News that the Albrechts had been attacked and had fended off their attackers reached the city before they did.
Considering their status in the kingdom that wasn't shocking. Neither was the impact of the news.
By the time they reached the towering marble walls of Valenthir, the crowds had already come to celebrate them.
They had even been given access to the city walls, which was pretty rare in the Vaught Kingdom.
Rick had brought his carriage to the front, and so had the other kids. they were very prepared for the circus that was coming towards them.
They were used to it after all.
They had even transferred to comfy carts that were open-air and allowed the citizens to see and hear them. Also encouraging conversation between neighboring occupants.
All of them had changed and were looking sharp. Ossenia was in a tight-fitting red and black leather armor showing off her figure, while the Bright Matriarch was in a gold and white shirt and dress that made her look like a college girl out on a date.
Rick and Mira were in black and white, with a real checkered theme going., Rick hated it. He understood it, but it reminded him too much of chess. And he was never the best at that game.
"Do we really have to do this?" Bran, the, youngest asked.
He really did not want to be in the sun.
"Shhhh young master." Said his attendant, quieting the little one. Bran was a rare case among nobles, having paired with a same age attendant at birth. Most Nobles chose at the age of 5.
"But I'm bored..." He whined. But before he could say anything further he happened to catch the Bright Matriarch looking at him. A whole conversation proceeded to ensue with just their eyes. It went something to the tune of...
'Got something to say?'
'But Mooooom'
'Mmmmm are you embarrassing me in public?'
'No ma'am I just'
Are you arguing against me in public?'
'We aren't even talking though...
'Oh so you're just saying I'm wrong in public... Can you fight me now? Are you tough now? Just wait till we got home.'
All this happened without any actual magic, and in the span of 3 seconds.
Bran squealed, shut his mouth and hid behind his attendant, absolutely refusing to look in his mother's direction.
"What's up young master?" The attendant asked.
"She's totally unreasonable!" Bran answered and refused to elaborate.
"Look at them gather." Said the Baron as he held Ossenia in his arms.
She snuggled deeper into his arms. The scene was just outright serving dogfood to all of the watchers. They seemed to not care a bit for the feelings for all the single watchers.
"Flies will always gather around the good stuff. Its nature's way of balancing out things." The dark beauty answered, Showing a total disregard for the feelings of the spectators.
The Matriarch snorted.
"Did all of your self consciousness go to your muscles man-thief?"
"Jealous that I can keep up with our dear husband feeble old lady?" shot Ossenia back. The matriarch didn't look anything Matriarchal, but it was the fact that it was said that mattered.
The Baron just ignored them and looked away. No one really paid them any mind.
"Ugh not again" Mumbled Ben.
Another glare from his mother shut him up as well. Genetics never really mattered to the kids. As far as they were concerned, they had 2 moms, and maybe half a dad, from the way the moms dominated him.
Rick ignored his family and looked ahead.
He sighed. "How does one even come up with something like that?" He asked as he looked at the City of Vales.
Mira answered him. "There is a reason it is said even we do not understand the seats of power. The ancients really were something."
Valenthir was built right in the middle of a lake. It wasn't on an island, so much as was an island.
The city had 3 concentric rings of walls surrounding it, coming straight out of the water and lighting up with golden rune just like the twin Citadels.
The both were clearly made with the same kind of architecture, if not the same architect.
The Citadel was also a Seat of Power. The other Duke also had one. It was said top be a symbol of royalty.
They were currently on the shore, and the city was huge. They were kilometers from it, but could still see the massive outer walls rising from the depths of the looks, just giving off the feeling of impregnability.
The walls had that hazy look one notices when observing distant mountains.
It was forbidden to sail from the shores to the city, at least without specific permits. Instead, for most people there were 16 massive bridges stretching out from the city to the shore. Each bridge was at least 600 meters.
The city itself was home to at least 100 million permanent residents, far more than the most populated cities on Earth.
It literally pulsed with life magic and vibrancy. Such a huge concentration of life made Rick's flames thrum. He felt invigorated.
The Baron looked over at him, with a sideways glance and smirked.
People always wondered why the Albrechts were so friendly. How can someone who burns with the Flames of Life be cold and aloof? Albrechts yearned to be among the people.
But being a Noble did have its privileges. Like the right to use the center lane which was specifically kept clear. The rest of the bridge was packed, while not congested, as there were guards flying above on Giant Eagles swooping down wherever there was a traffic problem to clear it up.
"Traffic cops are everywhere huh?" Said Rick.
"Huh? " asked Mira
"Nothing" he replied. He wasn't really worried about tickets anyway.
"My heart is just pumping a bit after all. This is my first time in a different place."
"I could tell, just don't run off and get lost, okay Master?"
He shot her a resentful glare.
"I'm not a kid you know?" he said
"Yes you are!" Came a shout from Ossenia and the Baron.
Rick resisted the urge to roll his eyes. He still had an act to put up. So he just gritted his teeth and swallowed his snarky response.
On the plus side, it really sold how bothered he appeared to be by his Father. Because he was. The Fossil was taking advantage of the situation to tease him, knowing that speaking out would break character!
The horses drawing the carts were some of the finest mundane breeds in the kingdom, so they sped across the Bridge in no time. Although the Baron and co's antics made him feel like he'd be trapped there forever.
Who wanted to watch his mother cuddle up and act like a love-struck teenager? Even if it was with his Father?
Weirdly enough the actual process of crossing the bridge wasn't novel to Rick because he was used to crossing a very similar, albeit much shorter bridge every morning
As they got closer top the edge and the walls, the children straightened their spines, fixed their hair and got ready.
The moment they got close enough to the city for them to glimpse the people at the top of the walls, the people saw them as well.
And in that moment, deafening cheers rose from the walls.
The Albrechts weren't very popular among the nobles, and part of that was that commoners just loved them.
They were practically Celebrities.