City of Desire [Kingdom Building]

"You look," I said.

I wanted to say beautiful, but it felt inadequate to describe her right now.

She is wearing a beautiful white gown with a short rail, with a red brooch on her chest.

A tiara would have completed her, but there are complications with that. So, they used gemmed clips, and they looked, really beautiful.

"Ready?" I asked, raising my hand. "Yes," she said after a faint hesitation.

She had declined earlier; I would have loved it. If she had been with me, when I was addressing the citizens earlier, but I also understand her worries and hesitation.

Click!

I took her hand and kissed her gently, before walking out of my office with her.

Soon we reached the hall. Covered in the dense mist, where people could only see the silhouette of each other.

Last time, we had made a grand entrance through the shimmering staircase, but this time, we were straight walking inside.

Though none of them were able to see us.

I had not only made the mist denser, but I had also cloaked our presence and used a couple of spells. Only a powerful people like the Lord of Olwpring could sense us.

I could see his eyes following us.

There are a few more people like that and some surprised me. I noted them.

Soon, we reached the place, and I looked at Carla before facing people.

I have sent invites to thousands of people. It might not look like it, but there are ten thousand people here across the three floors of velvet blue.

All of them are important people. Not only from empire and merchant states, but also from other countries like Ataren, Nezdar, Tezir, and others.

I have also invited the people from Navr, Tabes Edruin, Geim, and the city of Gailhorn.

These people are empire enemies, but I had invited them. There are many reasons, but the foremost are the trade and diplomacy.

The Greltheaven is a small city, but the legacy has been brought on the map of everyone. Because of that, it becomes important that I establish relations with them.

These relations foster trade, which we need.

It had made many people unhappy. Imperials and nobles from the empire to be specific. As these are the people, that are attacking them, and I had invited them here.

Clap!

I looked at them for several seconds before clapping. The clap released the shockwaves that pushed the dense mist out in a beautiful wave.

Revealing us to all.

With my projection appearing on every floor of the legacy.

I had hired the special mages for that and like all people with special skills and spells; they are expensive, but I could afford them.

They are worth it, especially when we can copy their spells.

"Thank you for joining me on a wonderful occasion," I said, looking at all the people.

"It is my honor, that you all accepted my invitation and come to my legacy to celebrate its ascendence,"

"It g…."

I spoke, looking at the faces of each of them through my eyes and skills with my voice spreading through all floors of the legacy.

I could see people on every floor looking at the projection as I spoke through it.

The speed continued for nearly seven minutes when a glass of golden liquid appeared in my hand.

"To velvet garden!" I said, raising it. "To velvet garden!" they repeated, before taking the sip from the wine.

"There is one thing," I added, and Josie and Heron appeared beside me.

I also activated a few charms. The next announcement will ring through the entire city.

"The heart of his Majesties is magnanimous. They have recognized my siblings as part of my house and granted them the lordship,"

"They are from today, Lord Heron Raak and Lady Josephine Raak." I introduced them.

There was a surprise among the crowd, but they bowed.

I had asked for the 'lordship' for my siblings before, but both of the imperials had refused. I could have gotten them from other princes, but it wouldn't have that weight.

Now, I have got it from both princes. It was not free, but I don't mind paying.

It will give them a leg up when they receive their classes. Especially Heron. He is thirteen and in two years, he will gain the class.

It will help him a lot. If he gained the Lord Class.

It is important for Josie too; she is my heir. If something happened to me; the title will make it easier for Josie to take over.

Hun!

I was about to move and mingle with the crowd. When a man stepped forward.

Stopping a few meters in front of me.

The guards moved immediately, but he used the skill that stopped them.

Immediately, every eye fell on the man. Including mine.

The man looked to be in the early forties. Human, with some orcish blood in his ancestry. Though, it isn't noticeable unless one looks at him clearly.

He is tall with brown hair and an average face, that one would forget a moment later after seeing it.

"Vris'alud congratulates you on the ascendence of your legacy, Lord Silver," He congratulated, while shock and surprise spread through the hall.

I was surprised too, but quickly controlled my emotions and assessed the situation.

The guards who were frozen, for a fraction of a second, moved as Caena broke the skills on them.

They had reached him when I raised my hand. They stopped and took a few steps back, but didn't move away from him.

"Thank you, diplomat?" I replied with a question.

"Regis Tamas," he supplied.

"Diplomat Tamas, thank you, and you don't have to come sneakily. If your masters have asked, we have allowed you into the city."

"The city of Greltheaven will always welcome the diplomats, no matter the relations," I said to the man.

A faint surprise flashed in his eyes. It disappeared, just as it came.

If I want, I could have him captured and killed or tortured for all the information he has, but I have no interest in doing that.

It will not serve any purpose, while there is some hope, with the dialogue.

"My apologies for that," he apologized.

"Enjoy the party, Diplomat Tamas," I said and walked away. I didn't give him more time.

