“Welcome, Hero. I’m sorry for calling you here when you must be tired.”
“You don’t need to worry, Your Majesty, for I will always be here when you need me.”
Elroy’s aura was different. The shocked deputies hid themselves below the table, hiding from him. The Hero didn’t even look back at them. Now they knew that the Hero before was just a sprouting sapling. He seemed constantly aware of everything, even when he tried not to be.
He was easy fodder for the old nobles, who had spent so long in the muck of politics. However, that was no longer the case.
“It seems you learned flattery well. Do you mean to tell me you have been trying to write to me while dealing with the Disaster?”
“If I did, I wouldn’t have worried Your Majesty as much. In the future, I will continue to write to you, even when I am away on expeditions, so that you may feel at ease.”
Elroy completely ignored the nobles, who were scared by his tremendous presence. It was different from that of a ruler the Queen had. It was the presence of a mountain, a force to be reckoned with even when standing still.
“I can see your confidence when you talk to me now.”
“Not so, as my legs still wobble in your presence.”
Agnes laughed at Elroy’s comment. The nobles exchanged glances. And then their wandering eyes finally settled on the Interior Minister. He secretly broke out in a cold sweat at the look in the nobles’ eyes. He glanced around, then sputtered.
“You’ve…come back, Hero.”
‘At least this way, I can save my life first.’ The nobles looked at him eagerly, their eyes narrowing. He’d just gleefully belittled the Hero and challenged the Queen’s authority, and now he was going to tuck his tail, raise the white flag, and declare his surrender?
“You seem quite please the Hero has returned, Interior Minister.”
A noble said to the Minster.
“Who would not be? As I said, I hoped more than anyone for his return.”
The nobles’ expressions changed to one of disbelief. Shamelessly, the Minister shrugged and turned to the Queen and the Hero.
“Well, since he has returned, all of our assumptions are for naught, Your Majesty.”
The Minister turned his head and looked at the nobles sharply. Now that the Hero has successfully defeated three Disasters, it would be suicidal to pick a political fight in his presence.
“Is that so, Interior Minster? But weren’t you keen on recalling the reinforcements I sent out and finding a new Hero to take his place?”
At the Queen’s mockery, the Minister swallowed dryly. He had finally understood what had happened. This gathering was to weed out the nobles who would stand against the Hero, and everything a few minutes ago was to create a reason to do it.
“…It was an oversight on my end. I was merely talking about the worst-case scenarios. After all, Disasters are not to be taken lightly, and we should always be prepared.”
“What’s the matter? You’re suddenly all respectful. Why don’t you do what you always do.”
The Hero’s words cut deep. The corners of the Minister’s mouth began to twitch. The Hero looked at him with a look of disgust. No, it wasn’t just him. He was looking down at everyone in this room. Inwardly, the Minister felt insulted, but he pinched his thigh to keep his anger in check.
“People change, Hero. I’m just impressed with what you’ve done during your visits to Evernode and the Holy Land. Let’s call it pure admiration and respect.”
“Ah, yes. I see.”
The Hero lifted his head, uninterested in the Minister’s excuses. The Queen looked at him with a troubled expression.
“I trust you, Hero Elroy. Not in how a ruler believes in her officials but as part of the people who believe in you. Without you, this world would have been destroyed many times over.”
“I am flattered to hear you say that.”
Agnes smiled softly, then glanced back at the nobles with a cold glare, mainly directed at the high nobles, who tried to undermine the Hero with their colorful accusations.
“Do you still see the Hero as a power to control? Do you think he is a spear aimed at your chest, an object to be kept at bay to preserve your modest positions?”
The nobles did not speak. Agnes looked at their tight-lipped faces and sighed in pity. She had thought this would be an excellent time to organize them, but there were more than expected.
“Your greed will end your political lives today.”
Defeat.
The nobles understood there was no returning. Their will to rebel was broken. Their leader, the Interior Minister, has already been defeated, and he would slowly lose his power in the court. At the Queen’s gesture, another Interior Minister rushed beside her.
“You will be assigned to the battlefield at once.”
At his words, the faces of the nobles turned even more grim.
“Earl Mason Charlton, Baron Maizenrom….”
The reactions of the nobles being called out were one of three: complete darkness over their shadowed faces, a complete inability to comprehend what was happening, or a loud, impatient protest.
“This can’t be happening. What the hell did we do to deserve this!”
