I adjusted the formal military coat of white as I put on the badge of the hero of the empire and the lord of a city.
"Don't you look good?" Lethe muttered. Both of us were in my room in the castle of the kingdom.
"Do I? I think I always look good. No, the very best, like no one ever was."
"I bet you do."
Resting her chin on her palm, Lethe kept staring at me.
Such a simple gesture was enough to send my mind aflutter. Just what was with this person? How could someone be so charming and lovable?
"You're blushing."
"Quit it, I am not."
"Oh you started blushing even heavier."
I tried to avert my gaze as she stood up and walked toward me. Her hands clutched my collars as she gently pulled me closer. With her thumb, she grazed my lips.
"My darling,"
"Yes?"
"Why are the women around you chasing after you?"
A chill ran down my spine.
"Aight, Imma head out."
"Stop right there, little fairy."
Titania sat back down.
Lethe slowly caressed my cheeks, not letting me say a word.
"You don't want me to hand you their heads on a platter, right? I know you're too kind for that."
Did I seem kind to people now? What bullshit was that.
But it was true I was too kind for THAT. Lethe could never be wrong.
"You belong to me, so…" Lethe whispered. "Behave."
A word left under my breath.
"Hot."
"What was that?"
Since she heard it anyway, I pulled her chin up and smiled. "That was damn hot."
Lethe started blushing this time. She averted her gaze and pushed me away.
"Just go."
"Hah, you're supposed to come too."
We both didn't say much more, she was too wishy washy after a slightly inappropriate remark, and I was too blushy blushy after being claimed like a poketto monster.
Hand in hand, we made our way out of the room and a servant of the castle greeted us outside. Bowing deeply, he showed us the path ahead.
From the wide and cleared passageways of the castle all the way to the grand chamber of the king, a dozen more nobles waited in seating for the ruler of the land.
I was shown to a spot at the furthest back, and Lethe was guided away to the rest of our gang.
The Marquis and the other nobility were too far ahead. I was around with the other lords and barons.
"Good job out there, Lord Eugene,"
One said to me. Apparently he was one of Ban's cronies.
"Thank you! You too."
"To behead a powerhouse like the duke himself, it is quite the feat."
"Right? I bet I can get all of you too."
The barons around me shuddered. They let out a small chuckle and turned away, scared.
Not long after, a horn tooted as the king's presence was announced. Everyone got on their feet, and I did too.
The event began. The king stood, behind him, a seat was empty amongst the seats for the two queens and their children.
"A great evil that had been rotting our country from the inside has been vanquished—"
Whatever. We all knew this, we just had a giant fucking arc about it.
I let the king go on his spiel and enjoyed the seat. The event went on and on as he moved his hands like a total drama queen, striking more poses than points.
The ceremony continued as people blabbered on and on one after the other.
Then came the most important part.
"Marquis Ban Ket Hall, Margrave Me Lon Mirxa."
The two stood up and performed a curtsy before kneeling in front of the king.
Then, the king continued.
"For your grand bravery and valor, holding the courage to move even when the entire kingdom seemed against you, you have shown your rooted love."
"As the king of this land, I now pronounce you. The Duke of Hall and the Duke of Mirxa."
That happened.
People cheered out loud as they celebrated the announcement. Just as I had promised them, I had brought them both a promotion.
But the real promotion wasn't the title of a Duke, no.
It was the power that surpassed it.
The reason I sent Mirxa into the capital and had him clear out the imperial castle almost single handedly was so that we could black mail the king and make him our bitch.
What I had brought them wasn't the title, no, but a king that they could manipulate and move. Of course, once he croaked I also ensured Hoya's ascension since she was useful for me and was pretty much on my side now.
The two new dukes were led away, and then was called the one of the lowest rank.
"Eugene Hall of Apollon."
"Eugy eugy, he's calling you."
Right I had to go too. I stood up and looked at the king when realization dawned on me.
Oh fuck.
Oh no fuck.
"W-what happened, Eugy?"
I'll have to kneel? Would I manage to get by in front of this large crowd?
"Hah, fine. I'll help you this once, it'll be a good way to see just what all you can do."
It seemed Titania was pretty happy for me, that was weird.
There was very little to be happy about.
Though I stood upright, the king and everyone else had their heads tilted down as if I was kneeling. I could hear Lethe's faint laugh as she realized that Titania had messed with their perceptions.
The king began his babbling, speaking of my initiative.
"Do you see, Eugy? There's nothing once can't do in this world. You just have to get there."
"You shall be the lord of the west and the north, with the remnants of Fonias serving as your viscounts."
A smile spread through my face at the king's declaration.
"I pronounce you."
A new name was bestowed upon me by my puppet. One I picked out myself.
"Count Eugene Hall-Apollon."
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