Knights and Magic Wand
Chapter 352 - 352 171 Count Glade_2

352: Chapter 171 Count Glade_2 352: Chapter 171 Count Glade_2 He still remembered, when the other party almost became the last Family Head of the Thorny Flower Family, after much maneuvering, presenting the tax money in the Royal Palace, earnestly begging for the inheritance of the title with a do-or-die determination.

After a while, Lydwen no longer continued his scrutiny and, with a sweep of his robe, strode past Eriv Farolis.

“…With such sharp thorns like you all around me, I can sleep peacefully in the future.”

With these words, without looking back, he made a gesture behind him.

The Flying Dragon, which was overlooking everyone from on high, immediately let out a low chant, turned its body, and with its wings whistling, soared into the sky, flying towards the camp the Thorny Flower Family had arranged for it.

Ines, who was at the front of the procession, silently followed her father’s footsteps.

With her hands clasped behind her back, she asked softly but obediently by Lydwen’s side, “Father~…You won’t blame me for sneaking over to Kantadar, will you?”

“If you dare to come here, what more need I say.” Lydwen glanced sideways at his daughter, who was dressed in armor just for show, lifting an eyebrow as if about to speak yet holding back: “This get-up of yours…”

Without saying more, he was well aware of the little ruse his clever daughter was playing.

But turning his gaze and briefly looking at that little fatty from the West Family behind…Lydwen couldn’t help frowning.

Seeing the king’s piercing gaze, Akman shrank in fear, not daring to look directly and slowed his pace even more, fearing he could not hide within the crowd.

Looking at the first in line to inherit the title of Duke West with such disposition, Lydwen felt a mix of satisfaction…

and disappointment in his heart.

Looking back at his daughter, a touch of paternal guilt let Lydwen raise his hand and ruffle her hair, indulgently allowing, “…Do as you wish, but don’t treat war as child’s play, don’t lose your own life.”

“Mm~ I understand.” Ines replied with a light laugh to her father, making no argument.

The nobles lining the road also turned and followed the king, escorting him in two rows.

Above the city gates, the long trumpets sounded to welcome the king, and the six-horse carriage, which had been waiting far away from the dragon’s might, drove out of the gates, and quickly collected King Lydwen and Princess Ines.

The noble procession only left behind a few people to meet the King’s Domain Army and then escorted the luxurious carriage arranged by the Farolis Family back to the city.

“Why doesn’t this King of Orland enter the city with the King’s Domain Army he brought?” Lokhak whispered to Azeryan, who was beside him in the troop.

“I guess, even the warhorses of the King’s Domain Cavalry can’t stand the might of that giant….

Er, ‘Flying Dragon’,” Azeryan recalled the knowledge from Leon’s book and changed his habitual designation of the dragon, making such a conjecture.

“That king might not even have been marching with the King’s Domain Army at all,” Leon interjected.

After witnessing the giant dragon’s bewildering speed upon taking off, he even suspected that King Lydwen might have been in Klonia Kingdom just the day before and, calculating the date, directly took the dragon from the King’s Domain, flew to Archers City.

To land that giant creature thunderously before the nobility of the kingdom, Lydwen’s action was undoubtedly a display of his might.

And had he arrived with the King’s Domain Army, scaring the accompanying horses into a frantic escape, it would have turned into a farce instead.

…

Upon escorting the king to the inner castle of Archers City, Eriv Farolis naturally vacated the throne and the well-prepared Lord’s room for the Monarch to rest.

The Klonia Royal Army encamped outside the city, the King’s Guard and court officials came a little later into the city.

The grand investiture ceremony was not hastily convened that very day, as the court personnel who came with the army needed some time to discuss the ceremony proceedings with the people from the Farolis Family and understand the banquet arrangements.

However, the experienced Royal Court officials quickly took over everything.

The next day, the Thorny Flower Knights, dressed in noble attire and having groomed themselves properly, followed the opulently dressed Eriv Family and various Noble Lords to wait in the castle’s great hall, which was to be the venue.

