Family Business 23 (Patreon)

Family Business
Chapter 23

-VB-

Noxian renewed invasion of Ionia filtered through the rumor mill, and I found myself once again being called up to meet with the king and the court in the Great City of Demacia.

To my surprise, the commoners quickly pulled out of my way as I rode through the streets with my banners flying above and behind me.

Perhaps this quick dodging they were involved in had to do with the fact that I had fifty black robed and armored Blackguard with me. Their intimidating appearance contrasted starkly with my gold and red attire, which only made me stand out even more among the commoners meandering in the main street.

To my surprise, Crown Prince Jarvan was there to greet me when I approached the Palace.

At the bottom of the steps, I got off of my horse and gestured for the majority of the Blackguard to go ahead and move to my capital mansion. They saluted me and then gave a deep bow atop their horses to Jarvan, who nodded back. Of the fifty, forty-five left on their own horses but five remained with me, who had their horses taken by the rest of the Blackguard as they left.

The six of us climbed the grand stairs leading up to the Palace and then once we were at the top and in front of the crown prince, got on our knees and bowed.

“Welcome back to the Great City of Demacia, Count Jorasmang-Crownguard,” the prince greeted me coolly. “I must apologize on behalf of my father; he finds himself with many questions but only you seem to be capable of answering most of them.”

“I serve my liege lord, and if answering questions before him fulfills that service, then it is something I will do every time I am summoned,” I replied without lifting my head up. He hadn’t given me permission to do so, and to do so without permission was … rude.

There was a moment of silence before he turned around and left. “Come. His Majesty requires your attendance as soon as possible.”

I stood up along with my five guards, and we moved into the keep.

I also noted how the crown prince didn’t even bother to tell me to rise, a way of telling me that he finds me revolting and that rising up would only make it worse as to rise up in this situation was to present myself fully.

It was an insult I bore without a twitch on my face.

It may have to do with the fact that I was still too happy from being a father to two children now: Emma, my firstborn daughter, born to Sona and Mara, my second born daughter, born to Luxanna. I ignored both the scornful and awed looks of the multitude of commoners, bureaucrats, and nobles as we walked through the grand hall of the Palace. All I could think about was how cute Emma and Mara were, and thinking about who would look more like who.

It actually took one of my guards jabbing me in the side to notify me that I was before the Throne Room.

The guards saw us and the crown prince, and then bowed.

As the gates opened, he announced us into the Throne Room…?

What?

“Presenting His Grace, Count Marris Jorasmang-Crownguard of the House of Jorasmang-Crownguard!”

Okay, this was a bit fancy.

As I entered the room, all except one of my guards stayed behind to line themselves along the walls as was custom for what was clearly a more formal courtly session.

Standing around the Throne Room were a multitude of people. Poor and rich commoners, dedicated and corrupt bureaucrats, plotting and apathetic nobles, and then the divided royals.

I knew that the crown prince was unhappy with me. He didn’t like me on a personal level, I think.

Sitting up on the dais on his throne was the king.

Was it me or did he have more grey hair?

I knelt down with my last guard at the foot of the dais.

“Count Jorasmang-Crownguard greets His Majesty and answers the summon of the Crown of Demacia.”

“Rise then, my dear count, and welcome back,” the king replied after only a moment’s pause - as was custom in this kind of setting to not appear too hasty or hesitant - and spoke warmly.

I rose up and smiled.

“How can this humble count be of service to you, Your Majesty?” I asked with a bright smile of my own.

The king leaned forward. Again, he kept his composure and his movement was very minimal. “I am in need of counsel. Noxus has once again attacked their neighbors to the east, and I find myself wondering if our rival has the means to conquer the Ionian Isles. You have received much refugees from those isles, so surely, you must know of the situation there.”

“I do, Your Majesty.”

“Then tell me, will Ionia fall to Noxus in this renewed invasion?”

“They will not, because Noxus has never fought the entirety of the Ionian Isles and they still lost.”

Murmurs picked up.

“Not all of Ionia? You speak as if Ionia is not a single nation like Demacia.”

“They have cultural and loose ties, but I would describe them as a confederation at best and confined and squabbling states at worst. Unlike our great Demacia and her allies, the lords of Ionian Isles are prone to backstabbing each other, but they only control a small amount of land. No, most of the lands are not ruled by any single authority but by the decentralized network of religious and cultural beliefs as well as magical and spiritual entities that freely roam the isles.”

The king seemed interested.

“So those who have fought the Noxians…?”

“Are nothing but rabble that gathered together.”

The king laughed. “Noxus was defeated by nothing but rabble? That is good to hear!”

The rest of the court laughed with him and I smiled.

“Some of it had to do with Noxus bombing its own forces, Your Majesty.”

Distaste, I could see it on everyone.

“Barbarians.”

“Indeed,” I agreed. “It is my belief that Noxus will continue to attack and fail against Ionia. However, if this current invasion is small, then I suspect that it may just be a diversion for their other projects.”

“Oh? You have spies?”

“I do not, but border movements aren’t that hard to spot. Merchants from the north have whispered Noxian interest in Freljord.”

And I could see all of the would-be chessmasters and actual strategists and tacticians quickly thinking over this information. Most of them looked like they had no idea Noxus was attacking those lands.

I didn’t either until just last week.

The king looked pensive.

“Thank you for your counsel, Count Jorasmang. I will keep in touch.”

I bowed and stepped out of the way for whomever was next in the courtly processions. I stayed because, well, I had an image of a humble count to upkeep, and leaving the court right after my business was done was not so humble.

Let the most boring part of the day begin.

One of the rich merchants knelt before the king. “Your Majesty, the new industries moving into the city is disrupting the flow of trade. I beseech you to support our loyal guilds and …”

It’s the same everywhere.

-VB-

A/N: I managed to get the chapter out. yay.