Louis's inauguration banquet finally began amid the bitter winds.
Nobles from across the Northern Frontier arrived one after another, studying the peculiar castle before them as they whispered among themselves.
Built only a few months ago, this "castle" was hardly attractive. In fact... it was rather ugly.
It was simply a cylinder, decorated with a few small carvings, and looked more like a military fortress hastily thrown together in the snow.
But the moment they entered the banquet hall, their impressions changed dramatically.
It was a spacious domed hall, its floor paved with polished red goldstone slabs. Flames danced in the fireplaces around the walls, casting a warm glow that kept the snowy night's chill outside.
More than a dozen handcrafted wrought-iron chandeliers hung from the ceiling. Magical powder had been mixed into their lamp oil, producing a gentle light that never hurt the eyes, like sunlight falling on snow.
A thick red-and-gold carpet stretched along the main aisle. Red banners of the Red Tide Fief and banners bearing the Calvin Family's crest hung on the walls, their colors restrained yet distinguished.
Most astonishing of all was the warmth inside. Outside, the wind cut like knives, yet the castle was as balmy as spring.
As the nobles removed their cloaks, they silently wondered, How did they manage this?
Standing among the guests, Joseph tilted his head to study the ceiling. He examined the design of several vents, then glanced toward the carpet's edges, trying to work out how the heat sources were arranged. But however he looked at it, ordinary stoves could never have achieved this.
Interesting. This young lord really spared no effort. An idea stirred in his mind, and an unreadable smile crept onto his lips. When I build my own castle, I'll have one like this.
Inside