The carriage rolled to a stop a few hours later. The towering stone gates of the Azure Moon Kingdom loomed over the dirt road. Sentries conducted a brief inspection of their travel permits before waving the wooden vehicle through the checkpoint.
They rode for another hour through the bustling city streets until the actual royal grounds came into view.
They stepped out of the cabin to walk the remaining distance up the grand causeway. Solomon looked up at the soaring spires and fortified battlements. The architecture carried a profound, imposing history. Solid marble walls and gilded archways projected pure strength.
He had only ever seen the Ruined Kingdom of Eden. Walking toward a fully intact, thriving palace felt entirely different.
[James_hayes: bro is finally seeing a real castle.]
[1Fizzy: the level up from the beginner dungeon is crazy.]
[Fatal_Beauty: look at all those guards.]
[Stephen-Wood: the eastern architecture is beautiful.]
They passed through the towering entrance. Another squad of armored sentries checked their belongings at the front gates. Walking through the outer and middle rings of the estate, Solomon admired the pristine interior.
Even the simplest wooden benches featured intricate carvings, while the paintings hanging from the walls felt softer than fine silk.
They finally reached the grand archways leading into the inner palace. A line of elite royal guards crossed their halberds to block the path.
"You must wait here," the captain instructed, keeping his posture rigid. "A royal steward will arrive shortly to escort you."
Solomon crossed his arms over his chest. He tapped his boots against the polished marble floor. Waiting patiently never suited his personality. He turned his head toward the peach-haired pavilion master standing nearby.
"I genuinely dislike how they treat guests here," Solomon muttered, keeping his voice low enough to avoid alerting the guards. "Marco, Arthur, and Maximus are nobles. Elizabeth is a literal royal herself, and you are also a noble and a pavilion master. I am the only commoner in this entire group. I completely understand they have security protocols and steps to follow. They are just doing their jobs. However, did they not officially invite you here? A proper host should have these arrangements ready beforehand."
[Chi_Master: Solo Man giving a hospitality review.]
[Austin: bro wants the red carpet rolled out.]
[Mezz_3863: he hates waiting more than anything.]
[Foodball: Elizabeth nodding in agreement in the background.]
[IceWaterKat: literally complaining to the boss.]
Yue snapped her jade fan open and hid the lower half of her face. She leaned slightly closer to him to reply.
"I agree with your logic," Yue whispered back. "But you must remember that only I received an official invitation. The royal court had absolutely zero notice regarding the five of you tagging along. Bringing a sudden entourage always causes bureaucratic delays."
She glanced at the armed guards standing near the archway. "Furthermore, the heightened security is entirely justified right now. The Four Evil Sect has been actively targeting nobles and royals across the Eastern Realms. Which is also the exact reason why the Azure Moon Kingdom summoned me here today. The Royal Commander will explain the details of the situation once we get inside."
Solomon dropped his arms to his sides. The explanation made sense. The cultists had just attacked the Azure Dragon Sect the previous night. A neighboring kingdom would naturally lock down their palace to protect their own royal family from a similar infiltration, or perhaps, it already happened.
Footsteps echoed down the polished marble corridor. A man wearing ornate silver armor decorated with blue crescent insignias approached the archway. He carried an aura of authority, keeping his chin held high.
"Pavilion Master Yue," the man greeted, bowing his head slightly. "I am Commander Feng. We have been expecting you."
He ignored Solomon and the four students standing right behind her. He simply turned around and gestured for her to follow. They walked deeper into the estate, finally arriving at a pair of towering mahogany doors.
Commander Feng and Yue stepped into the spacious discussion chamber. Solomon attempted to follow them inside. Two armored guards instantly crossed their steel halberds right in front of his chest, blocking the entrance for the five students.
"They are with me," Yue stated, glancing over her shoulder.
The guards kept their weapons locked together and refused to budge an inch.
Commander Feng looked back and let out a dramatic sigh. "Pavilion Master, why would you bring such a herd with you? If you truly needed servants for your journey, the palace could have easily arranged staff matching your station."
The guards stationed at the doors snickered quietly.
Yue maintained a perfectly calm expression. "They are not my servants. They are my students."
Feng let out a mocking laugh. "That is even worse. Why would you burden yourself with dead weight during a royal summons?"
The guards laughed louder this time.
"The boy on the left is my younger brother," Yue replied, her tone perfectly flat. "The two beside him are heirs to prominent noble houses. The girl standing in the back is Princess Elizabeth, the Third Princess of the Bririth Kingdom."
The laughter ceased instantly. The guards widened their eyes and hastily pulled their halberds away, stepping back to clear the path.
[Fatal_Beauty: the guards stopped breathing for a sec there.]
[1Fizzy: easiest flex ever.]
[James_hayes: bro called a princess a servant.]
[Mezz_3863: Solo Man is just happy to be included in the VIP pass.]
[Foodball: the silence is so loud.]
They entered the grand discussion chamber. The room featured towering vaulted ceilings and luxurious portraits.
However, only three seats occupied the center of the vast space. Commander Feng took a seat on one of the plush sofas, and his personal guards immediately formed a protective ring around him.
Another man sat on the second sofa. He wore luxurious silk robes and kept his eyes half-closed, refusing to even stand up to greet the pavilion master.
Only a single empty chair remained for the guests.
While it was true that the weren’t expecting Yue to bring anyone with her, but after learning about them, they should have arranged for their sitting, especially after hours long walk from the palace gates to the innermost palace, including the time they were asked to wait.
Even then, if they wanted to do that, they would have already done it with just a snap of their fingers.
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