CHAPTER 114: CHAPTER 114- DIGNITARIES FROM THE KINGDOM OF AETHERION

The guards in the chamber gulped, not because of the resentment of the demi huamns, no, they were long past that. What Zerina was projecting was a hopeless, despair inducing forlornness that made even them tremble.

However, that despairing aura didn’t last long and slowly started to disappear once she spoke the other half of her sentence.

"After I met Sir Reinhardt, who not only saved us but also brought us into his territory with the promise that we would not be mistreated, I started to see some hope. Maybe just maybe, if humans and demi humans all banded together, there is a chance that we can overturn the situation that we are in now"...

"Maybe just maybe, there is still hope for our people in this continent. Sir Knight here made me see all that. In any case, his debt of gratitude to us is so great that we are willing to follow all of his commands. If he wants to do anything, we of the new Toto village will always have his back".

SILENCE~ the council chamber was silent for a good while.

The king and queen fell silent again. The words discussed for what should have been an easy reward ceremony were too heavy.

After what seemed like time slowing down to a crawl, the queen tapped her fingers and came to a decision.

"Alright, I’ll think about what you said, granting the demi humans, the status of citizens. However, before that, I will need her to prove herself. Reinhardt, your words alone are not enough. I need to see that they are worth triggering a conflict with other nations"...

"You said your name was Zerina, right? Good, you and Reinhardt will be my escorts later or today when I meet the dignitaries from the Kingdom of Aetherion. I will have a suitable place for you to display your worth when the time comes. Do you accept?"

Zerina fervently nodded her head.

"Good, you two are dismissed for now. Stand by outside and wait for me".

The two bowed their heads and exited the hall. Once outside, the panther girl quickly hugged him.

"Really... you... you have truly stood by your words... sniff.. sniff.. I didn’t think a day like this would come".

Reinhardt extended his hands and slowly wiped away the tears of the woma,n shedding silent tears.

"Sniff... sniff... sorry, I ruined your new clothes."

"Don’t worry about it. What good is a knight’s chest if it cannot be used to wipe away the tears of a crying woman?"

His words finally caused Zerina to stop crying and smile.

"You have a glib tongue. No wonder all the women by your side fall for you".

As advised, the two of them waited in the hallway for the queen to come out. During this time, other people and officials also visited the council chamber.

.

The sky outside, the sun was slowly starting to set, casting a mesmerising orange hue over the palace. At this moment, the door to the chamber was opened and the King and Queen finished with all their meetings today, exited.

"I hope I did not make you two wait for long?"

Reinhardt shook his head, "A knight knows of no hardship when serving his lord".

"Fufu... Alright, come with me. We’ll head to the Iris Mansion".

"My Queen, I’ll leave those dignitaries to you. I have some other work that demands my urgent attention".

The king, as busy as he was, bade goodbye to his wife and headed to complete some other task.

On their way to the Iris mansion, the queen suddenly turned around and questioned her escorts.

"By the way, I don’t see a sword on you? Will it be alright? I did not bring any other guards with me".

"No problem," Reinhardt extended his hands and took out the Myhtril sword from his [Dimensional Storage].

Although he doubted he would have to use the sword since he could overwhelm anyone with just his combat arts and raw physical strength alone if he got serious. Nonetheless, a knight escorting a lady, especially the queen, cannot have no weapons on him.

It was not only about being prepared; it was customary. Reinhardt strapped the sword made by Bodhog on him.

The queen glanced at the sword strapped to his waist and commented.

"This sword is of a good finish. However, as I thought, the only sword that suits in the hands of a Divine Paladin is the Holy Sword Galgano".

Holy Sword Galgano, it was the sword the previous Reinhardt used as his primary weapon after he became a level 10 Divine Paladin.

However, after his defeat at the Battle of Black Tide, it was seized from him on the orders of the council. As a holy sword on par with the Kingdom of Aetherion’s Excalibur, it was one of the few prized treasures of Solaris alongside Durandal.

"This weapon is a fine one too."

His current spare sword by made by his friend Bodhog, who poured his blood and sweat into creating a sword that would not break in his hand. As for his primary one, it was on a realm of its own compared to even Galgano and Excalibur.

"I see, in any case, you should know that it is just sitting and gathering dust in the treasury. The Holy Sword has since then, yet to recognise a new owner. Not just anyone can make up for the qualities of a Divine Paladin".

Reinhardt smiled and then asked a question that was on his mind, "By the way, Your Majesty is there a special reason you brought me along as your escort?"

If she were just coming to the Iris Mansion to greet some dignitaries, she could have brought some of the guards from her palace as escorts. However, she insisted on bringing him along. Most importantly, her words to him yesterday...

"Come to the Royal Palace tomorrow, there is an event I would very much like you to be part of".

Maybe, this was what she was talking about.