Chapter 56:……………………………………………..
Glory to the Empire (1)
[‘Lowell Rifman,’ who contributed greatly to the decisive victory on the plains. I, Caius Khan, the sun of the Empire, wish to bestow a title upon him to bring glory to the Khan Empire.]
Lowell stared down at the white sheet of paper in his hands. According to the emperor’s order, this document had been delivered to all the nobles of the capital, but the name written boldly in the center gave it an odd sense of unfamiliarity.
“Tomorrow already…”
Reading the document, which repeated the word hero multiple times, Lowell realized that the day he would have to step before countless people had come—tomorrow.
“Are you feeling okay today?”
A sudden voice made Lowell lift his gaze from the paper. Turning to the side, he saw Leon scanning his face carefully.
“Ah, yes. I’m fine!”
Lowell replied immediately. Though, because he even raised a fist for emphasis, it came across slightly exaggerated.
“And yesterday… I’m sorry.”
At that strange apology, Leon slowly crossed his arms. Lowell, sensing the tension, added a quick follow-up.
“Gasp.”
When he woke up in the morning, Lowell found himself involuntarily inhaling sharply. Leon was sitting against the headboard, and Lowell’s body was leaning against him. It seemed he had fallen asleep just as they had ended up yesterday.
“Are you awake?”
At the rustling sound, Leon furrowed his brows and awoke, sunlight spilling over his face.
“Uh… yes.”
Momentarily dazed by the sight, Lowell’s eyes wandered over Leon’s white shirt before he finally replied.
“There’s a lot to apologize for… Anyway, I’m glad you’re okay now.”
As Lowell averted his gaze, recalling yesterday, Leon spoke in his flat tone.
‘I feel like all the pain disappeared after being so startled this morning.’
In fact, Lowell thought that at the time, though he never spoke it aloud.
‘Not okay at all.’
Time passed to the day of the royal banquet. Lowell leaned against the bathroom wall, taking deep breaths. A headache pressed in, dizziness swirled, and his tight chest made breathing difficult.
He shouldn’t have forced himself to go to the temple yesterday. Even if the disruption of magical energy could be overlooked, strange memories mixed with his thoughts had left him detached from reality.
“Hero! Are you alright?”
From outside the bathroom, a voice called to him. Only then did Lowell realize he had been in there for quite some time, leaving the servants waiting to help him get ready.
“…Yes. I’ll be out soon.”
To the murmuring voices outside, Lowell managed to respond.
“I’m sorry.”
Shortly after, he closed the door and stepped out, forcing a small smile.
“Hero, if you’re still feeling unwell, shall I bring you some warm tea?”
“Would you do that?”
Lowell replied with relaxed eyes to the kind offer.
“Also, this will be the last time I call you like this. Today, you will finally be granted your new title.”
The servant handed over a steaming cup of tea with a cheerful smile. The girl with the long braided hair seemed to dream as if she herself were the one receiving a title.
“I suppose so.”
Lowell, however, felt remarkably unmoved.
“Oh! And once you receive your title, make sure you lower your speech! You’ve been speaking politely to us, which was so awkward. We waited because you said it felt strange, but from now on…”
“Jane! Show some manners!”
The girl, excitedly chattering away, was eventually scolded by the steward standing nearby.
“Hero, it’s time to go to the banquet hall.”
Next to the deflated girl, the steward said so.
“…Yes.”
Taking a deep breath, Lowell rose from his seat.
“Leon.”
In the hallway outside the banquet hall, Leon, who had been waiting for his partner, turned at the voice calling him.
“Am I late?”
Saying this, Lowell approached, his steps soft.
“Uh…”
At that slow, graceful approach, Leon momentarily lost his words.
Black hair flowing like a winding, distant night; a white dress hugging his delicate frame; accessories that matched his dreamy eyes; a face paler than usual; red lips trembling slightly with each breath.
‘He looks like a different person.’
Even thinking that, Leon could not look away. This was a dazzling appearance unlike anything before—a presence that could make everyone at the banquet seem like mere extras.
