Chapter 56

#056 Frederick Riester (1)

I had guessed that the sword would have some special ability, but I didn’t expect it to produce flames from the blade at the owner’s will.

The fire didn’t roar as much as it flickered like a fine candle, and I thought that too was by the prince’s intention.

Prince Cedric didn’t hesitate for a moment and bent his left arm, which held the holy sword, deeply.

“Surely he’s not going to do that...”

I felt I could predict his next move.

Before I knew it, thousands of nobles and commoners were watching him intently.

-Keeeee!

-Crunch, crunch!

Just then, the scorpion demon started to act up.

The few remaining demons were barely regaining their senses and shaking their heads.

Now I noticed that a considerable number of participants had safely made it down to the arena.

Christel’s eyes sparkled with interest.

-Keeeee! Ki! Ki! Kiiiiit!

“Too noisy.”

The prince said this and drew his sword horizontally. Then,

-Woosh!

The air vibrated once again.

Even though I knew his holy fire wouldn’t attack me, I bowed my head deeply and hid Demy in my arms.

The heated sword energy brushed past my hair.

-Ka-a-a-aang!

-Hiss!

It was a kind of wave.

A flame as large as a house, not made of holy water but holy fire, instantly engulfed the arena.

However, water and fire were fundamentally different. As the fire rapidly burned the air,

-Ka-ka-ka-ka!

A shock wave, like an aftershock, followed.

A wind resembling a typhoon swept over the roaring ground.

The audience covered their heads and bowed.

Hats and scarves flew high into the sky. I closed my eyes tightly.

I expected my body to be battered, but I felt a sense of pride.

Everyone’s excitement was burning red. Then, a shower of flowers fell from the spring sky.

The prince, who had suddenly approached, looked down at me regally.

The moment our eyes met, a bouquet thrown from the distant stands landed at my feet.

-Kee!

“Demy, let’s lie here a bit longer. It’s only 10 o’clock.”

I moved the divine beast, who was pressing on my arm, to my stomach.

After rolling around in the familiar bed, my tense limbs relaxed and felt heavy.

Since I would be on official leave for a week, I planned to just eat, play, and sleep repeatedly.

-Knock knock

“...Come in.”

But the people around me were too diligent.

I smiled at the two shadows cautiously entering the room.

I had slept for 11 hours.

Soon, the bed curtains were pulled back, and Ganel’s honey-colored eyes looked at me with concern.

“Good morning, Prince Yeseo. Are you feeling unwell? Should I call the healer?”

“No, I’m fine. I’m just a bit tired. Good morning, Ganel.”

“I didn’t want to wake you, but you’ve been sleeping for over 12 hours... I was worried.”

The boy’s voice softened.

When I checked the clock again, it was past 11, not 10.

I remembered collapsing after washing up as soon as we arrived yesterday, and I must have really passed out.

“Yeah. If I sleep more, my back will hurt, so I should get up now.”

I immediately sat up. Ganel smiled in relief.

Benzamin, who was pulling back the window curtains, greeted me kindly.

“Did you sleep well, Prince?”

“Good morning, Benzamin.”

Soon, the balcony door opened.

A gentle breeze blew, and the pleasant spring sunlight brightly illuminated the room.

Behind it was the return to the daily life I had longed for.

The noisy and colorful Juliette Palace brunch began.

“Really delicious. I’m glad to be alive.”

“Prince, why are you saying such things?”

Ganel, sitting opposite me, was startled by my exclamation.

I smiled brightly and took a big bite of the omelet with caviar.

The egg dish, which could be a bit greasy on an empty stomach, had a clean and light taste when paired with the salty sea flavor and the tangy sour cream.

Without even chewing, the softness and the popping texture of the eggs were exquisite.

The head chef of the Dueim family and the head chef of the Romero Palace were both excellent, but the taste of Laurence, the head chef of the Juliette Palace, was unmatched.

It was exactly to my liking.

