Chapter 599 – Ignored By All.

“How does it look?”

“The place seems secured quite well. I don’t think anything is getting in, and we probably will not be getting out either.”

Roland whispered, careful to keep his voice low so that no one would catch on to their conversation. Even inside the carriage, from this point forward, no one could be trusted.

“I see.”

Arthur nodded as Roland scanned the environment around them. At first, the place seemed magical and tranquil, yet danger lingered everywhere. Several tier three class holders were nearby, many hidden in the forest and around the castle they were approaching.

‘I will not be able to use teleportation gates. We will need to reach the wall…’

Roland’s mind raced with possibilities. He needed to establish an escape plan that would allow them to return home safely if things turned turbulent. Although the Duke himself did not seem to harbor any ulterior motives, the kidnapping attempt had taken place only two days earlier. One of the heir candidates might have been responsible and could attempt it again here.

The bodies of the assassins he had recovered revealed nothing. At most, he could record their mana patterns in the hope of tracing an old mana signature that had been left behind somewhere. They were unrecognisable, and all their equipment and belongings had been melted by the strange magic they used. This made it difficult to pinpoint their true enemy, and if push came to shove, an escape might be necessary.

His helmet was gone now, yet the mask covering his face served a similar purpose. The display that usually spread across his visor was minimized, appearing in a smaller version within his covered eyes. The rune concealment skill was active, and no one had discovered that he was wearing a mostly magical suit of armor. Still, some of his items had been confiscated, most likely because of Arthur’s low prestige here. Either one of his brothers had instructed the guards to take them, or the soldiers were simply expressing their disdain for someone who was never going to become the Duke.

‘We are almost there…’

The carriage clattered across the final stretch of cobblestone, its wheels echoing through the surprising stillness of the seemingly tranquil place. Roland’s gaze shifted constantly between the central tower looming ahead and the walls surrounding them. If they needed to escape, he would first have to get out of the main castle. After that he would need to traverse the forest, which seemed to be filled with hidden forces as well as whoever controlled the mage tower. Then he would need to scale the wall and lead himself and the others to one of the teleportation gates. The task seemed impossible, yet he was already working on countermeasures to increase their chances of survival.

Arthur, on the other hand, was not concerned with escape. His attention remained fixed entirely on the central castle tower, for that was where his father resided. This would be his first true meeting with him since reaching adulthood.

“Haha, the Duke’s castle is magnificent, isn’t it!”

“True, I wish our family could afford something this grand!”

“So true!”

The silence soon ended as once they traveled across the singular drawbridge, they arrived at the final threshold. The portcullis rose to let them in, and the carriage entered a vast courtyard paved with dark stone. Here, hundreds of nobles, retainers, and servants already bustled about, their colors dazzling like a field of flowers. The murmur of voices echoed as everyone gathered together and chatted. For many, this was a moment they had been waiting for. It was the perfect time to create new deals and get into the good graces of the duke and his family.

The carriage slowed as it entered the main courtyard. An announcer’s staff struck the ground with a sharp crack that cut through the noise of the nobles’ chatter. Heads turned, eyes drawn to the new arrival. The Valerian banner was clearly displayed on the carriage, but once the man spoke the name, the interest in their gazes quickly faded.

“Lord Arthur Valerian.”

The name carried across the courtyard, yet the effect was not what one might expect. Heads turned and necks craned. There was curiosity and whispers, but none of the nobles moved toward the carriage. It was as though his very identity pushed them away. To them, a bastard was not worth their time.

Roland opened the door first and stepped down, his presence subdued and restrained. Arthur followed. His boots touched the stone softly without sound, and though his expression remained neutral, he felt the weight of every gaze upon him.

For a brief moment, silence held the courtyard, as though the crowd were still deciding how to judge him. Then, as if by unspoken agreement, dozens of nobles shifted their attention elsewhere. Their smiles brightened, their steps quickened, and their voices rang with delight as they flocked toward another arrival.

“Lord Julius Valerian.”

“Ah, Lord Theodore, how resplendent you look.”

“Lord Tybalt, allow me to offer my congratulations in advance.”

Within moments, the courtyard became a sea of silks and embroidered sleeves surging toward Arthur’s brothers. Greetings, compliments, and invitations poured forth, the air alive with laughter.

“Look at them, swarming like rats.”

Arthur whispered to Roland, who only nodded in reply. Arthur’s exclusion was obvious, though he was not the only one ignored. The third eldest brother, Ivan Valerian, did not fare much better. A small group surrounded him, but his circle was barely half the size of the one gathered around Tybalt.

While the nobles continued to give them the cold shoulder, Roland looked around. They were now standing in what resembled a square. The castle had appeared large from the outside, and the impression was just as true once they entered. There was enough space for thousands of people, although most of them were servants.

Even though the area was outdoors, it was filled with tables. Some were shaded by large umbrellas that blocked out the sunlight, while others stood fully exposed. Carts carrying food were scattered throughout the place, and servants moved between them with trays of drinks and cakes. Many of the men held glasses of expensive wine, and some were already tipsy from it.

‘We have not even gone inside the main building yet.’

Roland thought as he followed Arthur, who chose a seat at one of the empty tables. From there, they had a better view of the gathering and could assess the situation more clearly.

“Brother Julius seems to be the most popular, and Theodore is a close second. I can hardly see them in that crowd…”

Most of the nobles present had already aligned themselves with the two leading candidates for heir. Even as the minutes passed, no one approached them. It was easy to notice that some people cast glances in their direction, yet none dared to step closer. The reason was clear enough. Anyone who tried would be placing themselves at risk of retaliation. Arthur’s standing was still low, and he was not seen as someone capable of protecting his allies, at least not yet.

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“Some do seem interested. The rumors about our victory over Theodore must have spread.”

Roland said as he leaned over to examine the wine that a servant had placed on their table.

“Yes, but most likely they do not believe them and will not take the risk.”

Arthur replied before taking a sip of the expensive wine. Roland noticed that his friend seemed distracted. Although Arthur tried to hide it, his eyes kept darting around the courtyard as if he were searching for someone who was not there. Time passed, yet the person he sought never appeared.