Steel, Explosives, and Spellcasters

The second group is the military.

Most of the military personnel are in uniform, grouped according to their affiliation, branch, or seniority. They scan the room with a frosty gaze, as if searching for some hidden threat.

The third group comprises diplomatic envoys.

The envoys represent the interests of various external entities to Paratu. They carry themselves with dignity, maintaining their practiced smiles and choosing their words with extreme caution.

The envoys had traveled great distances to Kingsfort, all to confirm outcomes and gather information. As a result, they listened more than they spoke.

Everyone had their own place in this banquet, except for one figure who seemed out of place.

He was in a military uniform but did not stay with his colleagues, nor did he converse with others.

Instead, he sat at the table, drinking one solemn drink after another.

Turanio—Vineta's highest diplomatic representative in Paratu—approached the man, his smile nearly freezing on his face, "Colonel Moritz, what on earth are you doing?!"

"What am I doing? Drinking," responded Moritz, as lean and handsome as ever. He poured and drank by himself, one drink after another, "Aren't we supposed to drink here? I'm reminiscing about a friend with the help of Paratu's alcohol. Alas, they're all gone."

"I really don't understand why they sent you to observe the battle."

Moritz suddenly laughed, "General Serviati sent me here to bring his son back, but what now? We can't even find a body. Yet here we are, drinking with the Paratu People. So Sekler won the battle, and that's that?"

[Note: Moritz only knew that Winters was Antonio's adopted son. Not just Moritz, most people believed that. ]

Turanio sighed, "I know about the boys, and I'm upset too. Things certainly won't end this way, but you don't understand."

He sat next to Moritz and poured himself a drink, "Sekler hasn't won entirely, and Alpad hasn't lost completely. The war between the Red Rose and the Blue Rose isn't over, we need to strategize to garner the greatest benefit for Vineta."

Colonel Moritz didn't respond, just tilted his head back and downed another drink.

Suddenly, a servant announced loudly from outside the door, "Imperial Envoy! Earl of Nassau has arrived!"

All eyes turned toward the hall entrance.

The gilded oak doors opened slowly, and a suave gentleman with an attendant entered the banquet hall.

The hosts of the banquet—the Parliament of Paratu—hurried to greet him, along with envoys from all directions.

Only the military personnel stood still, not moving an inch, watching coldly as the Earl of Nassau greeted everyone.

After a while, the banquet hall returned to its previous state, with groups of parliamentarians, military, and envoys engaging in idle chatter.

Yet the Earl of Nassau, holding a drink, approached the bleary-eyed Moritz inconspicuously.

"Good evening, Earl Van Nassau," the Earl of Nassau greeted warmly, "Or perhaps I should address you as, Major Nassau."

Moritz snorted lightly, barely glancing at him, "You need to update your files, it's Colonel now."

The Earl of Nassau, far from annoyed, inquired with even more warmth, "Good evening, Colonel Nassau."

"What does the Pretender Emperor want with you? Here to enjoy the spectacle?" Moritz asked sarcastically, "Seeing traitors slaughter each other is amusing, isn't it? An internal conflict in Paratu—nothing delights the Pretender Emperor more, does it?"

"Why do you say that? You think too poorly of us," the Earl of Nassau said with a playful smile, swirling his drink, "His Majesty simply sent me to safeguard his assets. After all, he is also one of Paratu's creditors."

…

Meanwhile, on the north bank of the Ashen Stream River, in a hollow between the hills.

Alpad stood atop a cliff, his roar thundering across the plains, "They say, I lost!"

"They want to come over and take everything we have!"

"Their troops are encamped just five miles away!"

"You tell me! Have I lost?"

A furious roar erupted from the hollow, shooting straight into the sky: "No!"

"Follow me!" Alpad buckled his helmet and charged out of the hollow, leading the charge.

Thousands of "Free Cavalry" followed close behind.