Chapter 487: Grave Seriousness

“The incident the opposite night…” The King started, drawing Rosalind’s consideration as she gracefully settled into her chair. “I have to categorical my deepest apologies for it. Rumor unfold like wildfire that an murderer lurked amongst us, inflicting unrest and concern.” As he spoke, he signaled to the ready servants to begin serving the meticulously deliberate five-course meal. “I belief the Duchess is not too perturbed by the inconvenience.”

Rosalind, her gaze drifting in the direction of the primary dish being introduced, replied, “I perceive that sustaining the protection of the fortress and its residents is of paramount significance.” The delicacy introduced earlier than her was named the Ethereal Puff of Crimson Dragonfruit.

A fragile puff pastry, it was full of an unique and tantalizingly candy Crimson Dragonfruit, and was accompanied by a touch of the elusive Silvermoss cream. This cream was mentioned to be harvested solely underneath the beguiling glow of the Whispering Forest’s luminescent moon.

Admittedly, the Duchess discovered herself in unfamiliar territory. The title Silvermoss was solely new to her, and whereas she may need heard tales of the Whispering Forest, she had by no means ventured there herself. However, there it was – a masterpiece of culinary artwork.

The puff pastry’s golden-brown hue appeared virtually too good to eat, its flaky exterior promising a burst of flavors inside. Yielding to temptation, she sampled it and was rewarded by a sensational style that mirrored its visible enchantment. It was a splendid begin to the feast.

“Your understanding is enormously appreciated,” the King responded, taking a chunk of the puff himself. “I sincerely hope our starter meets the Duchess’s refined style. My daughter, in her meticulous method, oversaw the preparations of this meal, making certain that every ingredient was handpicked and handled with utmost care.” After all, what he did not point out was that it was his categorical request for his daughter to design such a menu.

The King recalled a earlier go to by the Duke, who had made an offhand comment about getting ready some snacks. Initially, the King had assumed it was a mere whim of the Duke of Wugari.

However in time, he discerned the true recipient of that request: the Duchess. The Duke’s loving gesture for his spouse was evident. The King deduced that the brand new Duchess had fairly the palate!

And so, with out hesitation, the King instructed his cherished daughter to curate a menu, hoping it will go away a long-lasting impression on the Duchess. Many puzzled concerning the King’s fervor to please a Duchess of lesser political weight. The Duke of Rakha, the Crown Prince, and even the Princess herself questioned his motives.

To their inquiring gazes, the King had a simple reply. He was nonetheless grappling with the sudden marriage choice of his beloved daughter to the Duke. Within the midst of this thriller, if he might win over the Duchess’s coronary heart with a feast, then he would definitely try it!

In response to the King’s phrases, Rosalind provided a diplomatic nod earlier than the dialog organically shifted towards the state of the teleportation portal. The advantages of its existence had been changing into more and more obvious.

“The Duchess is genuinely a breath of contemporary air,” the King remarked, a heat chuckle escaping him. They delved into additional discussions concerning the King of Wugari’s ongoing tasks with the Duke and the newly topped King of Lonyth. Progressively, the subject shifted to the mysterious beasts that had just lately began terrorizing the North.

These beasts had compelled Rosalind to dispatch Elias and Valentin to analyze their origins. To date, the information had not been encouraging. The pair had been battling these ferocious creatures with out having the ability to find their breeding grounds.

Nevertheless, Rosalind exhibited exceptional persistence, understanding the complicated nature of their process. Had it been a simple endeavor, the culprits behind these creatures would not have been capable of conceal their operation for this lengthy.

The conclusion of the principle course a luxurious serving of Embergrilled Drakon Steak with Moonroot Greens supplied the best segue for Rosalind to broach the first objective of her go to. The wealthy, hearty meal had left them satiated, and she or he felt the second was opportune.

“I want to talk about the standing of the Howling Mountains…” Rosalind started, her voice regular and severe.

The King’s demeanor modified abruptly on the point out of the mountains. The true cause for Rakha’s wealth was the abundance of relics they found within the Howling Mountains. This bounty had beforehand introduced intense stress from a number of Empires and the Seven Households, every wanting a bigger share of the spoils. This greed practically led to Rakha’s downfall, solely to be salvaged by the well timed intervention of the Duke of Wugari.

“Why has the Howling Mountains all of a sudden piqued the Duchess’s curiosity?” the King questioned, his fear palpable. He feared that the Duchess may demand further compensation, or maybe entry to the secluded Howling Mountains. A good worse situation could be Rakha being obliged to pay Wugari tribute as gratitude for his or her previous help.

The King of Rakha held immense gratitude for Wugari’s help however concurrently wished to maintain the secrets and techniques of the Howling Mountains confined to his personal realm. This was his well-guarded secret, in any case.

“There isn’t a level in obfuscating issues from His Majesty,” Rosalind started, her voice carrying a be aware of grave seriousness. “Just lately, the property has unearthed some historical paperwork that allude to the Howling Mountains. These manuscripts depict hideous creatures, known as demons. These beings not solely savored human flesh however had been additionally immensely highly effective, relishing the act of toying with their prey earlier than their remaining kill,” Rosalind defined.

“My husband shared with me that in his final expedition to the Howling Mountains, he witnessed creatures resembling these talked about within the historical texts. Subsequently, I felt compelled to debate this matter personally with you, primarily regarding our safety. I search to know if there is a chance that these horrifying creatures might infiltrate Rakha.”

“Which paperwork are you referring to?” the King queried, a way of unease enveloping him. His previous experiences and encounters had acquainted him with the monstrous creatures that lurked inside the mountain’s shadow. Nevertheless, with the lurking hazard additionally got here immense treasures. He had made the selection then to ignore the outdated texts and set his sights on unearthing the precious relics as a substitute.