The investiture ceremony proceeded swiftly.
A single remark from Louis-"Keep it simple"-was enough to cut away every cumbersome formality.
There was no poetry recitation by the Dragon Ancestor High Shepherd, no grand procession, and even the planned victory banquet was canceled outright.
Bradley frowned deeply. To him, this was a new milestone for Red Tide, one that deserved a lavish celebration.
But despite his displeasure, he offered only a few quiet words of persuasion before accepting it with a sigh.
Apart from Bradley, of course, there was not a single dissenting voice in Red Tide City. Civil officials, knights, and even the residents supported Louis's decision unconditionally.
As for the officials sent from the Imperial Capital?
Their eyes kept drifting toward Camille. As long as he remained silent, none of them dared object.
And the truth was that Camille had no courage left to resist.
Whatever Louis told them to do, he did, obediently and without protest.
Even the lack of a celebratory banquet drew no complaint from Camille. Instead, he secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
The sooner this ended, the sooner he could leave this suffocating city.
Early the morning after the ceremony, Camille took his leave.
His stated reason was that he still had to visit the Sixth Imperial Prince's residence to announce his rewards and his appointment as Northern Frontier Reconstruction Envoy.
Louis made no attempt to keep him. He merely smiled faintly and waved for him to be allowed through.
The carriage jolted along the snow-covered mountain road.
Camille leaned against the cushions, his cold sweat not yet entirely gone.
The scenes from this visit replayed in his mind again and again.
That severed head, those thunderous cries... all of it became a weight of fear that constricted his breathing.
But he had, after all,