"Someone suspected of corruption?"
Matthias responded, crossing his arms with one on his chin.
He thought briefly, trying his best to find someone who best fit the role. If he was right, he already knew what Justinian had planned.
Justinian wasn’t always the smartest, but for some reason, he couldn’t shake the thought that the eyes behind the man were smarter than the person before.
"Well... I’ve been investigating Snowkeep’s Castellan for a while, Lord Perval."
Matthias sighed.
"But I didn’t have the power to detain him before, and even now, he likely won’t turn himself over easily."
"But if I head there on my own, will it be faster?"
"Undoubtedly, but the streets are a total mess, my lord. Going out there would only risk your life."
Justinian laughed, stepping out of his throne.
"Then that means I definitely should head out."
"Show the people their Duke no longer hides from his duties."
Matthias looks in shock; even the knights and servants look bewildered.
The conversation between the two was complete whiplash from the duke they once knew for years.
"Did something happen, my lord?"
Matthias replied, Justinian’s earlier surprise was manageable, albeit slightly.
But this? This was something completely unheard of, as if the duke he once knew just had amnesia and was possessed by a completely different man entirely.
But Matthias knew he couldn’t argue directly; Justinian held complete power after all.
"... Never mind what I said, very well, my Lord."
Matthias bowed, and with a snap of his fingers, the servants began to disperse, returning to their duties. It was a signal that was trained to them the moment they entered Justinian’s service.
"I assume you want to... continue to wear this humble attire?"
"Of course, I would like to be seen as relatable to the people."
Matthias anxiously laughed at Justinian’s response, then turned around.
"Sir Javier, please accompany the duke, I’m sure you will not refuse this, my lord?"
"A bodyguard is of no issue."
Matthias smiled. "Then I’ll be off I wish you a good journey, and I’ll be sure to use my new power accordingly."
Justinian approached him, patting his back. "Don’t sweat it."
Justinian’s overuse of complex words completely tired him out; it was like walking on a tightrope of trying his best to maintain etiquette, and while his new memories served to help, it was still a difficult task.
’My tongue feels dry just from that...’
As Matthias left the room to do his duty, a knight from the left stepped forward and opened his visor, revealing the face of a young man, with a face that looked more bard than warrior.
"You’ll be in my care, my lord; no harm will come to you with me around."
He slammed his steel gauntlets on his chest, a huge beaming smile on his face.
It seemed like Justinian’s sudden change had affected this one the most.
’So he’s Javier? he’s young, so I can at least let my guard down with him... I’m sure someone like him won’t expect too much from me.’
Justinian briefly let out a sigh of relief, glad that he could stop acting so high and mighty due to the fact that his escort was a young man with a cheerful personality.
It meant that he could act naturally and himself.
"Let’s go, shall we, Javier?"
Javier nodded and began to follow Justinian as he headed towards the palace’s front doors.
’Let’s see how bad the situation is firsthand.’
THRUMMMM—
He opened the door with his two hands, the hinges creaking as it began to move.
FWOOSH.
A blast of cold winter wind blasted Justinian directly in the face, his mantle and hair flowing in the cold wind as he overviewed the protest from the elevated platform of his palace’s stairs.
With the rank and file militia singlehandedly holding back the civilian protesters.
Snowkeep (Capital): Unrest (88%)
’Time is shorter than I thought...’
TWACK.
A sudden rotten tomato was sliced in half just in front of him, Javier intercepting the projectile and taking it down before it even touched Justinian.
"Are you okay, my lord?"
"Yes, I am untouched."
Justinian looked below; the one who threw it was clear and visible, holding a basket of them.
"How dare you show your face!?"
The man yelled out, causing the screams of the protesters to grow louder as they realized Justinian had finally revealed himself to the outside world.
"Down with the tyrant!"
"Down with the duke!"
The crowd yelled out, slowly overwhelming the rank and file guards below, with some guards even having to resort to bashing some of the civilians with their shields to stop their advance.
If Justinian doesn’t make the right move here, the protestors would take him down before his fated death would happen.
And neither option was really preferable.
"My lord, we should return to the palace."
Javier said with concern, his halberd already pointed and ready.
"No need, this is deserved karma for my negligence."
Justinian replied, sighing.
This time, he was completely stuck; he didn’t expect his citizens to be at the point of wanting to kill him, and he expected the tomato throwing.
But not... this.
’Fuck me...’