Day Thirty-Five: Royal Capital (3)
2194 Words
After the short conflict earlier.
Count Vinceral and Kaiser, once again toured the capital.
During this time, Count Vinceral, lead the tour towards the 'Inner-Rings', also known as Central Plaza.
As they go, different buildings of different sizes was seen.
Shops, that can be called mansions surrounded them. Servants, nobles, and fancy carriages loiter street.
But, compared to the middle, and outer 'Rings', the people that walk the streets all wore extravagant clothing, the servants such as maids and butlers are the only one wearing the distinct color of black and white.
"I can't seem to see any people my age..." muttered Kaiser as he looked around.
Hearing this, Count Vinceral smiled and explained.
"The young ladies and young masters of their households that lived here are all at the Academies they're attending" he said.
"We'll go there after exiting this district" he added.
Kaiser followed the count, as if a chick following the mother hen.
Kaiser, despite not showing much emotions, was fascinated at the scene he is seeing.
Servants carrying boxes of different sizes, noblemen and women ordering such servants. Coachmen waiting for their masters.
Shops selling fancy clothes, and accessories. Not a single one of the merchants went outside their shops to advertise their products.
Kaiser looking at such medieval-aged nobles that he had only read, was enjoying himself.
The count, watching the young-man look here and there, smiled bitterly as he spoke.
"Kaiser, try not to look to much at them, they think that you're someone kind of a hilly-billy"
"I'm a country bumpkin, Sir Count, and it's my first time seeing this kind of place" Kaiser answered, as he shifted his look from the shops to the count.
"Though, it's inappropriate for someone like me to act like this when I'm with a count of the kingdom. I apologized once again Sir Count" he said as he lowered his head.
"It's fine, just not to look too much at them"
Kaiser nod at his words and continued following the count.
-----
Time passed, and the three suns that hover the sky are now glaring at them from the top. The time is noon.
"We've been walking since early morning, aren't you tired?" Kaiser spoke.
"Hmmm, it's already noon, I didn't noticed the time" the count replied, as he look at the 3 suns.
"I guess we should eat first before continuing our walk" he added.
"That place looks like a good place to eat" Kaiser said as he pointed to a building with a signboard of lobster and words saying 'Apple Cater'.
"Shameless aren't we?" the count teased as they went towards the building.
"My mother told me to always be honest with what I want"
"Says the person who always lie to me"
"... There's a difference between being honest on personal details and being honest on what I want" Kaiser said, as he opened the door to the building.
"Hmm" was all the count could say.
Upon entering, the two looked for seats, fortunately there aren't many people inside and they immediately found somewhere to sit.
"It says 'Apple Cater' outside, but the sign is a lobster..." Kaiser muttered as he sat down.
"That is the name of the owner" the count said as he heard the muttering of the young man.
"Pardon?" Kaiser questioned "The name of the owner? Not the shop?"
The count nodded.
"Yes, the name of a shop can only be given by the King himself, that is to say, if your shop has a name that means that the King has recognized your shop as part of the Kingdom" he said, looking over the menus.
"I see. So that means that the other shops such as this are not part of Kingdom?" Kaiser questioned as he look at the menus.
"Yes, they can be part of an organization or doing a solo business. Nevertheless of who they are part with, as long as they are inside the Kingdom they will pay taxes too, even those recognized by the King" the count said as he raised his hand. Then moments later a waitress went towards our table.
"Sirs? What can I get you?" the waitress said.
"One order of plated Quild and two Liva fish soup" Kaiser ordered.
"Mine is an order of Sweet Hina, and one order of Lemonade juice" the count said.
'!!' Kaiser upon hearing the count's words, immediately looked up at the menus once again.
'Lemonade?! There's lemonade here?! Where is the lemonade?!' Kaiser as the madman that he is, frantically turned the pages of menus over and over.
The waitress seeing him took a step back in fright.
The Count seeing the glint of madness on the void-like eyes of young-man that is turning the pages of the menu as if his life depended on it, calmed the waitress and ordered for two lemonades.
The waitress hearing the count's words, immediately flee from the area as if chased by a plague.
"Kaiser, there's no lemonade on that menu" the count calmly spoke as he took the menu from him.
Kaiser deprived of the menu, came back from his senses, with the madness gone from his eyes.
"...There's none?" he said as he looked at the menu at the count's hands.
The count nodded and pointed towards a corner of the shop.
There are boxes, and inside are yellow something.
"They don't put the lemonade on the menus" he said.
"Why? Aren't they serving it?" Kaiser questioned, a few idea's came to his head.
There are a lot of reasons why a restaurant would not put something on their menu's despite selling them.
A few of them are, the menu changes everyday.
Second, would be that beverages are not included in the menu, but in the situation of Kaiser and Count Vinceral, the beverages are included in the menu.
Third, the product is exclusive to a few selected individuals or group.
Fourth, the product might be too expensive compared to the beverages and food in the menu.
Lastly they haven't updated the menu for their new product.
Kaiser chose the last one, as the highly likely considering that they are in the area of rich noblemen and women.
Such kinds of lemonades are easy for them to buy.
"Are the menu not updated?" he asked.
"I don't know. But, I think the reason is the price and the place it came from" the count answered.
Question marks floated at Kaiser's head. He couldn't understand the count's words.
Seeing this, the count lowered his voice as he speak.
"Have you seen a demi-human before?"
