Sabatsday, 1st of Septimus, 470th Year of the Fifth Era

Josias had spent the majority of the ride to the mansion conversing with Sir Roderick von Grünsfeld. Sir Roderick was the son of Sir Robert and the Captain of Count Rappmeister's personal household knight retinue. He was a jovial if somewhat brash man, but regardless, he was a seasoned fourth star aura warrior.

Sir Roderick had asked if it was true that Josias was already a fourth star warrior as well. Josias summoned a bit of his flaming aura to cover his hand. And with that, the blonde knight was convinced. More than that, he excitedly asked whether Josias wanted to go for a spar.

It was an interesting offer, but Josias had to decline it for a later date. He was unsure what his wife's uncle would say were he to immediately get into fights after just arriving.

Josias was well impressed by the grand opulence of the mansion. Though it didn't hold up to the Imperial palace he had seen earlier, it completely blew away any building he had been in the Halaklands. Maybe the church at Hutangali was still better, but that was due to the naturally beautiful landscape of the northern Halaklands.

Arriving in front of the mansion, Josias could already see a man and woman in front of its doors. He was almost the spitting image of the archbishop if not for the white hair and glasses. But besides the silver hair colour, he looked far stronger. His cheeks were filled, his chest was broad, and he still looked quite muscled.

He had to be the Lord Count Lorenz. But it still made almost no sense to him. Josias' father-in-law was himself older than Josias' late grandfather. If the Count were to be the archbishop's older brother, he would have to be at least in his mid-sixties. If not for his silver hair, Josias wouldn't be amiss to say he looked no older than fifty.

Josias got off his tiger as the carriage also stopped in front of the mansion. Sir Robert had exited the coach first before he helped the other ladies off. Josias had asked permission from the stewards to personally help his wife off the carriage.

Josias held Serena's hand as they both walked up to the Count and his wife. Before they spoke, Sir Robert had first made the announcement of their arrival. The steward had asked Josias for his full title. Since he didn't know what he would be called in western terms, he told the steward to do as he saw fit.

"By the grace of God Almighty, His Highness, Josias of House Sigumogo, Prince of the Halaklands and Lord of Goria." Sir Robert announced "And alongside him, his most beloved wife, the Princess Serena Uli Rappmeister-Rapmasari, Lady of the Rapmasari Clan, daughter of The Most Reverend Archbishop of Goria and the Halaklands."

Those were some grand and lofty titles. Josias raised an eyebrow as he looked at his wife who had quite the satisfied look on her face. He shook his head as he realised it was all obviously Serena's doing.

After they were introduced, Josias and Serena walked up in front of the Count as they bowed, according to Sir Robert's instructions. Count Lorenz and his wife bowed back towards them. The old count then spoke up.

"I am Lorenz Josef von Rappmeister, by the grace of His Majesty, 1st Count of Reicherton-by-the-Marshes." The count's bespectacled eyes met with Josias' before they focused on Serena. For a second, his eyes wavered seeing her "And… I welcome His Highness and all his retainers into my humble abode."

The count just stood there after, eyes still focused on Serena. Josias didn't know what to do now as he looked to Sir Robert, but the steward merely smiled. It was then that the Countess elbowed her husband. The old count looked like he snapped out of a lull as he cleared his throat.

"Ahem. Also allow me to introduce my beloved wife." The count said as his wife – a woman who looked to be in her forties or fifties, yet unlike her husband, she showed no signs of greying hair – gave a curtsy before introducing herself.

"I am Lady Catherine de Lamellarouge, daughter of Richard Ironfist, the Last Emperor." The Lady said as she gave Josias and his wife a meaningful smile. The lady had also gestured out her hand towards them but she quickly retracted it, as if she remembered something.

Josias wasn't stupid. Just from her stated identity, Josias knew his wife's aunt was no ordinary person. From what he knew of Feldonian history from Captain Farnaby, Richard Ironfist was indeed the last monarch of Feldonia to call himself Emperor.

Her surname too was indicative of her membership of the country's ruling dynasty. Which meant she was related to the king of this powerful country. Josias had to be careful, but this could also be used as an opportunity.

Josias walked up to the Lady and performed the 'salim' gesture upon the right hand that she had retracted. He brought his head low as he placed the back of her hand to his forehead.

"I greet the noble Imperial Princess." Josias said before he looked to his wife and gestured for her to do the same. He also saw that the countess had a surprised look on the face.

Josias didn't miss the opportunity to do the same gesture towards the Count. He looked slightly confused but also bemused as he allowed it to happen. Serena followed closely behind him as she too gave her aunt and uncle a traditional Halak 'salim'.

"What a curious thing to do." The Countess said as she looked at her husband, an equally bemused smile on her face. "You also kissed the hand of my husband, though he isn't a lady. And the Lady Serena kissed my hand though she is no gentleman."

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"Forgive my forwardness to answer, but it is the custom within the Halaklands to greet your elders as such." Josias explained with the most diplomatic smile he could muster. "Though we are not in the Halaklands, as family to my wife, I wish to show you nothing but the utmost respect."

"In the Halaklands, to honour one's elders is the duty of any Halak person." Serena added to his explanation "As the Lord Count is my father's elder brother, by our land's customs, the Lord Count is also recognised as my own father and his wife my mother."

