The Distinguished Mr. Rose Chapter 60: Chapter 60: Skin-Deep Comedy

Read chapter 60 of The Distinguished Mr. Rose by QuiteTheSlacker on NovelPedia.

Chapter 60: Skin-Deep Comedy About a week later, Lucius and his companions had gathered together to visit more of the local fare; however, something was… different . Whispers and hushed voices crept about all around them, and a tense mood muddled the air until the people’s faces were darkened into a grim frown. The Franks huddled in groups. They murmured and spread all that they had heard from their fellow locals: tales distorted from mouth to mouth, each detail subtly changed with each rendition. But though the content might be different, the message remained the same. They spoke of Ruggiero’s treachery, This was not a recent development. Lucius had visited many more taverns after his first escapade, donning a different attire and alias, and he continued to promote Ruggiero’s heroics with a vigorous cheer. But just like at Mary’s Tavern, the reception was far from approving. More people came to know of the ‘truth’. They derived their own conclusions from the gentleman’s story. Now, the nation was at its tipping point. Lucius could feel it: the tension about to break. It wouldn’t be long now before something drastic would occur. “Seriously, what’s going on around here?” Mili said, staring at the people hurrying by. “Everyone was fine and dandy just a week ago. Now? It’s like… I dunno, it feels like being on stage right after a shady reporter released a scoop on you. Everyone’s mad. ” Marco adjusted his suit and grimaced. “That’s the weird thing, kid. Youda think it was directed at us, but… doesn’t seem like it. They ain’t glarin’ or shufflin’ away like those castle servants right after we came back. Nah, their sights are set on something, or someone, else.” “Nothing’s really happened lately, though,” Harper said. “I heard the other players are keeping to themselves, and the paladins are busy enough building that new fortress out to the west. It’s weird—just what could have gotten the folks here so riled up?” As the party busied themselves over conjuring theories and possible reasons, a Frankish man approached them, his expression hesitant yet burning with curiosity. “Pardon me, o’ holy warriors,” he said. “Would you by chance grant me the favor of answering a question of mine?’ The group looked at each other, shrugged, and then nodded in affirmation. “What’s on your mind, fella?” Marco asked. The man quickly glanced behind, where what appeared to be a group of his friends urged on him with an enthusiastic wave, before turning around and clearing his throat. “I have heard something most concerning regarding Sir Ogier’s death,” he said. “Is it… is it true that the one who slayed him was not a demon, but in fact the Peer from the Moors: Sir Ruggiero?” Harper stepped back and scowled. “What? Where did you hear that from?” “The source is not important. I wish to hear it from your own words—from the heroes who were there on that fateful day.” The group hesitated, unsure how exactly to reply. “Well…” Mili began. “He, um, didn’t have a choice. That bearded guy went completely mad and started attacking everyone. Ruggiero was only trying to protect us.” She framed it so that Ruggiero was in the right, but it didn’t matter . The man only wished to confirm his prior suspicions, and now he had: straight from the lips of a witness. His eyes widened, and he covered his mouth in shock. “So it was true after all. How terrifying.” The man gestured toward his friends with some sort of signal, after which they disbanded and quickly fled to different sections of the city—no doubt to convey what had been revealed here. The man shook his head and turned to leave. Before he did, though, he gave the otherworlders a parting word of advice. “I do not know what lies that man has said to you, but I suggest you be cautious. The Moorish people command dark magics. It would not surprise me if that treacherous Peer was the one who caused our guardian’s madness to begin with.” To that, Marco shook his fist in anger. “What’re ya even talkin’ about? You don’t kn