Chapter 131 - Episode 128: Elevation of Rank
The banquet hosted by the royal family brings together influential nobles from various regions, but the ceremony preceding it is attended only by those receiving rewards and the court nobles who serve as bureaucrats.
The venue is the Throne Room. Those being granted rewards do not line up in a group; instead, the process repeats with one person entering, receiving words of praise and a reward from the King, and then exiting before the next person enters.
Among the approximately thirty people who earned the honor of receiving a reward directly from the King this time, Noein's turn is in the latter half. Since they are basically called in order of rank, this is unavoidable. However, among the Knight-rank nobles, he is called first, so considering his status, it is actually quite early.
"Next, Baronet Viowulf Rosbroke-kakka, please proceed to the Throne Room."
The man sitting next to Noein was called and walked toward the doors leading to the Throne Room. He was tall, perhaps exceeding 190cm, with deep crimson hair.
Baronet Rosbroke. The name matches that of the man said to have defended one of the forts using earth magic. So this is another hero of the forts, Noein thought, watching the man's retreating back.
He didn't know how it was for the high-ranking nobles, but as for the lower-ranking nobles, they were all crammed into a single waiting room. That said, a chair and table were provided for each person, and a glass goblet filled with fruit water sat upon the table. There was no sense of suffocation whatsoever.
A few minutes later, it was Noein's turn. Perhaps to avoid exhausting the King, who had to grant rewards to over thirty people and host a banquet in the evening, the pace of the ceremony was fast.
"Knight Noein Arqvist-kakka, please proceed to the Throne Room."
His name called by a civil official, Noein stood up and proceeded toward the Throne Room. Following the official through the waiting room door, he entered a short corridor; as Noein approached the curtain at the end, guards pulled the fabric aside to the left and right.
"Knight Noein Arqvist, enter!"
Timed with the voice of the master of ceremonies, Noein stepped into the Throne Room. The single room seemed as spacious as Noein's own estate, and solemn music played from an orchestra, coloring the space with a subtle elegance.
Noein walked with his face slightly lowered, avoiding direct eye contact with the King. Eventually, upon reaching the front of the throne, he turned toward the King and dropped to one knee to show the salute of a subject.
Court nobles stood lined up behind Noein, fulfilling their roles as witnesses to the reward. Perhaps because they were quick to pick up information, rumors about Noein had already reached them, as he could hear the sound of whispering voices.
Words like "eccentric," "crossbow," "golem," and "beastman slave" reached his ears here and there.
"Knight Noein Arqvist. Raise your head."
"Yes."
Ordered by the King, Noein raised his face and saw the King's countenance for the first time.
Oscar Roadberg III. A sharp, spirited King full of vigor. He was a man who radiated a presence that lived up to the reputation Noein had heard.
The King, perhaps having heard the rumors about Noein from Count Burkhard, gave a small, meaningful smile.
A civil official standing diagonally behind the King stepped forward and presented a sheet of paper. It was not the widely used plant-based paper, but expensive parchment that required great effort to produce. Receiving it, the King read the contents written therein.
"Knight Noein Arqvist. In the recent war with the Kingdom of Lancel, you fought valiantly without flinching even while facing an enemy offensive several times your own size, and you successfully defended your post at Barrel Fort. By doing so, you prevented a pincer attack on the main body of the Roadberg Kingdom army. It can be said that you contributed greatly to the Roadberg Kingdom's victory in this conflict and demonstrated conduct that serves as a model for the nobility of the kingdom."
The King spoke of Noein's achievements in a dignified tone.
"In recognition of your conduct, I hereby grant you the title of Baronet. Furthermore, I grant you a sum of money befitting your deeds. From this moment, you shall be known as Baronet Arqvist; show further loyalty and activity as a noble of the kingdom."
"It is an honor beyond my deserts. Henceforth, as a loyal subject of His Majesty the King, I shall contribute to the development of the kingdom by risking my life and soul."
Noein recited the phrases he had learned from Arnold beforehand without missing a beat or adding a word. He felt a sense of relief internally, believing he had properly demonstrated the results of the past few days of practice.
The formal exchange ended there. After that, the King would address the merit-earner with a word or two personally.
"...I had heard you were an odd one, but you are more ordinary than I imagined. Though at first glance, you still look like a child."
The King spoke his impression of Noein. If he didn't bring Matilda, didn't engage in conversation that revealed his personality, and simply behaved in a safe manner, Noein would look like a fine young man who simply had a somewhat youthful appearance.
"I am aware that I am an eccentric, but at the same time, I believe I understand what behavior is considered general in the society of the kingdom."
"Hahaha, so you can pretend to be a normal person, yet you usually choose to behave whimsically for your own pleasure. You are quite an interesting man."
"I am humbled."
The King laughed generously, but his voice sounded slightly theatrical. Noein was able to notice because he himself often used a fake smile.
Noein felt he now understood why Arnold had described the King as being "keen on demonstrating the greatness of his own capacity."
