Exiled Prince: I'm the Unexpected Extra in the Novel Chapter 100

As the sun stretched across the horizon like a strip of blood red, the silhouette of the Evershade Marquisate finally entered our field of vision.

Although the clouds had dispersed, the ground was still muddy and heavy from days of rain. Our black carriage approached the city’s massive walls, its wheels creaking with every turn.

Evershade was the settlement closest to the border of the Demon Empire.

Its walls were built of black granite blocks defying the sky, constructed for pure defense and durability rather than aesthetics.

At the entrance gate, a group of guards wearing armor embroidered with the "Storm Bird," the crest of the Marquisate, and waiting alertly with their hands on their spears, stopped the carriage.

The carriage stopped. The door opened, and Eric stepped down with heavy steps in his silver embroidered armor.

He stepped onto the rain soaked muddy ground and approached the commander of the guards with solemnity.

"Emissaries of Lord Fredrinn of Veythral," Eric said, his voice full and reassuring. He took a magic glowing parchment bearing the official seal of Veythral from his bosom and handed it to the commander.

"We have a prearranged meeting with Marquis Aldren Stormvale."

The guard commander examined the document carefully. When the seal on the document glowed with magic, proving its authenticity, the commander’s harsh expression gave way to respectful discipline.

"Your documents are valid, Sir Eric," said the commander, bowing slightly. He signaled to the soldiers behind him. "Open the gates! Escort our guests to the castle!"

The massive iron gates opened noisily. Accompanied by a group of mounted Evershade guards surrounding it, the carriage passed through the cobbled streets of the city and began to climb towards that magnificent and dark castle on the hill.

When they arrived at the castle, the atmosphere became even heavier. This place resembled a war headquarters more than a home.

The castle’s massive double winged entrance doors made of oak were thrown wide open. When we entered, the sight that greeted us screamed the discipline and power of the Evershade dynasty.

To the right and left of the wide entrance hall stood dozens of maids and butlers, lined up in perfect order with their heads bowed.

At the end of the red carpet laid on the floor of the room, on a platform raised by a few steps, the masters of Evershade were waiting for us.

Marquis Aldren Stormvale was a tall, broad shouldered, harsh man with graying black hair, bearing the deep marks of years and wars on his face.

Beside him stood his wife, Marchioness Calyra, elegant but with deep sorrow and fatigue readable on her face.

And right behind them, two elite knights wearing magnificent, enchanted armor from head to toe stood guard motionless, as if they were statues.

Eric stepped forward in the role of the group’s official representative. The metallic sound of his armor echoed in the hall.

He stopped when he came in front of the platform, placed his right hand over his heart, and bowed deeply from the waist, giving a flawless knightly salute.

"High Lord and Lady of Evershade," Eric said. "We are grateful that you have received us."

Following him, Rose in her noble blue dress also made an elegant curtsy. She bowed her head respectfully, greeting in a manner befitting a lady.

However... Cassian did not bow.

In his black suit, hands in his pockets, he looked straight into the Marquis’s eyes with an upright and unshakable stance.

Beside him, Cordelia also stood straight, imitating Cassian. Let alone saluting, she was scanning the hall, the servants, and those shiny armors behind the Marquis curiously and recklessly with her blue eyes, like a child examining a toy store.

The air inside the hall suddenly turned ice cold. The servants could be heard holding their breath.

Without breaking her slightly bowed posture, Rose turned her head slightly towards Cassian right behind her and hissed through her teeth: "Bow, you idiot! What are you doing? Are you going to get us killed in the first minute?"

Marquis Aldren dismissed Eric and Rose’s greeting with a slight nod.

His eyes locked onto the black haired young man and the strange girl beside him who disregarded this noble greeting ritual.

There was a disdainful but controlled expression in his gaze, seeing them as insects.

After all, in his eyes, these were ordinary mercenaries without noble blood, risking their lives for a few gold coins.

