Episode 68 - The Knights Destiny 5 END ‘Paladin’
THUD!--
One old noble, unwilling to bear to watch the Great Nobles be more powerful than they are currently suddenly dropped and kneeled on the ground. This action showed his disagreement with the decree, and also brought the aristocrats who were shocked by the decree back to reality. Many wanted to do the same and disagree, however they stayed still as a wisp of cold wind suddenly came from a top, giving them chills down their spines.
And just as how they trusted their intuition, a very loud slam was heard from the top, making everyone jolt in their place. Without looking, they could already tell that the Emperor was incredibly furious.
Without delay, The Emperor’s voice sounded out dangerously. “You dare go against me?” Extenuating every word. Who doesn’t know, to go against the decree meant going against the Emperor.
The old man, who knelt was overwhelmed with pressure, he could feel his whole head tingling and going white from regret! He thought that if he voiced his opinion, at least someone would do the same! Who would have thought no one would follow him! The old man was facing so much pressure that his whole body started to tremble. In a quiet voice, he said. “This subject apologizes.”
The other aristocrats watching the old man sighed in pity. The nobleman who went against the Emperor will be facing hell and will no longer be associated with any aristocrats starting today. If that nobleman would have said something further, he might possibly even be facing execution for going against Xenperia. Also, did he not realize, the Great Noble’s offspring are decreed to be Paladin to protect the Crown Prince in the future! To go against that is to object to the Prince’s safety.
The very silent suffocating room was then not silent anymore as the Eunuch started rambling about what it means to be a Paladin to the children, and how important this title was because it’s the closest title to the Imperial family.
Eugene quietly watched the Eunuch explain, and very quickly understood the aristocrats’ reaction. ‘No wonder everyone glared daggers, it was because this title is the highest honor. Granting access to the Imperial palace at any time, on top of having a status higher than a Duke. This really is the closest existence to the Imperial family, but… It’s also not a real power because it’s just a status. Moreover what? Stay loyal to Xenperia?’ The more Eugene listened to the Eunuch talk, the blanker her face got. ‘I have no rights to object!!’
On the other hand, the more the pair of siblings listened to the Eunuch going on about how this title is very appropriate, the more frozen they got. Unable to handle it anymore, Aeselak whispered. ‘This award is too much sister…’ Tugging the hands of Aedelak.
The loud voice of the Eunuch stopped before continuing, “Well then, please come forward and kneel in front of his Majesty Emperor to receive the Paladin brooch!”
One by one, the 8 children head up the set of stairs to receive the brooch that will represent their achievement and their future authority. The twins together with Aernest walked hand in hand and upon reaching a meter away from the Emperor, they bowed down.
These sets of actions perfectly copied Louis, Ron, and Ramon who went before them. Once they received the brooch, they then bow down again. However, without descending the sets of stairs, a crisp voice of a young little child spoke out. “This subject expresses gratitude. Blessings and honor to the Imperial family and kingdom of Xenperia.” Understanding of Eugene, Aernest, and Euria bowed further down.
“Blessings!” Euria's cheery voice followed Eugene. “Gratitude!” Aernest voice followed Euria. And with that, the 3 youngest children descended from the set of stairs, walking past Aeselak and Aedelak who were staring at the 3 in shock.
“...” For a while, the throne room went still in silence again. Even the Emperor’s hand that already left the three froze still in place. Besides Euria and Aernest, no one, not even Moniqua and Levis have ever heard Eugene speaking in one full sentence before! They did not know Eugene was this able! To them, it felt as if thunderstruck them!
Aedelak snapped out of her thoughts first and quickly dragged Aeselak to the Emperor. Quickly receiving their brooches from the Emperor who looked as if he had seen a ghost, Aeselak and Aedelak quickly went down the stairs and returned by Eugene and Euria’s side. “Ha…” Aedelak sighed, briefly glancing at Eugene before returning her sights to the red carpet.
