Chapter Twenty One
- Radiata Castle -
It wasn't really long since they had left Radiata, but here they were, standing in front of Radiata Castle. The large, red-bricked structure made all other establishments shrink in shame. They entered through Faucon Gate, where none of the guards could care less about who enters. After all, the Black Town of Night and Lust was full of bandits. If they entered via Echidna or Lupus, they would've faced a long argument with the guards regarding Jack's entry at the place. But Ridley knew that the guards would be different. Ridley would be accepted warmly and, as usual, Jack won't.
"Halt!" One of the guards (whom Ridley assumed was Joseph) raised his hand and held his palm up to them, voice imposing and deep. "Lady Ridley, orders from Lord Jasne that you must be taken back to him immediately as soon as one of the knights would see you have been given. Please come with Christopher. He will lead you to Lord Jasne's room." Joseph turned to Jack and frowned. "You, however, have been banished from Radiata. Why you are with Lady Ridley or why you are even in Radiata is none of our concern. He will escort you back to any Radiata Gate. If you attempt to escape, a search order will be granted and you will held under the knights' power. Leave now, or face danger."
Ridley frowned at Joseph's remark as Christopher tried to take her back to the castle. She firmly refused. "Jack is my company and I refuse to go if he won't go."
"But, Lady Ridley..."
"Otherwise, I will want to be exiled along with him."
"But..."
"I need him with me. We came here of our own accord. Mostly mine, since Jack just followed me."
"Lady Ridley, it is of strict orders that we must not let anyone, especially a banished boy, inside the castle."
"Very well." she huffed, and tugged Jack back to the direction of the steps that led away from the castle. "Come on, Jack."
"Wait." A deep, male voice called out from behind them, which was neither Joseph's nor Christopher's. Jack and Ridley turned around to Larks, his eyeglasses low and his hair well-kept. His hands were clasped together.
"Lord Larks!"
"Christopher, Joseph, please let them in. I will see to it that no trouble will be caused." The two knights on duty saluted the Prime Minister of Radiata as they let Ridley and Jack pass, with Joseph's teeth clenched tightly.
A/N: I understand how you people hate filler chapters because, frankly, I hate 'em too. But if you see fillers here, please bear with me. Plot advancement isn't really that simple... for me, at least.