Tales stared hard at the mounted knight, rapidly weighing the situation before him.
What was going on?
He had only just arrived in Emerald City and had not even set foot inside Empty Palace.
Was this city really that unwilling to welcome him?
Of course. The voice in his heart quietly reminded him: Don't forget why you came here.
Don't forget the ring in your pocket.
The people on both sides of the street stopped what they were doing. Intimidated by the might of the two forces, they did not dare approach, but they could not help whispering among themselves:
"Is that really the Prince? The North Star? The one who personally took up a sword at the banquet and hacked the place into a river of blood, smashing wine cups all over the floor?"
"Where did you hear that rumor? He only cut down one assassin at most!"
"Wow, look at that Prince. He's so huge, and his expression is like a zombie's. He really is one of the Barbarians from the north..."
"Of course. Otherwise, how could he have survived in a hellhole like Exeter, where people live on raw meat and hide in caves to eat human flesh every winter?"
"But I think you've got it wrong. That big guy may be a noble, but he doesn't seem to be the Prince. He's just a bodyguard..."
"Tsk, tsk. He actually needs someone that huge as a bodyguard? He must have done so many guilty things that he's afraid people will come after him. He really is one of the Barbarians from the north..."
"So the Green Hats mean the Prince is harboring a fugitive?"
"With power that reaches the heavens, of course he treats the law like nothing. This is only the tip of the Iceberg. Who