The thick, imposing walls encircled the city, with ornate gates guarded by elite soldiers. Tall towers provided sweeping views, ensuring the capital's safety. In the midst of all, there was a long line of carriages, each with its symbol representing their arrival, for the king's birthday party. Every carriage was elaborately decorated for the occasion with flowers, banners, and some even fruits or symbolic decorations to display their status, wealth, and loyalty to the monarch, except for one, like a dirt-stained rock among treasured gems.. The elite soldiers were in awe of the carriage ridden by an odd, dark skinned young man.
The guard shouted, "Halt! You're not allowed through this gate. This entrance is reserved for noblemen attending the grand party. Commoners must use the other gate to enter the capital," he added, pointing firmly to the side.
Alaric, opening his shut window, was annoyed and shouted, "What's the fuss?".
"They claim we're not welcome here, Master Alaric."Magnis turned back slightly towards the window.
"Oh, I thought anyone can enter as long as they have an invitation," showing the invitation to the guard.
"Tsk, an invitation? Who would even invite you, poor guys?" a guard sneered, his face filled with disgust. But as his eyes fell upon the invitation, stamped not only by Patriarch Elias but also by the King himself, sweat beaded on his face, betraying his sudden panic over his previous words.
"I-I am sorry, Sir," he stammered, dropping to his knees and bowing his head to the ground. "I have crossed the line and said something for which I-I can be executed."
"Oh, don't worry," Alaric said, still in his seat, deciding to play a little. "If this repeats again, I will personally get you executed."
"Yes, sir," the guard exclaimed loudly, still trembling with fear.
The carriage moved below the thick iron gates, streets teemed with merchants selling exotic goods, spices, silks, and jewels from distant parts of continents. Paved roads and grand avenues lined with statues and fountains made travel easy and impressive.
Alaric leaned back, arms folded behind his head, eyes half-lidded as he stared out the carriage window. The city unfolded before him: marble arches, gilded rooftops, and polished stone roads, bustling with finely dressed nobles.
"Hmph. This capital does live up to its reputation—wealth dripping from every corner," he muttered.
Up front, Magnis sat upright on the rider's seat, his eyes wide with wonder. Having spent most of his recent life in hard labour, the towering buildings, sparkling clean streets, dancing banners, and echoing laughter felt unreal. This was unlike anything he had ever seen.
As the carriage headed straight to the castle, Alaric and Magnis stepped down after parking it in a line of carriages. Every noble, dressed in attractive formal attire and accompanied by their knights carrying gifts, was greeted by attendants. The attendants, awaiting the arrival of the noblemen, guided each of them towards their allotted rooms in the huge castle.
The moment she heard the name Alaric Ashworth, the female attendant's posture straightened.
"This way, please," she said politely, her tone shifting with a hint of respect.
She led them down a long corridor bathed in warm golden light, the polished marble floor echoing softly beneath their steps. At the end, she opened a finely carved wooden door, revealing a guest room that spoke of quiet opulence.
The space was adorned with elegant, handcrafted wooden furniture, each piece polished to a mirror finish. Silk lanterns, one at each corner, cast a soft, welcoming glow that filled the room without being harsh. Everything was arranged with care, a silent declaration of luxury reserved for those of noble blood.
"Sir, the party will commence at sunset. Please make the necessary preparations," the attendant said in a composed, professional voice. Closing the door slowly.
Alaric stretched lazily and glanced at Magnis with a smirk.
"Magnis, how about we go shopping in the city's merchant district? We'll need formal attire for the party, after all."
Magnis perked up immediately, eyes lighting with enthusiasm.
"Really? Let's go! I've never been shopping in a place like this before."
As Alaric and Magnis stepped out of their room, their footsteps echoed softly down the corridor. They walked with steady, unhurried steps until a familiar person appeared in the doorway ahead, halting them mid-stride.
"Oh? Maya." Alaric's brow lifted slightly in surprise, though his face remained neutral.
