The Emperor's Secret Luna

Chapter 10: Spring Festival

At this moment, clouds were hanging low in the sky with a refreshing and pleasant temperature. A thick turquoise curtain was hanging on the horse-drawn carriage so that not even the slightest shadow could be seen. The driver of the carriage was Sir Louie and he was holding the reins in one hand and donning a long sword around his waist. He looked simple and honest, yet a taut face was always visible on his face that inexplicably made him look angry and unapproachable.

The horse was galloping steadily along the way. The towering walls of the Imperial City soon appeared in the field of vision and they could reach it in about four hours. Sir Louie turned around to report to the person in the carriage who just nodded his head indistinctly.

A sudden burst of commotion could be heard from both sides of the maple tree forest. Sir Louie immediately stopped the carriage when he sensed the abnormality and instantly gazed around. A dozen black shadows suddenly shouted out from the shadow with flashes of cold gleams.

“Here we go again. This is already the border of the Imperial City yet they haven’t given up.” Sir Louie felt half sullen and half disdainful, but he didn’t move as he awaited the order of the person inside the carriage.

Soon, a calm, deep, and low voice reached his ears through the heavy curtain.

“Catch one alive”

“Yes, Your highness,”

Sir Louie turned around and jumped off the carriage. His thumb slightly drew out the sword’s sheath, revealing the length of a sharp luminous sword that reflected a little golden ray of the rising sun which was both dazzling and daunting. The black shadow assassin that looked like the leader inwardly thought it was worthless to fear as he looked at him standing solely in front of the carriage, hence they slowly paced and started surrounding the carriage.

Sir Louie coldly gazed at them and the desire to kill gradually rose but he didn’t make any move. Besides breathing, the atmosphere around was extremely strained, as if it could c***k open at any time.

“Kill them!”

The black assassin leader suddenly called to attack and everyone immediately rushed forward, harboring murderous intentions.

Sir Louie barehanded wrestled with the one closest to the carriage, then immediately leaped towards the black assassin's leader. The assassin raised his sword to block it but Sir Louie glided behind him with a speed that simply wasn’t discernible. Turning his body sideways, he barely evaded the attack. Retreating a few steps, he stopped to signal for help, but as he looked up, his face turned pale with fright.

More than a dozen shadow guards unexpectedly appeared out of thin air on the open and spacious road.

All of a sudden, the previous vantage point they had earlier disappeared without a trace. Not only were they unable to get close to the carriage, but they were completely beaten without a chance of retaliation by the superb martial-skilled shadow guards and gradually were at a disadvantage.

The black assassin's leader clenched his teeth and was about to order them to withdraw when a hand grabbed his shoulder as he turned around.

“Keep this one alive.”

Sir Louie walked forward from behind and easily disposed of two black shadow assassins who came back to kill. He just stood there until the shadow guards exterminated all the black shadow assassins.

Looking at the dreadful situation, the black assassin leader immediately crushed the hidden poison between his teeth.

Sir Louie’s complexion slightly changed as he stretched out his hand to clamp down on the black assassin's leader’s lower jaw, but he was still a step too late. Red blood violently gushed out, smearing his palm, and the black assassin leader fell to the ground kicking up a lot of floating dust.

He knitted his brows, wiping his bloodied hand clean before walking to the front of the heavy curtain and reporting in a low voice, “Your Highness, this servant failed, as all of the assassins are dead.”

“Forget it. Clean it up then continue the journey.”

“Yes, Your Highness,”

Sir Louie raised his eyes and looked around. Bodies of the black shadow assassins were strewn everywhere, which was a total eyesore. With a hand gesture to his subordinates, they immediately began to clear the scene. Kicking away several of the bodies that were obstructing the carriage’s path, he walked towards the black assassin's leader, bent down, and searched inside his clothes when, by chance, a piece of silver medal dropped with a loud thump. He picked it up when his face immediately turned frigid.

“Have a look at this, Your Highness.”

He held the silver medal with both his hands in the carriage. Prince Xavier didn’t take it but slightly swept a glance at it under the penetrating light and indifferently spoke out four words, “Grand Duchy of Chantrea”.

Sir Louie nodded and a flame scuttled inside his eyes, “It is the crest of the Grand Duchy of Chantrea,”

“Grand Duke Chantrea is in the Southern Borders, while his daughter is currently at Anestin City.”

“What does Your Highness want to do?

A small smile crept on the prince’s lips as he commanded, “Head towards Anestin City.”

Sir Louie nodded and tucked the silver medal into his waistband, then grasped the reins and shouted at the horse which rushed towards a different path. While the group of shadow guards dispersed into the wood, to continue safeguarding Prince Xavier in secret.

