The Distinguished Mr. Rose Chapter 129: Chapter 128: Gathering of Lords

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Chapter 128: Gathering of Lords Over a thousand paladins departed the capital at the dawn of the promised date. Leading them from the very front was young Emperor Karolus, who wore a newly-made regalia specially designed to embody and to show the noble might of Francia. On his head glittered a golden crown; his black robes fluttered in the wind as he strode forth armored in streaks of red and silver. This was no ceremonial garment. It was the impression of a ruler willing to fight for the sake of his people. For Karolus, this was his very first voyage outside the castle. It was the first time he stepped foot beyond the boundaries and confines of this once restrictive nation; and yet, he left not with grudge or regret, but with certainty. For he knew his home would be waiting for him no matter the mountains he crossed. Those to serve as his aide during the long march were two Peers, Sir Ruggiero and Sir Lucius. The others stayed behind to protect the empire. Regardless of the emperor’s wishes for peace, he couldn’t deny that his absence would leave Francia vulnerable, and all it would take was one betrayal, a slyly hidden force, for the cities under his reign to come under attack. The Peers were spread all about the empire’s borders. In the capital, Sir Roland maintained a stalwart guard. The summit taking place this day would decide the fate of the entire continent, and so his Holiness’s guards clenched their weapons and marched forth with a staunch determination. Only the best and the brightest were handpicked to come. Thanks to Lucius’s recommendations, however, some of the players were allowed to attend as well. Of course the gentleman was accompanied by his regular trio. Surprisingly, Miss Enapay and her fellows wished to come too. The warrioress said she couldn’t allow herself to rot forever, and so even if a battle were to take place she needed to face her fears and confront the threat of death boldly. So it was that the emperor’s army trampled through the roads gradually winding past their familiar homesteads. Unlike the previous expedition with Mister Renaud, there were no beasts or creatures that attacked them. The once untamed wilds of the border regions were barren, its occupants long since fled from the massive procession of blade and steel. Only a few hours later did they finally arrive at Lucius’s prepared stage. “Woah,” Karolus muttered, turning to the gentleman and nudging his side. “I thought it was just going to be a few tables and maybe some banners. Is this really the right place?” Lucius gave the young man a confident smile. “Of course, of course! Doesn’t it set the mood?” “It’s definitely… bold.” A grand display unfolded before Karolus’s eyes. What was once a flat, dull green field had been transformed into a giant colosseum of concrete, the architecture reminiscent of classical roman structures mixed with a bit of Frankish influence. It had a large circular shape, wide entrances perfect for armies to storm through just in case, as well as a lavish table made of melted swords that rested at the very center. Lucius had built the beauty all by himself, with some assistance from the Starlit Shop. The project cost a pretty penny and drained quite a bit of his collected coins, but staring at his work now the gentleman felt nothing but pride. He already had experience rebuilding the Christ the Redeemer statue after, accidentally, reanimating the original using the souls of countless indigenous tribesmen slaughtered in Brazil and the grudges of their untimely deaths, so it had taken no time at all! The paladins were quite baffled by the sight, but nonetheless they entered, steadily pouring into the massive atrium inside. The space was big enough to hold an entire city’s worth of people inside. Ruggiero glanced around, his face cast entirely in surprise. “You did all this in merely a month, Sir Lucius?” “Indeed I did.” “How curious. Where was this constructional talent whilst the capital needed laborers?” The gen