"I am truly, truly, truly, terribly sorry, Your Highness Tales."
Carquerey, the chief alert officer of Emerald City and also the security commander for the Duke of Star Lake's excursion, followed closely at Tales's side, sweating profusely.
"Please understand. With the Queen's Day celebration fast approaching, the security and defense pressures in Emerald City have increased sharply. Yet after such an unexpected incident, we still bear unshirkable responsibility. I cannot express how sorry, ashamed, and embarrassed my colleagues and I are at this moment..."
At this very moment, dressed in casual civilian attire with his badges removed, Tales walked the bustling streets of the Queen's City, brushing shoulders with countless ordinary folk busy making a living. The members of the Star Lake Guard lurked in defensive formations all around, while the alert officers and guards of Emerald City trailed further behind, moving slowly with the entire procession, ready to respond to a call for support.
"You certainly should be ashamed!"
Wyatt walked at Tales's side, fuming:
"To think someone would actually brandish weapons in broad daylight and in full view of the public, charging the Prince's procession and even clamoring for a duel! This is entirely unacceptable from the perspective of both safety and influence. An event like this has never—cough—the last time something like this happened was, was..."
It was the last time.
Tales quietly completed the attendant officer's sentence while taking in the municipal sights and sounds of Emerald City with keen interest.
According to Carquerey, Emerald City had originally deployed personnel and cleared the streets to hold a "grand and flamboyant" entry welcome ceremony for the prince, meant to demonstrate the Cavendish family's emphasis and enthusiasm for the prince's southern tour—right up until that inexplicable farce a moment ago.
The young count's hotheaded stunt had exposed Tales's