He made an impression, but I think I handled it well. Doing what he expected would have played into their hands. I don't want that.

It also allowed me to send the message to the undead and others.

While I walked toward the guests, I messaged the guards to keep an eye on his every movement.

Never let him away from their eyes, even for a second.

I also sent a message telepathically to inform him that he would get safe passage out of the city as long as he didn't break any laws or do something harmful.

Soon, I reached the most important guest. The lord of Olwspring.

"Lord Verulus, Miss Tylcharis," I greeted the man and his pregnant mistress.

It's not visible yet, but she is also hiding it through powerful methods, including witchcraft. This isn't surprising; the rulers may ban the witches but also use them secretly.

"Lord Silver, Miss Carla," replied the woman.

"Quite merciful of you, Lord Silver, to spare him."

"If I had been in your place. I don't think, I would have spared his life, much less let him enjoy the party," said Lord of Owlspring.

Looking intensely into my eyes, wanting to read what I was thinking.

"I wanted to do the same, my lord, but it wouldn't have served any purpose," I replied, sighing.

"And diplomacy would?" he asked. "Likely not, but I could hope," I replied truthfully.

I do not have much hope for diplomacy, but it is still more than nothing. Every time, I fought with the undead, I lost a lot of people.

I understand that no amount of diplomacy will be able to stop the undead, but it could help us gain some insight about them.

I am really interested in knowing why they attacked the region. There must be an important reason, or they wouldn't have done it.

I had asked the merchants, but they said they didn't know. They might truly not know or not just tell me.

I talked to him for two minutes more and moved to the other guests.

There are over ten thousand guests in here and I have to meet and greet important ones at least. Thankfully, I know where each of them is.

The absolute control of the legacy is helping me move smoothly without people stopping me.

It also helps that Madams are here. Our least experienced madams are holding the floors below, while the known faces are handling the guests.

Each of them has a list of people they have greeted.

Not just madams, but everyone important. Me, Robin, Hardt, Valentina, Arryn, and others.

All the important officials are busy greeting the people and talking with them.

It is one of the reasons why, many wanted a shorten the invitation list, along with the accommodation nightmare and expense.

Still, I went on with a big list. The more people experience the legacy, the more will help us. Each of the people is important or they know someone important enough to get the invitation.

Speaking of which, I had asked my people to find out how Tamas got the invitation.

I met one important person after another. Lord of Inam, Salazar's daughter, other nobles, and powerful people.

"Lord Silver, Miss Salt," greeted the middle-aged man. 

"Thank you for coming personally, Mr. Havel," I greeted the middle-aged man.

He is not as important as the other people, I greeted. Not as important as the representative that his house had sent, but I still kept him on my list.

He is Jasper Havel; the owner of a liquor store in Jalrux, Navr. The first merchant from Navr, that did business with us.

We still order some of our liquor from him.

Two months ago, I had not invited a single person from Navr, but this time, over three hundred invitations were sent there.

I need the trade, and Navr is a powerhouse.

Till now, they haven't done anything other than use some scare tactics.

Speaking of it, I moved toward the most pitiful person. Who is glaring at the pair, Baron from Nakar baronies passing by him.

"Commander Shaw, I hope you are having a good time?" I asked the man.

After suffering defeat. He had been silent.

He is increasing his army, but not at a pace to become a threat to us. According to our intelligence, which is pretty accurate. He has an army of around fifty thousand.

It had reached below thirty- five thousand after the battle in Nakar forest, but he recovered and increased it.

A year ago, that army would have posed a threat to us or Nakar baronies, but now, it does not.

Mirador Hold is raking money through the trade that passes between his fortress, and it is huge, but he has an army of fifty thousand, which isn't cheap to manage.

He has a fortress, but he has no cities from which he could revenue or recruit force.

He tried to rectify that by attacking the Nakar baronies, but failed miserably.

He then tried to set villages and towns in green spots, but that did not work too well. Most of the people living there are the families of soldiers.

Quite a lot of their families are living in the city. He forbade that first, before dropping the opposition, seeing it was affecting his men.

It all made him seem quite pitiful, because if he didn't do something soon, within a year or two. The nakar baronies will eat him alive.

They want the fortress, not because of its defensiveness, but because of trade.

If they got it, they would have complete control over that trade route.

Which, of course, I will not let that happen. The baronies have huge potential, and they could become a real threat to me with a fortress in their hand.

"I am fantastic," he replied with a smile. Though it didn't reach his eyes.

The man didn't like me, and I don't like him either, but there is business to be done. There is a reason he personally came. If we succeed, it will benefit us both.

"I hope, you liked my gift," I said and a smile on his face became genuine.

I had sent a little something he wanted. He had been bugging me for the past few months. It was a gift after we agreed on the revised contract.

"Yes, I appreciate it," he replied, and I smiled.

"Please enjoy the party, Commander," I said to the man and walked away to meet the other people.

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