Adventures of the last Wild Dragon

Chapter 288: A Noble Crowd (2)

Standing by the entrance into the VIP lounge the four girls soon advanced into the awaiting crowd.

Eyes followed them, some curious, others less so.

It was a strange thing for Violet, she, who had always wanted to challenge her foes head on in a direct fight. To now be in a situation where violence was no longer the correct course of action, well at least for right now.

But here she was, about to walk forth and interact with some of the most influential people that comprised a nation that orchestrated the downfall of her entire race. And who now rose them as mere mounts and pawns for their army.

It was a complicated situation, one that Violet knew she would not exactly enjoy. She still struggled with finding the right words to use when talking with these people, people who used words as their weapons of war instead of fists or magic.

It was an arena of combat that she was severely lacking in, an area that she did not enjoy.

She shook her head to clear her mind, no she shouldn’t think of this event like that. Sure some of the people here may be what she would consider evil, but all of them? Surely not, just look at Rose, she is a noble yet seems kind.

Violet would just have to take things as they came, adapt to the situation at hand and try her best. That is what she has always done after all.

Rose led the way into the crowd, she first went towards a smaller group of nobles consisting of three individuals. An older man, a middle aged man and a middle aged woman.

Noticing their approach the trio turned around to face them, the older man spoke up with a slight smile. "Ahh if it isn’t little Rose! How are you doing this evening? And who are your friends here?"

Rose gave a small curtsy to the trio and then spoke with a warm smile. "Good evening Lord Walter, and I am doing well thank you. And these are two new friends who I just met the other day, Violet and Luna. It was only thanks to them that I was able to get into this area, haha."

The old man, Lord Walter smiled at her words then turned his attention towards Violet and Luna with an inquisitive gaze. "Well good day to you two lovely ladies, I must thank you then for taking care of young Rose here, she is the daughter of a good friend of mine so it is a pleasure to meet you."

Luna gave a nod and very slight bow towards the man as she spoke up. "It is a pleasure to meet you aswell, and we are happy to, Rose is a lovely woman who we have gotten along with quite well."

Violet noticed the slight frown that appeared on the face of some of those nearby at Luna’s lack of a propper bow or curtsy when greeting the man, Lord Walter. From that she assumed that the man must be quite an important noble, maybe someone of high rank?

But did that truly matter? He was weak, very weak. Despite being quite old, at least from Violet’s perspective, the man was not even in tier 3. How someone managed to be so low leveled when having so much social power was beyond Violet ms ability to understand.

Regardless, Violet would not show her thoughts on the matter and refocused back on the conversation where Walter was just finishing introducing his two companions to them both.

Time swiftly passed like this, Violet and Luna, alongside Rose moved from guest to guest. Staying for only a few minutes at each person or group.

Just long enough to get a general impression of the people present here. She quickly identified the hierarchy, that of noble ranks.

It turned out the Lord Walter did indeed have one of the highest standings in the city. He was a Marquis, and the second highest ranked noble in the city just behind the city Lord who was a Duchess.

Surprisingly he was also one of the most friendly people that they interacted with during the event.

They thought that time was running a bit close to when the auction would start properly when a new guest entered the room. And the entire atmosphere of the room suddenly shifted.

Violet and Luna instantly tensed as they felt an overwhelming pressure land on them, it was domineering and oppressive. As if standing in its presence was a sin that one needed to repent for, it tried to force the two to take a knee and bow their heads, it tried to make Violet feel inferior to the owner of the pressure.

THUD

Violet felt her heart beat.

Her instincts roared to life and her own presence suddenly entirely enveloped her, Luna’s taking but a moment before hers too surged out as her own instincts, aided by Violet’s fiercely rejected the feeling of inferiority that was trying to press them down.

They both noticed the faces of all of the other nobles present pale, some of the weaker and younger ones even subconsciously going down on a single knee in supplication.

Oddly enough Lord Walter seemed able to resist the effects quite well despite his apparent weakness. A quick glance was enough to figure out why, a ring on his finger was subtly glowing, it released a force that insulated the noble from the effect.

Rose was much less successfull, she found herself kneeling on the ground before she even know what was happening.

The two companions turned around to face the newcomer, and instantly their gazes locked onto two figures walking into the room.

One was a fully armoured knight, he wore a helm that hid his face and a gleaming sword hung at his hip whilst he had one hand resting on its pommel.

Besides him strode an elegant woman, she wore a dashing red dress that hugged her curves alongside a collection of simple but beautiful golden jewellery. Her brown hair swished behind her as she walked in as if she owned the place.

Which she very well might.

It did not take Violet long to figure out who the person who had just walked in was. After all it could only be a single person. Lady Jasmin Sonantis, the city lord of Sonantis and Duchess of the Kingdom of Eldor. Alongside her loyal tier 5 guardian.

As she entered she took a moment to look around as the gathered nobles, then with a fake scolding tone spoke up. "Now now Kurtis, ease up on your pressure, I have told you to watch your domain around our loyal nobles have I not."

The domain around Kurtis and Lady Sonantis remained for a heartbeat longer before retracting in and allowing the assembled nobles to breathe freely once again.

As that happened Lady Sonantis had been carefully observing the assembled guests, clearly checking their reaction to the sudden and unannounced domain bearing down on them.

When she saw that both Violet and Luna were standing straight, with seemingly no ill effect from the man’s domain whilst glaring at the man that had so brazenly tried to supress them her lips curled into a small smile.

She strode directly towards the two, not sparing any one else a glance as her gaze was locked onto the two companions.

The nobles that they had been talking to made a hasty retreat as they bowed respectfully, or maybe fearfully towards the Duchess.

Then she stopped in front of the pair, her small smile still playing at her lips in clear ammusement.

"Greetings Lady Violet, Lady Luna. It is a pleasure to have you visit my city, so forgive my dear Kurtis, his manners can be somewhat lacking." Her voice was saccharin sweet and laced with ammusement.

Violet wanted to pronounce her displeasure yet took a deep breath as she carefully observed the Sovereign standing a respectful foot behind and to the side of his lady. Additionally, she was somewhat surprised that their names were know, yet she soon realised that it only made sense that the city lady had heard about the two beastkin who had probably spent more money in the past couple of days than most noble families would in a month.

Smoothing over her expression of displeasure Violet showed a small smile, showcasing her own sense of amusement as she gave a shallow bow. "Greeting to you as well Lady Sonantis. And not at all, if anything it was a welcome experience, it is always beneficial to test oneself against the strong, is it not?"

Her smile only widened at Violet’s words as she replied. "Oh indeed, without the opportunity to push one’s boundaries it is impossible to progress in this world. It is a pleasure to meet someone who so well understands such facts.

Now I would love to stay as chat some more but I must be off. It was a pleasure to make your aquantance, I hope we will have to chance to talk more at a later date."

With that, their first interaction with the Lady of Sonsntis and her guard came to as abrupt end as it had started.