Upon hearing this, Kaiser immediately understood the count's previous words.
"I see..." He said.
"Hoh? You understood already?"
Kaiser nod at his question.
"Don't be so dejected, It can't be helped. There are people who are still considering them as inferior to them, even though, they are much more talented and skilled compared to us humans"
"Do you reject them as well? Sir Count?"
"I don't, well, depends on who they are. If they are criminals, Yes."
"I see..."
"Why is your color so pale? Are you that disheartened about the topic?" the count ask, looking at the young-man with the pale face.
"No... I'm just so hungry that I can't put up energy... I haven't eaten since early morning" Kaiser answered as he clutched his stomach.
*groowl*
"This shameless brat. I can't tell whether you respect me or not. You keep changing from formal language to informal one"
"I'm just not used talking in formal language" Kaiser answered still clutching his growling stomach.
"You've been talking to me in that way since you've woken up, you just changed your attitude after our small talk earlier" the count said, putting a hand to his forehead.
"Haa.." The count sighed "Just don't talk to me like that when infront of other nobles, you know what would happen if you disrespect a noble right?"
"I know, I'm grateful, Sir Count"
The two waited for their orders, then after a few minutes of taking, the food finally arrived.
"Woah, Lemonade!" Kaiser shouted as he rubbed the glass of lemonade to his cheeks.
"I'll pay for the glass" the count said as he pointed at the young-man.
-----
The two finished their meal and finally headed towards the inner-most part of the 'Inner-Ring'.
At the place, not a single house could be seen. Yet, dozens and dozens of people roam the street.
"They appear to be my age or lower" Kaiser muttered to himself.
"This is the area where the young ladies and young masters of different noble households that live in the kingdom studies" The count said, as he stop walking.
"Over at the east are the Knights, the Magicians to be are on the west, while the Scholars who pursue knowledge above all are at the north. And behind us are the Civil servants, from household servants to Civil officials are studying there"
Kaiser looked towards where the count said and saw the different kinds of individuals.
At the east are the armored Knights that are marching in an rhythmic order.
To the south are the servants, maids and butlers to be, dressed in their stereotypical black and white clothing. There are also people who wore grey clothes.
'Must be the Civil officials' Kaiser thought.
And to the west are the colorful Magic students, who wore their robes around their necks, and some on their shoulders. There are also half-robed individuals. Each of their robes, showcase different symbols and colors.
One has the symbol of a lion and a sword in its mouth. Another one is a griffon and shield that protect it.
"Are there meanings on the symbols on their robes?" Kaiser asked.
The count answered without stopping and looking back.
"Yes, they are the symbol of their house"
"What about the difference on the style of robe?"
"Those who have robes on their necks are Magic Academy Students, the ones who are wearing them on their shoulders are Knight Academy's, the half-robes are Scholars"
"What about the color?"
"Year Level"
"And...?"
"And... the designs are their classes"
"Thank you very much!"
"Are you going to attend the Academy? Why do are asking so much?"
"I might need it someday, Sir Count"
"Hmm"
The two continue on their walk. Kaiser ask questions and the Count answered them. The two of them are enjoying their time.
But, as they said. Not everything is permanent.
As the two are enjoying themselves, a carriage parked besides them.
Kaiser took a step back, surprised.
The count seeing the symbol on top of the carriage, smiled bitterly.
Then, moments later, an old-man with golden-brown hair, topaz-brown eyes that seemed to know anything, and a skinny body went down the carriage.
"Count Rudolf Von Vinceral, His Majesty the King, calls upon you" the old-man said, the moment he got down.
"Isn't it too early?" the count rebutted with a sour face. Yet displeasure wasn't present in his eyes.
"His Majesty wants to hear the report directly from you" the old-man said.
He then turned his gazed at the young man with black hair, wearing black clothes.
"Is he the young man you spoke in your report?" the old-man asked the count.
Kaiser upon hearing the old-man's words trembled, albeit slightly.
'Oi, oi, oi! What is this about me? You didn't say anything about that, oi!' Kaiser grumbled internally as he looked at the count, his void-like eyes locked with the old-man.
The two stared at each other, but only for a moment, as the count began to speak.
The old-man and the young man shifted their gazes to the count.
"He is" the count said "I'm taking care of him for now as I said in the letter"
"... I see, then we should go immediately, the His Majesty is waiting" the old-man said as he went back to the carriage.
"Can I take him?" the count asked as he looked at the young man and the old-man respectively.
"No" rejected the old-man.
"I see" the count said, a bitter smile plastered on his face.
"I'll be fine, Sir Count" Kaiser spoke, his voice gentler than ever.
He then went near the count and whispered. "Just leave me some money to buy some stuff"
"You shameless brat" spat the count.
"I'll pay you back when I get a job, promise"
"You know that your words area aren't trustworthy right?"
"I'm being honest! I always pay my debt!"
The count couldn't do, and left a pouch full of silver, as he rode the carriage.
"Don't waste them all" the count said from the carriage window as the silver plated horses took the carriage and left.
"I won't, don't worry!" Kaiser replied as he waved his hands on the air.
After a fee seconds of standing and waving, the carriage finally went out of sight.
'Only three of the shadows are left' he thought to himself, feeling vague presences of the shadows around him.
Kaiser looked around then threw the pouch to the air before catching it with a *kaching* sound as the silver coins inside bounce against each other.
"Now, where should I go?"
- Writer
