NOVEL NEXT 97. The Imperial Wedding Part 1
Ravenna leaned slightly against the doorframe, arms crossed.
"I'll tell you what I'm scheming once you're ready to participate. If you're not prepared in two days, you won't be coming to the wedding."
Marie's excitement turned into a pout.
"I will be ready!" she declared, puffing out her cheeks in defiance.
Ravenna let out a soft chuckle, ruffling Marie's hair before turning back into her chamber.
Two Days later.
The morning air was crisp and cool, but the streets of the Imperial District were anything but peaceful. The clamor of hurried footsteps, raised voices, and the occasional sound of a wooden cart creaking under its weight filled the air as hundreds of commoners shuffled forward in a disorganized mass.
"This way! Do not push! Keep moving in a line!"
A weary Imperial Knight, clad in gleaming armor, stood at the forefront of the crowd, his commanding voice carrying over the restless murmur of evacuees. His patience, however, was wearing thin.
With a tired sigh, he muttered under his breath, "Of all days, why did this have to happen now?"
Despite his repeated orders, the evacuation was slow and chaotic. Some people argued with the knights, demanding answers. Others lingered, reluctant to leave their homes and businesses behind. A few simply moved sluggishly, their half-awake minds still grappling with the abruptness of the situation.
By his side, another knight—younger, with a more easy going demeanor—was busy assisting an elderly couple, pushing their heavy street food cart down the cobbled road. The scent of lingering spices and roasted meat still clung to the wooden frame, as if refusing to be displaced.
"I can't believe we're evacuating the entire Imperial District this early in the morning," the first knight grumbled.
"It can't be helped," the younger knight replied, exhaling sharply as he adjusted his grip on the cart. "Orders from the higher-ups."
With a grunt, he gave the cart another push before continuing, "I heard from the other department. Apparently, the Eastern Continental Medical Society issued an emergency warning to the city guard."
At this, the older knight turned his head slightly, his brow furrowing. "A medical warning?"
The younger knight nodded grimly.
"They found evidence that a slave infected with Hilon Pox has been roaming free in the district."
A chill ran down the older knight's spine. Hilon Pox. The mere mention of the disease sent a ripple of unease through him. Though rare, the illness was highly contagious and had claimed the lives of many in past outbreaks in the Hilde Kingdom. A single infected person in the densely populated Imperial District could spell disaster.
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Yet, despite the severity of the situation, the knight couldn't help but scowl.
"And it just had to happen on the day of the Imperial Wedding."
He gestured around at the disordered exodus before sighing again. "Most of us are already spread thin, guarding the high-ranking nobles and securing the wedding venue. Now we have to handle an evacuation too?"
The younger knight gave him a half-smile, still pushing the cart forward.
"Well, what can we do? The Imperial Court wants the commoners out of the district, but the wedding will continue as planned. No delays."
The older knight scoffed, his grip tightening on the hilt of his sword. "Of course. The empire wouldn't dare let something as insignificant as an outbreak ruin their grand wedding."
As they spoke, the sun began to crest over the horizon, its golden rays slowly painting the cityscape in warm hues. The streets, once draped in darkness, now shimmered under the morning light, revealing the growing urgency among the people.
Word of the potential plague had begun to spread.
Meanwhile Ravenna's chamber, Imperial Palace
The faint glow of lanterns cast soft light across the lavish chamber, illuminating gilded walls, intricate tapestries, and a grand mirror reflecting the woman before it.
Seated in her ornate vanity, Ravenna's maids adjusted the final touches of her attire. Her jet black hair was elegantly braided, pinned up with delicate crystal ornaments, while her deep purple dress—woven with enchanted silk, looked like liquid poison. She looked every bit the imperial princess she was, though the sharp gleam in her deep dark eyes hinted at something far more dangerous beneath her refined exterior.
As her maids silently fussed over the final adjustments to her attire, Ravenna flicked her fingers, summoning the translucent, holographic screen before her.
[ Reputation System v0.1 ]
User: Ravenna Solarius / Joy Cha Kim
Reputation Level: 61 (7,834 / 9,400 EXP)
Current Reputation Points: 44,205
Titles: Raven of the Sun Palace, Unruly Princess
A smirk tugged at her lips as she opened the Spend Reputation Points option, causing the menu to expand before her.
[ Spend Reputation Points ]
Access to the Internet: 100 Points per Hour
Access to Magic Spell Library: 100 Points per Hour
Geographical Scans: 5 Points per 1 Kilometer
Nullify Minor Poison Damage (Self): 250 Points
Nullify Minor Poison Damage (Others): 350 Points per Entity
Minor Heal: 1,000 Points per Entity
Major Heal: (Locked)
Lie Detector: (Locked)
Without hesitation, she selected Geographical Scan, sliding the range up to 250 kilometers before confirming the transaction.
[ Geographical Scan Initiated ]
Area Scanned: 250 km radius
Reputation Points Deducted: 1,250
Remaining Reputation Points: 42,955
Ravenna leaned back in her chair, watching as the scan loaded. A three-dimensional map of the imperial capital and its surroundings materialized before her, glowing in soft golden hues. Red markers indicated areas of concern—the evacuation points, the wedding venue, and, most notably, several moving signatures deep within the city underground.
"Good. The evacuation is proceeding as expected," she mused, eyes scanning the data.
She opened a few icons, shifting the view to monitor both the movement of the civilians and the presence of magical beasts lurking in the underground.
"I'll need to keep spending points to track these movements. Timing is everything." she murmured.
A knock on the door broke her concentration. The maids, having finished their work, stepped back, bowing as they gestured toward the door. "Master, Let's get going."
Ravenna dismissed the screen with a flick of her wrist and rose from her seat. "Finally."
Adjusting the sleeves of her dress, she took a final glance at her reflection before stepping forward, her heels clicking against the polished marble floor.
The imperial wedding was about to begin.