8 Chapter 8: Grancel Castle

Power stones please?

*

"Ding! We will be landing at Grancel shortly. Please remember to check in with your according embassy if you run into any issues. Our next stop on thus round trip is Ordis. I repeat our next stop on this round trip will be Ordis..."

Seeing our ship land successfully at the landing site of Grancel City, it soon connected with the dock. Once it was connected, de-boarding of the passengers began.

Elie got excited arriving in Grancel for the first time. Once it was safe to de-board she got off our seat and started to run to the exit in excitement.

"Come on Naoto! It's time to head into the city.", Elie said in anticipation, only to stop at the boarding ramp to get a good look at Grancel. Seeing Elie behave this way caused me to chuckle.

"Don't run too fast like that, Elie, or you'll trip and fall.", I said, warning her. I took this time to get off the seat as well, running after Elie. Henry MacDowell let out a chuckle.

"Ohoho, despite being a mere couple hours in flight, it seems Naoto and Elie are becoming fast friends."

"Indeed. Seeing this result, I don't mind if we even setup a few play dates in the coming future. Your granddaughter will be able to get to know my other son as well.", Giliath responded with a sudden proposal, which drew Henry MacDowell's attention.

"...Will that be alright?", Henry MacDowell asked a bit worried.

"Why don't we ask them directly to see?", Giliath responded to him He then looked toward me which drew my attention, or rather our attention once father spoke out.

"Naoto, grab Elie and come back over for a moment. There's something we'd like to ask you two.", Giliath asked.

Hearing this, I nodded my head and turned toward Elie again.

"Elie, it seems my dad has something to ask, let's go back."

"Okay!", Elie responded with a nod, only to trail behind me as we returned to father's side. Seeing this Giliath asked a question which caused us to blink at him.

"Elie, would you be interested in setting up dates to play at our home in the future? I'm sure Naoto wouldn't mind. You'll be able to meet my second son too.", Giliath asked which caused us to blink at him for a moment.

'Old man, what are you trying to set up here? You do realize Elie is the granddaughter of Crossbell City's future Mayor, right...?', I inwardly retorted, only to see Giliath reveal a grin once I looked at him.

As for Elie, she revealed an excited look in her eyes.

"Really!? Will that be alright?"

"I'm okay with it, Elie, but it's probably best let your parents know first."

"You are probably right...But my parents never have time for me. That's why I'm with you, right Grandpa?", Elie asked, a bit disheartened.

"It is unfortunate your parents are always away due to their work, but I'll ask your mother the next time we come back home. It is best to speak with them first.", Henry MacDowell answered, also agreeing.

"Yay! Then I'll hope we can play lots more in the future, Naoto.", Elie smiled at me, causing me to nod.

We then left as a four person group sandwiched between other passengers vanished from the ship. As we walked, Henry MacDowell spoke to Giliath.

"It does look like we share the same destination, but the event itself is not taking place till tomorrow. Have you figured out where you two are staying for the night?"

"Yeah. We will be heading to the place that requires our attention first. After that, there will likely be no refusal in having us stay there, but by some chance they do, we will be staying at the Erebonia Embassy.", Giliath explained to Henry MacDowell.

"It would make sense for you stay at such a place. I almost forgot you are in a high position in E. I guess we will see each other again at the event tomorrow then. Let us go to our hotel, Elie.", Henry MacDowell said, only for Elie to hold onto his hand with hers.

"Tomorrow it shall be.", Giliath nodded.

"I'll see you tomorrow, Naoto!", Elie also waved us goodbye

"Yeah. Take care, Elie. You may be in for a surprise.", I bid her farewell with a smile. A look of anticipation appeared in Elie's eyes as the two vanished into one of the four blocks.

The city of Grancel had a rather simple layout. Besides Grancel Airport and Grancel Castle situated at its tip, the city was split into four different blocks, one with each a key interest. The residential block was one such block and Henry and Elie MacDowell would likely head there to stay for the night.

With us now alone, Giliath looked down at me with a grin.

"Are you ready to meet with your grandmother?", Giliath asked while grinning.

"...Will they even let us in?", I asked a bit worried.

"Haha, I have my ways. It is a bit of a walk. Don't forget you are still a little over one year old. Will you be alright walking?"