“But really, it’s a relief that you’re safe. When you came down the mountain carrying the prince and the duchess on your back, I was so surprised.”

Benzamin placed a toast generously covered with ratatouille on my plate.

I nodded awkwardly.

“Well, there was no other way to come down. And I had to make sure they were asleep.”

“You rode a dragon, Prince!”

Ganel raised his voice. His face was a mix of anxiety and excitement.

“It was so cool, but also so scary. I was worried that something might go wrong... Oh, everyone in the palace wants to see you. The temple knights even came to check on you this morning!”

The boy stabbed at his ham crepe with his fork. My eyes widened slightly.

“Me? Why?”

“Well, by the time we reached the capital, the news had already spread everywhere. The story of the prince winning and obtaining the divine object has spread throughout the empire. Some even say it’s the greatest news since the prince’s birth. There are rumors that he will ascend to the position of crown prince in August.”

“Even though the divine object is now used by an individual, it seems there’s no resistance among the people of the empire.”

I said. Indeed, he is a prince.

“While the prince’s popularity is high, the holy sword was something no one could draw before. It seems firmly believed that the prince has been chosen by the deity. Moreover, showing his abilities as a holy knight... many people might think it’s appropriate for him to use the divine object.”

That made sense.

I nodded and bit into the toast with a satisfying crunch.

The crispy sound was followed by the warm aroma of tomatoes and the taste of eggplant on my tongue.

“Besides, a holy knight has appeared from the most powerful Sarnese duchy. It’s as if two miracles, which hadn’t occurred in over a thousand years, appeared in a single day. It’s not strange that the story has been exaggerated.”

Benzamin calmly finished his explanation. I savored the ratatouille and thought quietly.

Still, isn’t this exaggeration a bit too much? This would be delicious even cold...

“His Majesty didn’t know you had such divine power. All three of you seemed like characters from a myth. On the way up, everyone was trying to talk to you, but you didn’t know, right?”

Ganel chattered while placing a mandarin on my dessert plate. Was that so?

“Thanks. I slept the whole way, so I don’t remember much.”

I answered honestly.

We had stopped at a few inns on the way, but to me, they were just places to sleep.

The only things I could recall were being escorted by Christel and teased, mistaking Lady Elizabeth’s medicine for tea and drinking it, and opening the prince’s bedroom door in a daze and then backing away.

“...I must have been out of it.”

“‘You have to be crazy to be crazy.’ That’s what they say, Prince.”

Ganel looked at me with a proud expression. Is this a dragon?

At that moment, a heavy knock sounded.

-Knock knock knock

“Come in.”

I responded. It had been a while since I saw the faces of other servants in the Juliette Palace.

“Prince, the head butler requests an audience.”

Head butler? I felt a chill run through me as I recognized the familiar face.

The head butler, who serves directly under Emperor Frederick at the imperial palace, is one of the key figures in the palace.

I had never met him since I was possessed by the ‘Retired Duke.’

I nodded, glancing at Benzamin and Ganel.

Soon, a middle-aged woman appeared behind the young servant.

Her wheat-colored hair was neatly tied up, and she had a dignified and cold demeanor.

Her bow was full of grace.

“I am honored to see Prince Yeseo Penethian by the grace of the deity. I am Laura Mendy, head butler of the Mendy family, who serves His Majesty the Emperor.”

“Pleased to meet you, Laura.”

I replied calmly.

There was only one reason for the head butler to personally visit the Juliette Palace, known as the ‘cold palace.’

It was because of the emperor’s will.

I quickly began to reflect on what sins I might have committed.

Did he hear me call the prince a lunatic? But he wouldn’t have cared about that.

“His Majesty the Emperor has formally invited you to the celebration banquet for Prince Cedric’s victory in the ‘Great Demon Beast Hunt.’”

“Huh?”

“His Majesty showed great interest and excitement in your recent exploits and was deeply moved by your courage and goodwill in helping the prince. Therefore, he wishes to commend you personally at a gathering attended by key figures from the royal family and noble families.”

...Personally?