NOVEL NEXT Chapter 46: The Imperial Palace
The head butler led Ren Xiyang to the dining room.
It was a moderate-sized room with a large dining table. Kel, Solicitor Carmine and Manager Gregory were already there. Three formally dressed butlers also stood quietly against the wall. They all greeted Earl Rosewood.
“Take a seat, everyone,” Ren Xiyang said. As the earl, he sat at the head of the table. Solicitor Carmine and Manager Gregory ended up taking a seat on either side. Kel took a seat near the other end of the large table.
Manager Gregory gave a contemptuous glance at the servant seated at the table.
“Serve the food first,” Ren Xiyang said.
“Yes, my Lord,” the butlers said. They ducked into a side room and bought out the dishes and drinks.
“No,” Ren Xiyang said when one was about to pour him a drink. “Give me water or milk.”
The butler hid his surprise. “Yes, my Lord.” He quickly bought over a cup of milk, and then joined the other butlers to wait quietly.
Ren Xiyang simply started eating immediately. He disliked it when others delayed dinner with long-winded chatter when he was hungry, and now that he was the highest-ranked person in the room, he decided to eat first.
Kel, Solicitor Carmine, and Manager Gregory, seeing his actions, also started to eat.
“I heard about your duel with Baron Carmine. Congratulations, my Lord,” Solicitor Carmine said in between bites.
“Thanks,” Ren Xiyang said briefly, and then continued to eat.
Manager Gregory inwardly sneered. With that lack of conversation ability, Earl Rosewood wouldn’t go far!
It was quiet in the dining room.
Ren Xiyang finished eating first and sipped the rest of his milk while Solicitor Carmine and Manager Gregory ate. Kel also finished quickly.
Solicitor Carmine felt too uncomfortable to continue, so he also stopped eating. “Earl Rosewood, please speak freely.”
Ren Xiyang put his empty milk cup down. “Then, thank you for your hard work managing things here for me. I’d appreciate it if you can schedule all the individual employee meetings starting in two days. I’ll also need to withdraw more money from the estate accounts, but that isn’t urgent. I’m here in the Capital for various other business too, including finding a team who can build the water pipes and sewage pipes for the towns in the Rosewood fief, but we’ll speak about it in more detail in a few days.”
“I’ll organise the meetings,” Manager Gregory said. “I’m sure one of the other managers is free enough to assist you in finding an appropriate team for your…project.”
Solicitor Carmine said, “My Lord, you already have the key to the vault here, as well as the magic key used to access the Rosewood bank account. Do you need me to show you?”
“Yes, you can show me later.” Ren Xiyang looked between the two men. “Is there anything you want to talk to me about?”
“We won’t delay your rest, my Lord,” Solicitor Carmine said.
“We are merely here to support you, my Lord,” Manager Gregory said.
“Thank you. Then I’ll leave first. Have a good night.”
Ren Xiyang departed first, not seeing the looks of dislike that Solicitor Carmine and Manager Gregory gave each other.
Manager Gregory was contemptuous of Solicitor Carmine—that man has morals, sucking up to Rosewood like that, as expected of a lawyer!
Solicitor Carmine looked down on Manager Gregory—if you don’t want to work for Earl Rosewood, then fire yourself and save us the trouble.
Kel observed both of them and quietly left.
The next morning, at 9:30 am, an Imperial carriage came to the front of the manor. The accompanying Royal Guard on horseback hailed Earl Rosewood when he emerged.
“Good morning, Earl Rosewood! Earl Rosewood, His Highness Prince Rian has sent us to fetch you. The prince has acquired magical books on farming and planting spells, which are waiting for you at the Imperial Palace,” the Royal Guard said promptly.
Ren Xiyang: “…”
Was this a backup lure in case he decided to avoid the Imperial Palace? It was clearly a trap.
But Ren Xiyang had given his word, so he climbed into the Imperial carriage. Kel took a seat at the front with the coachman—it was improper for her to sit inside with the Earl.
Meanwhile, Sir Allen Copper and Sir Tielo Russet mounted their horses—as ordered by Solicitor Carmine, they were coming along as the Earl’s personal guards, for show if nothing else.
Solicitor Carmine didn’t know this, but his worry about the Earl’s image was the same worry of many of the employees at the Rosewood summer manor. Even Kel had been ready to quietly suggest to Earl Rosewood to wear something more exquisite for a visit to the Imperial Palace, but thankfully, Earl Rosewood had dressed himself up in a complete set of black shirt, black cravat, black coat, etc.
