CHAPTER 3 - I - JACK-EN-POY

 

True to Maddie’s words, we immediately set out for the kingdom of Amaranth upon waking up.

 

Our journey, compared to the one before to Fen, was relatively safe.  It took us from the Holy Palatial Gardens’ territory, past the lands owned by the Duke of Savoy (an independent duchy which also has jurisdiction over the town of Arles), and into the borders of the Kingdom of Amaranth itself.

 

Contrary to our previous arrangement, Maddie and Lily were with Eris and Jessica in the Saint’s personal carriage to monitor those two.  The Beastman Saint, Ruro, decided that she had ‘something to do back in her land’, and left Holy Palatial Gardens just as we left.

 

Not wishing to invade their privacy, I took another carriage—a smaller, simpler one.  The saint insisted I ride with them, but I refused.  I believed I would even be fine in the baggage cart; however, Maddie won’t allow it, so she arranged for my carriage.

 

Well, I also would like to be efficient with things, so I asked that they put their baggage in my carriage to minimize our convoy’s size.

 

The entire travel cost us five ‘long sleeps’, with Maddie passing by the town of Arles to check on the hourglass she ordered.  By the way, just an update, the glassmaker was prioritizing it but said it would still take time.  Lily had specified that the hourglass was made human-sized so that anyone could see it, and the master glassmaker proposed that golden sand was used.

 

And finding golden sand would take a while.  So, we left Arles fairly contented with the progress for the creation of the time-reckoning device.

 

“Your Holiness, the city of Devyere lies ahead.” the Marquise of Monfort reported to Maddie as we approached past the border of Savoy and Amaranth, “Shall I send an advance party to welcome your presence?”

 

“Ah, please do.” it was Lily who answered, “We don’t want to delay with all the people blocking the road just to see us.”

 

The Marquise then selected a group of four paladins as our advance party.  However, it didn’t take long for them to return.

 

The Marquise of Monfort stopped the entire convoy upon seeing them going back.

 

“What seems to be the problem, Lady Heath?  You forgot something?”

 

“Nothing of the sort, Lady Monfort!” the other paladin replied, “But we met this group coming towards our direction, from the city of Devyere.  They claim they are from the city of Amaranth and are on their way to meet and welcome us.”

 

“Oh?” the Marquise looked behind Lady Heath and saw a long yellow banner with a red silhouette of a giant on it.  Beside it, flew another banner with a green gryphon imposed on a blue background and trimmed with gold, “That yellow one is the banner of the Margrave of Nocturna, the minister of the right of Amaranth, and the blue banner is for the Ban of Kistral!”

 

“If I remember, those two nobles are eternal rivals, right?” Lady Heath asked, “Why are they now marching together?”

 

“I don’t know.  But we’d rather tell Her Holiness about this.” the Marquise of Monfort then sped towards our carriage to do her report.

 

 

By the time the advance party and the other groups arrived, we already alighted our carriages because we’re wondering the cause of our delay.  Upon learning of the ‘strange event’, Maddie herself went forward to greet the two parties personally, followed by Lily, Jessica, and Eris.

 

“Ah!” the head of the House of Nocturna quickly got off from his horse once he saw Her Holiness appear.  He bowed, almost kowtowing, on the ground to show his reverence for Maddie, “It has been a while, Your Holiness!  As a representative to His Majesty, William, and his son, Crown Prince David, I welcome you—as well as Her Holiness’ companions and Her Royal Highness (he’s referring to Jessica) to our kingdom.”

 

Jessica, Lily, and Eris did their respective curtsies.  The Marquise of Monfort and the other paladins also curtsied, though it’s kind of strange to see them do that.  After all, I’m used to watching the armored guys only bow before someone as a sign of respect…

 

Of course, I bowed as well.

 

The leader of the other group, that of the House of Kistral, gave his respects as well, but not as reverent as the House of Nocturna’s…well, at least in my opinion.  However, upon bowing, he took out his sword and presented it before Her Holiness.

 

“My sword is your sword, Your Holiness!  As the representative of the Council of the Nobility, I, Stefan Lugo Kistral, welcome you, as well as Your company, to our lands!”

 

Maddie then blessed the two leaders before speaking to them, “My presence here was because of the alarming news we received about the situation here in Amaranth.  However, as much as I’d like to proceed with the negotiations as soon as possible, I’d want to see and learn for myself first what caused this brewing tension and strife.”

 

“Yes, Your Holiness!  We apologize for disturbing you, and for your efforts, we’re willing to compensate for the trouble.” the head of the royal delegation answered, “In fact, we already planned for your accommodation at the capital!  His Majesty the King would love to speak with you.”

 

“If Your Holiness is looking for answers as to the cause of this conflict, then the Duke of Braunhauer would gladly tell all that happened that led to this.” the noble faction’s representative interjected, “Like our worthy opponent, we also organized the best quarters fit for our most holy and dignified guest.”

 

“Sir Stefan, I suppose you are not thinking of being first before our king?”

