Chapter 197
Chapter 197: Bestowal of the Countship
Inside the infirmary.
"Come on, Vice-Captain Lucilis, have a drink with us."
"Ah, I don’t really need to…"
"I said drink up."
Hardin’s group and Lucilis, their faces flushed red, were chattering with oddly excited voices.
"So, His Majesty is quite pleased with the outcome of the subjugation campaign?"
"Yes, yes, I heard it directly through the Commander. He seemed really delighted."
"That's great, just great! After everything we went through, he better be pleased! Don’t you think?"
"Absolutely! We were this close to dying out there!"
As news from the Imperial Palace spread, the group became visibly more excited, shouting with joy.
"M-maybe we should keep it down a little? What if the healer comes by…?"
"Ah, it's fine, it's fine. Let them come!"
"Vice-Captain Manton, are you scared?"
Manton tried to calm them, casting glances around warily, but Hardin and the others didn’t seem even slightly concerned.
Just then, Vice-Captain Lucilis cleared his throat and spoke.
"By the way, it seems you’ll have to have another audience with His Majesty soon."
"An audience? You mean…"
"Yes. The bestowal of the countship upon the Daphne Viscounty has been confirmed."
Lucilis spoke with a serious look in his eyes.
Hardin and all the members of House Daphne widened their eyes and mouths.
"Niceeeeee!"
"We did iiiiiit!"
They all shot to their feet and began shouting with joy.
"Hahaha! Young Master, we did it! We really did!"
"See? I told you it would happen!"
Just as the ruckus reached its peak—
SLAM!
"You're being too loud! What the hell is going on in here?!"
The door burst open and the healer, face twisted in anger, stormed into the room.
Hardin, still holding a bottle in his hand, tried to explain.
"No, listen, healer. It's not like we're just goofing around for no reason…"
"Is that… is that alcohol?"
"Oh? No, I mean, it's not really—"
"Ahhh! You absolute maniacs!"
The healer’s furious roar echoed throughout the entire medical ward.
---
Several weeks had passed since Hardin’s group succeeded in the subjugation.
"Whew… Father, we’re almost there."
"Indeed, we are."
Cobalt and Malion, both dressed in formal attire, sat inside a carriage, their faces tense.
Their hair was slicked back with oil, and their appearance was polished to the utmost.
Behind the carriage, knights who had participated in the subjugation followed on horseback.
The reason they were all dressed up and rushing somewhere was…
> His Majesty wishes to grant an audience to the members of House Daphne. Please come to the capital without delay before the appointed hour.
>
> — Vice-Captain Lucilis, Imperial Knights.
A letter that had arrived from the capital.
Cobalt and Malion still looked somewhat dazed.
"Brother has done it again."
"Y-yeah, he really has."
The subjugation of the sealed Archdemon Veritarun.
Everyone in the family had worked hard, dedicating all they could in preparation.
But to succeed this flawlessly, with almost no casualties—no one had expected it.
There was no other way to describe it than… miraculous.
Soon, the procession from the Daphne Viscounty arrived at the main gates of Pavillonia.
“Halt! Halt! State your identity!”
“Uh… I am Viscount Cobalt of the Daphne Viscounty.”
“D-Daphne Viscounty, you say?”
“That’s right. Is there some kind of problem?”
“P-please wait just a moment.”
One of the guards sprinted inside the gates in a fluster.
“What’s that about?”
“No idea.”
Everyone waited with puzzled expressions, but even after quite a bit of time had passed, the gates remained shut.
Meanwhile, ordinary merchants and citizens of the Empire were entering the city comfortably through a side entrance prepared for such purposes.
‘What is this…’
‘This is starting to make me nervous again.’
Just as unease began to creep onto everyone’s faces—
“Greetings, Viscount Cobalt.”
A neatly dressed middle-aged man approached and spoke to Cobalt.
“I am Romion, an official of the Imperial Court. I’ll be escorting you personally.”
“Pardon? Escorting us? What exactly do you mean by that…?”
“You’ll understand once you follow me.”