"Hello, Lady Maya. How are you?" he asked in a formal tone.
Flustered by Alaric's sudden appearance, Maya straightened instinctively.
"H-Hello, Sir Alaric. I... I've been well," she replied, her voice soft as a hint of red flushed across her cheeks.
"A pleasure seeing you, Maya. We'll be on our way now," Alaric said coolly, stepping past her with Magnis at his side.
But Maya, not ready to let the moment slip away, quickly called out,
"Wait—where are you going?"
Alaric paused mid-step and glanced over his shoulder.
"Oh, we are just out to pick up proper attire for the party. Showing up to the royal party in travel dust isn't encouraged, right ?."
Maya hesitated for a moment, then gathered her courage.
"You won't find anything truly fitting for the royal party in the street markets," she said, her voice more confident this time.
"What?" Alaric responded. "Really?"
Maya led them just beyond the castle premises, where a grand building stood tall—its architecture elegant and its crest unmistakable. It was none other than the renowned Goldsworth Merchant Hub, a place where only the capital's elite came to shop for the finest goods money could buy.
Seeing the building, Alaric looked at Maya. "I should have guessed when you mentioned good attire. Last time, I was given attire by Zindred for meeting your father."
Maya confidently stepped inside, with Alaric and Magnis following behind. Without hesitation, she addressed the attendants standing near the entrance.
"Take their measurements," she instructed firmly, "and prepare formal attire suitable for the royal birthday celebration. Nothing less than your best."
The staff bowed in acknowledgment and immediately responded, "Yes, Lady Maya".
"So, you are here Lady Maya" listening to sudden familiar voice ,Maya turned back , It was Freya, who was clearly searching for Maya all around the castle.
"Why do you always move around without me, Lady Maya?" a sharp voice cut through the air.
Freya stepped forward, her expression tight. "What exactly were you doing here?"
Before Maya could respond, Alaric spoke casually, dusting off his sleeves.
"Lady Maya. We've already given our measurements, our attire will be ready in a few hours," he said, while shortly noticing Freya.
Freya's eyes narrowed at him, her face twisting in subtle disgust, as if the very sight of him disturbed her more than the explanation.
Alaric thought, "Why the hell is she looking at me like that? As if I'm smeared in shit."
"Let's go back, Lady Maya. You still need to get ready for the party," Freya said sharply, grabbing Maya's arm and guiding her back toward the castle without waiting for a reply.
"Whatever… I've got bigger things to do, like exposing Cassian," Alaric muttered under his breath, eyes fixed on their retreating figures.
With sunset, as the dark night emerged and streets were lit with street lights and decorations with lanterns that shone, attracting people out of their houses to admire the city bathed in festive brilliance.
The grand party had begun within the castle walls, where opulence greeted every guest. A long banquet table stretched across the hall, overflowing with a lavish spread: glistening roasted meats, fine wines, rich spirits, and an array of dazzling sweets.
At the center stood the feast's highlight: a towering cake adorned with glossy, jewel-toned berries. Its warm, sweet, and inviting aroma filled the room, wrapping the air in celebration.
Alaric entered the hall with his hair neatly combed and dressed in a formal white suit lined with silver. He looked every bit the noble he was meant to be, calm and confident as eyes turned his way. Alaric walked into the party alongside Magnis, who was also dressed in proper formal attire with a fresh haircut. Together, they carried themselves like true nobles, drawing subtle attention from those around them.
"Who is he? He's so handsome…" one lady murmured behind her fan.
"Should I ask him for a dance?" another giggled, eyeing Alaric with bold curiosity.
|SystemNotad*** Notification
New Quest :
Objective: Ask any lady at the party for a dance.
Reward: Removal of the humiliating title: "Ugly Mosshead"
Failure: All nearby ladies will label you as rude.
New Title Unlocked: "Hatred – People will hate you on sight."
_____________________________________
"What the hell? H-How can I ask anyone to dance with me?" Alaric muttered.
|SystemNotad* says:** "Look around you, there are many who want to dance with you."
