Reincarnated in the Villainous Lust System!

Chapter 85: Slight delay at the entrance

The chilly breeze nipped at my skin, as I walked through the city.

The city had begun to stir, its sounds echoing off the walls of the nearby building. Already people were beginning to throng out in groups of twos and threes. Mostly merchants and traders who carried their goods on their head.

How many of these people around me lost their wares to the beast attack yesterday? I thought as I watched them walk briskly past me.

Some of them made huge profits and to them the market was a blessing, a source of renewed hope while others barely scrapped by. They managed to stay afloat with whatever little gains they made from trading.

What then would those people do when they reach their stores and are reminded that their wares were trashed in the commotion the previous day?

I had to focus on what awaited me at the palace however so I didnt acknowledged them, I simply walked on in silence.

I was soon at the market.

The market was a riot of sights, sounds, and smells. Merchants, hawkers, and craftsmen crowded the narrow streets, their stalls bursting with goods and wares.

The air was alive with the cries of vendors, haggling with customers over the price of spices, fruits, and wares.

The market square was lined with stalls and tents. It was a hive of activity.

Women and children dressed in colorful clothes moved through the crowd. Their arms were filled with parcels and purchases.

In the center of the square, a group of performers had already gathered and were playing a sad tune. Later as the sun rose, they would play merrier music, filling the air with happy sounds.

There was the bad part of the market however. In the shadows of the stalls, beggars and pickpockets lurked. The pickpockets moved as normally as they could and to the average eye, they would seem like regular customers who were here to buy or sell. However as I watched them intently, I could see a furtive glance at a passerby's purse, or a crabby movement towards another person.

It was obvious they were trying to steal.

My hands instinctively went to my pockets and I kept them hovered around them as I walked through the market. Better safe than sorry.

Standing before the entrance to the palace, a colossal door stretched upwards, its ornate details reaching high into the sky.

Crafted from the finest hardwood, the door was inlaid with intricate carvings and gilded with gold leaf.

The door's handles, cast in the shape of a roaring lion, gleamed in the daylight, it's fierce countenance a warning to any who ventured in, reminding them of the power of the ruler that inhabited the building.

Flanking the entrance, two guards stood at attention, their armor gleaming in the morning light. Their faces, stoic and impassive, betrayed no hint of emotion as they stared at me with their hands resting on the pommels of their swords.

"Hi, I'm here to see the emperor". I said.

They exchanged looks and turned back to look at me with bland looks.

"I'm a mage". I said as an explanation.

Still they said nothing and their faces were impassive as they stared at me.

"Hello". I said and waved my hands in front of them.

"Move away or face the consequences". One of the guards said harshly.

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I stopped waving and frowned in confusion. Why were they being so hostile towards me?

Just then I heard a quiet voice behind me and I turned around quickly. I was familiar with the voice and the speaker turned out to be master Jared.

He was discussing animatedly with a young maid, giving her instructions on a task she was to complete for him.

It was a stroke of luck that he happened to be passing at the moment I was stuck outside.

"Master Jared!" I called and he looked back in surprise. He saw me waving at him and his face broke into a smile.

He walked up the stairs and was soon standing beside me.

"Why haven't you entered yet?" He asked with a frown.

"I tried to but they won't let me". I pointed to the two guards who to their own credits did not flinch.

Master Jared smiled again and rubbed his chin. "Ah yes. They're only doing their jobs".

He walked up to the door and I followed on his heels.

"Let us in". He said and the guards nodded before one of them pulled the door open.

They gave a slight bow towards master Jared as we entered and I wondered if it was customary to bow to masters or it was just a show of respect from them.

As I walked through the hallway, my footsteps echoed through the opulent space, my gaze taking in the splendor that surrounded him.

The walls, were carved from the finest marble and they gleamed with an almost celestial radiance, while the floors, laid with intricate mosaics, shimmered in the soft light of the chandeliers.

The air, heavy with the scent of rare incense, added to the ambiance of the space.

It felt as if he had been transported to another world, a place where riches and beauty were as commonplace as the clouds in the sky.

The beauty of the hallway was not limited to its architectural splendor, but extended to the art and treasures that adorned its walls and floors.

Gold-plated statues stood watch over the space, their gazes seemed to be fixed on me as I passed.

Huge paintings of historical battles and mythical creatures hung on the walls, their vivid colors and intricate details made me look at them twice.

With a gentle push, I opened the door to the throne room, its hinges creaking in protest as the latch gave way.

The room beyond, bathed in shadow, seemed to call to me, its darkness hiding secrets yet unknown.

I stepped inside, the floorboards groaning beneath my feet, and my breath caught in my throat as my eyes adjusted to the dim light.