Averie."

The woman extended her hand as Ryuu held it and placed a small kiss on top of her hand as he spoke, "It is a pleasure to meet you Senior."

The masked woman giggled as she spoke, "The pleasure is mine as well, I heard a lot about you from my beloved husband."

Ryuu: "I hope you have heard good things about me."

The journey was a short one it took less than a quarter of an hour normally it would be much faster if the roads were free of traffic.

Ryuu walked by Samuel's side while the husband and wife duo walked together hand in hand.

Ryuu was greeted by the sight of a large number of people from various walks of life chatting in different groups some had wine glasses held in their hands as calming music was played in the background by the orchestra.

Ryuu stood near Samuel and his wife who were busy addressing their friends but sometimes they would introduced Ryuu to a few of them, soon there was a small commotion as a small contingent of few people arrive who were flanked by guards on either side, as the people stopped what they were doing as a tall broad shouldered and a beautifully dressed person went forward to receive them as the others parted way for them to move the man bowed as the woman beside him held the side of her dress as she bend her knees.

"Welcome your Majesty, thank you for honoring me with your presence in my humble abode.", spoke the man whom Ryuu assumed to be General Vincenzo.

Emperor: "Please at ease old friend why would I not answer your invitation, everyone please enjoy yourself there is no reason to stop the celebration owing to my presence."

With the people returned back to their normal gossiping but a bit more tensed than before, suddenly the man whom Ryuu assumed as Vincenzo hit a glass with his spoon a few times drawing attention towards him, "Welcome everyone, I would like to thank you all for honoring me with your presence and well wishes for 100th Anniversary of marriage between my beloved wife Esmeralda and myself, please enjoy yourself and let the party begin."

As he spoke he and his wife were surrounded by various people who offered their well wishes and congratulations to him and various things as they offered their gifts to him whom they both received with a smile as they then passed it to a butler standing nearby.

Ryuu was bored he was standing a bit further away from the crowd, he knew no one from this place not only that the only reason he was here was because Samuel dragged him here for some kind of expedition.

He held a plate with food which were made by the finest chefs of the empire as he stood alone at the balcony overlooking the garden behind him a ball was going on as he was savoring the delicacies a voice came from behind him, "Not one for party I guess."

Ryuu turned to look a person with white suit with golden embroidery standing behind him, he had seen the person arrive along with the Emperor.

Ryuu: "Well not much when I hardly know anyone here. Oh by the way my name is Ryuu and who might you be sir?"

The person's eyes slightly widened before it returned to normal as he spoke, "My name is Jordan, I am sorry but I failed to recognize you even if you sated your name from which family are you from?"

Ryuu: "Ah I was actually invited by Daoist Samuel, in order to introduce me to General Vincenzo for participating in the expedition into 'The Nether Realm Grotto.'"

Jordan nodded at that as he spoke , "Ah the great convergence is within a couple of weeks and the hidden space will open again."

Ryuu was confused at that as such he could not help but ask out, "Convergence?"

Jordan with a tone full of surprise spoke, "You do not know about Rogneron's great 'Convergence', it is a very rare sight when a complete solar eclipse happens due to the presence of both the moons of our planet which forms a single line in between the planet and the sun."

Ryuu looked interested at that but before he could speak Samuel arrived, "Ah there you are Daoist Sir, and oh I see you were with Crown Prince Jordan fancy meeting you here I did not know you were acquainted with each other."

Jordan: "Well I found him a bit lonely as such I decided to spend some time with my new friend."

Samuel: "Daoist Sir if you do not mind I think it is time I introduced yourself to His Majesty and General Vincenzo."

Ryuu: "Yes please led the way Senior Samuel and friend Jordan I hope you wouldn't mind accompanying us.", he finished with a smile.

Jordan responded with kind as he spoke, "Yes sure I would love to.", as they went towards the Emperor and his General Jordan thought, 'It was nice speaking with Ryuu, at least he did not fawn and kiss my ass to get on my good side.'

Broderick looked at the people approaching him and his people, he appraised the Ryuu fellow who had the air of noble man no a Royalty around him.

Samuel: "You Highness this is the person I told you about his name is Ryuu and he wants to join in ti expedition."

Ryuu gave a short bow towards the Emperor who just nodded back at him as he mused, 'Ho he is definitely showed me respect by giving a short bow but with dignity.'

Broderick: "Young man you are so young yet you have accomplished so much your parents must be very proud."

Ryuu's heart clenched at the thought of his now deceased mother as he spoke with a smile, "I surely hope that they are."

Broderick: "Young man, who is your teacher if I may ask?"

Ryuu: "I am afraid your Majesty but it is a Law set by my teacher that until and unless I am granted my Daoist name I cannot make any claim nor can I insinuate in anyway who my teacher is."

Some looked confused while others nodded in understanding as they were speaking a squeal of "Lord Ryuu.", as a blur rushed to tackle him only for a bewildered Ryuu to step out of the way and the said person to crash against Jordan.

The Emperor rubbed his face with exasperation as he spoke angrily, "Jaelynn you are the first princess of the Empire please behave." Before he turned an angry gaze towards Ryuu as he spoke, "Although I have half a mind to through you….."

He was stopped when a shrill shout which attracted everyone's attention even the Emperor as he looked baffled at the audacity of the person, "HOW DARE YOU LOWLY PEASANT DARE TO STEAL MY Fiancée's HEART."

Ryuu was the one who was the most confused from the person suddenly jumping on him the Emperor becoming angry and then the person accusing him of stealing his fiancée's heart, what kind of mad house did he venture into.