South Gate of Sol-Regis Capital. Noon – Scorching Heat.
"Crazy..." Roland muttered, pressing his face against the carriage window. "This is basically Jakarta during rush hour, but with horses."
In front of them lay Sol-Regis, the Capital of the Kingdom of Aethelgard.
The city was surrounded by 30-meter-high white walls that glistened in the sun. Behind those walls, palace towers soared high with golden roofs. Majestic. Beautiful.
But beneath that grandeur... Total Gridlock.
Hundreds of merchant wagons, pedestrians, and noble convoys were queuing to enter through the main gate. The smell of horse manure and road dust was pungent.
"It's so hot," Rhea complained, fanning her neck with a hand fan. She sat next to Roland. "This carriage's AC is useless if we aren't moving."
"Patience, Teh (Sis)," said Rianor, who was studying a city map. "Sol-Regis has a population of about 500,000. It's the continent's economic hub. Naturally, it's crowded."
In the front carriage (VIP Carriage), Duke Lucian and Duchess Aurelia sat calmly. However, Lucian began tapping his finger on his sword hilt—a sign that Dad was getting impatient with the traffic.
Their carriage finally reached the checkpoint.
A Gate Guard Captain, pot-bellied in a slightly-too-tight uniform, blocked their path.
"Halt!" he barked. "This lane is for VIPs and Capital Nobles only! Country bumpkin carriages move to the left lane! Queue with the vegetable merchants!"
Lucian's driver (Captain Thorne in disguise) tried to protest. "This is the carriage of Duke Sudrath from Northreach! We have a Royal Invitation!"
"Sudrath?" The guard spat on the ground. "Never heard of it. Northreach? Oh, that frozen wasteland at the north pole? Where's the invitation letter?"
Thorne handed over the velvet scroll.
The guard opened it roughly, skimmed it, then tossed it back to Thorne.
"The letter is real. But..." The guard smirked cunningly while rubbing his thumb and index finger together (the universal gesture for money). "Gate administration is currently... having issues. You'll have to wait for a security check. Maybe 5 or 6 hours."
"Unless... there is a 'Priority Fee' of 50 Gold."
Inside the Rear Carriage (The Kids).
"Wow, he's asking for a bribe," Roland grinned. "Let me go down, I'll bribe him with a discount."
"Don't," Rianor stopped him. "If we bribe with money, we look weak and ripe for extortion. Let Dad handle it... wait."
Rianor looked ahead. The front carriage door opened.
It wasn't Duke Lucian coming down with a sword.
It was Duchess Aurelia.
At the Gate.
Aurelia stepped down gracefully. Her simple yet luxurious Emerald Green dress immediately drew attention. She opened a lace parasol to shield her face from the sun.
"It's quite hot, isn't it, Mr. Captain," Aurelia greeted softly. Her smile was friendly—the type of High-Ranking Official's Wife smile that was deadly.
The Guard was stunned by Aurelia's classy beauty. "Uhm... yes, Ma'am. Procedures are procedures."
"Of course, I understand. You must be tired working all day guarding the Capital's safety," Aurelia said. She signaled a maid.
The maid brought a small glass box tied with a gold ribbon. The contents were visible: Three bars of soap in purple, pink, and milky white. The scent of lavender and jasmine instantly permeated through the box.
"What is this?" the Guard asked suspiciously.
"A small souvenir from the North," Aurelia said. "This is Silk Soap. Your wife at home would surely be delighted if you brought this back. Her skin will become smooth as a princess', and the scent lasts for two days."
The Guard's eyes widened. He knew scented soap was a luxury item in the Capital. It could cost 10-20 gold a bar at boutiques.
"You don't need to pay," Aurelia continued, leaning in slightly, whispering. "Consider it... a product sample. If your wife likes it, maybe you can tell your friends that this soap is from House Sudrath."
Aurelia placed the box in the Guard's hand.
"So... is the administration still having issues, Sir?"
The Guard swallowed hard. He looked at the luxury soap box, then at the queue behind them starting to honk (shout).
"Ahem! Administration is... clear!" the Guard shouted. "Open the gate! VIP Lane for Duke Sudrath!"
He bowed respectfully to Aurelia (more respectfully than to the King). "Please pass, Ma'am. Send my regards to the Duke."
Aurelia smiled sweetly. "Thank you. Keep up the good work."
She climbed back into the carriage.
The carriage rolled smoothly past the long queue, leaving the guard sniffing the soap box with a blissful face.
Inside the Rear Carriage.
"Damn..." Roland clapped slowly. "Mom is OP (Overpowered). Paying a bribe with Product Placement. That's marketing genius."
"Mom knows the exact psychology of these people," Rianor analyzed. "If you give gold, they feel powerful. If you give a luxury item for their wife, they feel indebted and their social status rises."
Rhea just shook her head. "Never mess with a Bandung Mom."
Sol-Regis's "Menteng" Area (Noble District).
Late Afternoon.
Their carriage finally arrived at the address listed on the family's old land deed.
Sudrath Manor.
They stepped out of the carriage, and... Shock.
The house was huge, strategically located on a street corner. But the condition...
"Is this a haunted house?" Rhea asked flatly.
The paint was peeling. The front yard was full of waist-high weeds. The iron fence was rusty and crooked. Many windows were broken and patched with wooden boards.
Clearly, this house had been abandoned for the 10 years since House Sudrath went bankrupt.
"Aww..." Roland slumped. "I thought we'd sleep on soft mattresses. We have to do community service cleaning first."
"No time to complain," Lucian said firmly, stepping down. "Remember, we aren't here for a vacation. We are here for a Political War."
Lucian stared at the old house.
"Rianor, check the structural integrity. Rhea, check perimeter security. Roland, find hired cleaners right now. Aurelia, you manage the interior."
"Yes, Dad!" they answered in unison.
As they were unloading their luggage, a luxurious black carriage passed slowly in front of their house.
The window curtain opened slightly.
Rianor, who was lifting a suitcase, saw who was inside.
A thin old man with a face like a vulture, wearing the robes of a high official with the Black Sun emblem.
Their eyes met.
The old man smiled faintly. A smile that froze Rianor's blood.
Grand Chancellor Morvath.
He passed by just to ensure his prey had walked into the trap.
Rianor set down his suitcase. His face turned serious.
"He knows we're here," Rianor whispered to Rhea.
Rhea gripped the handle of her dagger beneath her skirt. "Good. Let him know we aren't afraid."
That night, in the dusty old house, the Sudrath Family did not sleep soundly.
Tomorrow was the Day of the Hearing.
And Morvath had already sharpened the knife of the law to slaughter them.