“I’m still not used to being called like this. Should I just use the usual way?”
Interpreting Leon’s pause differently, Lowell added awkwardly, fidgeting with his long hair.
“No, it’s fine.”
Leon stepped closer, taking Lowell’s hands away from his hair and placing them in his own, speaking:
“Shall we go in?”
A gleam shone in Leon’s blue eyes as he looked down at Lowell.
“Yes.”
Lowell slowly responded while gazing at their clasped hands.
“Presenting the hero!”
The massive doors of the banquet hall opened with a grand sound.
The announcement of Lowell’s entrance, the light spilling through the doors, the lavish decorations, and the crowd of people beside them.
Reflexively, Lowell squinted against the light, then opened his eyes fully.
He immediately noticed the gazes filled with disdain and curiosity.
A commoner woman about to receive a title from the emperor—Lowell was a disruptive anomaly, appearing out of nowhere and breaking all their dignity, customs, and pride.
The nobles of the capital rarely sought honor through knighthood. They were already above most others, so battlefield merit was irrelevant.
Thus, Lowell, receiving a title on the pretext of battlefield achievement, was incomprehensible and unpleasant to them.
Moreover, most hadn’t even realized that demons had invaded the capital and triggered a war, due to the emperor’s secrecy. For people who had never cared about the war, Lowell’s appearance felt like a bolt from the blue.
“……”
Most hid behind fans, whispering with scornful expressions. Lowell thought he could feel his head spinning again amidst the silence.
“Lowell!”
At that moment, Aria, standing in the center of the hall, spotted Lowell and waved.
“Wow, Lowell. You’re so beautiful.”
Aria approached and took Lowell’s hand, her voice filled with excitement and pride.
“Isn’t our Lowell gorgeous?”
She then looked at Leon beside her, her sharp tone implying, ‘He didn’t even properly compliment you, did he?’
“My wife is always beautiful.”
Leon glanced at Lowell, speaking with an exasperated sigh, subtly saying ‘There, happy now?’ to Aria.
“Are you saying that sincerely?”
“Yes. Sincerely.”
“I don’t think so.”
“I am.”
“Pfft.”
Watching the playful bickering, Lowell suddenly laughed. The tension in his shoulders eased, and perhaps everything might be okay, he thought.
“Let’s go greet His Majesty.”
Locking arms with both of them, Lowell smiled comfortably.
‘As expected, the duke didn’t attend.’
Lowell scanned the banquet hall. Considering he hadn’t appeared even for his daughter’s matters, it made sense that he showed no interest in her former maid.
‘Those people acted like they wouldn’t come…’
Turning his gaze, Lowell noticed the Rifman family and muttered to himself. They had ignored Lowell, Leon, and even the entire knight order, yet could not skip a seat created by imperial command.
The approaching party: Marquis Rifman, boasting that he hosted Lowell; Mrs. Rifman, smiling politely; and Radel and Lannis, their faces openly stiff, unable to even feign courtesy. In a way, they made quite a fitting family.
“Hello, Hero.”
Someone spoke to Lowell.
“Uh… Agnes.”
Turning his head, he saw Agnes, her crimson hair braided up, smiling gently.
“Congratulations in advance.”
“Thank you.”
Lowell flinched at her words but managed a suitable response.
“Do you still feel uncomfortable around me?”
“Huh?”
He couldn’t respond naturally to that. Eyes wide, Lowell looked like he had been struck at the heart.
“It’s because of Leon, isn’t it? You think I dislike your husband, right?”
Lowell couldn’t answer the question at all. Options like ‘answer honestly’ or ‘tell a white lie’ raced through his mind.
“But please don’t dislike me too much. I don’t dislike the deputy as much as you think.”
At that, Lowell lifted his gaze to Agnes. She looked at him with a rather intrigued expression.
“I was just playing a little because it was funny how overly cautious the deputy was, and I ended up making him dislike me unnecessarily. Anyway, please tell him later. I was never interested in the deputy position from the start.”
“Uh… yes.”
Lowell absentmindedly watched Agnes walk away, smiling.
