The Wolves of the North (2)
"The emperor's guards are really a sucker of outdated and unnecessary traditions... Even in this freezing weather, they are still wearing such heavy plate and chainmail armors and not wearing anything that can negate the coldness... such stupidity cannot be toppled by anyone in this world."
Constance can only smirk watching the procession. It has already been decades since the emperor's guards were even deployed in combat. They are just honorary guards of the empire, but their pride and ego are as high as Mount Vlandia.
"Kid, you should be careful in saying that. If those knight bastards would hear that, our heads might be rolling now."
"Heh, you scared old man? I didn't know that you fear those knights," Constance then looks around to the men with him at the wall ramparts and smiled. "And all men here are our comrades, they won't sell us out."
"Yeah yeah, I know kid, and I'm not scared of them, if anything, I despise them so much I want to kill them. I just think you might join the knights with your achievements now. It would be a great honor."
"Even if my achievement is saving the entire empire from a great eastern horde. The emperor's knights order would not accept a person with white hair and red eyes."
"Then, it's their loss. It is already an old superstition, and those knights are still stuck in their old ways."
"Not just the knights, the empire as a whole is stuck in the past."
Constance can only smile bitterly. The Noble family of Arignon which was established 200 years ago, is not a native Aquintanian or from any people of the continent but instead came from the eastern lands as part of the eastern horde invading force that terrorizes the continent for centuries.
So even if it is unreasonable as it happened hundreds of years ago, it is understandable the discrimination and hatred he receives, especially from the elitists' and purists' noble factions.
While Constance is contemplating, the gate is opened as the very slow procession is already very near to the gates.
"Let us go down and meet His Majesty, kid."
"Ohhh... yeah we should."
Constance was awakened from his daze when Emile disrupted his thinking. He notices that the knights with the soldiers and the carriages are entering the city gates.
Constance, together with Emile and his personal retinue immediately went down the walls to greet the emperor. He can't still understand why the emperor would personally come here.
He could just order me to come to the capital if he needs me.
Constance is still thinking when he realizes that they were already in front of a huge and majestic carriage. A clean white carriage that is adorned with gold and red colors which is being pulled by four white horses, it is clear that the majestic carriage carries the most important person in the procession.
"All kneel to His Majesty the Emperor."
As one of the Imperial knights' commands, everyone, including Constance and Emile, kneeled to pay their respects to the emperor. The entire place becomes silent, even the houses near the gates close their windows.
Only the sound of the carriage door opening could be heard.
"At ease everyone."
One soft and old voice reverberated through, and everyone knew that it was the emperor who had just spoken.
Constance raises up his head and sees the emperor slowly climbing down from the carriage, being helped by an old butler and a young girl. The emperor, already seventy-eight years old, is already frail and weak old person, his once radiant blonde hair had already turned white, and his skin is already wrinkled.
It won't be strange if the emperor would suddenly die because of the exhaustion of their long travel here, making Constance more troubled why the emperor would come here in person.
It seems that the capital is more in troubled state than I anticipated.
"You can all rise."
Everyone stands up as soon as the emperor has ordered them to do so. In the empire, the emperor's word is the law no matter how unreasonable it is.
"Everyone here is a hero of the empire... and I am happy to see such great warriors serving the empire -- cough cough – I'm sorry for that," the emperor smiled after coughing.
"Grandfather, you should not push yourself much further," a young blonde girl who is just helping the emperor get down from the carriage speaks. "I'm sorry everyone but His Majesty the emperor is tired from the long travel, I hope that you would understand, and we are truly thankful for what you have done for the empire."
"It seems that the girl with the emperor is a princess kid. What do you think? Is she planning to honeypot you, oh boy – the great hero of this generation? Hahaha" Emile whispered to Constance seeing everyone is distracted by the emperor being helped by the princess and other imperial knights.
"Shut your mouth old man. It would be a disaster if anyone could hear your words. Even our two lives are not enough to appease these knights who are hounding for any mistakes we could do."
"Commander of the Northern Border Army, your presence is needed by His Majesty the Emperor. Also, the man whose name is Emile Duguelux is needed to come by the orders of His Majesty."
An imperial knight announces and calls the attention of Constance and Emile who are still talking discreetly. The two immediately followed the carriage who is carrying the emperor towards the city hall where he would temporarily reside.
"What do you think kid? Why would the emperor also have called for my presence?"
"I don't know old man. Maybe someone snitched your vulgar words about the imperial family hahaha."
"Heh... it might be because of my greatness. No one in this world can best my swordsmanship, I am the strongest."
While listening to the proud boasting of Emile, Constance notices that the commander of the Imperial Knights is looking at him intently. And he realizes it is not only the commander but also some of the senior knights who are on horseback following the emperor's carriage.
While he and Emile are both on foot, the speed of the carriage is so slow that those who are on foot can follow it by walking slowly.
This is weird. Why are they looking at me like that? This has become more troubling than I anticipated. My plan of going home after this seems to be going to be delayed much longer...
It is weird as the old imperial knights are looking at him intensely but there is not any hint of malice or discrimination that he always receives from other nobles back in his time in the academy.
Looking closely, it seems that the old knights are appraising him for something.
Sigh... I should soon know what the emperor wants from me...
After the long journey from the western gates, all of them arrived in front of the city hall that is the biggest structure in the entire city of Edeva. The maids and workers who came with the emperor then immediately get out from the other carriages and walks toward the city hall. Even the knights help in carrying a lot of objects and things that are being brought by the imperial group.
"The number of materials that they are bringing out are more than the materials the city hall originally had. It is like that the emperor would stay here for long kid hahaha... It seems that we are also still stuck here kid."
"That would be untrue old man. No one is stupid enough to let the emperor stay here longer near the frontlines."
Constance and Emile notice that the emperor is being assisted by the young princess and the same old butler previously in going inside the city hall. The city hall, which was just a medium-sized mansion turned into a government building, would serve as a temporary lodging for the emperor and his companions.
"Lord Arignon and Warrior Emile, His Majesty is calling for your presence right now."
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I hope that you would continue to support and read The White Wolf of Aquintaine. It would be a big thing and I would really appreciate it. I also wish that you would also read my other novel - Justinian of Austria.
Thank You and God Bless!