Chapter 6 – Party at King’s

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The sun had already set when I heard a knock on the door.

“Hero Fortuna, it’s me, Lucilla. The party is going to start soon; if you’re ready I’ll accompany you to the hall”

I went to the door and opened it.

“Yes, let’s go.”

I followed Lucilla to a dimly lit small room at the end of a hallway on the second floor; there I saw the king, who was still smiling from the status reading with the truth stone, the queen, who was trying her best to smile, and two butlers who were standing near a double door on the other side of the room, from which music could be heard coming.

(I thought that the party would be held on the first floor.)

“Hero Fortuna, my wife and I will go into the dancing hall first, you will enter afterwards when it will be told you by our butlers.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

One of the butlers gave a light knock on the door and the music stopped. As soon as the hall on the other side of the door was quiet someone in the hall, who was probably near the door, started talking.

“Ladies and Lords, Their Most Gracious Majesties, King August Lucian Olivie and Queen Zillya Deae Carian.”

As soon as the man on the other side of the door stopped talking the two butlers started opening the door, letting the light of the magic tools in the dancing hall enter the room that was dimly lit by candles, what appeared on the other side of the door wasn’t the floor of the hall but a balcony with stairs that went down, with the hall’s floor in front of it on the lower floor.

When the door finished opening the king and the queen went out on the balcony and, when they reached the railing, an applause could be heard in the hall but with a single gesture of the king everything went quiet again.

“People of Olivedias Kingdom, many times the demons have tried to invade us and until now we could only struggle to keep our defenses against the inhuman strength of their soldier, but now it’s time for us humans to stop this war! My people! The summoning ritual has succeeded and I called you here to present you our hero! Fortuna!”

When the king finished talking a roaring applause exploded in the hall, many times louder than the one before. The butler on the right side of the door gestured me to go to the balcony.

(I wonder if they already told about my appearance to the guests.)

I reached the railing.

Everything froze.

(Yeah…I guess they didn’t. Oh! That guy over there just fainted.)

“Ladies and Lords who have come to welcome me tonight in this world, I thank you. Today I accepted the role of hero in front of His Majesty King August. Tonight, here, in front of all of you, I want to declare my intentions again. I will fight against the army of demons for humanity!”

The people in the hall now had regained some of their composure and here and there cheers could be heard, meanwhile behind me I could hear the king saying “She’s really good at this”. When the few cheers stopped I resumed my speech.

“Their Majesties have told me that my appearance is similar to that of someone who once brought destruction to your world, archdemon Leliah.”

At my last words everything froze again.

(Oh that girl spilled water over her petticoat…oh wait, she doesn’t have a glass…and now she’s running away crying. Poor girl.)

“But I can assure you, and so can His Majesty the king, Lady Raphael and Lord Gabriel who have read trough my abilities with a truth stone, that I have no connection to her whatsoever and that my intention to help humanity in this time of need is real.”

Hearing that three of the most prominent figures of the Kingdom had seen my status and could testify for me everyone finally calmed down and, at the end of my speech a thunderous applause roared through the hall.

While the people where still clapping their hands the royal couple started walking down the stairs that went to the floor of the dancing hall, followed by me. Meanwhile the music, which resemble that of Earth in the Baroque period, started again and butlers started walking through the hall while holding big trays full of bite-sized pieces of food and glasses containing either water or a crimson red beverage.

When we finally got down the stairs the king faced me, while the queen walked away to talk to some noble women.

“Please, come with me Hero Fortuna, there are some people I would like to introduce you to.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

I walked after the king towards two men who were talking to each other. One was almost two meters tall, appearing to be in his late forties, with some white hair starting to appear on his head; the other one was visibly younger, probably in his early twenties and was around one meter and eighty cm tall. When we got near them the tall man stopped talking and turned towards the king.

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“Oh! August! You could have told me sooner about this lady here, I almost run up the stairs to attack her when I saw her; I was really worried that my lovely sister might get hurt you know?”

“Shut up Besalel, we both know that Zillya is much better than you at fighting.”

“Says the one who got beaten to a pulp after he was found in bed with another woman.”

“It was you who made me drink that night! You should have gotten your share of punishment too!”

“Don’t worry…I had.”

“Oh…sorry.”

The king and the man who appeared to be his brother in law had now a gloomy appearance while staring at the floor.

(What’s with this guy, don’t appear and make the royal family into somewhat interesting characters all of a sudden!)

“Anyway, Hero Fortuna, this man is Duke Besalel Carian, head of the Carian household, head of our intelligence, my brother in law and a completely useless man when compared to my wife; while this young man here is my first son, Alexander.”

When the king finished introducing them both Duke Besalel and Prince Alexander, who still hadn’t spoke a word, made a light bow with their hands placed on their chests, to which I responded with a bow myself.

“Unfortunately my two other sons couldn’t be present tonight as they are living in Academy City.”

