The next morning, I woke up with a hangover.
I reached for the water bottle on the nightstand without even opening my eyes.
And then I took a big gulp…
It tasted strangely sweet.
As if soone had added honey to it.
‘…Ugh, at least it’s refreshing.’
I snuggled deeper into the blanket and then reluctantly got out of bed.
The first thing I saw was a letter folded neatly on the nightstand.
[I’m heading to the sanctuary, so I’ll be out for a while. Don’t worry too much, it seems like the resignation issue will be resolved smoothly. Ah, and… please tell if you’re having a hard ti! Okay?]
[P.S. …I heard you left the first mber slot vacant on purpose. Thank you, I really appreciate it.]
[P.S.2. Ah, and it’s today, right? Be careful!]
[Your first companion, Erwen.]
So Erwen went to the sanctuary.
We could have talked if she had co back earlier yesterday.
Damn it, why did I drink so much?
“…….”
I sat there for a while, trying to sober up, and then I tried to rember what had happened after I left the bar with Bear.
I rembered coming ho and being greeted by Erwen and Alia.
‘And I think they helped up to the 2nd floor…’
Maybe it was because I was exhausted and drunk?
I vaguely rembered having a conversation with them, but I couldn’t rember the details.
Well, I must not have done anything stupid.
I would have rembered if I had.
“You’re awake.”
“Yeah, just now.”
“Get up and wash up. We’re going to the Imperial City today.”
“…Alright.”
“I’m leaving now, so take care of things here.”
“Okay.”
I heard Alia going downstairs, and I went to the bathroom to wash up and get ready.
I had to dress formally for today’s quest.
“…Tsk, I knew it.”
I finished showering and was putting on my suit when Alia appeared out of nowhere and helped get dressed.
I was a bit surprised.
“Why are you so good at this?”
“…Who do you think bought you this suit?”
“Ah… right, you bought it.”
It seed like she had learned how to dress properly while shopping for the suit. Alia was surprisingly ticulous.
“You’re all set. Now hurry up and go. The carriage is here.”
“I’ll be going then. See you later.”
“…Take care.”
I left the house and boarded the carriage that was waiting for . It took to the military transfer station, and then I was teleported to the Imperial City.
‘This is so convenient… except for the slight motion sickness.’
Anyway, another carriage was waiting for at the station, and I boarded it.
It soon arrived at my destination.
‘This place isn’t even exciting anymore.’
The Palace of Glory.
A small ceremony would be held here today, and my quest was related to that ceremony.
“Greetings, Viscount Yandel. I am Mia Arvelto, the Head Butler. Welco to the palace.”
I followed the guide inside, and we entered a grand hall.
The sa hall where I had made my return speech.
“It’s empty.”
“The ceremony hasn’t started yet. The nobles will be arriving soon.”
Well, it wouldn’t take long.
Even if they all ca, it would only fill the front rows.
“…This way, please.”
I was escorted to a room and briefed on the ceremony procedures by the Head Butler.
And after a while…
Knock, knock.
Soone knocked on the door.
It was an old man I had never t before.
But the guide recognized him and looked surprised.
“…Greetings, Duke. What brings you here…?”
“I just wanted to have a word with the guest of honor. If you’re not busy, can you excuse us for a mont?”
“…I’ll be waiting outside.”
The guide bowed respectfully and left the room, and then the old man and I were finally alone.
“It’s a pleasure to et you. I’m Duke Keallunus.”
So it was him.
“I’m Bjorn, son of Yandel.”
I introduced myself formally.
But then…
“That’s wrong.”
What?
“……?”
I frowned, and he chuckled.
“You’re Bjorn Yandel, not Bjorn, son of Yandel. You’re a mber of our family now.”
“…….”
“I know your casual tone was officially approved by the previous King, but you should start acting like a proper noble now.”
“…….”
“Rember, you’re not just soone’s son. You’re not just a barbarian. You’re Viscount Bjorn Yandel of Lafdonia.”
“…….”
“Ah, should I call you Baron now? And your posture is terrible.”
He patted my shoulder.
I felt a bit offended.
Now that I’m shorter, even old n are patting my shoulder.
“Thank you for the advice. But you didn’t co here just to greet , did you…?”
I got straight to the point.
But he seed surprised by my bluntness.
“…What? Haha, hahahaha!”
“…….”
“Ahem… Don’t misunderstand. I wasn’t trying to insult you. I was just surprised.”
I understand.
Nobles love their formalities.
He probably wasn’t used to people getting straight to the point.
“Anyway… to answer your question, you’re right. I didn’t co here just to greet you. I have a few questions for you.”
Ugh, he’s doing it again.
He could have just said, “I have a question.”
Just like .
“What is it?”
“…….”
“…Are you hard of hearing?”
I asked cautiously, and he seed to snap out of his daze.
“My apologies. I was lost in thought. Or rather… I honestly didn’t realize you were done talking.”
“Ah, I see. So what’s your question?”
He finally got to the point.
It seed like he had finally learned how to communicate with .
“I’ll be brief. You’re not the type to be interested in a noble’s life. Then why did you choose to be promoted?”
It wasn’t brief at all, but it was the question I had been waiting for.
[…The royal family offered Bjorn Yandel a promotion in exchange for completing the mission.]
Stag Antlers had revealed that information at the Round Table, but the ‘promotion’ wasn’t the only reward the royal family had offered.
A large sum of money, enough to build a mansion.
Two 3rd-grade essences.
And a Double Numbered Item.
I had been given four options, and I had chosen the ‘promotion’ after careful consideration.
The reason was simple.
I could obtain the other three with my own power…
And the promotion was much more useful for my survival.