"I can't just dance with any lady, because dancing in this kingdom signifies looking for trouble and making new enemies. Not that I'm afraid, just... not now."
|SystemNotad* says:** "Then get ready to receive your reward for failure."
"Damn it, you really live up to your name," Alaric muttered.
There was a sudden shift in the noblemen's voices, as if their attention had been stolen by something—or—someone. Just moments ago, their eyes had been on Alaric. Now, every gaze was drawn toward Lady Maya. Her gown, a masterpiece of midnight blue silk laced with fine gold threads, shimmered under the lights. The elegant contrast against her flowing golden hair made her appear ethereal, almost otherworldly.
"An angel... that must be Maya Goldsworth," one nobleman whispered in awe.
"She's the daughter of Elias Goldsworth, Maya Goldsworth," another quickly answered, just as enchanted.
Before her arrival, across the hall, a young man with sharp blue hair and piercing gray eyes leaned lazily against a marble column. Swiss Fitzgerald — son of the formidable George Fitzgerald — watched the ballroom with thinly veiled boredom.
"Father sent me here to 'build ties with the younger nobles,'" he thought bitterly. "I've dodged these parties for years in the name of training, and he finally forced me to show up."
The sudden noise of the crowd rose around him. "Now, what's going on?"
As his eyes searched for the source of the noise, his eyes met Lady Maya, whose outworldly beauty made his heart skip a beat, while placing his hand on his heart in thought.
"Is she an angel? Who is she?" he exclaimed.
"She's the daughter of Elias Goldsworth, Maya Goldsworth," another man quickly answered, just as enchanted.
"She's really... Maya Goldsworth? The same girl I met five years ago?" Swiss's breath caught for a moment, his usually calm demeanor shaken. "I-Is this what they call attraction? For the first time in my life, I feel like putting aside my training... just for a moment, to be near her."
He clenched his fists slightly, heart thudding faster. "Maybe this is why Father insisted I attend. Maybe... this is fate."
His eyes narrowed with newfound determination.
"I-I need to ask her for a dance... before anyone else does."And with that, Swiss took a step forward.
"May I have the chance with you?" Alaric asked, his voice courteous while kneeling, breaking the ice of noise across the hall.
Maya, flustered with her cheeks tinged with a delicate blush, She placed her gloved hand in his. "You may," she said with a smile. allowing him to lead her to the dance floor.
As Alaric and Maya glided across the polished ballroom floor, all eyes followed their every move. The soft music echoed through the grand hall, setting a graceful rhythm. Alaric moved with quiet confidence, his hand resting gently on Maya's waist, guiding her with steady steps. Maya followed his lead with elegance, her gown flowing like water with every turn.
Their steps were smooth, their pace matched as if they had rehearsed it a hundred times. When Alaric spun her lightly, the golden threads on her midnight-blue gown shimmered under the chandeliers, drawing a collective gasp from the crowd.
The audience, captivated by their elegant dance, could do nothing but watch as silence fell across the hall.
Their graceful dance came to a halt, with Alaric still holding Maya's wrist. A sudden uproar broke the spell, snapping them back to reality as they quickly pulled away from each other's touch.
"That was amazing!"
"What a brilliant performance!"
Voices rose around the hall, filled with admiration and praise for the unexpected yet mesmerizing dance.
|SystemNotad*** notification
Objective: Ask any lady at the party for a dance.[cleared]
Reward: Removal of the humiliating title: "Ugly Mosshead"[rewarded]
Alaric, relaxing in his chair, thought to himself,
"If Maya hadn't shown up when she did, I'd be in serious trouble. But since I'm her savior, no one can touch me. One move, two wins." "I am glad I took dance classes during my college time."
Swiss in the opposite side of Alaric's seat, clearly not happy. Walked towards him, "I, Swiss Fitzgerald, challenge you to a duel."
"What?" Alaric shouted internally. "There wasn't supposed to be any trouble!"
.