Two days later.
Maximus entered entering the grand hall of the imperial palace.
He noticed the room was massive, with high ceilings adorned with intricate gold and silver designs.𝑜𝑽xt.𝗈𝑚
The walls were covered in rich tapestries depicting battles and victories of the empire.
Walking through the hall with nobles and dignitaries, each dressed in their finest attire.
Some were engaged in conversations, while others were enjoying the sumptuous food and wine.
Suddenly, a trumpet blared, and everyone fell silent. A herald stepped forward and announced, “Presenting His Excellency, Count Maximus of House Shadowcrest.”
Maximus strode forward, feeling everyone’s attention on him.
He kept his head held high and his back straight, showing his pride and confidence.
Maximus scanned the crowd and noticed his father’s friends.
As he approached them, he could feel their eyes on him, scrutinizing and judging him.
He walked towards them as they offered their condolences.
One of his father’s old friends, Lord Marcus, stepped forward and said, “Maximus, I am sorry for your loss. Your father was a great man, and he was merely unlucky to be missed by the cult. If there’s anything we can do to help you in this difficult time, please don’t hesitate to ask.”
Maximus nodded solemnly, grateful for the kind words. “Thank you, Lord Marcus. I appreciate your support.”
Another one of his father’s friends, Lady Diana, came forward and placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. “Your father was a friend to all of us, and we mourn his passing. If you ever need someone to help, please know that we are here for you.”
Maximus forced a small smile, touched by their words. “Thank you, Lady Diana. It relieves me to know that my father has such good friends.”
Maximus sat beside Lady Diana on his left and Lord Marcus on his right, taking a deep breath to steady himself for the opportunity that they presented.
“Lord Marcus, Lady Diana, I do need your assistance. Recently created a new wine that I believe would be a valuable addition to your estate’s collection.”
Lord Marcus stroked his beard thoughtfully. “And what makes your wine so special, Maximus?”
Maximus smiled, discreetly pulling a bottle from his bag of holdings. “It’s made from a rare grape that I have cultivated myself, with a unique blend of herbs and spices. It has a rich, full-bodied flavor that I believe will appeal to your discerning taste.” Especially since it was made with the barrel of infusion he secretly thought.
[The Barrel of Infusion – A large barrel with a pocket of space that can infuse and blend the wine with magical energy. Price 100]
Lady Diana leaned forward hoping the bottle of wine as she smell it, her eyes sparkling with interest. “I must say, Maximus you had a knack for creating exceptional wines. If every wine is this quality, I have no doubt it will be a success.”
Maximus nodded eagerly. “Thank you, Lady Diana. I have poured my heart and soul into this wine, and I believe it has the potential to become one of the finest in the land.”
Lord Marcus raised a skeptical eyebrow. “And what, pray to tell, what is the cost of this fine wine?”
Maximus hesitated for a moment, then fixed the Lord with a steely gaze. ” I understand your concern, this fine wine will only cost 10 gold coins a bottle. I will have my men deliver it through your door if you bought some. I guarantee you will not be disappointed.”
There was a tense silence in the room for a moment, as Lord Marcus considered Maximus’s offer. Finally, he nodded slowly. “Very well, Maximus. I am willing to take a chance on your wine. Let us discuss the details after the banquet.”
Maximus grinned, relief flooding through him.
He knew he had recently thought of what to export for a while and decide to export wine, as it doesn’t cost much and are luxurious item for the noble.
With the support of Lady Diana and Lord Marcus, he was sure that his wine would become a legend in time.
The banquet continued, and Maximus found himself engaged in various conversations with different people.
He learned about various things happening around the empire when he was living in seclusion. He also met new acquaintances.
The air was filled with the aroma of delicious food and the sound of music played by the court musicians.
Some other nobles invited other ladies to dance whenever they saw someone they liked.
He also looked around to see if there were potential wives, but to his disappointment, most noble ladies here had a somewhat chaotic life which lowered their overall appeal.
Suddenly, the doors at the end of the hall opened, and the Old King himself made his grand entrance.
Everyone immediately rose from their seats and bowed deeply as he passed by.
Once the King had taken his seat, he stood up to address the assembly. “My dear subjects and esteemed nobles, I welcome you to this banquet in honor of your loyalty and service to the empire.”
The King addressed the assembly, drawing their attention to the pressing matter at hand. “As many of you are well aware, our empire is in dire need of magic crystals, which are the primary material for most magical items and the most valuable resource for magicians.”
He then informed them that a small magic crystal mine had recently been discovered nearby the kingdom, and despite being within their territory, the neighboring kingdom had refused to relinquish it.
The kingdom sent a negotiator and it had been proven unsuccessful, leaving them with the difficult choice of either accepting the neighboring kingdom’s terms or using force to obtain the mine.
The King then hesitated before delivering some troubling news. “Moreover, our scouts have reported that the neighboring kingdom has been amassing troops on our border and making aggressive moves towards our territory.”
He then turned to face the nobles gathered before him. “I implore you, my trusted advisors and courageous warriors, to assist us in this crisis. Your devotion to the kingdom will be highly appreciated and rewarded.”
He paused for a moment before continuing, “I understand that this conflict may be risky, but I assure you that the rewards will be worth it. For those who participate in the war effort, I offer generous grants of land, titles, and magic crystals. Your bravery and loyalty will not go unrecognized.”
As Maximus sat silently among the nobles, his mind raced with thoughts of the potential dangers that came with joining a war.
He was determined to keep himself and his family safe, so he refrained from expressing his opinions and attracting attention.
Meanwhile, other nobles with lower ranks were eager to join the army and take advantage of the promised rewards.
While some of the nobles listened carefully to the King’s speech, others were already busy strategizing and calculating the size of their armies.
Eventually, the King concluded his address, and the banquet resumed, but the tense atmosphere lingered among the guests as they grappled with the possibility of war.
Maximus quietly slipped out of the banquet hall, his promise to Lord Marcus was already behind his mind.
Intending to just sent an escort and letter for the negotiation.
Without saying goodbye to anyone, he made his way to his private chambers and hastily gathered his belongings.
Accompanied by his escort guards.
As they made their way back to his territory, the group rode in silence, the only sound coming from the horses’ hooves and the rustling of the wind.
Maximus had always been a peaceful man. Despite his strength, he never felt a strong inclination toward warfare.
He had already planned that he would only marry wives and gave birth to children and not participate in any conflict until he was somewhat invincible in an area.
Ultimately, he decided to stay neutral and avoid getting involved in the war. But focused on maintaining the stability and prosperity of his lands, using his system to get what he needed.
Though some criticized him for not taking up arms and being cowardly, he knew in his heart that he didn’t need unnecessary danger to become strong.