"Yes. I had plenty of sleep earlier, so I want move around for a bit."

"So talking with that brat Elie didn't tire you out eh? She will become quite influential in the future. It was a nice surprise to see the future mayor of Crossbell City having a granddaughter the same age as my son.", Giliath said.

"...?", I responded with confusion in my eyes as I tilted my head a bit. I feigned ignorance to his comment just know acting as if I didn't know, but I knew pretty well. My old man might be trying to set me up with Elie in the future despite having just met. Two persons of big influential families, commonly known as political marriages. Those do happen quite often here in Zemuria. My father laughed seeing me act like this.

"Haha, you'll come to understand this once you are older, Naoto. Come, let us not tarry any longer.", Giliath responded with a laugh.

"Yes, father.", I answered, only to reach out my hand to let Giliath grab it. The airport wasn't actually far away wasn't actually far away from Grancel Castle. Watching the ongoing traffic that went on their way into the individual blocks, several moments passed before we arrived in front of a white regal bridge that connected itself to a white castle with an open courtyard on its higher floors. There was only one path that lead to the castle.

And that was the bridge. The the castle itself was hovering over a large lake. One way in. One way out. Quite impenetrable.

"Wow...", I replied amazed seeing Grancel Castle in person for the first time.

"This is quite an imposing sight indeed. I've only personally been here a couple times but the atmosphere never changes.", Giliath said, bringing his gaze to the tower in the back of the white castle. That tower was the resting quarters of the current ruler, Queen Alicia the Second.

I also saw a few guards stationed at a closed entry gate before the white castle as well. Most appearing to have a rapier at their waist.

Yet as we got closer, a rather loud screech reached our ears together with the sound of flapping wings.

"Schriee~Schriee~!" , A voice of a bird suddenly spoke out. It actually sounded rather happy. We soon saw a fast shadow head over us, quickly arriving arriving on top of our position.

Upon having a closer look, it was actually a white falcon. It flapped in circles a few times before it descended over me, which drew Giliath's attention.

"Schriee?", The white falcon asked in confusion. But as if it decided on something after it looked at me again, it gently landed on top of my head, only for this white falcon to gently nudge it happily.

"Oh?", Seeing this falcon appear, Giliath said nothing and watched on as we quickly saw a couple soldiers head down. One of them appeared to be a female soldier of higher rank who even started to speak out in an apologetic tone.

"I-I'm very sorry about that! Sieg is still in a falcon in training you see. You should know better than to do that to our citizens...?", The female soldier began to scold the falcon who currently sitting happily on my head as she arriving before us.

Yet as she approached the white falcon she saw it was seated on the head of a child appearing a little more than one year old with pure violet indigo hair. This caused the female soldier of higher rank to come to a sudden halt as she looked at me without blinking for a moment.

"A-Are my eyes playing tricks on me...?"

As for me, I also had a good look at her. During this time the other main guard approached us, who also appeared to be of a man of higher rank, even more higher than the female soldier in front of me.

"Is there a problem, Second Lieutenant Schwarz? You know the Queen isn't permitting anyone into the castle right now. Why haven't you asked these two to leave at once?", The soldier to left said with a demanding tone.

"Captain Richard, Sieg started to act strangely once these two arrived. Moreover this child..."

"Child?", The left soldier responded, who was called Captain Richard. He then looked down at me only to see Sieg happily roosted upon my head. He also became stunned seeing me. He then became pale as if he had seen a ghost.

"I-Impossible...!", Captain Richard yelled out in surprise seeing my appearance. "He looks just like the late Crown Prince when he was little! ", He continued to blurt out.

Hearing this, Giliath currently saw the couple soldiers in front of us with surprised looks, and grinned. And yet as for his gaze, it was laid upon a figure that could be seen on a balcony further beyond us at the white castle.

His eyes matched with that of a rather aged woman wearing a royal ornate navy blue dress with faded light lavender hair. She also carried a reddish-purple shawl wrapped around her arms.

"Nothing is impossible.", Giliath responded to Captain Richard. He then gave a bow to the figure above him back at the castle.

"It is also a pleasure to see you again, Your Majesty the Queen.", Giliath bowed, revealing a smile.