Still, no one was talking. Their gazes were focused on the 3, especially Eugene, that no one realized everyone has already gotten their brooches! They wanted to observe the 2 unknown girls who went last but their attention was completely stolen by Eugene!
Seeing everyone's reaction, Eugene silently sneered. Sure enough, the aristocrats were exactly like people in the higher society in her past world. ‘Did they not think I wouldn’t know that they were going to object to Aeselak and Aedelak’s position?’ Eugene coldly stared at the floor in front of her. Just one sentence was able to make everyone focus on her, and that was her intention. Eugene’s lips silently tugged upward, smirking with satisfaction.
She was an actress, someone who constantly lived under malicious gazes. To discern the looks of people who wanted to make trouble was as easy as breathing to her. Her alexithymic condition forced her to have the ability to analyze negative emotions to protect her after all!
Did Eugene really care about people discriminating against one's status? No, not really. She couldn’t be bothered.
Did Eugene care if people were looking down on her people? Yes. No matter what, Aeselak and Aedelak were people who took care of her, and she wouldn’t let it slide if people wanted to touch people whom she was indebted to.
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When people came back to reality and realized that Aeselak and Aedelak had already gotten their brooches, it was already too late to voice their opinions. Some people wanted to nitpick on Aeselak and Aedelaks manners when they went to receive their brooches, but they couldn’t even have a glimpse of it!
In no time, the eyes that had watched Eugene speechlessly became angry. People who were mothers looked at Eugene in anger, whilst children looked at her in jealousy! Many people who were dissatisfied vented their emotions with their eyes on Eugene.
“Your sister….” Ron Graeme can’t help but grab Louis' sleeves in shock. Scary! The entire family is scary!
‘Twins…’
‘She is not even a year old yet.’
‘Wait, they can already walk and talk.’
One man smirked, as he silently watched Eugene and Euria.‘The House of Veria...’ Tapping the side of his legs, his eyebrows then frowned before disappearing into the crowd.
“-Cough-” To get everyone’s attention, the Eunuch coughed, continuing, “As Paladins, you 8 must ensure that you are stronger than others. For that, you will be given appropriate training to protect the Crown Prince as you 8 are the vassals of the Crown Prince and also represent the future of Xenperia.” The Eunuch concluded.
“We understand” The children answered, and went back to their respective families.
After everything was cleared and announced, the aristocrats then dispersed and quickly went back home to relay this decree to all their family members as soon as possible. The aristocrats gritted their teeth in anger as the Emperor’s last words rang in their head.
“We asked you to bring your immediate family members to motivate you in the future so that your children can grow up and protect the future of Xenperia like the Great Noble’s children.” Meaning. This is how the Great Nobles raised their children, do you think your child can do the same?
The aristocrats left in a rush, leaving the Great Noble family together with the Imperial family. The room was filled in silence before the Emperor unruly stretched his entire body and lazily sat on his throne.
The slight movement made Duchess Ray Rodriguez shift her gaze down. Unlike everyone else in the room, she wasn’t a part of their childhood and also wasn’t close to them. Duke Amos Rodriguez only slightly squeezed her hands to reassure her.
“My my” The flowery voice of the Empress spoke out. “You did tell me that your youngest was able to say a couple of words but isn’t that a bit humble?” The Empress walked down the sets of stairs and squatted in front of the twins. “You’ve grown up so much!” The Empress stroked the twins’ cheeks, smiling beautifully at them.
To Eugene this smile didn’t mean much, so she only lazily looked down not reciprocating her smile. The talk was only so that Aeselak and Aedelak can safely accept the decree. Other than that, there was no need to expose much. However, before she could pretend to make herself invisible, a small child suddenly appeared out of nowhere.
Looking upwards, she stared at the child who was only slightly smaller than Ramon. The child had golden hair and blue eyes just like the Emperor, while her nose and eyebrows looked soft like the Empress.
“...”
The little child pointed at Eugene and Euria. “You and you look the same!” She gasped in surprise.
“.....”
Grabbing the child back, the Empress said. “They are twins, special sisters, Lizen!”