“I want to hear your true intentions. Why did you choose to be promoted?”
What a strange old man.
He’s asking about my ‘true intentions’ after just eting ?
I chuckled and answered.
“Because more wives are always better!”
I deliberately raised my voice, but he just frowned.
“Wives…?”
Is he really hard of hearing?
“Yes, wives! A Baron can have three wives!”
His eyes narrowed.
‘Is he serious?’
That’s what his eyes were saying.
But he couldn’t refute because he wasn’t sure.
Burp—
I burped in his face.
______________________
“Ah, sorry. I ate too much this morning.”
I quickly apologized, but he didn’t seem to care.
He just mumbled, as if he understood.
“Right… you do have a lot of won around you.”
To be precise, female companions.
There were countless rumors and scandals circulating in the city, probably because we were living together…
Anyway.
“So, is your curiosity satisfied?”
“Halfway there. I have one more question.”
“Ask away.”
Did he enjoy my barbarian communication style?
He asked bluntly,
“Are you on the Marquis’s side?”
It was a short question, but an important one.
So I had to confirm sothing first.
“You’re talking about the Pri Minister, right?”
“Yes. You spent a lot of ti with him while you were missing.”
“…That’s true.”
It was a loaded question.
The official story was that Bjorn Yandel, who was presud dead, had been working on various secret missions for the Marquis for the past two years and six months.
That’s why they had announced that he was an evil spirit.
But…
‘I didn’t know the Duke was also in the dark…’
I felt a strange sense of unease.
“I’ve read all the docunts about your missions. You’ve done a lot. And the information is accurate. At first, I thought there might be so kind of deal, but it seems like the missions themselves were real…”
They even fabricated the docunts?
With such ticulous detail?
‘He told it would take two months to prepare the docunts…’
Is that even possible?
I had a new question, but I focused on the conversation with the Duke.
I had to answer this question first.
“I’m not his subordinate.”
“…Then what’s your relationship with him?”
“We’re friends. We help each other out when we’re in trouble.”
The Duke’s expression softened, as if he had been hoping for that answer.
“Friends… That’s an interesting word. You’re smarter than I thought. And you have good instincts.”
He then asked,
“So… does that an we can be friends too?”
He extended his hand, not even waiting for my answer. I wiped my sweaty palms on my thighs and shook his hand.
“Of course. The more friends, the better.”
Well, real friends don’t shake hands, but…
______________________
Duke Keallunus.
He was practically the third most powerful person in the kingdom, after the King and the Marquis.
He didn’t hold a position of authority like the Marquis, but his family’s influence was imnse.
They sponsored dozens of clans, including several large ones.
And one of his sons was a Mage Tower Master.
‘Friends with the Duke…’
It was an unexpected situation, but not a bad one.
We weren’t really friends.
He had only offered his friendship to prevent from siding with the Marquis.
I would maintain a mutually beneficial relationship with him.
At least until I didn’t need it anymore.
“It’s almost ti. I’ll be going now. See you later.”
“Okay.”
The Duke chatted with until the ceremony began and then left. Most of it was just small talk, but there was one interesting topic.
He said that the expedition force had probably survived because of a conflict between the Rose Knights and Noark’s forces.
‘I wonder if he was testing …’
I couldn’t tell what his true intentions were, but one thing was certain.
The royal family’s Intelligence Departnt was interpreting the situation as I had hoped.
‘What about the Marquis…?’
I hadn’t seen him since the victory parade.
This would be our first eting since then.
“Viscount Yandel.”
Right, it’s showti.
I stood in front of the door, waiting for my cue.
And then the doors opened.
Step, step.
The Palace of Glory, which had been empty two hours ago, was now filled with people.
Well, the first two rows, at least.
Step, step.
It was different from the victory parade.
The hall wasn’t filled to capacity, there was no majestic music, and no soldiers marching behind .
It was a much smaller event.
But…
Step, step.
It would be wrong to call it ‘small’.
Everyone here was a noble.
“It’s been a while since we last gathered like this.”
“I was surprised to receive the summons. To think Viscount Bjorn Yandel would be promoted…”
“Haha, this is actually my first ti receiving a summons for a promotion ceremony.”
“Well, you haven’t been a noble for long.”
“It’s been a while… but yes, promotion ceremonies are rare.”
The nobles whispered as I walked past them.
So seed to be enjoying the rare event, but others weren’t.
“…A re barbarian.”
So looked down on .
“He’s just lucky.”
So were envious.
And…
“I can’t wait for this to be over.”
So were indifferent, attending out of obligation.
Step, step.
I reached the empty throne.
The Marquis was standing there, as expected.
Damn it, I was hoping to see the King’s face this ti.
“It’s been a while.”
He greeted softly, and then he raised his voice and gave a lengthy speech before handing an empty box.
“Place your family crest in this box.”
It was a ritual perford only when a Viscount was promoted to a Baron.
Viscount and Baron were two completely different ranks.
It was a historic mont, a new family being added to the thousand noble families that supported the kingdom.
Swoosh.
I carefully placed the cloth I had prepared into the box.
And then a majestic voice echoed through the hall.
“The eternal oath is now sealed.”
The Marquis personally sealed the box and handed it to a mber of the Royal Guard, who then left the Palace of Glory.
The box would be stored in the Palace of Immortality, under heavy guard.
Until the kingdom was destroyed by fire…
Or until I committed treason.
“Baron Bjorn Yandel, rise.”
I stood up.
“Let us celebrate the rise of a new pillar of the royal family!”
I received a round of applause, devoid of cheers or whistles.
And…
“That concludes the promotion ceremony!”
The banquet began.
‘Okay, so I’ve taken a big step forward.’
It was ti for the next step.
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