The inner city roads were paved with white stone. The carriage wheels rolled with relative smoothness on the way to the Imperial Palace.
A water moat surrounded the Imperial Palace reflecting the blue of the sky and the white of the palace walls. Royal Guards checked on them at the start of the bridge over the water, and a different group of Royal Guards checked them again after they crossed the bridge.
The coachman took the carriage near the main doors, upon which Ren Xiyang and Kel disembarked. The two knights also dismounted their horses. The horses were swiftly taken away by some groomsmen to be taken care of.
The front facade of the Imperial Palace was grandiose, with white stone that shone in the light, grand arching designs, and gold and blue roofs.
Prince Rian and his entourage of Royal Guards awaited them just outside the main doors, dwarfed by the large wooden doors.
Prince Rian’s smile was measured and restrained. His white hair was straight and smooth, and his white jacket impeccably pressed, with delicate gold thread embroidery that shimmered as he moved. The decorative blue jewels matched the blue of his eyes. He was every inch the shoujo prince…albeit with the body of a twelve-year-old.
Ren Xiyang bowed. “Good morning, Your Highness.”
“Welcome to the Imperial Palace, Earl Rosewood,” Rian replied with a serious nod. “Did the Earl have a restful night?”
“I did, thank you, Your Highness.”
“I have cleared my schedule for the day. Allow me to show you around the magnificent Imperial Palace.”
“It will be my honour to have you show me around,” Ren Xiyang replied. He walked up the stairs, Kel and the two knights following behind him.
Ren Xiyang walked alongside Prince Rian as they toured the Imperial Palace.
Prince Rian was an impeccable host, showing Earl Rosewood the scenic and famous locations in the Imperial Palace. The Imperial Palace was a bustling place, with many others—nobles and servants—also using the walkways and corridors.
Most of the nobles looked familiar—they had come to the Rosewood funerals, and some of them had come to watch his duel with Baron Carmine. But Ren Xiyang hadn’t remembered their names. As Rian reintroduced these nobles, Ren Xiyang soon realised that most of the family names had something to do with hair colour…which didn’t make it any easier to remember.
Ren Xiyang did remember the King and Queen though; aside from their crowns, they were also Rian’s parents.
Rian’s group of Royal guards was impressive, King Edric and Queen Mira had an even bigger entourage. The two groups met in a Palace corridor. Both sides stopped, followed by a tedious round of greeting the King and Queen.
“—Now that Earl Rosewood is here, perhaps Imperial Father and Imperial Mother would like to see a display of his magical ability,” Rian said. “Earl Rosewood has agreed to duel me again, sometime after the late summer ball.”
King Edric: “…” Again?
He capitulated. “Then allow me to formally allow you and Earl Rosewood to use the Imperial Palace’s duelling field.”
Queen Mira smiled faintly. “I will be the referee.”
Rian smiled beatifically. “Thank you, Imperial Father! Thank you, Imperial Mother! I won’t delay your work.”
Queen Mira gave a stately nod. “We’ll see you later, darling.”
And so, the two groups walked past each other.
Ren Xiyang glanced at Rian. A duel set after the late summer ball? When did he ever agree to that?
Rian smiled slightly in return. Do you have a problem with any of this?
Ren Xiyang looked away again. It didn’t matter when the duel was exactly, anyway.
“Coincidentally, we are now close to my quarters. To your left, through the windows, you can see my personal gardens,” Prince Rian said. “And here is the entrance to my quarters.”
One of the Royal Guards stepped forward and opened the door.
“Please, come inside,” Rian said.
“Thank you, Your Highness.” Ren Xiyang walked in.
Rian’s quarters were many, many times larger than Ren Xiyang’s. The first room was a large lounge room, with multiple doors leading to other rooms in the suite. There were also people waiting for them to the side.
After Ren Xiyang’s entourage and a few Royal Guards entered, another servant closed the door. Rian turned to Ren Xiyang, a mischievous glint in his eyes.
“Earl Rosewood, as promised, I have called my favourite personal tailors. They will work hard to make something suitable for you to wear at the late summer ball,” Rian said.
Ren Xiyang blinked. “Your Highness, I have sufficiently many clothes, courtesy of your generosity previously.”
Rian’s lips quirked up. “As I invited my personal tailors, I will pay for everything, of course.”
“In that case, what would you like me to do?”
