28 – The Tulip Castle amid Blood
It was already deep into the night. After the barbecue party had concluded, the knights had went to the town to rest.
Levis and Lvera had also retired into their rooms. The old butler, Carter, entered the study holding a cup of apple juice instead of red wine.
“My Lord, you look quite sober.”
“Thank you.” He took the apple juice and gave it a sip, tasting its fruity fragrance. The alcohol content of beer made it quite hard to get intoxicated. It was only good against an upset stomach.
Under the candle light, Carter"s face looked very unnatural.
Liszt had discovered this during the day: “Mr. Carter, do you feel unwell?”
“I am fine, My Lord.”
“There is something that must be said – please do not force yourself. Even though a castle cannot do without a butler at the helm, but your health is more important, so take care of yourself.”
“Thank you.” Old Carter teared up.
“Tomorrow, after the sprite worms complete their a.s.similation, I will follow the caravan to Coral City. I might leave Coral Island for several days. The castle"s matters will be left at your discretion.”
“My Lord, please rest a.s.sured.”
“In fact, there is nothing to worry about. Apart from the few sprite worms, Tremblingwoods and Blackdragon also need to be taken care of. The Black Tulip should also be checked up on everyday. The establishing of the horse field outside the castle should not stop. I hope that when I return, I will be able to settle down the alfalfa sprite worm.”
The mission had the greatest priority.
He went to bed after a brief chat. And so, the night went by.
The next morning, the eight tulip sprite worms had completed their a.s.similation of the Black Tulip, following which, the caravan immediately set off. Liszt, accompanied by Marcus and Thomas, rode Fierydragon. The castle was entrusted to Carter, the town was entrusted to Gort and his four retainer knights.
“Teacher Gort, when I return, I want to see a patrol patrolling the area from the Thorns Ridge to the East Coast.”
“I will train them according to you wishes.” Gort said lightly.
“Then I am leaving. Right, when I return, I will bring back a few bottles of Juniper.”
“Whoa, that would be great!”
Liszt turned around while atop Fierydragon. The butler, Carter, along with a servant, quietly watched at the castle"s gate. He no longer hesitated, lightly kicking the horse on the belly. Fierydragon immediately rushed out and caught up with the caravan.
He felt a bit excited.
His predecessor was very familiar with Coral Island, but he, strictly speaking, was leaving Flower Town to see the outside world for the first time.
A medieval terroir wrapped in magic power; an aristocratic system under the knights" rule.
After leaving the Thorns Ridge, the majority of land that they trod upon belonged to the Count, with a part belonging to some towns – territories the Count enfeoffed to Barons. There were still villages and settlements enfeoffed to Chevaliers. Coral Island only had a single enfeoffed Viscount, who had been a follower of the Count from very beginning, Jonas Cobblestone.
However, outside of Coral Island, there was a small island enfeoffed to another Viscount, who was also a follower of the Count, Trix Wildhop.
On Coral Island, there was a total of five big and six small cities, with Coral City at the foot of Tulip Castle being the largest city. Northvalley City, Whitebirch City, Elmwood City, and Snakefang City belonged to the count, while Cobblestone Castle and its ancillary, Cobblestone City, belonged to Viscount Jonas.
Going to Coral City from Flower Town, one had to pa.s.s trough Northvalley City and Whitebirch City.
Along the way, the caravan pa.s.sed by two small cities without making a stop. Only when it reached Northvalley City, did the caravan make a stop at the castle"s villa to eat a simple meal before making a beeline for Coral City. At three o"clock in the afternoon, when the hoofs trod into a sea of flowers, had the caravan finally reached Coral City.
The sea of flowers was comprised of a variety of tulips.
Most were magic ingredients, while a minority were ornamental flowers. In Sapphire Grand Duchy, the tulips cultivated by the Tulip Family were famous.
The sea of flowers rose and fell along a hillside.
To the left of the road towered Coral City"s defensive wall. The city bordered the sea and had a bustling wharf. While staring into the distance, Liszt saw the ‘cutting-edge" brig sailboats on the wharf.
This world had started to slowly transition from the age of paddle to the age of sail.
It was by relying on sailboats that Sapphire Grand Duchy had arrived from the continent, started its conquest of the archipelago, and established an archipelago state.
Only by sailboat could the sea be crossed.
“Unfortunately, sailboats is probably it for now. Without steel, the age of ironclad ships or even the age of steamboats cannot be achieved.”
Liszt sighed lightly, retracted his gaze, and turned to the right side of the road.
To the right was a mountain range. One side of the mountain range, which bordered the sea, was a steep cliff, while the other side was a gentle slope. Tulip Castle was built on top of the precipitous cliff, with a wide cobblestone-paved road wriggling down the hill from the castle"s gate to Coral City. The lofty castle, alike a flag, towered at the highest point of Coral Island.
A pointy tower piercing into the sky.
The thick rocks connected in a line to the mountain range surrounded by flowers painted the scene of a solemn, deferential, and imposing fortress. Ten years. According to Liszt"s memory, when the family came to Coral Island, it only took it ten years to build such a tall, firm Tulip Castle. During that period, hundreds of serfs were worked to death.
Even to this day, the castle was still sporadically being expanded.
The glory of the aristocracy had always been established atop blood. It was only a count"s castle. Reportedly, the Sapphire Grand Duke"s castle took one hundred years to be built, with the bones of serfs" piling up into a dozens of meters tall heap below the castle"s precipice.
“Looking at the pale gray which is actually blood red; instead of living here, I still prefer Flower Town"s small castle. At least the life there is peaceful.”
Liszt was heavy-hearted.
Following behind his brother and sister, he went towards this familiar yet unfamiliar castle.
On the way, they met a party of knights coming out of the castle. The leader knight saluted Levis deferentially: “Young Lord Levis, smooth journey.”
“Smooth journey, Captain Mickey.” Levis returning the salute, returning the salute.
Captain Mickey also saluted Lvera: “Young Lady Lvera, smooth journey.”
“Smooth journey, Captain Mickey.”
At this time, Captain Mickey looked at Liszt and also saluted him perfectly in tune with the etiquette: “Young Lord Liszt, welcome back.”
“Long time no see, Captain Mickey.” Liszt returning the salute. The knight in front of him was the captain of the knights stationed in the Tulip Castle responsible for the castle"s safety and protection. Mickey was a baron himself, with his family managing his fief in his stead while he himself held office in the Tulip Castle.
Led by the group of knights, they arrived at the castle"s gate after a while.
Standing at the gate, the butler, Lewis, welcomed the three siblings. His old face was filled with a warm smile: “Oh, what a happy occasion. It had been forever since I last saw My Lord"s son. Like a tired bird returning to the nest, you have returned to the castle.”
“Grandfather Lewis, long time no see. You look as healthy as ever.” Liszt handed Fierydragon"s reins to a servant, and then greeted Lewis.
Lewis was at least sixty years of age. He had been the earliest follower of Liszt"s grandfather, serving him as a gentleman"s valet.
Nowadays, he served as the Tulip Castle"s grand butler. Even if it was the Count, he also greatly respected him. This person had invested his entire life into the Tulip Family, naturally being deserving of his honor and status.