The official gave a small smile and then raised his hand high in the air as he shouted.
“Open the gates!”
“Yes, sir!”
FWOOOOOOOOT!
A soldier blew a horn and shouted at the top of his lungs.
“Open the gates!”
“Open the gates! Opeeeen!”
CREEEEAAAAK!
The main gates of the capital began to open slowly.
These gates were reserved only for special occasions—Imperial ceremonies or the delivery of massive supplies.
Naturally, what shocked the people of Daphne more wasn’t just the opening of the gates itself, but what lay beyond them.
“W-what in the world…?”
Down the wide central road, countless people stood lined up on either side.
There were women holding baskets of flowers, and the streets were decorated with cloth and floral garlands.
It was just like…
“A triumphal… procession?”
“Hooooly—”
Just as everyone blinked in stunned silence, the official gestured toward the road with his palm.
“Shall we proceed?”
“Ah… y-yes.”
With dazed expressions, the Daphne procession stepped forward into the center of the road.
“Long live the Daphne Viscounty!”
“They’re the family that vanquished the Archdemon!”
Cheers and beaming smiles erupted from people across the capital.
Some even came up to the knights directly and handed them flowers.
From the looks of it, one might think they had slain the Demon King himself.
‘They’re welcoming us this warmly?’
‘My God… did I actually make it?’
Trying their best to hide their astonished faces, the members of Daphne trudged forward along the road.
They savored the moment, hoping this dreamlike time wouldn’t end anytime soon.
The march continued for around fifteen minutes until the Daphne procession reached a massive plaza in the center of the capital.
It was the ‘Sun Plaza’—the most symbolic and historic place in the capital—where a giant statue of God Faeron stood, surrounded by the statues of past emperors beneath it.
As they entered, members of the Imperial Knights were already standing in perfect rows, aligned in formation.
“Everyone from House Daphne, please stand over here.”
“Y-yes, of course!”
Following the guidance of the Imperial official, the members of House Daphne moved to the right side.
And there…
“Ah, you’re here.”
“Welcome, my lord!”
Hardin and the knights who had been receiving treatment for serious injuries were already there, waiting.
All were dressed in neat ceremonial uniforms, done up splendidly.
“H-Hardin…!”
Cobalt spread his arms wide and charged straight ahead.
But Hardin, all too familiar with this, casually sidestepped—
Thud!
—and pushed Mikkelsen forward into his place.
“Are you all right? No serious injuries anywhere?”
“Guhh! Guhuhuhh! M-My lord! I’m not the Young Master…!”
As Mikkelsen flailed with a pale face, Cobalt finally released his arms.
“Ahem… M-My apologies. I got a little carried away.”
Good thing I dodged.
That bear hug of his hasn’t changed one bit.
Just as Hardin nodded to himself in quiet reflection, Malion adjusted his glasses and asked,
“Were your injuries treated properly? I heard they were quite severe.”
“Injuries? Please, it was just a few scratches. Isn’t that right?”
Hardin shrugged as he asked, and Beryl responded firmly.
“No, I was seriously wounded.”
“I nearly died.”
“I was even poisoned by a deadly toxin.”
“Ahem…”
Manton, you too?
Seriously, none of you are helping here.
Hardin sighed and scratched his chin just as—
“His Majesty the Emperor is entering!”
At the announcement from the front, tension suddenly swept through everyone’s bodies.
“Eyes forward.”
“R-Right.”
The plaza went momentarily quiet.
Emperor Leorine ascended the platform set at the center of the square.
He then spoke into the magical amplifier placed before him.
“Those gathered here in the center of the plaza… are the ones who rendered great service in the subjugation of the Archdemon Veritarun.”
Emperor Leorine slowly turned his head, locking eyes with each person standing in the plaza.
“The three units of the Imperial Knights and their vice-captain, Lucilis von Digdarion. And… the Daphne Viscounty, along with Hardin Daphne, the Young Master. Without their valor, the Archdemon would have escaped and brought suffering upon countless civilians.”
Placing a hand on his chest, Emperor Leorine continued.