Rian was amused at how fast Ayden changed his tune. “Come this way, Earl Rosewood.”
Ren Xiyang was obedient as the tailors measured this and that, answering questions about his personal taste and choosing his favourite out of the colours and fabrics that they presented to him.
“Your Highness, and Earl Rosewood, we will return in two days for secondary fittings,” the tailors said after they had everything measured and relevant cloth and colours chosen.
“Thank you for your hard work,” Rian said.
“We are your humble servants, Your Highness.” The tailors took their things and left.
Ren Xiyang turned to Rian. “I was told that you had some farming books for me.”
“The Earl is questioning whether I have those books or not?” Rian countered. “Come this way.” He led Ayden over to one of the doors in the lounge, which opened into his private study room. Smiling slightly over his shoulder, he closed the door behind himself and Ayden, separating them from all the servants and guards.
Rian’s study room was also many times larger than Ren Xiyang’s. A large desk was set under windows that overlooked the prince’s personal gardens. The walls were covered with bookshelves laden with books.
Rian walked over to his desk and patted a small pile of books, his entire stance becoming casual and relaxed. “These are the plant magic books I promised,” he said.
Ren Xiyang picked up the books, flipping through them. “You won’t be as to be a genius in plant magic too, are you?”
Rian’s lips twitched. “No, I’m not,” he admitted. “However, I’m good at predicting how spells should be pronounced.”
“Later, then,” Ren Xiyang said. It made sense: he was still sure that there were underlying language-like patterns in magic spells, and Rian was probably so familiar with spells in general now that he had an unconscious understanding of those patterns.
“After dinner, most likely,” Rian agreed. “We have more things to do today, not least having lunch and dinner with my Imperial parents and various nobles and Imperial Councillors visiting the Imperial Palace.”
“I hope you are keeping track of my debts for me.”
Rian leaned against his desk. “Ayden, you surely aren’t that poor. I’ve seen the Rosewood taxes.”
“There are many projects,” Ren Xiyang said. “And, I don’t feel the need to spend to show off as a noble.”
Rian huffed. “You’re very lucky that I didn’t call my personal etiquette teacher to give you a private lesson.”
Ren Xiyang said drily, “Then I’m really in debt to the prince.” He lowered his head slightly to examine the books some more.
Light from the windows made Ayden Rosewood’s focused red eyes glow. His bent head shifted his hair, the light casting a slight reddish tone to the black hair, highlighting the smoothness of the strands and emphasising his shorter height compared to Rian.
Rian’s hands felt itchy. Almost unconsciously, he reached out…and dared to rub the top of Ayden Rosewood’s head. The hair was just as smooth and silky as he thought.
Ren Xiyang paused. He had sensed Rian’s hand moving closer, but he never thought that he would actually touch him. It felt…unusual.
He slowly tilted his head back up, giving Rian a pointed look.
Rian withdrew his hand—but not before messing up Ayden’s hair a little. He smirked, unfazed by the look Ayden was giving him. See, Ayden didn’t even burn his hand off! “What is it, Earl Rosewood? You must use words to speak.”
“Your Highness can figure out how much of a favour that cost,” Ren Xiyang said blandly.
“A drop in the bucket of what you owe me,” Rian said teasingly. “Come now, leave those books here. We should meet with the Councillor for Agriculture about the new plough you have produced.”
Ren Xiyang closed the books and put them back down. “Come here for a moment, please.”
Rian narrowed his eyes, but he nonetheless stepped closer.
A moment later, Ren Xiyang hooked his arm over Rian’s neck and dragged his head down, while his other hand reached up and messed up Rian’s white hair.
“H—Hey!”
Ren Xiyang let go again, hands behind his back. He had a faint smile on his lips. “Your Highness, you have very good ideas.”
Rian huffed, but he was also smiling. He then put on a grumpy expression and walked over to the mirror in the room. “Tch, now I need to fix my hair by myself!”
Rian: Petted the dragon Ayden Rosewood, hehehe
Ren Xiyang: …
Ren Xiyang: Petted the future crown prince *smirk*
Rian: ...
Meanwhile:
Count Aegean: Prince Rian did WHAT?!!! He challenged Earl Rosewood to another duel?!!! And the King and Queen allowed him to proceed??!!
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My short short story entry for the BL Golden Gaytimes collection is finally live!
Cannon Fodder Omega Goes On A Date With The Protagonist Omega!
Contains what it says on the tin >w<