 

“Well, Margrave Landsberg, I think it’s not about His Majesty, but that accursed prince of yours who wants to be the first in everything!”

 

“How dare you—” the Margrave quickly pulled his sword, but the Ban was also fast in escalating the tension.  Their soldiers followed suit, with their spears and shields ready to strike their opponent anytime the blood flowed.

 

“Margrave Nocturna!” Jessica cried out to the Margrave, “I implore you to cease this violence at once!”

 

“Sir Stefan, please stop your men!” Likewise, Eris pleaded to the Ban.

 

Fortunately, those two were not the only ones who were quick.  Maddie’s voice thundered when she called out to her paladin captain, “Lady Monfort!”

 

 The Marquise of Monfort and her girls immediately sprang into action and disarmed the two sides.  Perhaps the men wouldn’t dare struck the ladies—at least not until an actual battle, and so they were easily convinced to lay down their arms.  Tension remained, though it was significantly reduced after that.

 

“Gentlemen, please put aside your swords!” Maddie ordered, “At least, do your violence someplace else, where the people won’t be affected.”

 

The Margrave and the Ban both threw threatening looks at one another.  It’s all that they could do, after all.

 

Her Holiness continued, “As much as I’d really want to get things underway already, I need first to weigh the demands of both sides.  For it is said, ‘Those whose eyes look on one side, will never see the other’.  However, to continue, I would request that one of you yields to his rival.  Please be rest assured; I’ll listen to both of your points.”

 

“Well…” it was the Margrave; his voice was sarcastic, “I’m sure that the wise and reasonable Duke of Braunhauer, through his equally knowledgeable envoy Ban Stefan, would have no qualms of allowing us to be the first to Her Holiness’ audience.”

 

“You are right, Margrave.” the Ban mockingly countered, “Just as you said, we are indeed full of wisdom, and so we see the urgency that Her Holiness listens to the demands of the nobility first.”

 

Honestly, I think they’re just being asses.  Typical entitled nobility…

 

“…”

 

Ugh…no matter how ‘eloquent’ and ‘rosy’ the words they spoke to each other, we could all tell that they’re just being sarcastic against the opposing side.  Neither of them would give way, and so, the more we dawdled in this, the more time would be wasted.

 

I cast a look at Maddie.  I could tell that she’s having her headache right now, occasionally shaking her head in dismay.

 

“…”

 

Uhh…seriously guys, you needed to get your shit together already.  I didn’t think you’d like it when Maddie gets pissed off once again.  That memory of the ‘Black Death’ spell back at the Battle of Hagena Castle was still fresh in my mind.

 

I guess I should step in now?

 

 

“I’m really sorry for interrupting, good Sirs!”

 

“!!!”

 

Everyone’s attention then turned to me, who was just silently watching them a while ago.  I raised my hand and waved it so that their eyes would be pasted on me.

 

“Pardon me, but if you’d like to, we could decide who’s going to be first to be visited by Her Holiness fairly!”

 

“Who’s this man?” the Ban asked, obviously annoyed at my entrance.

 

“Ah…” Maddie was quick to back me up, “He’s Sir Kuro, a wise friend of mine.  Currently, he’s visiting the land of Chersea, and so he was staying with me.”

 

“Oh?  I didn’t know that Her Holiness would get an adviser this young…” the Margrave commented, “Youths are reckless with their decisions; you’re an exception, of course, Your Holiness.  Is this one different from the others?”

 

I don’t like how this guy thinks…

 

Maddie was quick to defend me, “Well, he has proven time and time again that his mind is truly formidable.”

 

Ha!  Take that, old boy!

 

“So, how should we decide this issue at hand fairly, Sir Kuro?” a visibly annoyed Ban Stefan stared at me as if he’s recording every detail of my appearance.

 

“I propose we do a ‘jack-en-poy’ to settle this,” I told them.

 

“A what?” Everyone was confused when I said what I had in mind—except for Maddie, who had a proud look on her face, as if a mother was boasting for her child.

 

“Well, a ‘jack-en-poy’ is actually a ga—” I was about to say ‘game’ but remembered that if I told them that, they wouldn’t seriously consider my proposal, “It’s actually a set of gestures used to decide things back in my homeland.”

 

“Set of gestures?”

 

“Here, I’ll show you.” I clenched my fist, “This gesture is called a ‘rock’.  And then, this one is called ‘scissors’.  And the last is ‘paper’.”

 

“How do we decide things about that?”

 

“It goes like this…” I took the Marquise of Monfort and told her what she should do.  Though she’s a bit confused at first, she went along with me and hit ‘rock’ against my hand’s ‘paper’.

 

Obviously, I won.

 

“To do this, you must remember:  rock beats scissors, scissors defeat paper, and paper wins over the rock.  And, you should not let your opponent know what gesture you will use, or you will lose.  Want a try?”

 

The Ban and the Margrave still had their apprehensions, but after a few practice games against me (I didn’t tell them it’s a famous game back in my old Earth), they became confident and finally agreed to settle their differences with the jack-en-poy.