"Is everything prepared?" The Duke asked as he looked at his entourage.
Except for Daeron, who has to take care of the duchy while the Duke is away and the youngest, who was still in the Academy, everyone else was heading to the Autumn kingdom.
There were more than 30 wagons full of soldiers, knights, servants, and maids. There was more than enough food for five days.
As the teleportation portal that connects with the other kingdom was near the royal capital, they had to travel for four days to arrive there.
Once they are in the Autumn kingdom, they'll be in the care of Duke Blake.
"Yes, my lord. Everything is in order and everybody is ready to move on your command." An old-aged man with a knight costume respectfully replied. His tone speaks of deep respect toward his lord.
Though the middle-aged man looked poor and innocent on the outside but Damien very well knows about this man.
He is the first commander of the Zadkiel duchy and the most powerful person in the entire duchy. He could be said to be among the most powerful swordsman in the entire four kingdoms.
One of the reasons why everyone fears and respects the Zadkiel duchy.
"I suppose I don't have to give orders to you, son. Take care." Duke patted Daeron's shoulder.
He knew his son was more than enough to take care of this duchy, after all, he was trained to be the next duke from a young age.
"I will, father." Daeron nodded and walked towards a luxurious wagon and peered through the window.
"Hey?" He said to the handsome man in it who has an annoying expression. "Please don't cause any trouble while you're there. And...there might be beautiful ladies in the function- queens and noble ladies, if you're going to Cough~ Cough~ at least make sure you're discreet." As an elder brother, he was embarrassed to say this to his brother, but he had to do it. Somebody has to do it! There was no other way.
Swoosh!~
There was no reply, only the sound of curtains being drawn.
"..."
"Fucker!"
He chuckled as he heard the familiar grunt.
Damien was alone in his wagon, something he suggested to the duke who was going to put him with his unbearable siblings.
Daemon, his younger brother who also happened to be the one who stole his then-girlfriend was with the entourage. Since it was when they were younger the duke and the duchess didn't take that much action on the kid apart from banning him from meeting the said girl. He was hateful and venomous. Always teasing and bullying him because Daemon was said to be a genius swordsman.
He has plans for his dear brother. He wanted to humiliate him like the way he did it.
As someone who read the novel, he knows about Daemon's current love interest. The sole reason Daemon was coming with them was because of her.
'Just you wait. I'll show you how to properly and thoroughly NTR someone.'
...
The road to the royal city was not only safe but was luxurious as road standard goes. There were not any single cracks or wastes on the dirt paved road, it was one big smooth ride.
Luscious green adorned the sides of the road, birds chirped among the large and ancient trees. Many big and small shops stood on either side of the roads, attracting many curious eyes.
Daenys made the wagons to a halt on all the ludicrous vendors to shop for pretty and shiny things. It was bound to happen, sooner or later, though he wished it was later rather than sooner. The extra food worth a day was because of her, the duke very well knew about her greed for shiny things.
"...You can buy more beautiful things in the royal capital," said Damien. "Not to mention they're more expensive than the actual price." He crooked his head from the wagon window.
It was the collective thought of everyone on the wagons, but none of them spoke because of her short temper.
"Don't be a miser, brother," she frowned in disgust. "After all, I'm just helping these poor people." She scrutinized a pretty shiny ear ornament.
"It's from the winter kingdom, my lady. They're made using the ice crystals mined from the heart of the Tempest mountains. It is said that the wearer would be graced with luck and charm." The shop vendor clasped his hands like a little bigger. He was a crooked middle-aged man with a hunch on the back.
"Oh? Is that so?" Her eyes sparkled. "How much is this worth, then?"
"35 coppers. Give or take." The Duke said as he watched their exchange, slightly slouching on Damien's wagon.
"Nah. 20 copper. Ice crystals? From the heart of tempest mountains.? Huh." He scoffed. "You believe that shit?" Damien said with a ridicule.
"It's only 8 silvers, my lady." The hunched man said with a smile, that was so innocent.
??!!!
"What the fuck???" The Duke, who was calm and noble all the time, cursed as he heard the atrocity that came from the shop vendor's mouth.
Damien was too shocked to speak anything, he had his jaws wide open.
"...Oh?" Daenys herself was also startled by the price of the tiny twinkling thing in her hands.
Seeing her face, the shop vendor spoke again; "It's okay, my lady if you don't have that much money with you, we can look for other ornaments less costly. Perhaps, my lady would like this wooden pendant. It's only 20 coppers."
"Wh-what? You think I don't have that much money with me. I'm the eldest daughter of Zadkiel, how ridiculous are you to think that I'm poor? Here," she grabbed a golden pouch from one of her maids and tossed it to the shop vendor, who, like a seasoned warrior caught it safely in his plum hands.
"... Don't ever say this young lady can't buy things." She with a smirk, like she has won the entire world, walked away.
"...Oh wow. Just wow. She got ripped off." The Duke exclaimed.
"...that too, in front of us," Damien mumbled.
The father and son duo watched as the smiling young lady enter her wagon.
"Should we do something, my lord?" The supreme commander of Zadkiel duchy, Duncan, asked in a low voice.
Damien side gazed at the old man. He was imposing. Almost like an immovable mountain. He held himself high and mighty, befitting a knight of his position. Though his pointy mustache made him look somewhat funny, he wasn't fun at all.
He once killed a man just because he spoke loudly to the duke, but he was so young then.
The guy didn't even bat an eye on Damien, as he viewed Damien as a useless timber, living only because of his name.
Arrogant bastard. Damien thought.
"Nah, leave it. They are the properties of the royals, touching them would mean, rebellion. They knew it too. That's why they're brave enough to even swindle a young lady from the dukedom," he said as he rubbed his palms together. "Let's go. Tell the coachman to speed up before my little daughter caught another sparkling thing in her eyes."
The commander nodded and walked away.
"Wow, she looks so happy to be swindled." Damien sighed.
"Leave it. It's just some gold," the duke said as he too walked away. "We can make double of it in no time."
Just some gold, huh?
All the way to the royal city was like this, rich and luxurious, screaming the regalness of the Spring kingdom. Many shiny and sparkling things caught Daenys's eyes but she was kept in check by her mother.
After five days of not so arduous and relatively easy travel, they finally arrived at the royal capital.
The city of dreams and despair!