02
02
With the appearance of the Sirius Grand Duchy, the banquet hall's attention was momentarily drawn away by the swarm of handsome men flocking to them.
But immediately.
"His Imperial Majesty, Her Imperial Majesty are entering!"
With the arrival of the highest-ranking figures in the Empire, everyone bowed their waists and paid their respects.
Of course. I also lowered my head.
How could a lowly bastard like me dare to think of making eye contact?
But I had important business with that oh-so-great Majesty.
"⋯⋯Jeonha, about what I mentioned before. Please, I ask for your favor."
I whispered quietly to Sion, who was by my side.
"⋯⋯Don't worry, I've already spoken about it in advance."
"As expected of you, Jeonha. I believed in you."
"If you believed in me, would you have bothered to say it to me one more time just now?"
"I apologize. However, the fact that I believe in you is true. It's just that given the nature of the matter, I ask for your understanding for mentioning it once more."
"⋯⋯Since you apologize so readily, I have nothing more to say. Well, I understand. Don't worry. I also know well that your thoughts haven't changed."
"Thank you."
Knowing Sion's hard work, I conveyed my gratitude with some sincerity.
However, at my greeting, she made a disgusted face.
"Hey⋯ it's unpleasant, so please don't do that. Even just apologizing gives me a sense of revulsion, but hearing you say thank you makes my whole body crawl. I'm seriously suspicious if you're not someone else. Are you really Roy?"
"I was just expressing my gratitude purely? No, more than that, Jeonha? Did you see me as a human who doesn't even apologize or say thank you?"
How much of a hopeless case does Sion think I am?
Truly unfortunately, I couldn't hear her answer.
"Everyone, raise your heads."
Because His Majesty had started speaking.
"I'm truly grateful that you all attended the banquet despite being busy. Now, first, let's all raise our glasses."
Emperor Empel von Starngart.
As he raised his glass, everyone in the banquet hall followed suit and raised theirs.
"For the glory of the Empire!"
As the Emperor led the toast and downed his drink.
""For the glory of the Empire!""
The nobles followed, downing their drinks.
Of course. I also downed my drink just the same.
'I don't really like alcohol, though⋯⋯.'
But thinking about what's going to happen from now on.
Maybe it's better to have at least a little alcohol in my system rather than being sober.
'As expected, I'm a positive man.'
Sion always scolded me, saying I was a negative bastard, but I could never agree with that.
If I were negative.
I never would have been able to make it to this spot.
'Well, anyway⋯ useless musings end here.'
Since His Majesty has also appeared on the scene.
Let's just think about how to kill that bastard now.
###
"Hmm⋯⋯."
Emperor Empel swirled the glass newly filled by an attendant and scanned his surroundings.
It was because his daughter, whom he had asked to enter together, had gone into the banquet hall first without saying a word.
It didn't take long to find his daughter.
Unlike the nobles gathered in groups, she was off in a corner by herself.
"Oh my, Sion. You were there. I clearly told you to enter together."
"I apologize, Your Majesty. I had some business to attend to, so I unavoidably entered separately."
"Hmm⋯ unavoidably, you say⋯⋯."
Empel's gaze turned to the man beside Sion.
A cheap suit that didn't fit in at a banquet hall where royals and nobles gathered.
Even a fallen noble wouldn't dress like that.
However, since he had already identified who the man was.
"Yes, that young man is the hero who cut off the Lich King's head."
Empel asked with a satisfied smile.
"Hmm⋯ was your name Roy? I was wanting to see you anyway, and I finally get to see you today."
"It is an honor, Your Majesty. I, too, cannot express how much I have looked forward to this day."
"Ho-oh⋯."
The corners of Empel's mouth curved into an arc.
He had clearly heard he was of commoner origin, but there was an air of nobility imbued in the young man's body.
'No, rather than nobility⋯ it would be more accurate to say his aura is extraordinary.'
Is he truly the one who subjugated that Lich King?
In fact, even when he first heard the report.
He couldn't believe it at all.
The Grand Duke, the Swordmaster, the Magic Tower Master, the Pope.
Since it was said that he single-handedly defeated a monster that even the most prominent figures in the Empire wouldn't dare to subjugate, it was only natural.
The ministers were the same.
They said with one voice.
It was clearly a false report.
They said it was obvious that the Imperial Princess, who had recklessly gone on an expedition to the North against opposition, had subjugated an undead mage and mistaken it for a Lich, leading to an incorrect report.
As expected of people on the Prince's side.
They were the type to naturally drive the Imperial Princess into being seen as a strange person.
However, a few days later.
When it was confirmed that the Northern undead legion, which had been a headache for the Empire every single day, had all disappeared.
No one could say it was a false report.
But instead, they whispered behind his back.
That it was a disguise for the Imperial Princess to hide her own aide.
Or that it was certain that the commoner had used cowardly tricks.
Otherwise.
How could he have possibly subjugated that Lich King?
'They subjugated a Demon race that threatened the Empire, yet they call it a cowardly trick⋯⋯ it's truly laughable⋯⋯.'
Empel clicked his tongue at the ministers' attitude.
It was only right that they shouldn't spare praise since he had made a great contribution to the Empire.
Instead, they were only focused on bad-mouthing or belittling him.
'Well, I suppose they're doing that because they're worried I might appoint Sion as the Crown Princess⋯ but the degree of it is too severe⋯⋯.'
That's right.
The tendency to prioritize their own power and positions over the well-being of the Empire was too severe.
