novelraw Chapter 135 : Chapter 135
Chapter 135 : Chapter 135
Chapter 135. Hero of the Kingdom (3)
The place to face the King of Kaien.
The doors of the audience chamber opened.
―Rumble.
As the doors parted, the space before us was vast, surpassing even the Academy’s auditorium.
A long red carpet stretched from the entrance, guiding guests to the throne.
On either side, the Royal Guard stood solemnly, swords lowered.
At the end of the carpet, on an elevated throne, sat King Gaspar, flanked by the dignified queen and their daughter, Princess Anna, whose sharp eyes watched us.
“…That girl’s eyes resemble someone.”
Gaiard muttered softly.
“What?”
“Nothing.”
We walked forward silently, passing the Royal Guard and high-ranking vassals aligned on both sides.
The guards bowed in respect, but their cautious gazes lingered on Gaiard.
Though silent, their wariness was palpable.
After a moment, we reached the throne.
Facing us, King Gaspar smiled broadly and spoke.
“At last, I see the kingdom’s heroes up close!”
His words resonated softly through the chamber.
I immediately knelt on one knee and bowed.
“Evan Lafard, lesser count of the Lafard Family. I greet the great leader of this land.”
I observed royal etiquette.
But Gaiard stood tall, unmoving.
“I am Gaiard Lecan.”
He stated his name curtly, without bowing.
Rather than feeling embarrassed, I thought, ‘As expected,’ accepting it naturally.
I already knew human etiquette didn’t suit Gaiard.
But those around us reacted differently.
“Such disrespect before His Majesty…!”
“What manner is this…!”
King Gaspar narrowed his eyes and leaned forward slowly.
“Are you… truly Gaiard Lecan?”
As the king’s expression hardened, the Royal Guard subtly placed their hands on their sword hilts, responding to an unspoken signal.
I instantly sensed the tension.
My heart tightened, and I silently prayed.
‘Don’t do this, please… Don’t force me to take Gaiard’s side.’
Amid the wary gazes pouring toward him, Gaiard couldn’t hide his disappointment.
‘…So this is the kingdom’s true face.’
He took a calm breath and spoke firmly.
“Yes. I am Gaiard Lecan.”
At his brief reply, something unexpected happened.
The king abruptly stood, descended from the throne, and strode toward Gaiard.
Before I could intervene, and before Gaiard could react,
the king suddenly grasped his hand firmly.
“The hero who saved the kingdom twice! This is my first time meeting you so closely!”
“…?”
In an instant, the chamber fell into stunned silence.
Gaiard was bewildered, and I was flustered.
The Royal Guard, caught off guard, froze with hands on their swords.
As no one could gauge the king’s intent, only one person understood its meaning.
Princess Anna, seated quietly by the throne.
She subtly curled her lips into a gentle smile.
“Hmph.”
My eyes met hers as she smiled.
‘…What scheme has this sly princess cooked up now?’
***
A few dozen minutes earlier, before the king entered the audience chamber, King Gaspar, the queen, and Princess Anna walked side by side through a corridor.
Beside them, Executor Rona reported the war’s events quietly.
Her words were calm, but they carried the intensity and fatigue of the battlefield.
Naturally, the focus shifted to two figures: Evan Lafard and Gaiard.
“Is it truly the one sealed long ago?”
After hearing Rona’s explanation, the king paused, gazing out a window and muttering.
His face was etched with complex emotions.
“What a twist of fate…”
King Gaspar hadn’t forgotten the past.
Gaiard Lecan—
a name that left the deepest scar in the kingdom’s history.
The event of sealing him in the Hell’s Path of Benner Island remained etched in the palace records.
“And yet, he aided us…”
The king’s eyes were tinged with unreadable emotions.
“I was skeptical at first. But I suspect it’s because of Evan Lafard.”
“Evan Lafard…”
A faint smile touched the king’s lips.
“That young hero’s return was astonishing enough, but to bring Gaiard as well… Truly a miracle.”
The king couldn’t help but marvel at the feats of Evan Lafard, a young noble barely of age, who had altered the kingdom’s fate.
Rona bowed silently in agreement.
Princess Anna, who had been listening quietly, spoke cautiously.
“Father, Evan is truly trustworthy. So why not give this Gaiard he brought a chance?”
The king chuckled softly and shook his head.
“Anna, I’d like to. But a person’s heart can change at any moment.”
“But Father, based on what he’s shown so far…”
“Even so… history proves he’s dangerous.”
The king slowly lowered his gaze to the floor.
“Of course, those records are one-sided. The previous king wasn’t without fault. But he was sealed. And the anger he must have harbored… it’s surely unimaginable.”
The king’s concern wasn’t the past sins.
His deeper worry was the wounds the kingdom inflicted on Gaiard and the potential rage that lingered.
What he truly feared was the ‘justified anger’ that could reignite at any moment.
In the true history passed down only to the royal bloodline, Gaiard was clearly a victim.
Generations of kings had feared and ignored his anger.
But they couldn’t ignore him forever.
“That’s why I’m troubled. His aid to the kingdom is undeniable, but how should I treat him?”
While acknowledging Gaiard’s role in the war, his past made it impossible to reach an easy conclusion.
“Why not treat him as a hero?”
“Hm?”
The king’s eyes widened at the unexpectedly simple answer.
“Set the past aside entirely. Based solely on this event, he’s undeniably a hero. So treat him as one.”
