The Distinguished Mr. Rose Chapter 56: Chapter 56: Touring the City

Read chapter 56 of The Distinguished Mr. Rose by QuiteTheSlacker on NovelPedia.

Chapter 56: Touring the City Despite their bold proclamations, Lucius’s party still had quite a bit of time before the Order’s leave. Mili suggested that they explore the city now that the players could freely come and go; and thus, they put on their best outfits the next morning and made their way toward the main gate. A line had already begun forming once they arrived. The other players were just as curious and eager to leave the castle, but first they were subjected to a search by the stationed guards and then lectured on general etiquette. They were not allowed to leave the capital’s boundaries; however, free reign was given to wander through most of the territory—as long as they returned by midnight. The guards even recommended a few attractions to visit, such as the city square, the Venerated Sanctum which operated similarly to a library while also serving as the priests’ main headquarters, and some local monuments that showcased the Franks’ long history. Francia was the name of the nation as a whole. This region, in particular, was called the divine haven: Aix-la-Chapelle. The players thought it a bit lengthy though so they just referred to it as the capital. The only section forbidden to them was the Eastern Ward, where the affluent members of the faith called home. It was also where Ruggiero was currently confined. No one, whether they be otherworlder or native, was allowed to approach his homestead. After the guards finished lecturing Lucius’s companions, each one of them was handed a small sack filled with a wide variety of colorful marbles. They were apparently called Star Ore and acted as the main currency. Each color denoted a different monetary value. One gray ore was worth a piece of bread; green could buy you a typical meal; blue was used for more expensive purchases like jewelry; purple could afford a month’s worth of stay in the taverns; and a piece of the most valuable ore, orange, could purchase you a nice one-room cottage. At least, that was how the guards explained it. As an allowance, the players were distributed twenty green ores daily, which was roughly worth the same as two blue ones. Lucius supposed it wasn’t all that different from American currency. Gray was one dollar, green was ten, and so on. By his estimations, that meant the players had a budget of two hundred per day—how very generous! “I’m not gonna complain about free money,” Harper said, fiddling with the marbles in her hands. “Where do you folks want to visit first?” “Hm…” Mili mumbled to herself and poked her forehead with her fingers, deep in thought, before eventually perking up. “How about the square? I saw some tasty looking food stalls when we passed by on the parade yesterday.” “I could use some grub myself,” Marco said, rubbing his belly. “Shame they don’t have meat here, but it’s probably for the best. Can’t eat oily foods at my age—damn arteries ain’t what they used to be.” With that, they walked into the busy streets. Compared to the stiff and formal decorum in the castle, the people here were much more casual. They wore charming garments of cotton and plant-based material, but the most noticeable decoration was their hats. It wasn’t the typical top hat with a crown; rather, the design was thinner and resembled a brimless cap. Both men and women alike wore them with pride, and unique patterns were etched onto the sides: some more floral in nature while others carried images of familial importance. Lucius’s party stood out quite clearly among them, and yet the native citizens were actually quite friendly. They recognized them as otherworlders and made some casual small talk while the four moseyed toward the city square. Some asked innocent questions about their stay and whether or not they were comfortable, while others were more blunt in their curiosity and demanded to know some more personal tidbits. Fortunately, Lucius knew how best to handle such people, and he protected his companions from being thrust into an awkward situ