Six Wings and Seven Attendants

Lorenburg was an obscure little place in the Western Wasteland, seemingly chosen with great care as a stopping point.

Gilbert had left early to handle matters with the Standing Army, while Tales exited the carriage amid the escort of the Royal Guard led by Marius and entered the crude castle before him, which was barely better than the huts in Shield District.

He encountered no local nobles coming to pay their respects. Only servants who shrank and lowered their heads in the distance tremblingly brought lamps, water, and food, after which the Royal Guard—who strictly kept the Prince apart from all other irrelevant people—delivered them to Tales.

Even the sentries outside the castle were handled by the Royal Guard's outer Standing Army.

When Tales instinctively smiled at a little maid who looked no older than eleven or twelve and hurried over with food balanced on her head, Marius's figure would appear at just the right moment, politely and gently yet unmistakably blocking his view.

That was until the little maid fled the hall, her face pale beneath the Royal Guard's fierce stares filling the room.

This left Tales feeling stifled.

But since he had only just arrived and was unfamiliar with the situation, Tales warned himself not to interfere with the Royal Guard's actions.

When Tales entered the simple, even somewhat crude fortress hall—one that served a primarily military purpose—and sat down beside the long table at Marius's gesture, that stifled feeling reached its peak.

"Same as usual. Take two people and test the food first." Marius stood beside the seated Tales without removing his armor or unfastening his sword, his calm, emotionless voice carrying through the hall:

"After half an hour, let the Duke eat."

"During that time, the rest of the Vanguard Wing will inspect the castle, the