The Bookkeeper
Chapter 73: Ceremony

Chapter 73: Ceremony

The sun rose slowly above the horizon. Raiden stood at the center of the courtroom, the six elders positioned behind their respective counters around him, the king presiding from the highest seat.

Raiden’s gaze moved through the yellow auras before him, confusion clouding his thoughts. He didn’t know how he could have gotten there. The very last thing he remembered was speaking to Alora... His head dropped to his chest instantly as he shook it in disbelief. He had fallen for Alora’s manipulation.

He let out a sigh, wondering why she would want him brought before the high court. He couldn’t think of anything he’d done worth their attention.

The irritation of most elders toward him was obvious enough, and understandable considering he had forced his hidden truths painfully upon them.

While he was caught in thought, King Hannes spoke. "We are glad to have you, Raiden Night."

Raiden tilted his head upward and nodded to him. He might have been summoned after all, though clearly in an unusual way.

King Hannes’ expression darkened. "There are over a hundred knights currently at your post, and I suppose your comrades are there to assist, so there’s no need to worry about your duties."

Raiden wasn’t worried about that; he hadn’t even thought of it. Still, knowing about it gave him a sense of relief.

"And about your comrades..."

Raiden looked startled.

"Among them is a very infamous figure across the Kingdom of Noor, Freya Pasha." King Hannes’ expression grew darker, and his voice dropped. "How exactly did you get in touch with someone as notorious as her?"

Raiden gave him a deadpan look. They could have raised this question the last time they met, but chose to wait until the war was over before requesting an answer.

He let out a sigh. "Freya is a very loyal comrade. I have limited knowledge of her past, but I can vouch for her present and future. Just as she shed her blood fighting with us yesterday, she will continue to do the same."

Silence filled the room for a moment. For the first time, the elders didn’t have anything to mumble about him. This was typically when they would start discussing how disrespectful he was, but now they remained silent like actual adults, though their irritated expressions were deafening.

King Hannes smiled. "With such words, I don’t think knowing how you two met matters."

Raiden gave him a nod as he prepared himself to leave. Levi had yet to return from his mission to retrieve Leo. No words. No signs. It wasn’t a good thing, and he wanted to get more information about them now that the war was over.

Little did he know there was more to be discussed with the court.

King Hannes cleared his throat and rose to his feet, as did the elders. "Raiden Night."

This should have been the moment for goodbyes, but something was off about them rising to their feet.

"The high court of the Kingdom of Persia appreciates the loyalty, courage, and compassion you’ve shown for the kingdom throughout these tough times... and with that, you’ve earned the absolute respect and devotion of the court to aid you in your duties as the bookkeeper."

He slammed his fist into his counter, and the six elders followed suit; then they all took their seats.

Raiden’s expression was etched with confusion. He was glad the court would be serving him, as they had been all along, but an outright claim like that meant they were willing to do more. Still, why this sudden change? He had simply done his job, nothing more.

"We recently learned through Alora that the assassin organization is named ’FIRMO.’ What it means is a mystery to us."

Hannes paused for a moment. "But we do know that you’ve fought all along while doing your duty, even when you were declared a traitor to the kingdom by this very court..."

Raiden smirked. They had always known he was doing his duty, but they simply wanted him out of the way. That had nothing to do with his devotion to his work.

"You had only a hundred men against over six hundred assassins, three corrupt crest bearers among them, and you still emerged victorious."

Raiden silently shook his head in disbelief. Though some words held true, the corrupt crest bearers they encountered were no warriors.

One’s explosives looked impressive, but when Soul was caught in the blast, all it did was singe her clothes.

The one Alora faced was all bark but no bite—the shadowy wolves emerging from his body were nothing but pets. Raiden’s opponent seemed threatening, yet couldn’t teleport anyone farther than a meter away.

Was Alora so desperate for the kingdom to have this victory that she would lie?

"You’ve done well, just like your predecessors." King Hannes braced himself as his tone grew steady.

"Therefore, we are hosting a royal speech with the entire kingdom to apologize for how badly we’ve treated you, and afterward, a ceremonial event in your honor."

Raiden managed an awkward smile, sweat forming on his forehead.

"This would be our way of making amends."

It wasn’t bad, since it would give him a good reputation, and he wanted to see the entire court grovel before him. But this was too sudden and would interrupt the peace he’d hoped for.

He took a deep breath and calmed himself. This was necessary, and he might even meet powerful people who could become allies and help him return to his world.

After a brief moment of thinking, he smiled. "I accept your apology, King Hannes."

"It’s settled then. Everything happens tomorrow and the day after."

Raiden gave them an awkward smile.

Hannes smirked, rose to his feet, and slammed his fist into his counter, and the elders did the same before they all began leaving the room, following King Hannes’ lead.

The moment they left, Raiden let out a sigh of relief, turned, and began leaving the room. But right at the entrance, he met Alora.

"That wasn’t so hard, was it?" She smiled sarcastically.

Raiden sneered. "What did you do to me?"

"Take it easy, Bookkeeper." She gave him her rehearsed smile. "I’m just trying to forge something between us... you know, fill in all those missing pieces from our childhood."

Raiden shot her a lazy look, puzzled by her obsession with their childhood. He didn’t bother waiting for her response and brushed past her.

"Your familiar’s in the library. Figured you’d want to know."