Chapter 71 The Guests Arrive

The day of the banquet for Ethan's celebration was now mere two days away and All preparations were done.

Limes and lines of carriages began pouring into the city of Adenberd. Shabby-looking to some of the most extravagant ones. From merchants to powerful nobles and lawmakers, every kind of rich and influential person was invited to the banquet.

A carriage made of fine wood with the insignia of a basil leaf engraved in the middle of an intricate design that looked like tree vines entangled on it also appeared outside the city gates with a convoy made of only elite soldiers.

It was the carriage of house Stout, Yunugiv, and his wife who were one of the most important guests for the banquet.

There was a long line of carriages already waiting to get approval for entering the city from which many were nobles from the Duchy of Whitesburg along with the neighboring territories.

As the guards at the city walls who were on the lookout for a few carriages of specific origin saw two of them arrive, they quickly stepped forward respectfully for a welcome.

One of the carriages, of course, belonged to the house of Stout and the other one was of House Farley. Both are connected to the White Family through Ethan and thus, the special treatment.

Albert himself who time and time represented the White Family had come to welcome them, seeing this the other guests fell in puzzlement. They knew why Count Farley was being treated so nicely but didn't know why the house of Stout was as well.

​ No one outside the White Family knew of the arrangements between Albaer and Yunugiv at that time, so it was obvious to feel that way. A Family of healers was important to some degree but did not warrant so much acknowledgment from a Duke.

"This way… I welcome you to our city on behalf of his Grace!" Albert said from horseback as he courteously guided the carriages of the two houses and their convoys inside the city.

As the carriages headed straight to the castle, everyone witnessed the glory and prestige of the Adenberd city.

A big public event in a big city meant opportunities for businesses and hustlers, it was the same this time as well. A banquet in the noble society wasn't simply to flaunt one's wealth or have fun. It was a social event where powerful people lingered with each other. It was also the place to linger with powerful people.

And so many small merchants had also come to the city in the hopes of catching the eye of one of such people.

"Don't you think it's strange? The people here seem to be so… Enthusiastic over this banquet, why is that?" Yunugiv muttered as he watched the busy streets filled with people on the roadside observing the carriages with fervor.

"Who can tell…" Lady Stout muttered in a trance looking at the fleeing city from the carriage.

Usually, the commoners tended to be bitter when nobles organized parties and social gatherings. They thought that the nobles were nothing but glorified and sophisticated parasites that sucked coins from the poor and enjoyed their life to the fullest, living in luxury and traveling in fancy carriages.

In Adenberd, it was the same. But not this time. Mostly because the banquet was about Ethan and not the typical high-society social gathering that the commoners felt bitter of. Ethan had become sort of a celebrity in the city as of late due to his friendly involvement but the outsiders had no idea, hence the confusion.

"This city is very developed, isn't it?" Lady stout said.

"Of course, His Grace is a competent ruler," Yunugiv said with a smile.

…

…

While in another carriage that was emerald-colored and just as lavish, Count Farley wore an amused, elated smile on his face as looked at the city through the curtains.

"That girl has really struck gold this time! Hmph! Who says daughters are useless? My little bird has done her house proud yet again! Hahaha!" He thought inwardly and chuckled with satisfaction.

"Mm… It would be even better if this relationship goes a bit further… Hehe…" He muttered with a crafty grin on his face, cooking up some sort of delusional wish in his mind.

As the myriad of carriages was headed to the Castle to settle in for the banquet the day after, An ebony black colored carriage made of material that was lackluster like mercury and had a mysterious air about it entered the city by showing a metal badge with an insignia engraved on it.

The insignia had an Arc of brilliant light going upwards much like a comet along with twinkling stars around it. It looked much like the logo of some space agency from earth.

In this carriage, two passengers were seated and there was one familiar face that Ethan would recognize easily if he were to see it.

It was the person who brought him out into the world of Akarxia from his mother's womb. The Royal Physician.

In front of him was an old man with his eyes closed. He had long, dense and flowy whiskers drooping down his chin. The old man had a tranquil and profound aura about him.

In truth, the old man didn't have his eyes closed because he felt like it, he was actually blind. However, that didn't seem to affect him at all as he was looking out the window of the carriage with a slight smile nodding from time to time as if he could see everything with his eyes closed.

Suddenly, his eyebrows twitched, his pupils moved below the closed eyelids and his whiskers trembled slightly as he momentarily felt a jolt going through his mind.

The Royal Physicist noticed this subtle change. His eyes widened narrowly in amazement as he asked leaning forward curiously and narrowing his brows, "Did you 'see'?"

The old man simply smiled gently and did not respond. He turned his head toward the Royal Physician and said cryptically, "I 'see'…"

The old man's face suddenly turned pale as he leaned back into the cushioned seat in fatigue, this seemed to be an expected and frequent occurrence as both the old man and the physician carried on as if nothing had happened. The old man fell into a state of stillness and the physician resumed reading his book.