Chapter 1985 - 538: The Lion Leaves the Forest

The banquet at Glanton Castle's City Hall started punctually at dusk, with everyone partaking in the bountiful game brought back from the kitchen by the Duke and Prince, toasting to their Duchy.

During the banquet, a small episode occurred when a musician stepped forward to the crowd and raised his Champagne.

"Ladies and gentlemen."

He began speaking, his tone gentle yet restrained, "I wish to dedicate a piano piece to our Campbell Duchy. If you don't mind, please inspire me."

After a brief silence, someone laughed and mentioned the white deer horn sound from the morning hunt, while an elderly noblewoman quietly hummed the first two bars of the Royal Family's hymn.

Edward, who was conversing with Colin, also stopped talking, and the two of them turned towards the musician with great interest.

"Who is he?" Luo Yan casually asked.

Edward seemed to recognize him, smiling as he said.

"Ryan Valerich, his father is a Sir from Twilight Province, possessing a surname but no hereditary territory. His mother hails from a city that never sleeps."

It seems this is not entirely an "impromptu performance," but this gentleman's inspiration shouldn't be deeply ingrained either.

Perhaps it was something that happened just last night or the night before.

Luo Yan thought briefly to ensure the question didn't seem too trivial.

"Thunder City?"

Edward smiled slightly.

"Nothing escapes you."

After hearing everyone's opinions, the musician nodded, as if casually noting them down, and then placed the Champagne aside.

Sitting at the piano bench, he adjusted his cuffs, and the moment his fingers touched the keys, the melody unfolded without any hesitation.

The bassline led first, short and controlled. His piano played like a horn sounding from afar, hiding within the steam's mist, then returning through the forest's paths.

The prelude's melody was not ostentatious, yet it unconsciously halted conversations, immersing people in the winding piano sound.

Then, the treble quietly joined in, as he deconstructed and elongated those two bars of the Royal Family's hymn... Variating into a form both familiar and unfamiliar to the people.

People saw a train approaching head-on, transforming into marching soldiers after traversing mountains and valleys.

After a rousing march, the windmills turned into chimneys, sheep flocks turned into looms, and the city walls were broken down to become red-bricked street scenes.

Eagle, standing at the edge of the dance floor, couldn't help but show a surprised expression, not expecting the game to be so realistic, even putting much thought into simple transitions.

Kaylee, standing not far away, was equally shocked, not realizing that the barbaric Human World could have such remarkable artistic expression.

It seems the bookshelves at Demon King Academy are not entirely accurate; she couldn't imagine these people actually pulling out her intestines and then forcing her to eat them back...

She is a civilian from Demon City, and they are merely civilians from another city.

The finale of the piano piece arrived with restraint and solemnity, like a train arriving at a station, releasing the steam of the previous journey for the start of the next one.

When the last chord fell, the hall was silent.

Only when the musician stood up to acknowledge, did thunderous applause erupt, sweeping over the banquet hall like a torrential rain.

Eagle listened intently.

Speaking of which, she hadn't listened to a complete piece of music in a long time, never expecting to enjoy it so much within "Catastrophe OL."

This was indeed a pleasant surprise.

As the applause subsided, Mr. Ryan Valerich cast his gaze towards the main seat, continuing with that gentle and restrained voice.

"Your Majesty, if this piece pleases you, I hope you could name it."

Everyone's eyes turned to Edward, their eyes filled with curiosity. Especially the nobles of Glanton Castle, they all wanted to hear what kind of name this "notorious" White-haired Duke could come up with.

Edward thought for a moment, then smiled and said.

"Let's call it... "March Forward", may our Duchy advance like our train, may our republic forever progress onward!"

Brief astonishment appeared on people's faces, especially on those of the Glanton Castle nobility and gentry, their faces were filled with disbelief.

Typically, the nobles of Aus Continent would unhesitatingly use their family names to name those classic pieces, or to commemorate individual bravery and legendary deeds with them.

To dedicate a piece presented by a musician to the Duchy... This was unprecedented.

Thunderous applause once again erupted, accompanied by enthusiastic cheers, especially from those commoners attending the noble banquet for the first time.

Such as Horace.

These fellows had no refinement, unaware that merely applauding at this moment would suffice, bringing a bit of the vibe from Thunder City's taverns to the Royal Family's banquet.

"Long live the Campbell Duchy!"

"May our republic be immortal!"

Seeing the excited people, Edward did not reprimand their rudeness; instead, he smiled and returned a graceful noble gesture to them.

Luo Yan couldn't help but recall the appearance of Edward when they first met; that young Duke was rather "rebellious."

Floating beside Luo Yan, Youyou sighed softly.

"Time flies really fast..."

"Indeed."

Luo Yan nodded slightly, this time not silencing Youyou, also temporarily immersing in those dreams belonging to mortals.

...

At the edge of the Twilight Forest, dusk slowly sank into the horizon.

The sentry from the Lion Heart Knight Order watched silently towards the departing direction of the dusk, with a camp behind him bearing an even graver expression.