“As Emperor of the Fabian Empire, heir to the blood of Faeron, I extend my deepest gratitude for their sacrifice.”
At that moment—
Clap! Clap! Clap!
The citizens surrounding the plaza erupted in applause.
It was so loud, it felt like thunder was rumbling.
“Whoa…”
“Unbelievable…”
Even the members of the Imperial Knights, not just those from Daphne, looked around in awe.
When the Emperor raised his hand, the applause gradually faded, and he spoke again.
“This subjugation not only safeguarded the Empire’s citizens but also set an example for all. As Emperor, I intend to bestow great rewards upon the brave warriors who participated in this campaign.”
His gaze turned first toward the Imperial Knights.
“First, to Vice-Captain Lucilis and the knights of the Imperial Order… and all soldiers under them, I will grant a monetary reward equivalent to one year’s salary.”
“Oooooh…”
“One year’s salary?!”
The knights’ mouths stretched upward as if they would split their faces open from grinning.
Then, the Emperor’s gaze shifted toward the Daphne Viscounty.
“And to the Daphne Viscounty, who endured great sacrifice during this subjugation… I shall bestow the title of Count.”
“Count…”
Expressions of overwhelming emotion appeared on the faces of Cobalt and the other members of the Daphne Viscounty.
They had all sensed this might happen, but hearing those very words spoken aloud by the Emperor, in a setting like this…
‘Are you watching, ancestors?’
‘To receive such honor… while still alive.’
There were simply no better words than “overwhelming gratitude.”
And as for Hardin, who had been the one to step forward and lead this cause—
‘Whew… we’ve finally made it this far. All of you.’
With a soft smile, he looked skyward, thinking of the family who must be watching over him from above.
---
A few hours later, in the grand banquet hall at the center of the Imperial Residence.
On one side, musicians were busy performing lively tunes. The tables were piled high with every delicacy imaginable, while countless servants bustled about nonstop, delivering food and wine throughout the hall.
And—
“Hahaha! To think you’ve defeated an Archdemon. What greater cause for celebration could there be?”
“Indeed! Truly!”
Nobles and noblewomen, dressed to the nines in extravagant formalwear and gowns, reveled in the festivities and chattered excitedly.
At the center of it all—
“Vice-Captain Lucilis! I’ve heard all about your achievements!”
“No, not at all. I simply carried out the orders given to me. The Daphne Viscounty’s assistance was also a tremendous help.”
“Hahaha! No need to be so modest. Subjugating an Archdemon is no ordinary feat, after all!”
That was Vice-Captain Lucilis of the Imperial Knights, who had led the operation.
“Viscount Cobalt—no, I suppose I should call you Count now? In any case, congratulations. I hear things have been going quite smoothly at the new trade port recently?”
“Ah, yes. Thanks to the help of our family, things have gone better than expected.”
“Hahaha, I heard Princess Medeia the Fourth also made a sizable investment… If only I had known earlier, I would’ve invested myself!”
“I’ll be sure to let you know if another good opportunity comes up.”
“Oho! Would you really?”
That was Cobalt, head of House Daphne, soon to be officially a count.
“Keeehh, my lord sure is popular, huh?”
“Well, of course. He’s the face of our house.”
From a corner of the banquet hall, Beryl asked this as he stuffed food and drink into his cheeks like a chipmunk, and Hardin snorted as he replied.
Something about Hardin’s tone seemed half-hearted, prompting Beryl to grin and tease him further.
“You’re not… jealous, are you, Young Master?”
“Jealous? Of what?”
“I mean, come on. My lord is getting all that attention, and over there next to Vice-Captain Lucilis—look at all those pretty noblewomen. It’d be perfectly natural to feel that way. I get it.”
What the hell is this bastard talking about?
Hardin really wanted to smack him upside the head, but with all the eyes around, he held himself back.
Still—
‘Well, I can’t say I’m totally okay with all this.’
What was really bothering Hardin was…
‘That guy’s gaze is seriously pissing me off.’
Over in one corner of the banquet hall, someone had been glaring at him the entire time with an unmistakably displeased expression.