Chapter 650: Chapter 304 Royal Palace Audience_2
This audience with the Royal Palace is not as convenient and direct as the military camp; he and his entourage must follow court etiquette, first bathe and change clothes, and also rehearse the audience ceremony with the etiquette officer before they can officially proceed to the Throne Hall.
Following the attendant to the prepared bathroom in the palace, Leon originally thought it was just a regular bath.
Unexpectedly, four young palace maids ca bustling in, surrounding him instantly—two undressing him from the top, two from the bottom.
Unprepared for such treatnt, Leon awkwardly moved to the side and said helplessly, “No need to trouble you ladies for a bath, I can wash myself.”
The lead maid looked at the young, tall, handso aristocrat with that unexpectedly bashful reaction and blinked, holding back a laugh while pitifully saying, “Lord Pendragon, please don’t make it difficult for us. We must serve you in the bath to ensure every part of you is clean; if we don’t follow protocol, we’ll be punished.”
Leon thought about it and realized it would be inappropriate for his fussiness to cause these girls to be punished, so he reluctantly accepted the assistance of the palace maids.
But after soaking in that exquisite boat-shaped bath, he started to regret it.
Washing hair, trimming, scrubbing, and nail clipping were nothing much—the professional service was even quite enjoyable.
But the ticulousness of the maids’ scrubbing exceeded imagination; every inch of his body was cleaned thoroughly, touched in places that should and shouldn’t be touched. If he hadn’t forcibly stopped them, they might have flipped him over for a detailed rub.
Whether in his past life on Earth or in this life as a Lord, he had never experienced such decadent service.
Finally done with the bath, Leon couldn’t help but be thankful that Olivia wasn’t there; if she knew he was handled by a group of girls while stark naked, she might overturn the vinegar jar of his little wife.
Heading out and seeing Kovis and the two accompanying knights similarly “refreshed” by the maids, Kovis, accustod to major events, naturally wore a calm face.
Filipo and Corinth, both born as knight attendants of the Thorny Flower family, were raised in noble hos and are themselves the second sons of noble families; aside from being slightly surprised by the grand royal etiquette, they had no other reaction.
It turns out he’s the only bumpkin making such a fuss.
Kovis, noticing his lord’s odd expression, explained with a smile, “I suppose this is not only to keep the audience clean when eting the king but also to test the etiquette and deanor of the audience. If soone behaves inappropriately with those maids, following the rules, they might be kicked out of the palace outright.”
Unsurprisingly, coming from a royal background, Leon mused silently, the youth truly understands these rules and regulations.
After a round of hustle, they don their formal attire, and the etiquette officer confird that the group understood the audience procedures, only then were they allowed to proceed to the main hall of the throne.
The four followed the Royal Palace Attendant, marching in formation.
Kovis in the front, holding the Sword Wing Badge flag symbolizing Pendragon, Leon followed behind, then Sir Filipo carrying the docunts, and Sir Corinth with a wooden box holding instrunts.
The group calmly passed through the King’s Guard, clad in Feathered Armor, wielding long spears, traversing the palace corridor adorned with countless spoils of war, finally reaching the solemn giant doors of the King’s Hall.
On the weighty door, intricately carved was the mythical epic of Gervin, the Dusk Knight ancestor of the Drakemar Family, slaying the Demon Dragon.
Leon’s gaze inevitably drifted to the ornate two-handed great sword held by the golden-haired ancient hero depicted above.
He recalled the well-known Orland Legend, having heard that the ancient Holy Sword is still lodged within a stone base sowhere in the palace, untouched for a millennium, neither moved nor drawn; a story embellished, or perhaps a historical truth?
This was sowhat reminiscent of ancient Earth legends from Europe, like King Arthur’s Stone Sword, Tree Sword, or Lake Sword, perhaps hinting at a commonality in people’s fabrication of such stories? Quite the coincidence.
After a few minutes of waiting, Kovis raised his voice, holding the emblem flag, “In the na of Leon Pendragon, Baron of Glade County, Avalon, requesting audience with the honorable Lord of the North, Dragon Tar… Orland Monarch, King Lydwen!”
The Royal Coat of Arms Officer conveyed the ssage, and soon responded, “Baron Avalon, Lord Pendragon, is granted an audience!”
The next mont, the resonant ceremonial horn echoed.
Under the pleasant sound of the hinges, the giant doors of the Throne Hall slowly swung open, revealing a grand hall where majesty and luxury coexisted in Leon’s view.
The rectangular hall was extrely spacious, with a throne covered in Dragon Skin at the high platform at the far end, flanked by rows of giant pillars with tapestries embroidered with royal emblems hanging.
The Dusk Blood Guard, robed in Dragon Pattern Cloaks with halberds, stood beneath the pillars.
The hall was further filled with elegantly and formally dressed nobles and ministers.
Clearly, today’s gathering of such power and influence was for a political eting, not just to see him.
For a “vassal of a vassal,” the reception exceeded typical protocols, as the king would generally receive a noble of his rank in a side hall on a wooden chair.
The audience in the main hall is due to his ties with the Magic Academy, a royal institution, making him a court official of the kingdom, granting him a flexible status.
Yet Leon couldn’t be bothered with such things. He didn’t feel overwheld or flattered, not for the allure of the Moonfall Silver in royal hands or King Lydwen’s grains; otherwise, he would have never accepted this task.
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