“That’s right, this is a normal debate we have!”
The knights who entered with the Hero grabbed the unwilling nobles by the shoulders. They struggled and tried to shake the knights off, but they would not budge.
“Now, then, do your duty.”
The words fell like a death sentence. The Interior Minister watched helplessly as his men were dragged to the battlefield. He had survived but was like a scarecrow, unable to do anything.
“If only he’d kept his mouth shut.”
One of the guards muttered, and the other Interior Minister sighed. The nobles, who had been watching, turned their attention to the Hero. He was still glaring at them, and the nobles who met his gaze quickly bowed their heads, and in their ears, they could hear him snort.
The doors of the Great Hall opened, and many of those who left would never be able to enter again. The Interior Minister, his strength drained from his body, avoided the gazes of the nobles who stared at him reproachfully.
***
“Funny, can you see their eyes?”
Daphne whispered to me in a low voice. I gave a slight nod of my head in agreement. A few glances were now directed at the Minister. Only the occasional curious glance was directed at him, but even they quickly turned away. A few words from the Queen had just cut off his limbs, and no one was left to oppose me.
Some people were looking around frantically. They were quickly trying to figure out who to side with. I clicked my tongue, realizing that most of their eyes were on me.
“That’s the way it is.”
I turned my head toward the sudden voice. It was the other Interior Minister, Count Benoit Aupre. He was in his late forties and was a medium-sized man with a bushy beard. He looked to be nearing the end of his career.
“You’ll have a harder time finding anyone in this palace who isn’t like them because everyone is trying to gain a larger piece of the pie. Now that they’ve lost one big pillar, they’re naturally looking for another. It seems most of them believe you are the best option.”
“What about you, Count?”
“I’m no different; I just held onto the right rope.”
Count Benoit smiled faintly. ‘Was it so difficult to mention his loyalty to the Queen?’ Though, it’s nice not to be pretentious.
“Thank you for defeating the Disaster. I hope you will continue to shoulder the burden for the world.”
Count Benoit invites me to shake his hand, and I nod, returning the favor.
“Of course, Count.”
“Thank you, Hero. I wish you well in the future…and please get along well with the Queen.”
I had no clue what he was talking about.
“Hero Elroy.”
I turned, my shoulders flinching at the sound of the Queen calling me. She was staring at me with her red eyes. I walked past Count Benoit and approached the Queen’s throne.
“Thank you, Hero. You’ve saved us a lot of trouble. The aftermath will be handled by a few ministers under Count Benoit.”
I smiled and nodded.
“That should keep me from being shaken down from within.”
“What do you mean? I’ve never doubted you. You will never be questioned as long as I stay in power.”
Agnes replied firmly. I was slightly surprised that she could trust me so much.
“…Your Majesty seems to have great trust in me.”
“After all you have shown me, it would be strange for anyone to doubt you. Do you find my trust burdensome?”
I quickly shook my head, and the Queen smiled at my reaction.
“I have told you that you may relax yourself when we talk… The easygoing manner you appeared to me when you entered the fray just now was all an act. Are you still uncomfortable with me?”
“No, not at all. It’s just that I don’t know how I will look in other people’s eyes when I act casually with you. Some might see it as disloyalty or taking you lightly.”
Indeed, knights glared at me with burning eyes as I stood alone with the Queen. I don’t know if it’s because of their jobs as her escort or just personal jealousy, but I feel like my every word and movement is being criticized.
“I didn’t realize you cared about such things.”
“…I guess there is no helping it.”
I addressed the Queen in a more relaxed tone, and her smile widened as if she was satisfied.
“I see. Anyway, you’ve done a good job with this Disaster, and it’s only fitting that you should be rewarded. But this time, I would like to grant you a personal favor or wish. Of course, you will still get your rewards with your party.”
I was shocked by her words.
A personal favor or wish.
I pursed my lips as I stared at her and then decided to speak up with another resolution that had been lodged in my mind since defeating the Mist.
“Then, I hope you don’t mind if I make a request now.”
The Queen’s eyes lit up at my resolve. There was even a hint of anticipation in them.
“Hmm~. I see you have something on your mind. Very well. Go ahead and say it.”
I looked straight into her red eyes and opened my mouth to speak with eagerness and sincerity.
“I want to be strong.”
The Queen’s smile grew deeper as she understood what I had requested.