"Your conduct this time was truly commendable. You all are the protagonists of the banquet following this. Enjoy yourselves. That is all. You may leave."
"Yes."
Noein bowed his head once more, stood up, and exited the Throne Room by walking in the opposite direction from which he had entered.
.....
After the ceremony ended, the banquet was held in the evening.
"It seems you are no longer nervous, Baronet Arqvist."
"I've naturally grown accustomed to social settings. Besides, compared to the daytime ceremony where I met His Majesty one-on-one, being buried in a banquet with over two hundred people, including court nobles, is nothing significant."
To Arnold, who spoke while laughing softly, Noein replied with a faint, wry smile.
When he first participated in the banquet of the Northwestern Faction, they had walked side-by-side down the corridor leading to the venue just like this, but compared to that time, Noein had gained various experiences, and his nerves had thickened accordingly.
"In contrast, is Clara's expression a bit stiff?"
"This child doesn't have much experience with socializing, after all."
"...I-I am fine."
Pointed out by her parents, Clara said so, but she was indeed still nervous.
Behind Noein and Clara, Matilda and Dant followed as guards. Not only Matilda, but Dant as well was behaving impeccably as a guard officer.
"...Make sure you don't directly pick a fight even if you meet Count Kivileft. I don't think I need to tell you this, but..."
"Of course. Or rather, on the surface, he and I are strangers, so he won't suddenly involve himself with me either."
The fact that Count Kivileft held an exclave in the Bezel Great Forest was not widely known to begin with, and the fact that it had been pushed onto a bastard child and severed had not spread, thanks to Maximilian's desperate cover-up.
Those close to Maximilian likely suspected it, and it would be different if someone seriously tried to investigate that bastard child, but on a national scale, the relationship between Maximilian and Noein was almost unknown. Both would likely operate on that premise.
Having finished confirming the concerns for the banquet, Noein and Arnold stepped into the venue with their respective partners.
"Viscount Arnold Koenitz-kakka, Lady Eleonore Koenitz, enter! Baronet Noein Arqvist-kakka, Lady Clara Arqvist, enter!"
The master of ceremonies waiting at the entrance of the venue raised his voice, announcing Noein and the others' entry. Even among nobles, not everyone knew each other, and in large gatherings, it was often unclear who was who, which is why names were shouted loudly upon entry.
Upon hearing that voice, the nobles already in the venue, along with their partners and children, turned their gazes toward the four.
"...As expected, when one of the protagonists who received a reward appears, it draws attention."
"How grateful."
To Arnold's mutter, Noein replied in a voice that sounded particularly ungrateful.
By entering side-by-side in a friendly manner, Arnold could show that he was close to Noein, who had achieved military merit, and Noein could show that he already had an influential noble of the Northwest as his backer.
Inside the venue, the ladies seemed to be gathered on the right side from the entrance, and the men on the left.
"Well then, dear, I shall go over there with Clara to make the rounds of greetings."
"Yes, I leave it to you."
"Noein-sama, we are going."
"See you later, Clara."
Led by Eleonore, Clara left Noein's side and headed toward the gathering of ladies.
Following behind them as a guard was Dant. For women, who often lacked means of self-defense, it was common to have a sturdy guard who could serve as a shield. In fact, behind the ladies, rugged soldiers stood with their presence erased, waiting like bronze statues.
Noein had also assigned Dant, who looked clearly like a soldier, as Clara's guard. There was also a personal reason: he didn't want to let both Matilda and Clara out of his sight.
"Then, shall we head to the gathering of men?"
"Yes."
Nodding to Arnold, Noein headed with him toward where the heads of the noble houses were gathered.
Baronet Arqvist, one of the protagonists of this occasion, who had even achieved an elevation of rank. A baby face that didn't match his military merit, and the peculiar behavior of employing a female beastman slave as his own guard.
Inevitably, curious eyes were directed at him, and he could hear voices whispering about him.
"I thought I smelled something beastly... why on earth is a beastman slave here?"
"I wonder what he's thinking; this is why upstarts are like this."
Malicious words were whispered pointedly, but Noein, and Matilda following behind him, remained composed. Their expressions did not change in the slightest.
Noein had the great backing of the Viscount Koenitz house and the Northwestern Faction itself, and furthermore, he personally enjoyed the favor of the King. As a single noble, he had more than enough allies. Being thrown sarcasm from a distance by nobles of other factions was something he truly did not care about from the bottom of his heart.
"For now, let us greet Lord Bechtolsheim. Your decoration has ended safely, after all."
"Yes."
While being spoken to by Arnold, Noein walked among the nobles. Many gazes were directed toward him.
Amidst that, for just a single instant, an intense killing intent was directed at Noein. Matilda, sensitive to presence, noticed it, and her ear flicked.
"Noein-sama, to the left."
Matilda whispered softly, so that it reached only Noein's ear.
In response, Noein turned his eyes to the left—and for a split second, he wore a grin like a demon's, before immediately smoothing his expression.
Standing where Noein had looked was Count Maximilian Kivileft.