gnovel #634 - Health always wins!
#634 - Health always wins!
After Hilvus, Catherine, and others schemed with their own agendas, October 17th passed quickly, and the numerous county heads, having agreed on budget spending, began to pack their luggage, preparing to leave.
On the evening of October 17th, cardinals from the Hall of Truth to the Hall of Judgment, partners and bankers from all levels of the Megdi Merchant Guild, as well as nobles and knights, gathered to celebrate the successful conclusion of the first fiscal conference.
Although there were some minor incidents, overall, it was acceptable.
As for the banquet, it was naturally outstanding. Although there were no extravagant dishes vying for attention like in the old days, they were quite generous with various sweets and spices.
Although using spices to fry pork seemed like a waste, it had to be said that the chefs of the Holy See seemed to be quite skilled in frying and stir-frying.
The ingredients might not have been better than those of the Duke's family, but the novel and intense flavors were similar.
After all, with the Copper Bastion cleared, the traffic of Black Serpent Bay was connected to Langsand County. In the past six months, the two sides had begun tentative trade exchanges.
Due to the preferential policies of the Holy Axis, the Papal Palace could exchange a large quantity of pepper, chili, cinnamon, sesame, and cloves through unified sales and purchases.
After all, flour and rice cakes were hard currency in Black Serpent Bay. Previously, the border was blocked and could only rely on smuggling, but now that smuggling was allowed, the transportation capacity and turnover speed had increased rapidly.
In fact, Melia's other major task in coming to the Holy See was to connect with her mother.
At the same time, she brought Horn news about the Order of the Scales, but the price was that Horn had to take her to see the new witch.
The moon was high in the sky, and the lights behind the cold glass were blurry. A series of halos and circles stuck to the not-so-pure windows, making it difficult to see inside through the mist.
The high-ranking officials of the Principality of Thousand River Valley, wearing military uniforms and formal attire, regardless of how opposed they were before, were now toasting and drinking with their own agendas, introducing each other.
After all, many people were stationed and fighting abroad during the constitutional period, and the positions of county heads at all levels were not yet determined, so they had no way to get to know each other.
Inside the warm hall, the fireplace was burning brightly, and milky white wax tears dripped down the silver candlesticks, onto the mahogany long table covered with silk tablecloths.
Around the long table were middle and high-ranking officials coming and going, carrying trays and wine glasses.
Lannes, wearing a black feather-woven jacket, held a glass of cider and bowed to Melia in front of him: "Your aura today doesn't resemble your grandfather (Grand Duke Herma Stone) at all, but rather your great-grandfather (King Norn)."
"You little rascal, you haven't learned anything else, but you're getting better and better at flattering, hahaha." Laughing heartily and even roughly, Melia, dressed in a fitted and gorgeous men's riding suit, slapped Lannes on the back forcefully.
"Cough cough cough, I'm just, cough, telling the truth." Lannes said, his face turning purple.
Melia tilted her wine glass towards Lannes in front of her and introduced: "Your Majesty, this is my cavalry captain, Lannes."
"Ah, truly a man of talent." Horn reached out and shook his hand.
Lannes was about to be polite when he heard a crisp tinkling sound.
Everyone turned to look and saw Metternich, dressed in a combed woolen robe, standing on a chair and tapping his wine glass with a spoon: "Everyone, we are gathered here today like a big family.
But a year ago, we were still like a pack of stray dogs, chased around by the Thousand River Valley Church and Prince Condé. How could we have such a comfortable day today?
Thanks to the Despot Lord and His Holiness the Grand Patriarch, we can gather here today. Therefore, I propose that everyone stand up and wish the two protectors of the people, health and eternal victory!"
Metternich took the lead in raising a glass of cider and toasting Horn and Melia on the main seat.
Everyone was equally happy and stood up, raising their glasses high.
"Loyalty!"
"Piety!"
"Well, I'm happiest today." Horn raised his glass to everyone in the hall.
............
While the others in the hall were still drinking and chatting, Horn, Catherine, Melia, and others left the hall one after another, using the excuse of being drunk or unwell.
When Catherine finally boarded the black luxury carriage, they slowly headed towards the Mechanical Palace.
The dark street scenes flowed past the car window, Horn and Melia talked knee to knee, while Catherine took a small mirror to touch up her makeup by the moonlight and lamplight.
"When does that ceremony start? Are we going to miss it?" Melia placed her iron fist on her knee, sitting in a large and imposing manner.
"Jeanne went ahead of time." Horn glanced at the clock tower, "It's only nine thirty now, there's still an hour, we'll definitely make it in time."
"That's good." Melia leaned her head on the carriage, and began to close her eyes and rest.
Horn glanced at her iron fist for a long time before asking: "That Ms. Sylph, is very good at making delicate mechanical gear creations, maybe she can help you make an iron hand?"
"No need." Melia looked down at her hand, "A fist clenched together has power."
"Since you can make an iron hand, why an iron fist? That hand will grip according to your elbow and wrist movements. I think with the extraordinary martial arts control over muscles, controlling each finger is not a problem."
"You can make it, I can take it back to collect." Melia didn't want to argue about this matter, and just answered casually.
Under the guidance of the Holy Musket Cavalry, the carriage quickly passed through the central street and the small bridge over the Para River, and drove all the way to the front of the Mechanical Palace.
When getting out of the carriage, Horn turned to Melia and explained: "Sorry, it's not that she's rude, like you, she's also troubled by the witch's mental illness, unable to leave this palace, and unable to make expressions."
"I know." Melia's eyes revealed a few complicated pity.
Most witches who have been around for a long time have various mental illnesses, but some are mild and some are severe.
Like her, who desperately used magic to identify heart voices and loyalists when she ascended the throne at a young age, caused almost irreversible damage to her spirit.
Her sister existed before she became the Duchess, but before, she only occasionally spoke in her mind, and then slowly began to take over the body's control.
When she arrived at Highfort, she was even directly taken over by her sister in her sleep.
Until now, she occasionally has a moment when she cannot tell who is in control of the body.
In this regard, Melia is quite envious of Jeanne. She is the youngest, and her initial use of magic was very restrained, and she has not shown any signs of mental illness so far.
Passing through the palace entrance's walls and checkpoints, amidst a row of soldiers' chest-thumping salutes, Sylph sat in a wheelchair, opened the door in advance, and elegantly and gently placed her hands on her lap.
Pushing the wheelchair was Jeanne, whose mouth was unconsciously turned down behind her.
"Hello, two distinguished ladies." Sylph took the lead in giving an ancient Elvish etiquette, "You both look radiant."
"You're flattering me, I'm Catherine." Catherine took the lead in reaching out and shaking Sylph's hand, "You look like you've walked straight out of an ancient Elvish mural."
Sylph immediately responded with a rather formulaic haha sound. She really said the word 'ha' three times in a row.
Only then did Melia react from her daze. She glanced at Sylph's ears and tail, and also reached out and shook her hand, her expression inexplicably serious: "I'm very glad to see you here today, Ms. Sylph."