Chapter 3: The Reward (II).
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The Grand Palace of the Kingdom
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Many guest carriages have arrived at the main entrance of the palace, their doors engraved with their noble family symbol, all were dressed in luxurious and elegant attires.
Two noble lady friends were walking in the hallway of the palace and stopped for some gossip about some celebrity guest that they will be having. "Oh goodness me it's nice to see you at the party, apparently it's for the honor of the young crimson general?"
With the gossip being this hot the noble lady couldn't help but squeal to her friend excitedly. "Oh how I would love to meet her! Rumor has it that she vanquished the demon lord all by herself!"
"Really?! No wonder the king is having a three days and two nights of party all just for her."
"The soldiers sing her songs. A woman who looks and rivals the handsome features of a man. I have not seen it for myself but surely it's true!"
"You're exaggerating things I'm sure all of the stories are just a bunch of tall tales-" They were holding up the hall and didn't realize there were already two figures behind them who were running a little late.
"Excuse me ladies um… may I pass through?"
The two ladies turned to the side where they saw the devil herself! A tall woman with bright crimson hair, her face full of small scars that you could miss and behind her was another handsome friend it seems.
"O-Oh my!"
"R-Red hair… tall… handsome- you're the young general?" This noble lady was a fan of the general and couldn't help asking to know if her guess was right.
"I am… the young general, it is a pleasure to meet you. My name is General Rowan Bonheur." (Rowan) places a hand on her chest and then does a deep bow to the noble ladies.
She can't really curtsy in a suit.
"The rumors don't do you justice! You're even more dashing and charming in person!" One yelled and was trying her best not to sound too excited. Rowan looks behind her right hand man Jonathan, who was covering his mouth to hide his laughter and snickers.
She feels a little nervous not knowing how to act around this type of noblewoman who was honest with compliments. "Thank… you? Um… you are also beautiful, milady."
The noblewoman takes one of her fans from her pockets and fans herself at the compliment, a little bashful. "Oh right where are our manners, please go ahead. You are our honored guest, thank you for your service."
"It is my honor to protect the kingdom and um… a kind beautiful woman like yourself."
The compliments were so embarrassing that Rowan became too stiff to move.
"Pfft-" (Jonathan) was slowly breaking and pinched herself to not make fun of his comrade.
Rowan bids her goodbye and goes on ahead, leaving the two ladies to talk to themselves happily meeting the celebrity guest. "Well I was wrong, it is not an exaggeration. She's so devilishly handsome it's blinding!"
"I know right?! Those scars on her face make it look all wild."
"Sadly I don't think any other man would be willing to be wedded to a woman with scars."
Jonathan who was walking beside Rowan overheard their conversation and patted her back dramatically sounding like a damsel in distress. "Oh woe is you, who will ever marry a woman who has killed the demon lord, saved the kingdom, looks so dashingly handsome and is currently one of the richest people in all the lands?"
"...haha." She laughs dryly at his joke but her best friend assures her that the whole spike of her popularity might be a good thing. Rowan has already been famous with ladies even in the military academy.
"Looks like you got fans. You know when you invited me to this party, I was a bit scared seeing all the nobles- I fear that I'll offend them but on the bright side they won't care about me! They'll only care about you. We're going to look for anyone that might spark your interest." (Jonathan) judges her sides but Rowan shakes her head, she doesn't want to look for anyone.
"You know I am… already interested in someone. Jonathan I brought you here because I trust you and… I'm a little scared."
"Is this social event tougher than killing the demon lord?"
"...yes."
"Well I'll be the crimson general's weakness who would've known that it was social events. Then again I should've realized it when you told me you were going to the party with the usual suit of armor." After getting sober and Jonathan knowing the weight of the sudden invite to have an audience with the monarch.
Rowan insisted on wearing her armor and uniform into the party- well thank god he's there and they managed to find the perfect suit for her to fit in. She doesn't like dresses.
"I thought… it would be proper upon receiving the reward." (Rowan) scratches her cheek, a little embarrassed because she saw all the other guests looking so formal and beautiful. She really would've stuck out if she wore the armor into the party.
"Speaking of that, do you know what kind of reward it is?"
"I do not, the letter states nothing about it but I might meet the crown princess later based on the contents of the letter."
"Oh right~ the crown princess." Her best friend's voice became a little too teasing, Rowan had confided in him that she had wanted to become a royal knight to protect the crown princess personally.
But some things happened and she needed to become the general because of the war. She was accidentally promoted after killing one of the high ranked demons.
"...Mm."
"Rowan I know you've been waiting years for this, I'll help you and make sure you're not alone."
"Thank you, Jonathan."
"Why don't we hit the buffet to lessen our stress? I'm sure the fancy noble people here serve good food." The two friends have arrived at the grand ballroom. A servant opens the door for them revealing a beautiful room full of people dancing, gentle music being played and the royal family sitting on their thrones.
"Astounding, even here they have thrones." (Jonathan) squints his eyes to see the king drinking his wine. Right next to him was a woman, looking at him with her face hidden using a fan.
"...we have to blend in. I don't want to draw any attention to myself."
"Got it."
They were about to go down the stairs but were stopped by a servant.
"Excuse me sirs, before going in, may you tell me your name?" He asks the two and they shrugged casually telling their name thinking it must be to check if they were on the guest list for the party.
"It's General Rowan Bonheur."
"And I'm Lieutenant Jonathan Smithers."
The servant got their names, immediately he yelled out to the crowd of guests who they were. "Presenting-! The young Crimson General Rowan Bonheur and Lieutenant Jonathan Smithers!"
Everyone's eyes suddenly turned to them, the two awkwardly smiled as they went down the stairs- the piercing gaze was intense.
"Hahaha… so much for blending in."
