CHAPTER 313: THE KING’S REWARD

"I’m glad you understood."

"But still—"

Quintus’s expression became serious.

"At that time, you and Dominic had to make a painful decision. Shiao Yi had to risk his life. And you had to force yourself to attack him. I know your trauma. Even so, we pushed that task onto you."

"I was the one who decided. You, Mr. Vundo, and my father could have ordered us. In fact, maybe you should have. But instead, you all let us to choose."

"Or maybe it was cruel of us. We put the fate of the world on the shoulders of you two. And honestly, without Shiao Yi’s power and your magic, defeating that monster would have been impossible."

He slowly shook his head.

"No. There was only one choice. Neither Dominic nor I could ever choose to let the Aeon escape. So we saw it as you giving us time to prepare our hearts. We are grateful."

"Hearing that saves us too. But let me say this again. It should have been said when both you and Shiao Yi were together, but Johan is how he is."

"Dominic. You did well. You made the decision. At that moment, none of us believed Shiao Yi would return alive.

We truly thank you both for your courage and devotion. Thank you."

Quintus bowed his head deeply.

Behind him, the deep red military banner with the great lion was spread out.

On both sides were the flags of the Rosaria army and the knight order.

This was the office of the top of the kingdom’s military.

And the master of that office bowed his head to him and Dominic.

"Please raise your head. I understand your feelings clearly."

"Johan feels the same way. And so does your father, even though he never says much."

So that was why his father’s attitude toward Shiao Yi had softened and the reason why he finally accepted Shiao Yi as a capable man.

That stubborn father of his... The warmth spread in his chest.

...

Quintus looked at Dominic with a strange expression and asked him a question.

"Dominic. Ever since you returned, have you still not met His Majesty even once? You should have received several written requests from him."

Dominic nodded.

"Yes. As long as I report my mission to you, that is enough."

"No, that is not the point. His Majesty is very grateful to you and Shiao Yi for risking your lives to accomplish this. Along with his words of thanks, he wants to give you a reward for your achievements."

"In this battle, Shiao Yi and I were not the only ones who risked our lives. All the knights, soldiers, and magicians fought with the same resolve to die. We are not special."

"Of course. They all received rewards as well. But that is not the only reason His Majesty wants to see you. He wants to meet you. He wants to talk to you."

Dominic made a sour face.

"That is exactly why I do not want to go. If I go, I feel like they will not let me come back for a while."

Quintus twisted his face, trying to hold back laughter, but failing to keep a straight expression.

"Ah, I understand that. His Majesty and the Crown Prince both adore you very much. As for Crown Prince Amiri... that boy is practically a hero worship. You should give up and just go show your face. They will be happy."

He remembered how, when people thought he had died after being swallowed into the underground, the palace mourned him for three whole weeks.

At the time, he had been shocked at the ridiculousness of it.

Even when he and Shiao Yi came back from the underground and went to the palace, they were still in the middle of tearing down the mourning banners and decorations.

When Dominic glanced at Quintus’s face, he could tell the man was remembering the same thing.

He stared into the distance.

Later, Dominic heard that there were not enough servants or guards to handle everything, so even the knights had been forced to help.

King Rosaria had been so crushed with grief during the mourning that he could not work at all.

His work piled up more and more and Dunyarzad had apparently gone into a rage.

It’s truly like a battlefield.

Dominic feared that if he carelessly showed his face at the palace again, a new chaos would begin.

And then Dunyarzad would explode in anger again.

Dominic wanted to avoid that at all costs.

As Dominic covered his forehead and groaned, Quintus cleared his throat, trying to reset the mood.

He tried to put on a serious expression, but for some reason, his amber eyes were shining with amusement.

"Well, His Majesty already understands that you two are not likely to go up to the palace," Quintus said. "But besides that battle, he also wants to give rewards for your two years of service as Special Knights. However, he knows you two will never accept money or gifts. So His Majesty thought of giving you a different kind of reward."

At that moment, Dominic suddenly imagined the king’s bright and smiling face and a strange uneasiness stirred in his chest.

"This is it."

Quintus slapped a single document onto the desk.

His voice was full of amusement.

"A marriage application. It states that His Majesty himself has approved the marriage between you and Shiao Yi. If you take this to the registration office in the royal capital, you two will officially become spouses. Your rights and status as partners will be protected."

"What? Huh? Ehhh?"

As Quintus’s words sank into Dominic’s frozen mind, he became flustered and turned red.

This must be what it means when people say your face catches fire.

"Ah, um, that means, that is—"

Nonsense spilled from his mouth without control.

He panicked and moved his hands in confusion, unable to form any proper words.

Quintus stared at him with wide eye.