“Please don’t let it bother you; I’m sure I will be able to meet them in the future.”

“Well then Besalel, I will leave Hero Fortuna in your care as I still have lots of talks to do.”

“Good luck, and try not to get stuck with Count Achar.”

“Don’t even mention him.”

After the two brothers in law finished talking I was left alone with the duke and the prince.

“The king certainly acts in a really different manner with you , Duke Besalel.” I said, looking at the duke.

“Well, we go way back. Probably Zillya, his own sons and I are the only people he can still act like that around. When he talks with anyone else he has those stiff, kingly manners that don’t really suit him; at least in my opinion.  I can really imagine what he told you when you met the first time “Oh Hero, pleas be the hope of humanity and save us from the demons” or something like that.”

“He certainly did say so.” I said with a small laugh.

“I can’t really imagine someone to immediately accept to something like that.”

“Oh well, I thought it could be fun and I didn’t really have a reason to refuse.”

 “How can you say something like that about such a serious matter?” Said the prince, who had been quietly listening until now, while looking at me with a kind of disgusted expression.

“Now, now, Alexander, as long as we have a hero willing to help us it doesn’t really matter what their reasons are, does it?”

“But uncle, how can you say so when someone says they’ll be a hero ‘for fun’!”

“Would have you preferred she refused?”

“Certainly not but…”

“Then there is no problem with it.”

“I really can’t get you.” And with that the prince angrily went away.

After the prince left the duke made a sign to the band, then turned to me as the music changed to a dance in 3/4 really similar to waltz.

“I’m sorry for the behavior of my nephew; he really doesn’t understand what he should say in front of a lady”

“Oh, this is the first time today someone has called me lady instead of hero.”

“You don’t seem to be bothered by it though.”

“You see, I think the role of a noble lady fits me well.”

 “Then may I have the honor of this dance ‘Mihero’?” He said, offering me his left hand while smiling.

“I may be a bit inexperienced, but please bear with it.”

I smiled while accepting his hand and getting closer to him to place my left hand on his shoulder, as he placed his right one on my back.

We waited the right moment and when it came he advanced with his left foot while I went backwards with my right one.

We danced for what could have been a couple of minutes, then Besalel got closer to me, his face now just a few centimeters from mine.

“I think you said you were an inexperienced dancer.” He said in a really low voice, almost a whisper.

“I really am, maybe I am a natural talent.” I answered, almost whispering myself.

“That may be true. Do you know what I really like about dancing?”

We did a reverse pivot.

“No, what might it be?”

“The fact that people give you the space to dance and can’t get what you are talking about while you are dancing.”

“So you noticed her stares.”

“Yes, the fact that Zillya has been looking your way all this time with that worried look is quite a serious matter for me.”

“And why might it be?”

We did another pivot.

“You see, she is really good at understanding people, good enough that, coupled with her fighting abilities, she could have been the house’s head instead of me if August had not asked her hand.”

“What an amazing sister you have.”

“Exactly because she is that amazing it is quite worrisome that she is behaving this way. You see, if she considered you a threat during your meeting today she would have already killed you, if you were a person that could be trusted she would instead happily help and support you. Considering how neither of the two is true, seen her behavior, it means that either she wasn’t able to understand what kind of person you are or she considers you a threat but can’t kill you for some reason. For the moment I will support her decision, but if you ever try to harm my family or this nation I will make you regret the day you were born.”

(Well I directly incarnated this time around so I technically never born.)

I chuckled a little, which made Besalel a bit upset.

“Do you find it funny?”

“No, sorry, I just remembered something. I promise you I will not do any harm towards this country.”

“And my family.”

“Well, I can’t really swear I won’t slap Prince Alexander one of these days.”

Duke Besalel stared at me for a moment and then burst into laughter.

“Well, there are times he might need some discipline. I will believe in you for now Hero Fortuna.”

“Thank you Duke Besalel.”

The waltz-like song stopped that moment and with it our dance.

“You must be thirsty, would you like a glass of vilam?” He said while taking two glasses from the tray of a butler.

“May I ask what kind of beverage it is?”

“Oh right, I almost forgot you are from another world. It is the fermented juice of a bright red fruit called capui.”

“I’ll gladly accept then.” I said while receiving my glass from him.

While I was taking my first sip of vilam, which had a bit acidic, tannic and refreshing taste, the king came to us again.

“Hero Fortuna you really are an amazing dancer.”

“Thank you Your Majesty.”

“If you have finished talking with Duke Besalel I would like to introduce you to other nobles of our kingdom.”

“Go ahead August; I can’t monopolize her all the night after all.”

After he said so Besalel made a light bow towards me and left.

After that I had to talk with a multitude of nobles about trivial things for hours, especially with Count Achar who apparently doesn’t know when to stop talking, for hours and when the party came to an end it was already late at night.