A Modest Ceremony in the Palace
Somewhere within the palace.
According to Princess Laela’s words, formal preparations for the ceremony could not be completed due to various constraints, and it would be held in a simplified manner instead.
When I was hailed as a “hero,” the kingdom’s military band would play, and many nobles would gather to bless the moment.
It was almost always conducted with elaborate, formal, and strict procedures, but today it seemed to be proceeding quite simply.
“Even so, we must preserve the dignity of the royal house.”
I stepped out through the side entrance of the small reception hall and stood with Drex, taking in the surroundings.
The hall was not overly large, yet it had been decorated with a red carpet and various jewels.
Over the raised platform, flags bearing the royal and palace crests crossed and adorned the space.
At some point, palace guards had also begun patrolling the area.
“Quite splendid.”
“True? This is the first time you’ve come to the palace, Lir, right? I only visited once as a child, besides that.”
…Well, I had dropped by dozens of times.
Still, the impression remained splendid then and now.
Although the scale was modest compared to what the royal family had prepared, the interior atmosphere and decor were astonishingly lavish.
The route for receiving medals was set, so I waited in the corridor beside it and casually glanced inside the hall.
To my surprise, there were quite a few people.
“Only two of us… and even then, it’s not a proper medal ceremony. People really came.”
Combining the rough story and context, it seemed this wasn’t a regular award from the palace.
Instead, the royal family had approved Princess Laela’s rushed plan to give thanks in a simplified manner.
I could roughly guess the intentions behind it.
“Trying to strengthen the knight order?”
Hmm.
There was no other reason to do something like this.
Or perhaps the knight order’s atmosphere had been poor, and they were trying to ease tensions with this event.
In my view, the former was slightly more persuasive.
Anyway, the medal we received wasn’t an official one.
Well, getting an official medal after just defeating a demon lord made no sense.
The guest seats facing the ceremony still had people seated.
Most were palace internal officials or managers, so they were hardly noteworthy.
“Even the knight order people are attending, making it quite substantive.”
The knight order’s advisors were present, sitting with the blue banners symbolizing the order.
Of course, I had a few acquaintances from when I was in the knight order, but we weren’t particularly close, so there was no special emotion.
But if the advisors had come, there might be someone I was looking forward to seeing.
“…Is there? If the advisors came, they would have been here…”
While rolling my eyes and glancing at those wearing the blue banners, I instinctively swallowed.
And a complicated wave of emotion washed over me.
My hands tightened, fists clenching, yet the heat didn’t spread wildly.
“They’ve come. It’s Drex, the old man.”
The distinctive square jaw.
White beard and white hair.
Still trimmed into a straight line.
And even the M-shaped receding hairline.
The last image of him I remembered, he sat on the chair exactly as he was.
The man who raised me like a grandfather and was my teacher.
Although he had shown no negative reaction to Roan’s rant at the end and we parted on bad terms.
“…Still.”
Even so, looking at him wasn’t like pure hatred or boiling anger.
I wanted to ask why he had done it back then, and now that he still maintained a dignified appearance, I was glad.
“Even the knight order people are here, making it seem quite formal. I’m getting anxious.”
From my side, Drex spoke with a tense look, seeing that people in key positions within the knight order had attended.
At that moment, the palace guards standing guard at the distant gate opened the door.
“Her Highness Princess Laela McClean and Saintess Clotila enter!”
Everyone seated rose.
Princess Laela, dressed in a proper dress, and Saintess Clotila, in her ornate holy robes, entered from the door.
Supported on both sides by palace guards, the two appeared in all their splendor and took their places on the raised platform.
The princess of the kingdom, Laela, looked at everyone present and spoke.
“Thank you all for joining us today.”
After a brief pause, Laela glanced sideways at her assistant to check if the ceremony preparations were ready.
“To everyone who has come despite your busy schedules, as well as those who supported this event and the knights, I offer my deepest gratitude.”
“Then, let us begin.”
Even though it was described as simplified, it still wasn’t a complete shortcut.