The vaulted ceiling and the columns of the hall had already been adorned with tapestries and decorations brought by the Thorny Flower Family.

In the solemn and dignified hall, the nobles quietly conversed with one another, waiting for the final preparations to be completed.

Leon, bored, glanced around at everyone, his gaze naturally landing on Ines, who was in the guest line next to General Trosa.

The Princess, in today’s setting, had changed out of yesterday’s sophisticated armor and put on an off-shoulder court dress befitting her status as a princess.

She wore a delicate princess crown studded with diamonds, and her dress was embellished with exquisite gems that complemented the young girl’s hair and eye color.

Leon could not help but give an extra look at her appearance at this moment.

Of course, it was purely appreciation, as her blonde hair, similar to that of Olivia’s, inevitably brought to his mind the image of his lover at home wearing the same outfit.

Especially that immaculate white princess dress, which at first glance resembled a wedding gown, made Leon daydream about Olivia on their future day.

However, in his field of vision, compared to the proper and elegant Ines, Leon’s attention was drawn to another conspicuous figure standing beside the young girl.

As improper as it may sound, that round and chubby noble, dressed in formal attire, indeed stood out prominently among the tall and robust military merit nobles in the hall.

To some extent, even more eye-catching than Princess Ines in her formal attire.

This young chubby fellow followed closely behind Ines, standing in the same row as Count Trolsa, and on his left was a proud-looking young nobleman, making the contrast between them even starker….

Of course, conspicuous as he may be, it was certain that the chubby fellow was also a member of the highest echelons of Orland’s nobility.

Leon turned his head and asked Azeryan to confirm his suspicions with the help of his attire and accessories, and concluded that this young chubby individual was at least an earl, although it was unclear if his title was hereditary.

The young noble on his left, then, was likely a rare….

marquis?

The music played by the court musicians, signaling the official start of the ceremony, interrupted Leon’s idle speculations.

The conversations among the nobles also quieted down.

The accompanying music indicated that the ceremony was about to formally begin, and the King’s Guard spearman opened the door to welcome the king’s entrance.

King Lydwen III, dressed in royal robes, entered the hall with a dignified gait, hands folded behind his back.

He walked through the bows of the assembly as if he was still in the Orland Royal Palace.

Once King Lydwen turned and took a seat on the throne, one of the court officials came forward, unfurled the royal decree, and read it out loud with chest puffed and head held high to the noble lords.

Eriv, whose knighthood was to be conferred, responded to the call of the decree, stepping out from the ranks of the Farolis Family.

He strode forward, came before the king’s throne, knelt down to pay respects, and silently listened to the chancellor read out the official endorsement from the Orland Monarch and the kingdom, recognizing his and the Farolis Family’s rule over the entire jurisdiction of the county below.

After the lengthy decree was read, Lydwen rose slowly from his seat.

The attendants holding the embroidered cushions presented the scepter and the Golden Ring to Lydwen and Eriv.

“Eriv Farolis, today I bestow upon you the power to govern Glade County.

You and your descendants of the Thorny Flower must adhere to loyalty and vows, to defend this new frontier for the kingdom…”

After King Lydwen III finished speaking, he picked up the two symbols of an earldom and handed them to Eriv.

Two other attendants quickly draped the Earl’s cloak over the Master of Thorns, representing his new status.

Eriv rose to his feet, solemnly reiterated his oath of loyalty, then put on the ring and held the scepter, and stepped back to the center of the hall.

At this moment, the Master of Thorns was reinstated to the same status as his ancestral forebears.

Although not the same territory, his domain was undoubtedly even more vast than his family’s past holdings.

“…honor, Earl Glade.”

The Thorny Flower Knights bowed and paid their respects under the lead of Sir Balfe.

Listening to the pleasant title, Eriv took a deep breath, turned around, and returned to his place amidst the eager gazes of the knights of the Farolis Family.

“Let the banquet begin,” announced King Lydwen III from the throne.