"But of course, if the practice upsets you, then we can only ask for our forgiveness. We are yet to be long in these lands and there is much still we have to learn." Josias added just in case. He couldn't be too audacious, after all.

Luckily, The Count and Countess both gave amused chuckles. The count even gave Josias an appreciative pat on his back.

"My niece's husband is quite the charming young man. Your Feldonian is even more eloquent than mine, hah." The Count joked.

"The Lord Count jokes, but I am thankful still." Josias said before he motioned for his other companions to step forward "But if I may remain a little forward, would you allow my companions to also show their respects? They are all my most loyal friends and would also express their thanks for your consideration of them."

The count exchanged a few looks to his wife before the two nodded and welcomed the gesture. With that, one by one, Josias' companions and their wives all walked up and greeted the count and countess. All the while, Josias introduced each of them to the count and countess. This included his two adorable little siblings who also seemed to have won over the countess' affections.

The count had asked whether they were Josias' and Serena's children, but he quickly explained that they were his cousins. The count laughed before asking Josias when his and Serena's own children would start coming along. Josias merely laughed as he exchanged looks with his wife.

"When things get settled here, hopefully we'll be soon blessed." Serena said as she laughed, giving Josias a side glance. Josias looked away slightly embarrassed. It wasn't that they weren't trying. It's just been quite stressful lately and conditions on the ship precluded it from being an ideal place for any 'intimate activities'. In fact, it was only during the night after their raid on the thugs' warehouse did they…

Josias' shook his head as he didn't want to remember that embarrassing night. It would be better if that memory of his were to be erased forever and for him and Serena to start over. He wasn't in his right mind, and to be seeded by his performance that day would. Well, it would be shameful.

A shove from Serena's elbow helped Josias to focus back to the current moment. She glanced at him with a confused expression, as if to ask him what was wrong. Josias shook his head saying it was nothing but a quick smirk from his wife told him she knew more than she let on.

"Don't worry. You did great after your first little oopsie." Serena whispered before she snuck in a snicker.

Josias' heart felt like it wanted to sink. Was there no hole in this mansion where he could bury his head? The shame of it all. Another elbow from his wife got him to focus back.

His brother Timotheus had walked up to greet the count and countess along with Reverend Nalom. Unlike before, the count and his wife showed a more solemn respect for the two men in their priestly vestments. After greeting them, the young reverend gave the count the formal letter of address written by Archbishop Ludwig.

The count accepted it graciously before he looked towards his steward and said a few words to him. Afterwhich, the steward nodded as the count addressed them all once more.

"It is good that I have met with this most honorable delegation." The count said as clasped his hands "However, it would reflect quite poorly on me as a host to not properly greet you all with a feast. Please, allow Sir Robert to show you all to your rooms while we prepare a full dinner for you all. Also feel free to have a tour of the mansion and its annexes before dinner is set in about four hours."

"My Lords and Ladies, if you may be so kind as to follow me." Sir Robert bowed as he beckoned Josias and the rest of his companions to follow along.

The count and countess excused themselves, saying they had matters to attend to at the royal court. They said they'd make it back just before dinner and for them to familiarise themselves with the mansion. And with that, the count and countess headed inside one of the carriage. But not before the count took a final look at Serena.

"If it doesn't prove to discomfort you, young lady, may I have the honour to hug you?" The count finally said.

Serena looked taken aback for a second, but Josias gave her a gentle shove, urging her to embrace what was practically her only family left beside her father. The two embraced and Josias could see the count's fierce eyes start to tear up.

"Forgive me for the forwardness, it's just you're the spitting image of your father. And I haven't seen my damned, ungrateful little brother in decades." The old count said "This might be the closest I'll ever get to him."

"It… It's fine, Lord count." Serena said, her voice also shaking.

"Just call me uncle, dear, it's fine." Count Lorenz said before he let her go and left with his wife.

As the two left, Sir Robert asked them to follow him around the mansion.

Sir Robert had shown all of them to the main hall of the mansion right after the doors. There, he introduced them to the entirety of the mansion's staff. There were about twenty staffers in total, ranging from the maidservants, to the stable boys, the cooks, and all the other miscellaneous workers.

Sir Robert explained that the main family estate was located at Reicherton, close to the border with the Lowerian Empire. There were dozens more servants over at that estate and that was also where the main household guard resided.

Josias greeted all the servants and staff over there, but all the while, his attention was captured by a painting on the wall. It was of the count and countess in full regal attire alongside a strikingly handsome young man.

"Young Lord Louis was a talented young man, not unlike yourself, Your Highness." Sir Robert said as he spoke of the man in the picture "But he was also headstrong. He died during an unfortunate incident in one of the dungeons near Coldreach along with his fiancee."

It was an unfortunate disaster. He had heard of the tragedy from Serena as she told him about it from one of the count's letters. For such a young and promising life to be taken away like that was most unfortunate.

Serena had walked up to the portrait hung on the wall and bowed her head.

"It's a shame I arrived without having met you, abang, but I'm here now." Serena said solemnly as she bowed her head in front of the picture.

"I'm sure he's smiling down upon us from heaven as we speak. But with that being said, if you would all follow me and I'll show you around the dining hall…"

As Sir Robert led them away to the rest of the palace tour, Josias gave one final glance back to the portrait. He could only pray that the soul of his wife's cousin was truly at peace.

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