26 Port City of Callium (3)

Port City of Callium (3)

"If you say so Sir Emile," Sir Markus replied. "The Capitol guards are loyal to the Grand Prince Alexander VIII's faction while the capital police are to Empress Catherine's faction. The imperial knights are mostly on the side of Queen Consort Eleanor's faction, but the imperial assembly guards are to Queen Consort Margaret's faction."

All the knights in the room are dumbfounded about what Sir Markus had just dropped to them; they didn't expect that the forces in the capital would be so divided into different factions.

The Aquintanian empire is currently divided into four factions vying for the next emperor of the empire. It is because when the emperor married four women to ensure the political stability of the empire in his reign, two empress and two queen consorts.

Now that the emperor is already old and that it won't be long before he will remain alive, the four factions who are backing different princes have started to move.

"The empire is screwed, the forces that can keep these factions in check are under now of different factions... There would be no compromise if all factions are powerful, and they won't back down without a fight, a civil war is inevitable." Sir Roderick remark.

Everyone present knows that what he had said is right, even if an airhead man like Sir Roderick understands the severity of the situation.

All have depressed looks on their faces, even Constance looks tired, they are going to the center of all the troubles after all.

"There is no need to be sad. We have survived the north; we can survive the capital."

Sir John tries to cheer all of the group inside the room from their low state.

Sir Markus can only smile bitterly to Sir John. It is hard to be optimistic in this situation.

"How about the twenty legions?" Constance asks, hoping that at least the imperial legions are still neutral.

"More than half is already part of different factions my lord, the reasons that the other legions are not yet part of a faction is because the factions are still fighting deep inside the officer's ranks in the legion." Sir Markus somberly replied, this is what really the truth that they are facing right now.

"It seems that the thing we could do for now is to prepare for the incoming war, we could only sharpen our swords to prepare for the storm that would soon hit our homes, let us hope that the Margravate would not be that affected. The thing that we need to concern is only those who are related about the Margravate or that can affect it." Constance said, trying to encourage the knights, that there would be a chance for them to not be involved.

If the Margravate was able to navigate in the past, then surely, they can also do that in the present and the future.

"Instead of mopping here, how about we had a drink!" Sir Emile said confidently.

"The inn's dinner is already close this time though."

Sir Markus doesn't really like to go drinking but he would be a downer if he said that directly, so he tries to stop by saying that the food and drink service of the inn is already closed as it is already near midnight.

"We can go to the east district. They are still open until early morning."

Sir Emile happily shared to the group that they should just go to the east of the city- the redlight district.

Annoyed, Sir Markus is going to speak when he is interrupted by Constance.

"Let's go just this night and we would only have a drink, nothing else." He trusts that the city would be safe for the princess, as the Port City of Callium is a free imperial city under the direct control of the emperor. No one would dare to harm the princess and the east district is just close to the inn. "Sir Markus you can stay in here to protect the princess."

Sir Markus can only helplessly sigh and nod to the orders of Constance while Sir Emile is smiling wryly.

-- -- -- -- --

"How's the night Princess?"

Constance and the knights are now preparing the horses they just bought in the city, they would now resume their journey to the imperial capital.

"I'm fine Lord Arignon. How about you? It seems that you are the one who is drowsy and need some sleep, did you have a drinking fest again last night?"

Princess Tessia notices that Constance and the knights are yawning, and their eyes are dry and bloodshot, clearly showing that they are lacking sleep.

"I just have a talk with my knights last night."

Constance helps Princess Tessia to ride her horse, after helping her up, he checks if everything is in order with the Princess and her horse. They would have a long trip today as they would try to fasten their speed so they can arrive in the capital earlier.

He notices that the Princess seems to be looking at him more than in the previous days. She seems to scrutinize him in every little action he made.

"Really you only talk with your knights my lord? I heard that after talking with the knights, you have all leave in the inn in the middle of the night my lord, and it is Sir Emile who led your group last night I heard."

Princess Tessia is suspecting that Constance, her probable husband in the future, had just gone out last night with his knights to visit a brothel in the city. Especially if they leave during midnight after they have their secret meeting in his room.

Lady Sasha secretly follows the group and saw them go to the redlight district east of the city.

This is the reason that the Princess is angry and looking at Constance intensely. She may be young, but she is not that dumb of what the redlight district is.

Constance looks to Sir Markus, his face is clearly saying why he didn't tell them that one of lady knights followed them, but Sir Markus only looks away from him.

"Nothing happened there my princess, we only went for a drink there."

"Really?"

"Promise princess. I will not lie to you. Knight's honor."

Constance put his right hand on his left chest. It is a knight's vow that he is telling the truth.

The princess is about to speak when they are interrupted by an arrow firing from one of the windows of the houses.

"Get down Princess!"