"In Veythral," said the Marquis, his voice a deep and authoritative bass echoing in the hall. "Were you not taught what respect and discipline are, young man? Or does Lord Fredrinn lack instructors to teach etiquette?"

Cassian showed not the slightest retreat under this crushing pressure from the Marquis. There was neither fear nor arrogance on his face; only absolute serenity.

"Please do not let my action appear as personal disrespect to you, Marquis Aldren," Cassian said, his voice calm and smooth. "It is just that in line with my faith... I must not bow to anyone, even if it were a king."

One of the Marquis’s eyebrows raised. "Faith?"

"Yes," said Cassian, without averting his eyes. "Because of the burden I carry and the principles I serve. If I bow my head, that burden will topple."

The Marquis’s eyes narrowed. This was an insolent answer, but also intriguing.

There was a strange aura in this young man that was not found in an ordinary adventurer.

Moreover, he needed these men. His son Caius was getting closer to death with each passing day.

These were the only people claiming they could cure his son, whom everyone in the Empire had turned their backs on and called "cursed". He had to swallow his pride for his son’s life.

"Very well," said the Marquis in a cold tone. "I hope this ’faith’ of yours is strong enough to back up your arrogance."

He raised his hand slightly. "You are weary from the road. Before we talk business, join our table as our guests."

The dining hall was magnificent like the rest of the castle. The long, rectangular table was adorned with silver candelabras and the finest porcelain.

The massive chandelier hanging from the ceiling illuminated the room with a yellow light. Oil paintings depicting the past victories of the Stormvale dynasty hung on the walls.

Marquis Aldren sat at the head of the table, and his wife beside him. Cassian, Cordelia, Eric, and Rose were placed on his left side.

Until the food arrived, a tense silence prevailed at the table, created only by the possibility of silver cutlery touching porcelain. No one dared to speak.

Shortly after, servants entered with steaming trays in their hands. A luxurious soup made with rich meat broths, flavored with exotic spices, showing the wealth of the Marquisate, was placed before them.

Everyone reached for their spoons politely, in accordance with noble etiquette. However...

Cordelia had never seen such a table in her life. She looked at the bowl in front of her and the fragrant liquid inside. The cutlery seemed like alien tools to her.

"Hey, Cassian!" she shouted, cutting the silence like a knife. "This food smells extremely delicious!"

And without hesitation, she grabbed the bowl with both hands, tilted it to her head, and began to drink it in one breath, slurping loudly. Some of the soup trickled down her chin.

"Slurp... gulp gulp... Ahhh!"

Cassian wanted to bring his hand to his forehead and cover his face, but then decided against it and sighed slightly. "Cordelia..." he whispered, but the girl did not even hear him.

On the opposite side of the table, Rose had turned crimson with embarrassment and covered her face with her hands. Eric looked at the Marquis as if wishing the ground would swallow him up. "Your Highness... Please excuse her. She... she is a bit... natural. She grew up far from civilization."

The Marquis’s eyebrow twitched, he was holding his fork tightly. However, Marchioness Calyra showed unexpected kindness. A soft, sad smile appeared on her face.

"It is no trouble, Sir Eric," she said gently. "In fact... it made me happy to see someone eating with such appetite in our castle after a long time."

These words softened the atmosphere a little. But Cordelia did not even care. After finishing her own bowl, she set her eyes on the piece of meat on Cassian’s plate that he had not yet touched.

Instead of using a fork, she took a piece of meat with her hand and extended it towards Cassian’s mouth. "You eat too, Cassian! It is very good, look!"

Under the astonished gazes of the Marquis, Cassian helplessly opened his mouth and ate the meat. "Okay, Cordelia. I can eat myself. Please attend to your own plate."

The meal ended in this strange and tense atmosphere. Plates were cleared and desserts were served.

Marquis Aldren was now bored with this "noble" game. His patience had run out. He slammed the goblet in his hand onto the table.

"Esteemed guests," he said, his voice no longer polite, but business like. "Excuse me but... now that our bellies are full, how about we talk about the real purpose of your visit?"