Hearing the child’s name, Eugene frowned a bit. ‘Lizen is a weird name…’ In no time, she dissected the name into two, and when the realization hit, her eyes slightly wavered. ‘ Li...Zen. Empress Lilithesia and Emperor Ren?’ Goosebumps itching her arms; this new emotion registered in her head.
“They are weird mother!” Lizen exclaimed, slightly scared that Eugene and Euria looked the same.
“Lizen!” The Empress slightly raised her voice.
Lizen crossed her arms and pouted, she did not want to acknowledge the twins! “Hmph” All her mother did was talk about twins all day, every day! Not wanting to see the twins any longer, she glanced away, her sights laying on her favorite brother.
“Brother Louis!” Lizen ran up to Louis and raised both her arms up, wanting him to lift her up. However, Louis only bent down and took one of her hands to kiss. “Greetings, Princess.”
Liren was already happy enough to hear her favorite person’s voice and forgave the twins’ existence in 1 second!
“-Cough-” Emperor Zen coughed. “Lizen, come to father.” The Emperor and the Crown Prince walked over. Whilst walking over, he slightly glared at Louis. He cannot forgive Louis for taking his daughter’s attention away, but he can also not forgive Louis for not caring about his daughter whatsoever as well!
Crown Prince Ren, didn’t care about his little sister fawning over Louis and ran over to Ron to hug him! It has been half a year since he last saw Ron because he couldn’t leave the Palace and also because Ron couldn’t visit him due to his injury. “I’m glad you're alright!”
Glancing at his mother who was silently staring at him, Ron Graeme laughed. “Ha… ha…” Awkwardly patting the back of Ren. Just yesterday, his mother accused him of being too friendly to males! He wasn’t that much of a fool and could understand what his mother meant and that was why he could only awkwardly half-embrace half-move away from Ren.
Moniqua stepped closer to Aedelak and Aedelak.“Congratulations” She watched as the two siblings awkwardly fiddled with the dress of Eugene and Euria.
“Ma’am... This..” Aedelak awkwardly expressed her feelings. This type of position was completely unsuitable for her! And also! Imagine being of a higher status than your employer with 1 paragraph!
“No need to say anything any further.” Moniqua hushed Aedelak before she could say anything. “ I know you and Aeselak very well, accepting this won’t change your position of being the twins’ escort and butler.”
Aedelak couldn’t help but sigh in her heart hearing Moniqua’s words. The title Paladin was pressuring and honestly speaking, she didn’t care much about the Crown Prince when that incident happened. She only wanted to protect the twins, so becoming the Crown Prince’s vassal doesn’t sound right with her.
Remembering the Eunuch words, Aeselak suddenly asked “Sister, will we train to be stronger?”
“Yes..” Aedelak replied, before thinking that this position might be of some use after all in case anything else happened in the future, she can protect the twins.
Eugene couldn’t help but hear Aeselak’s and Aedelak’s whispers as they were incredibly close by. “Hmm” She nodded, looking down at her second brooch. To be able to train is good, she can protect herself. ‘It’s free food so I will accept it well.’ Eugene quietly thought, fiddling around with the Paladin’s brooch. With this, wouldn’t she be able to try to live without relying on the Veria?
This will definitely derail her from ‘The-Miss-Noble’ imagine she didn’t want.
‘A paladin... A knight?’ She quietly thought, her eyes flashing in excitement.
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Meanwhile… somewhere at the end of the world.
“So… we’ve achieved our goal?” An incredibly cold voice spoke out, stoking her index ring.
The man silently kneeling behind the screen trembled before answering.“Yes…”
“But that darn thing got in our way?” Her young dissatisfied voice rang out.
“Yes…” The man replied, his stomach twisting in knots in anxiety. However before he could do anything, the last sight he saw was the upside-down view of a white dress and a pale pair of bare feet.
The man’s body kneeled still in the same position whereas his head was nowhere to be seen.
My Career is Useless in this World!! Book I Main Chapters END.