Journey to the Capital (3)

Princess Tessia tries not to laugh at Constance who really thinks the giant forest exists. She didn't expect that the great hero and tactician of the empire would believe the stories the western kingdoms had in their adventures and colonies in the new kingdom.

"They really do exist though princess."

"Huh? Really?"

"We have men who came from the new continent. They said that trees their grows more than fifty to sixty meters, men who eats men, and bulls twice the size of ours here. They even said that the people their sleep and play all day, they only work during the planting and harvest season…"

Constance describes what he hears from the sailors and merchants who came from the new continent.

Princess Tessia giggles as she sees the new side of Constance. The young lord's true feelings are seeping out from the conversation.

"Then Lord Arignon, you want to be a farmer in there?"

"You can have servants to work in the farm field princess."

"Then how does that differ from being a noble in the empire Lord Arignon?"

Princess Tessia walks toward some distance from Constance and holds her own training sword with both her hands. Constance also follows what Princess Tessia is doing and looks towards the rising sun.

Both then started swinging their swords. To keep their body in shape in this cold climate, exercising with a sword is a good way to keep their bodies moving.

"No or less responsibilities." Constance comments, aside from authority and power, farmers and free men of the new continent enjoys their lives like nobles in the kingdoms and empires. They also don't have such heavy responsibilities and honor to maintain.

"That's all?"

Princess Tessia is not convinced that the young lord of Arignon likes to keep his life simple and away from power. He is young and just achieve a great victory and honor in the north, yet he sounds like an old man who wants to live a simple or solitary life.

"No need to attend social parties."

"And?"

"That's all."

"Hahaha *laughs* that's really funny lord Arignon." Princess Tessia said happily. The young lord is really an eccentric one among the nobles in the empire.

"My Lord, it is time for us to depart."

Sir John suddenly approaches the two who are still talking while swinging their swords. He is already fully armed and prepared to continue their journey for the day.

"Princess, it seems time for us depart."

-- -- -- -- --

"We are here princess, welcome to Port-South-Nors City!"

It was already late afternoon when they arrived at the Port-South-Nors City. They have travelled for a few days to reach the city to the only place in the peninsula that can transport them back to the mainland.

Port-South-Nors City, the only port city in the Nors Peninsula that is under the territory of the Aquintanian Empire. A year ago, the city was just a small port city with only 30,000 inhabitants and is on the brink of falling into the hands of the Confederate Tribes of Norsland.

But with the lead and command of Constance von Arignon, they were able to repel the Nors army's siege and turn the tide of war in the north. Now, the city has become livelier and prosperous, and the population has increased to more than twice, up to 70,000 people.

"It seems there are more soldiers patrolling the street this time, when we arrived there are only a token garrison here." Lady Elisa exclaims, she is amazed that the city streets have a lot of patrolling men around the city.

"It is because most of the men are with us for the campaign Lady Elisa." Sir Markus replies. "Now that they are home, they can return back to their previous duty of guarding the city."

All of them are wearing hoods and are unmounted from their horses as they traverse the streets. They don't want to be noticed as the soldiers around the city are mostly soldiers from their northern campaign that they once led.

"Their lives have change because of you Lord Arignon."

"I only help them princess; they are the ones that changed their lives and destiny." Constance said.

Constance and Princess Tessia are looking towards the children running happily in the streets, vendors and merchants selling their wares and goods, wives buying things and ingredients, and men talking merrily about their lives.

Even the wintry and cold weather in the north can't stop the people from enjoying their new lives here. Constance feels glad that everything they have done, all the bloodshed and carnage they undergo, just to make the children and the citizens feel safer and prosperous.

"But the price that paid is also too great..." Constance added sadly, his smile turns sour and gloomy remembering everything they had endured.

Even if they are successful in their campaign, a lot have died. Every night, he can remember the faces of the men he killed and soldiers who died under his command. He shook his head; he knew that this is one of the prices a person has to pay if ever the person survives the war.

Princess Tessia notices the sadness in the eyes of Constance and wants to empathize with him but can't. She knows that the deaths and duels that she witnesses are no near to the brutality and carnage of a true war that Constance experienced.

They continue their walking until they reach an inn near the port harbor. The men aside from Constance and Markus gathered and lead all their horses to the inn's stable while the rest gets inside the inn.

"Five rooms ple-." Markus said to the female innkeeper standing at the counter. But he is immediately disrupted by Princess Tessia.

"Four please. The three of us would stay inside one room." Princess Tessia points towards her companions, Lady Elisa and Lady Sasha. They want to stay in just one room instead of the two that are reserved for them.

Markus can only nod to the Princess and said to the innkeeper that they only need four rooms to stay for the night.

"Four rooms that is good for two persons each please."

"Forty bronze coins."

Markus then gets a small pouch from his pocket filled with coins inside. The coins inside the pouch are more than the total price of the four rooms that they would stay for the night.

"Please prepare us grandiose dinner later." Markus said to the delight of the innkeeper. "Keep the change."

"Men, we are going to have a blast tonight!"

Constance said proudly to his knights, they had successfully returned back to the empire.