***

The Lakeside Leaf House in Swinford Village was known as Anestin City’s number-one eatery and was making lots of profits and rarely had any vacancies. The honest and shrewd shopkeeper was a domestic servant who had been working for the governor of the city, Marquess Connor.

He had never made any mistake since this money-making tree was placed under his management, hence it was truly a reassurance to the higher authority. The shopkeeper then went to patrol the lobby as usual, but just as he reached downstairs, a waiter came to meet him and protruded his mouth toward the two patrons who were standing in the main lobby. As he looked over, the corner of his mouth immediately twitched. Weren’t those people from the imperial family?

After years of serving noble people, he had become accustomed to observing people, especially those people who were from the imperial family. Although he was uncertain as to which member of the imperial family had arrived in Anestin City, he had to handle this properly.

Sir Louie and Butler Herman spent the whole afternoon here. They sat there listening to some legends of the past after finishing the snacks. The storyteller invited by Lakeside Leaf house was not a mediocre person. He could vividly describe the chronicle of gods and spirits in an animated narration, where the birds and beasts had seemingly come alive in the building, flitted across the sky, then landed on the table, with their wings spread wide and their tails wagged, charging towards the audience.

Throughout the whole narration, only Butler Herman was absorbed in the storytelling. Sir Louie had long become restless. He nudged Butler Herman with his elbow a few times but to no avail, thus he had to suppress his annoyance and just continue to listen. When the setting sun outside the window imperceptibly castes faint yellowish rays on the floor, Butler Herman patted the crumbs off his hands after he finished consuming the plate of pastries before calling out to the waiter for their bills.

Sir Louie finally couldn’t help that he glaringly commented as soon as they were out of Lakeside Leaf house when he stepped foot on the carriage, “You’re truly here to enjoy the delicacies. The whole afternoon, you didn’t even move your butt. Is it possible that you are waiting for that daughter of Grand Duke Chantrea to deliver herself to the door?”

“Once in a while, you must learn how to relax” Butler Herman profoundly smiled.

However, when they both stepped inside the carriage, there was no one there. “Where is His Highness?”

***

At the entrance of the village, Alvira appeared with Esther following behind her.

“Lady Alvira, you look as beautiful as ever.” Sir Hillard complemented as soon as he saw her. Doctor Leopold did not say a word but it was evident in his eyes that he agreed with Sir Hillard.

Alvira just smiled gracefully, “Let’s head out. The event is about to start.”

The guards of the Chantrea Army who came with her were following the entourage at the back. Almost half of the troops were sent to accompany Alvira to Berxley Village to maintain her safety.

In order to maintain the safety of the people in Anestin City and stop kidnappers from abducting others in crowded areas, Marquess Connor put up patrols on both sides of the city, and thus it could be said that it was considered relatively safe.

As Alvira walked, she was seriously looking at the lanterns and riddles along the streets. Esther and the few did not like to guess the lantern riddles as they were not interested in solving them.

“Lady Alvira, do you like those lanterns? I would buy some for you.” Esther excitedly offered. Her eyes glistened in the night as she looked at the colorful lanterns floating on the lake. It was her first time seeing such a sight, so she could not conceal her excitement.

Alvira shook her head gently, “You can enjoy the rest of the night. There’s no need to accompany me throughout.” she then turned her head towards Sir Hillard and continued, “Let those guards enjoy the celebration. I will be fine.”

“But, Lady Alvira, this place is too crowded. What if something happens to you? We can’t risk your safety.” Sir Hillard immediately refused.

“Sir Hillard is right, young lady. His Grace strictly ordered us to protect you anytime,” Doctor Leopold seconded.

Alvira went silent as she thought of the perfect excuse to get away from those guards. She had some matters she needed to attend to and she couldn’t accomplish them if those many guards were closely following her.

“How about this…” In the silence, Alvira gently spoke, “Sir Hillard will accompany me and the rest of you can leave. I think with Sir Hillard’s skill, he can protect me. I want to interact with the locals here in the city to gather some information about the future prosperity of Berxley Village. But, with so many people following behind me, I don’t think anyone would be willing to have a conversation with me.”

Everyone was at first surprised for a moment before Doctor Leopold threw his head back and laughed, “Everyone, you can leave now. Lady Alvira is right in this matter. All the people that we had passed were looking weirdly at our huge entourage. We can’t let people know our young lady’s identity as it would cause her more danger. Sir Hillard would be enough.”

“It’s settled then. I will stay and the rest of you can enjoy the celebration.” When Sir Hillard had spoken, the rest of the troops accepted it despite their reluctance.