Soon enough, the flash of light started to gradually die down enough for the travelers to realize that they had been transported to the plaza of an extremely large area. Elric was no stranger to such places. When Victor brought them to the Sina Circle, the magic circle used to bring them there was the exact same as the one used just now.

There was a difference between this plaza and the one in Sina, however. Not only was this larger, a palace was off in the distance; this was presumably the imperial city.

To the left was the very heart of the Circle of Magi of Sovereign: an observatory that stretched up high into the skies. Coincidentally, this was also where Archmagister Naga presided.

To the right were a series of building complexes with pointed rooftops. Their architectural structures were very clearly a symbol of their closeness with the Gods, meaning that they were the center of the Church.

Perhaps the magical array caused some disturbance when it was activated, but Elric and his group could see a squadron of knights on warhorses come rushing towards the plaza.

Lined up on both sides of the streets as they marched forward in step with the other horse-mounted knights, the squadron looked spectacular as they moved. From this alone, Elric had a pretty strong inkling that these were the Royal Guard Jerry’s elder brother joined.

His guess was confirmed when the knights approached. Now that they were within eyeing distance, Elric could make out the crest stitched on the saddles of the armor of the horses and the shields of the knights.

The crest of the Sovereign Kingdom: the winged horse.

The squadron continued their forward march for a while before coming to a stop. Each knight dismounted from their horses and pulled out their swords in a single motion. Under the illumination of the rising sun, each sword gleamed in a resplendent golden light.

By the command of the two captains leading them, the knights started to give a uniform greeting as they requested for an audience.

When the ceremonial greetings ended, each knight returned their swords to their sheaths. When the last sword was sheathed, the captain on the left side of the squadron moved towards the princess and knelt on one knee to request an audience with the princess.

Due to their upbringing as normal civilians who knew not the common etiquette when it came to royalty, Elric and Jerry had to be dragged behind Kite who had already moved off to the side. Obediently, Belladonna did the same.

"Your Highness, your servant has arrived late. His Royal Majesty is currently officiating the courts, if it would please Your Highness to take a moment of respite, an audience awaits at His convenience." The captain bowed to the princess before moving back in line with the other knights.

Another five knights came forward with a horse ready for the travelers. Bending at the knee in front of the horses, they linked their arms together in front of their chests to offer themselves up as stepping stools.

Elric had no idea what to do here, so he watched the princess step towards one of the horses. With one leg on top of the knight’s arms, she grabbed hold of the horse’s saddle and was helped up onto the horse to mount it.

On another side, Kite sought out a horse as well. But rather than using the nearby knight’s arms as a foothold, he made for some sort of simplistic greeting to the knight, who nodded in return. Standing at attention, the knight watched as Kite swung himself up onto the horse.

Belladonna and Jerry gave each other an eye—unsure whether or not they should make use of the same insurance the princess had.

They did.

Being a grocer in his home village, Elric was very familiar with taking care of horses and was well-versed in equestrianism. Walking up to one of the offered horses, he imitated the same actions Kite did and lifted himself up onto the horse’s saddle rather than using the stirrup to mount it.

He was successful in mounting the horse, earning a nod of approval from the knight next to him.

Once Elric mounted his horse, the knights prepared to lead the travelers and princess. The knights encircled the group and started the slow march back towards the palace.

In due time, they crossed under the triumphal arch and through the palace gates. They were now at the very heart of the Sovereign Kingdom; the imperial palace was now in sight.

They dismounted in the outer courtyards of the palace and walked up the white-marble staircases. Situated at both sides of the palace front, two giant bronze horses could be seen. Forty-eight marble pillars held up the front of the palace with reliefs carved into every single one of them; many of them depicting the many glorious victories of the kingdom. At the roof of each pillar were several golden leafs to depict the nature of heaven on them, and at the twelve central pillars had the marks of the twelve major Gods they worshipped.

From within the palace came the sounds of discussion at a low, but deep level. Already did the knights retreat from here, resulting in the princess and the group being escorted by the palace maids into one of the side chambers of the palace.

They passed through a corridor with eight large windows along the way. With nothing but air in the windows, sunlight passed through them and splashed across the ground with a warm glow. Soon, the party entered a small room where several couches spanned across the walls with a fox-skinned serge and camel-fur cushion pads all around.

Travel-weary, Elric collapsed onto a nearby sofa. Comforted by the fox-skin and the camel-fur pads, Elric swore he never felt such bliss before.

“Wow… this is comfortable. The most comfortable I’ve ever felt, actually.”

“So this is what it feels like to be royalty.”

Based on the reactions of Jerry and Belladonna, Elric figured it was their first time receiving such reception before as well. Kite, on the other hand, came from higher stock and was seemingly used to it, judging how he simply sat upright on the sofas as if it were natural.

But for Elric, this was a sort of bliss he’d never experienced before.

Some time passed by before four maids entered the room. Each one pushed a silver cart with all sorts of refreshments served on platters and a silver pitcher with an unknown beverage in it.

Swiftly and gently, one of the maids pushed her serving cart right in front of Elric.

He had never seen such hospitality before.

“Do feel free to partake in anything you like.”

The princess smiled.

He wasn’t sure of how nice of a spread this was for royalty, but Elric had never seen such a beautiful arrangement. Coming from a small village, he definitely never even seen any of the delicacies being offered to him, let alone taste. Had he his own way, Elric would’ve opted to take everything, but that’d be rude. Looking back and forth from delicacy to delicacy, he finally decided to take the platter with a decadent-looking sponge cake.

Eagerly, he broke a piece off from it and took it into his mouth where it dissolved into a sugary mush for him to swallow.

Only when he finished off the sponge cake did a sapphire-blue-robed guardsman come striding into the room with an order from the king.

Everyone stood up at his arrival, though Elric felt reluctant to part with the sofa.