Chapter 84
As we neared the city gate of Veneer, you could finally see the guards that hadn’t been present throughout the city’s outer suburbs we’d passed through . In other words, if you thought about it, you could say that they didn’t check who you were outside the city . How is this related to security? As you might think the suburbs were dark while Veneer glowed brightly . It may have been a situation that was necessary for the development of the city .
As we approached the gate, the guards walked towards us .
“Halt, we’re required to verify your identity and collect an entry tax . Who is the one in charge of this group?”
This city charges an entry tax… While I studied this world in Barga’s library, I learned that some cities and villages charged entry taxes . But neither Balga nor the Capital did this .
Laptiricisama’s escorts included me and Ashley . On the other hand the guards – while a part of our security team – were a different group under the escort commander . The commander talked to the guards and dealt with all the formalities needed for us to enter . I still had to present my guild card but as nobles, Ashley and Laptiricisama did not .
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We passed through the gate after a brief inspection as they recommended the ‘Glorious City Pavillion’ to stay at . The Glorious City Pavillion seemed to be a luxurious inn that competed for the upper spots of the popular list within the city . It was a three-story stone building as it’s main building with several detached houses . The escorts would stay in the main building with a few servants – that included me and Ashley . Everyone else would stay in one of the nearby buildings .
The detached house was a two-story wooden home . The second floor held the bedroom, a living room, and the bathroom . Everything else was on the first floor . Trees had been planted around the building to give it some privacy, so the inside gave off a different atmosphere . However, the trees hinder our ability to monitor the surroundings . The area outside would be guarded by the escort team 24/7, and the inside would be guarded by us while Laptiricisama was within the residence .
I planned to check with the escort commander about our plans and prepared to rest tomorrow, but before I left, I had to set a few things up . It was the installation of the T-UGS . Although there was some room to place them further, I decided to position them close near the main building and along the passage to our residence so I could gauge people’s movement better .
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Laptiricisama schedule, which started the next day, was rough . First, we had to visit the manor of Veneer’s managing lord . Then, we had to visit an elderly Count and his wife who’d been staying in the city for a long time . At night, there’d be a dinner held for all the single young nobles to socialize .
If this were just a plain noble or the third daughter of a powerful aristocrat, there’d be no need to be busy . However, Duke Barga was a magical noble . Being one of the adventurers that’d helped conquer a labyrinth and having magic, would want to marry her so that magic would run in their offspring . Regardless if she was a noble or an adventurer . Magic was needed to fight against the monsters of this world . And the trip wasn’t just a matching making trip; it signaled the beginning of Lapitiricsama’s noble life .
One thing I noticed at the banquet that the escorts all waited in a corner .
There were not only young men here, but young girls, yet all of them were polite to Ashley . Was it awe? Fear? It seemed like she was treated with more respect than Laptiricisama . The hosts showed no reactions, but maybe that was something to expect with their rank .
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That concluded the first day of our schedule . Afterward, we returned to the Glorious City Pavillion . We reported to the commander about the event and asked if anything strange had happened while we were away . We also asked if there’d been any changes to our schedule for tomorrow . At this time, Laptiricsama and Ashley should be on their way to the baths .
Of course, the escort team kept their vigil as I monitored their movements via my mask as they went… I’m not a peeping tom, you know?
“Shaft-dono, did you notice something?”
The escort commander asked as the meeting was over . After having stood all day, and also standing now, I wasn’t physically tired but mentally because of the boredom . Was that a good reason?
“Speaking of which, the young nobles were very concerned about Ashley, did something happen?”
“Oh? Shaft-dono, did you not know? Ashley-dono, no, it’s more about the Zepanel Family . She… Sorry . I don’t really remember how many generations ago, but it’s probably because of Prime Minister Zepanel Eisei-dono and his influence . Properly controlling the distribution of power and stopping even his own relatives to reach his goal, which is still being respected and feared by many today . ”
Honorary Prime Minister Eisei Zepanel . There were few who hadn’t heard of the Prime Minister’s name, an elf . In Kurtmerga, he was a mastermind that strived for domestic stability as the Prime Minister since the kingdom’s founding . Even to go as far as to live past the 300-year life expectancy of the elves . Although retired from the frontlines, he still held great sway among the monarch . And given the one-time post of Honorary Prime Minister of the Kingdom .
It was said that he had even prevented the Zepanel family from gaining influence over the Royal Family, on his own . Because of that, the Zepanel family has lived in the Kurtmerga Kingdom as nobles without titles, no office, and no power . Ashley seemed to have been regarded as the next candidate for the family’s head . Speaking of which, Ashley did mention she was a noble, but she never actually spoke about her family .
But even after hearing this, it changed nothing between us .