“Set the past… aside completely?”
“Yes.”
Anna nodded and continued.
“He’s from centuries ago. Hardly anyone remembers that past. So, see him as he is now, like a new person.”
The king fell into thought at Anna’s words.
“…Even if we bury the past, will he accept us?”
Anna smiled mischievously and added, “He will. Who doesn’t like praise? Well, he’s not exactly human, but still.”
At that, everyone, including the queen, burst into laughter.
Even the king shook his head, chuckling in disbelief.
“You’re right… It was that simple.”
Ultimately, the king decided to follow Anna’s advice.
Instead of fearing or judging Gaiard, he would treat him based solely on his actions in the present.
Of course, he hadn’t anticipated that I’d actually drag Gaiard into the audience chamber.
“That human always goes one step further.”
Anna smirked, looking at me.
***
Back in the present, King Gaspar had embraced Princess Anna’s advice,
and as a result, he was treating Gaiard before him as a hero.
“This kingdom owes you an unforgettable debt, Gaiard Lecan.”
His voice carried sincerity, and his gaze held genuine, unfeigned respect.
But Gaiard didn’t easily open his heart to those words.
His eyes reflected deep-seated distrust.
‘They were like this back then too. Bowing before me, praising my name. Then they turned their blades on me… This might just be another act.’
But something unexpected happened, a moment that completely shifted Gaiard’s perspective.
“Your Majesty!”
The knights and vassals gasped in unison, and even I widened my eyes, speechless.
King Gaspar had bowed his head to Gaiard.
“I know how deeply your heart has been scarred… And that those scars stem not from mere hatred, but from the wounds we inflicted.”
This gesture was unprecedented for a monarch.
“Yet, as a distant descendant, I sincerely ask for your forgiveness.”
“Ugh…”
Gaiard, speechless, stared at the scene.
Meanwhile, I couldn’t help but marvel inwardly.
‘Bowing his head… The leader of a nation. Now I understand why everyone risked their lives to protect this king.’
The king’s action was stronger than a thousand words, and in that moment, even Gaiard’s centuries-old wariness seemed to soften slightly.
“…Enough. I didn’t want this.”
Only then did the king quietly raise his head.
“Then what do you desire? What can’t I grant to the one who saved the kingdom?”
“What I want… is just the quiet solitude of old. A place where no one seeks or disturbs me.”
He desired neither power nor titles, but the solitary peace of Benner Island, free from interference.
That was his sole reward.
“If that’s your wish, it can be granted anytime.”
As King Gaspar readily agreed, Gaiard nodded and stepped back.
“That’s enough for me. This guy dragged me here against my will, but such settings are merely uncomfortable. I’ve said what I want, so deal with his business now.”
With that, Gaiard turned away indifferently.
Before a kingdom’s monarch, etiquette was expected, but it didn’t matter to him.
He was neither a citizen nor human of this kingdom.
“Hey, you!”
Some vassals voiced discomfort, but the king silenced them with a single glance.
“That’s how it should be. It should’ve been long ago.”
The king muttered with a relaxed smile, as if formalities were trivial if they could resolve long-standing grudges and misunderstandings.
And above all, wasn’t the true purpose of this gathering something else?
The king slowly turned his gaze to me.
“Now, shall we talk about the other hero?”
His words carried heavy expectation and warm goodwill.
“I’ve heard much about you through my daughter, but this is our first meeting face-to-face.”
“It’s a great honor to meet Your Majesty.”
“Your heroic deeds on Benner Island and saving the kingdom in this war—no reward seems sufficient.”
Inwardly, I cheered.
‘Here it comes.’
The moment of reward I’d awaited.
But I kept my expression neutral, lowering the corners of my mouth.
“That’s too kind. I merely did my duty for the kingdom.”
I bowed deeply, speaking humbly.
But contrary to my tone, the king laughed heartily.
“Hahaha, even if that’s your true sentiment, as this land’s ruler, I must offer fitting recompense.”
Finished speaking, the king returned to the throne and sat slowly.
“Lesser Count Evan Lafard!”
“Yes, Your Majesty!”
The king’s gaze swept left and right, then settled on me.
“Today, we witnessed the birth of a new hero. Your contributions are immense, and I shall grant a fitting reward!”
The chamber stirred, but none dared speak.
“I bestow upon Evan Lafard the title of Duke, along with corresponding lands.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty.”
I struggled to maintain a calm facade, but inwardly, I was elated.
Yet that was just the beginning.
“Moreover, without you, this royal family might not exist today. I shall open the royal treasury, allowing you to take one item of your choosing.”
At that moment, the murmurs ceased, and a heavy silence fell over the chamber.
The royal secret vault.
A forbidden domain accessible only to direct royalty.
Opening it to an outsider was an unprecedented act.
‘Haha… A broken sword for this? What a deal.’
The vassals wore shocked expressions, but none voiced dissent.
Evan’s achievements were undeniable.
“And soon, I shall make you the princess'…”
Just as he was about to announce another shocking declaration,
—Boom!
The chamber doors burst open, and the steward rushed in.
“Your Majesty! Forgive my intrusion, but I have urgent news!”
The steward, stricter about etiquette than anyone, appearing like this signaled grave trouble.
And that ominous premonition soon became reality.
“Dean Duke Valendo’s condition is critical. The physician says… to prepare for the worst.”