Chapter 276

Vestia's Royal Castle

TL: SupremeTentacle

ED: Exkalamity

Guendalfa led us out of the Adventurers' Guild and onto the street after boasting that he would introduce us to Kiara . His massive frame parted the bustling crowd like water, making it really easy for us to follow behind him . We could see the Royal Castle from the Adventurers' Guild but that didn't mean it was close by . That was just how big it was; it's sheer size messed with my sense of distance . It took us twenty minutes to walk from the Adventurers' Guild to the gate of the Royal Castle . As we approached, we saw that the walls around the castle were just as tall and wide as the walls surrounding Vestia . There was even a moat carved around the castle like a muddy serpent gouged into the earth, complete with a wooden drawbridge featuring a stone portcullis on top .

"This castle was designed as the capital city's final bastion," explained Guendalfa . He seemed to have decided to play the role of tour guide for us . "If need be, the castle can be turned into a fully armed and fortified stronghold . Any enemies that manage to breach the city's walls will have to deal with a second set . "

As we approached, a guard appeared out of a house next to the drawbridge on the town side .

"Halt," he said . "You are now entering upon the royal castle . All who wish to pass must first validate their identities . "

Guendalfa approached the guard .

"I am Guendalfa, son of the Patriarch of the Rhinokin . With me is the Black Lightning Princess herself! I vouch for her identity on my honour . I also carry a letter of recommendation from the guildmaster in Vestia . "

He handed over a black card and a sealed letter to the guard . After opening up the letter and reading the contents carefully, the guard looked at us in disbelief .

"You could get an audience with the king with this letter," he muttered .

An audience with the king? What the hell kind of recommendation did that guildmaster write us? He puts way too much faith into us for just completing one delivery quest .

It would make sense if the guildmaster had planned to give Fran such a recommendation all along with the quest as a pretext to give it to her . The guild probably wanted to build ties with the first black catkin to evolve since the tribe's downfall . Fran may as well have been a living legend, and because of that, the guild wanted to gain her favor early into her career . Likewise, the Beast Lord had given her a crest with his personal ensignia engraved into it back in Ulmutt right after the tournament . He was probably thinking the same thing .

Actually given his musclehead personality, probably not . But Royce, his aide, had definitely thought that quickly establishing a working relationship with Fran was prudent given her circumstances .

I urged Fran to give the guard the crest . It was most likely a more trustworthy form of ID, and I figured there was no harm in showing it .

"Nn . "

"This is...!" The guard's eyes bulged from their sockets . Guendalfa also stared daggers into the crest .

"P-P-Please wait one moment, ma'am!" stuttered the guard and he dashed back into the guardhouse . We saw him hold the crest up to a crystal shard, which flashed briefly upon activation . Afterwards, the guard ran back to us and gingerly handed the crest back to Fran .

"H-here's your ID back, ma'am," he said . "Everything is in order . Please enter!"

He signaled behind him and the gates of the portcullis across the drawbridge slowly began to open .

"Amazing! You even had the Beast Lord's crest with you," said Guendalfa . "You didn't need me at all . You should have left someone like me behind . "

"Not true . "

Fran was right . Even if we wouldn't have needed Guendalfa to pass through the gates, he really helped smoothen the process out by escorting us and interacting with the guard on our behalf . More importantly, his company had made us seem like the real deal . I was sure the guards would have doubted us more and spent more time investigating our motives had he not been present . I had to say, his change in attitude had really benefited us . Guendalfa's behaviour had come as a bit of a surprise, but it was by no means unprecedented . Goldalfa had also become more deferential to Fran after losing to her in single combat .

After passing through the gates on the castle side, Fran and I noticed another set of walls set up down the road .

"Another wall?"

"Yes," said Guendalfa . "The castle is right past it . "

"Why two walls?"

"The wall ahead of us separates the nobles and the common folk . The outskirts are designated as the living quarters for the guards and servants . It also works as a place for merchants to do business . Behind the wall is where you'll find all the nobles . "

"How to enter?"

"Allow me to show you . Please follow me . "

We walked along side the wall and found a massive gate as big as the entrance to the city . There was what appeared to be a large mansion built next to the gate . Guendalfa led us inside . The building's lobby was enormous . It contained enough space to comfortably house several dozen people on top of the numerous guards and other staff members already stationed throughout . The rhinokin led us up to the counter and spoke to a receptionist .

"I am Guendalfa, and with me is the Black Lightning Princess . We are here to request an audience with my master, Kiara . "

"Very well, we will process your request," said the receptionist . "Please allow us to guide you to a private waiting room in the meantime . "

Fran's gaze curiously flickered back and forth as a guard guided us through the mansion . We went up stairways and down hallways, passing by many decorated waiting rooms before finally arriving at our destination .

"You see," said Guendalfa, resuming his role as tour guide, "the royal family had this mansion built as an extravagant waiting room next to the gate . They wanted as many lounges and private rooms as possible . With security being as high as it is, it takes time to process even just one person's entry request . And really, you can't have nobles lining up outside like at some festival stall, can you?"

The guard stopped in front of intricately patterned door and opened it . Inside was the most lavishly decorated room we've seen yet, complete with a sofa and two armchairs around a coffee table . It also contained a fireplace, an ornate desk with matching chair, a bookshelf, and a window that let the gentle sunlight seep through . Fran and Guendalfa sat down on the sofa, with Guendalfa sinking a little deeper into the cushions than Fran . After a couple minutes, there was a knock on the door . A maid entered with a cart featuring some freshly brewed tea and a variety of pastries . The moment the maid set the food onto the coffee table, Fran lunged at it . Guendalfa did the same after waiting for her to grab the first bite . Together, the two hungry companions devoured the snacks they were presented in less than a minute .

After letting out a contented sigh, Guendalfa once again began to speak .

"You really are something, Black Lightning Princess . "

"Nn?" said Fran, sipping on a cup of tea .

"You see, this room was made to entertain people of noble birth . Normally, common folk wouldn't feel right being in such a fancy place, but you look right at home," he said . "The food too . What they just brought us was some high class stuff but you scarfed it right down like it was 'nuthin . "

"You too . "

"Well of course . I am a noble, so this much is normal for me . "

Fran and I stared .

What the hell! He was a blue blood?! How the hell does he still have peerage given the attitude he was going around with?

"What? Why are you so surprised?" laughed Guendalfa . "I know I don't seem like a noble, but my fatheristechnically the patriarch of an entire tribe of beastkin, so I'm used to all the bells and frills that comes with having status . "

After that surprising revelation, a knock came from the door .

"Excuse me . Madam Fran, Mr . Guendalfa, Lady Kiara will see you now . "

The door opened and two maids were waiting for us . We followed them deep into the castle, passing by large banquet halls and wide ballrooms along the way .

"You used to be able to find her on the practice grounds in the outskirts of the castle," said Guendalfa . "But lately her health is getting worse, so she's been confined to her room . "

"Bad health? Will be okay?" asked Fran .

"I'm worried too," he replied . "She is getting pretty old . But the fact that they let us see her means she's alright . "

It can't be help . She's around 70 years old .

"It'sfinallytime to meet Kiara,"I said to Fran .

"Nn . "