From somewhere, the national anthem had been prepared and played, and only after it ended could the guests sit.
A brief speech from Princess Laela followed.
The content was purely ceremonial with nothing special, so I listened with half an ear.
Half-dazed, someone’s voice snapped me back to attention.
Far away, Drex had already been honored and received his medal.
“Lir Ostin.”
“Time to prepare.”
“Ah, yes.”
The assistant whispered quietly into my ear, and only then did I realize it was my turn to be called.
A few seconds later, my name was announced.
“Lir Ostin. For your contributions in blocking the demon from Ebonic Tower.”
The assistant waiting near the side entrance moved his arm to point at the spot.
I took the familiar steps and stood there.
Following the royal protocol, I bowed once to Princess Laela and Saintess Clotila, then stood in front of them.
Her assistant stood beside her.
The medal on the plaque he held was pinned to my chest by the princess.
She smiled gently afterward and gave me a light handshake.
Normally this would have been the end, but today there was one more person.
Saintess Clotila.
She was next to receive the medal from me.
Just as I had received it from the princess, I stepped in front of Saintess Clotila.
She hung a golden glowing medal around my neck and whispered.
“Receiving it twice in a different body, that’s nice, isn’t it? I’ve never received one.”
And with a nonchalant smile, she gave me a handshake.
Following the royal etiquette, I took two steps back and bowed once more.
Then I slowly exited the way I had come.
Even though it was simplified, the procedure was bothersome and tedious.
I had been scolded countless times, yet my body still remembered.
“Still a bothersome way… It’s also why I hate coming to the palace.”
***
The short, concise, and understated ceremony ended.
Of course, this wasn’t the end.
While we spent time in the reception room, countless greetings came to us.
Naturally, it was to build connections by meeting promising youths like us.
In truth, it seemed more interest was shown toward Drex, the successor to the Langrand family, rather than me.
We were ushered into the reception room two or three at a time.
We met people from various regions, exchanged polite pleasantries, and practiced proper etiquette.
“…Drex, I don’t want to meet any more people.”
“Me too. I just want to go back to the academy…”
Not just me, Drex was also tired of people.
I had to smile and force my expression while managing future relationships.
Repeating it over and over, I was starting to feel drained.
Knock, knock.
The sound of knocking on the door returned.
Drex and I, who had been half-reclining on our chairs, sat up straight again.
“Is it alright to come in? Students.”
With a creak, the door opened and a familiar voice was heard.
Before the person entered, my breath caught as I tried to sigh.
The royal advisor.
Drex Valefor, former deputy knight commander, had come to see us.
Gulp.
I swallowed hard.
He probably didn’t recognize me, and his reason for coming was nothing special.
At best, it would be a greeting.
If it were the Drex I knew, yes, but…
There was no way I wouldn’t be tense.
“Lir?”
“Ah, yes.”
I snapped back to attention.
Drex stood up to greet him.
I followed, bowing my head to the Drex in front of me.
He was the same as always.
Still wrinkles between the brows, yet his body was rigid, as if he managed it steadily despite never appearing in front of others.
“Nice to meet you, Student Drex Valefor Langrand.
And Student Lir Ostin.
I am the royal advisor, Drex Valefor.”
“You’re not the former deputy knight commander, are you? I’ve heard of your reputation.”
“Haha, that’s quite an old story now.
Just think of me as an advisor.”
When Drex recognized him, the advisor spoke modestly, yet his mouth and eyes curved up noticeably.
Not out of mourning, but seeing him act this way after even a single praise…
This old man.
He really is the same.
“Such gatherings as this always require meeting many people, which must be tiring.
But since you’re young, you have to endure such hardships.
It will be good fertilizer for later.”
He really is an old geezer.
“Don’t worry too much.
Showing student-like immaturity is fine in such places.
The reason I came isn’t anything special either.”
Even as he spoke, his eyes gazing at promising talent carried the same light as youth.
It was going to be troublesome, though.