"Keep… smiling."
The King sees their guest of honor and stands up from his throne to welcome them personally. He gave his unfinished wine to a butler to go forward, "General Rowan, it is amazing to see you."
Rowan and Jonathan immediately kneel down, not daring to meet the king right in the eye. "It is an honor to meet his majesty." They both said in unison.
"Now, now please stand up. I am more honored to meet you, young one. I have heard of the good you did. Not only in the war but also in the military academy. I am thankful they nurtured such a fine student like you to become a dependable soldier." He compliments Rowan and she gives her thanks.
"I thank his majesty for his praise."
"Every noble here is invited to be an audience to see your reward of hard work. Come and kneel down for me, general. I have your reward ready."
Rowan hesitates leaving Jonathan and looks around to see if she could find the princess and there she was sitting in her throne, observing quietly. She kneels down as ordered, the king clears his throat and takes the royal sword being carried by a servant on an expensive red pillow.
"Everyone will bear witness at my power, I, the King of the Kingdom of Polestin hereby declare you to be not only a general but have an official noble ranking of a Marchioness." He declared Rowan to be her own noble house of her own last name. "I will give you your own personal land and titleship of the village you call your home, I will have my men build you a mansion fit for your last name."
The generous king yells out to the crowd, "The noble house of Bonheur!"
"Gasp?!"
All the nobles clap in surprise and shock, some who knew Rowan from childhood were envious and wanted to have the same rewards as her- those who see her as an idol congratulated her for the new official noble ranking she stands in.
Being a Marchioness… It is the fifth highest ranking of the noble rank.
From King and Queen, Grand Duke and Grand Duchess, Princess and Princess, Duke and Duchess, Marquess and Marchioness, Viscount and Countess, lastly Baron and Baroness.
Rowan could not believe this was happening- this was such a big deal.
"...I, thank you, your majesty."
"That's not the only reward I am offering. Come forth my sons."
The King's four sons stand up and meet the general all giving her a curious look.
The eldest prince bows, offering his hand to kiss the general's but Rowan didn't take it and just greeted everyone politely. "It is a pleasure to meet all of you, your highnesses."
"The pleasure is all ours. I am the first prince, Prince Altier Kastil."
"I am the second prince, Prince Lucas Kastil."
"If you hadn't noticed, he and I are twins. The name's Prince Montiel Kastil, the third prince, charmed to meet you, General Bonheur."
"And I am the fourth, Prince Adeil Kastil. From what the stories have said- your skills in battle are truly amazing. I am very interested in you, general." The princes were all lined up to greet her, Rowan felt a little awkward seeing all these princes were being offered to her by the King but she managed to keep her calm.
"It is an honor to meet you all."
"You can choose any of my children to marry you. I have the finest royal princes for you to choose. That is my reward." The King honors all of his sons, they all have good faces and talents. No matter who she chooses, it's alright. There are three more spares to use.
"Your majesty, forgive me if I may speak out of line but this is..." (Rowan) didn't know what to say. This is all too much- this is not even a reward for her!
"Are my children not good enough for you? General, I applaud your accomplishment. Isn't marrying into the royal family a good enough reward for the general?" The King asked the general who swallowed the lump in her throat looking at all the princes waiting for her answer.
Rowan felt someone else staring…
The crown princess was also eagerly awaiting her answer…
"Your majesty- if what you say is true I may choose any of your children?"
*Yes, of course you may choose any of my children."
Having the confirmation that she can choose anyone, it might be a long shot but it's better than being paired by someone she has never met before. "I choose-!"
Everyone stopped and waited for the young general to continue.
"I choose the crown princess instead!"
"What?!"
"Gasp!"
"...?!"
"My daughter? You are choosing my daughter? The Crown Princess, Camille Nyle Kastil?" (King Aswold) double checks if he was hearing the right request.
"Ohhh… boy." (Jonathan) goes to the side of the buffet, taking some food to eat while watching a whole arrangement of marriage going on live. As a good friend one would not let this happen but he's her best friend- let his besty have some fun before he ever needs to cut in.
Still, he's sure to be executed if he ever cuts in so…
Rowan, with no fears in her eyes, answers. "Yes, your majesty. I choose your daughter, the Crown Princess Camille Nyle Kastil."
"General Bonheur, I give you any of my sons, yet you ask for my daughter?" He asks the young general whose answer is still the same.
"Yes, your majesty."
"You don't like any of my sons?"
"It is not as I do not like them, your majesty but the reward was to marry any of your children. I have… met the princess before and I would prefer her to be someone who I would prefer to be on my side."
"...?!"
The princess was looking around in confusion, this is not right- this is not supposed to happen. Everything is breaking apart!
The King steps back a bit looking back at his daughter. "That's just-"
"If it is not possible then I would like for his majesty to reward me in a different way, to donate money to the commoners and-"
"I have other daughters- you can take this one." Without even batting an eye, he changes his mind after remembering that he has two more daughters for spares.
Rowan not expecting for the King to agree so easily lowered her head, her heart beating so loudly for an unknown reason. "I… um… Apologies, I have made a mistake. I may have chosen the crown princess, but will the crown princess accept me? I do not want to force her into a relationship she doesn't approve of."
"Gasp?!" Everyone now turns to the princess who despite being pawned around like a bargaining chip- she looks at the expectant crowd before giving her answer.
The crown princess calms herself and calculates everything before agreeing to be the heroine's temporary bride. The pros outweigh the cons, this is better for her chances of survival.
"I… do not mind."
The crowd erupts into mixed reactions, but Jonathan would mentally cheer at his bestfriend scoring her dream gal!
"She said yes!" (Jonathan) takes some steak at the buffet and happily enjoys the continuation of the reward.