So, he wanted to cut them off right away, but they were people who had held their positions since the previous generation, so he couldn't easily get rid of them.
No matter how much of an Emperor he was, the nobles were not something he could ignore.
'The Sirius Grand Duchy is the biggest problem, especially.'
Not only military power but also financial power.
Since it was comparable to the Imperial Palace, the nobles were tightly united around the Grand Duchy.
'And yet, the son is just wagging his tail, trying to look good to that family's daughter somehow⋯⋯.'
Empel couldn't help but have a headache.
'However, that ends today too.'
His gaze turned back to Roy, who was bowing respectfully.
'Sion said many times that I could trust and leave it to him⋯ but given the nature of the matter, I was worried⋯⋯.'
The thought that he could trust him came naturally.
As a result of seeing it with his own two eyes.
Because this young man was clearly the one who subjugated the Lich King.
Therefore, Empel didn't drag out his words and brought up the main point immediately.
"Here and now, I shall declare. As of today, I bestow the title of Count upon the hero Roy, who subjugated the Lich King."
###
'Wow⋯ this is unexpected⋯⋯?'
Even for me, I couldn't help but be surprised by this.
I thought he would praise Sion's achievements and bestow a noble title upon me as a bonus.
But to think he would take care of me first.
Moreover, a Count, not a Baron or a Viscount.
Of course, since there was no mention of bestowing a territory, it was nothing more than an honorary nobility.
Still, a Count.
This was quite unconventional.
"From this moment on, I shall call you Einschwert."
Einschwert.
A single sword, huh⋯.
I wonder if it's fortunate that it's not the Emperor's sword.
No, it must have been named with that meaning anyway.
Even to achieve my goal, the Emperor's help was indispensable.
"It is an honor, Your Majesty. I, Roy Einschwert, swear to devote my loyalty to Your Majesty and the Empire."
I immediately knelt on one knee and swore loyalty to the Emperor.
However.
Our Majesty wasn't finished here.
"Hmm. Good. I plan to appoint you as the Commander of the Silver Knights, so be aware of that."
"The Silver Knights, you say⋯?"
I couldn't help but ask back reflexively.
Because it was a knight order I had never heard of.
"That is correct. It is the name of the knight order that will soon be established for the Imperial Princess."
"Ah⋯ I understand, Your Majesty."
Unlike Prince Leon, who possessed a knight order, Sion only had a few escort knights.
She didn't have anything like a knight order.
I heard that the Prince's knight order was no different from a private army that the Empress had pushed through recklessly, anyway⋯⋯.
'It seems he intends to create a separate knight order as a reward for this expedition.'
But would the people here accept that obediently?
"Your Majesty!? What are you saying! A knight order for the Imperial Princess!!!"
As expected.
Empress Isabel, who was next to Empel, immediately started throwing a fit.
"Why are you like this, Empress? I was just thinking that Sion needed a knight order like Leon, and I'm trying to have one established as a reward for this expedition."
"The Prince and the Imperial Princess are different cases, aren't they!?"
"What is different about it? Both are my children just the same. If anything, I feel sorry. If I had let Sion join when Leon's knight order was established, wouldn't this expedition have been easier?"
"Th-that⋯⋯ anyway, this makes no sense. How can you try to proceed with things like this without any discussion!"
"Your words are very strange. If someone heard you, they'd think you discussed it when establishing Leon's knight order. Do you want me to start by questioning that?"
"Th-that⋯⋯."
Finally, Her Imperial Majesty was speechless.
I thought she might be unreasonable even here, but she had at least a minimum of conscience⋯⋯.
"Anyway, it's not allowed!"
⋯⋯I guess she didn't.
"A commoner like that as the commander of a royal knight order!"
No, why are you grabbing onto me, an innocent bystander, and doing this?
The Empress wasn't in my calculations for today.
"A commoner, you say. Didn't you hear me just now? As of today, he is a Count."
"That's also a problem! Even if he is an honorary noble, a Count, not a Baron or Viscount! And isn't it questionable whether that guy really subjugated the Lich King? Look at those eyes that look like he's good at lying!"
No⋯. Why is Her Majesty the Empress acting like a bitch just because of how a person looks.
Well, it is true that it's hard to believe that a young, green kid defeated the Lich King, though.
"It's not even the Imperial Princess's maternal uncle, Duke Philos the Swordmaster, but a commoner like this, I absolutely cannot believe it."
"Your Imperial Majesty, it is a clear fact that Roy Einschwert subjugated the Lich King. I can swear it on my sword."
"Hmph! Whether you bet that Duke's sword or not, I cannot believe it!"
Even though Duke Philos vouched for him, Isabel was stubborn.
But at that unreasonableness.
"Your Majesty. I think Her Imperial Majesty's words have merit."
"I also agree with Her Imperial Majesty's words."
The Empress's maternal relative factions agreed as if they had been waiting for it.
At this, Empel furrowed his brow.
"Tsk⋯."
As the Emperor of the Empire, he couldn't help but find this situation extremely unpleasant.
But it was actually good for me.
Why?
"Your Majesty. I think it is right to prove that guy's skills right here on the spot!"
Truly thankfully.
A certain noble had instead said what I wanted to say on my behalf.
It didn't end there.
"The opponent is⋯ Ah! I think the third son of Sirius over there would be good!"
He even pointed his finger at the third son of Sirius, Freddie Sirius, who was watching the situation from over there.
'Unbelievable⋯. Nameless teacher, thank you so much!'
I was sincere.
Because it couldn't be helped.
Because it's that bastard.
'The bastard I'm going to kill.'