After two weeks of rest and healing from the brutal monster surge, Nate prepared himself for the highly anticipated meeting with the king. He carefully selected an outfit befitting royalty—a tailored suit in deep shades of blue and silver embroidery, accompanied by a fine cloak lined with fur. His jet-black hair was neatly styled and secured in a short braid, adding an air of sophistication and control. With a final glance in the illusion mirror, Nate straightened his posture and exuded confidence with his piercing emerald green eyes.
Stepping out of his cramped dorm room, he navigated his way through the bustling hallways of the Academy. Students hurried past him, their chatter and laughter filling the air. Finally reaching the grand entrance, he found Headmaster Gilmore standing tall and regal, his sharp gaze scanning the students as they entered for the day.
The morning sun shone through the arched windows, casting a warm glow on the marble floors.
"Good morning, Headmaster," Nate greeted as he approached Headmaster Gilmore.
"Ah, Mr. Cromwell, are you ready to head to the palace?" Nate nodded his agreement, though nervousness still pulsed in his veins.
With a reassuring smile, the Headmaster beckoned Nate to follow him outside the massive stone walls of the Academy. Beyond the gates, a magnificent golden carriage awaited them, sent from the royal palace itself. Its intricate designs sparkled in the sunlight, catching Nate's eye and filling him with awe. As they approached, he could see the fine details etched into every inch of the carriage, from the regal crest emblazoned on its side to the ornate patterns adorning its wheels.
The Headmaster extended his arm towards the carriage and motioned for Nate to enter first with a polite, "After you, Mr. Cromwell."
Nate swiftly climbed onto the carriage, the Headmaster right behind him. Once they were both seated, the carriage started to roll forward.
"As you enter the audience hall, make sure to kneel until the King instructs you to stand," the Headmaster cautioned with a serious tone.
"Do you have any idea what reward I will receive?"
"I can't say for certain, but as the first person in our kingdom to possess spatial magic in hundreds of years," the Headmaster stated as he stroked his beard thoughtfully, "the King would be wise to offer you a generous reward to encourage you to stay."
The carriage ride went on in silence as Nate contemplated the Headmaster's words. There was a small hope within Nate's heart regarding getting a title so that he could fulfill one of Gwen's conditions, but he quickly pushed it aside, focusing on the upcoming meeting with the king.
The carriage rattled along the cobblestone streets of the capital city, passing by bustling markets and elegant mansions. Nate couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement building within him as they neared the grand palace gates.
As the carriage came to a stop in front of the palace, Nate followed Headmaster Gilmore out onto the polished marble steps leading to the massive doors. Guards in gleaming armor stood at attention on either side, their expressions stern and unyielding. Nate straightened his posture and tried to appear as confident as possible, despite the nervous flutter in his stomach.
With a resounding boom, the doors swung open, revealing the opulent interior of the palace. Intricate paintings lined the walls, depicting scenes of battles and triumphs.
Headmaster Gilmore led Nate through the palace, their footsteps echoing off the grand marble floors. They passed by opulent tapestries and intricate sculptures before finally arriving at a massive, gold-encrusted doorway. The ornate designs glimmered in the soft light, hinting at the luxuriousness that lay behind its imposing facade.
The Headmaster's knuckles rapped against the door in a precise pattern, announcing their arrival. After a few tense moments, the grand doors swung open to reveal a magnificent corridor, intricately decorated with ornate carvings and shimmering chandeliers. A long red carpet stretched out before them, leading to the back of the room where Nate's eyes were drawn to three imposing figures seated upon thrones.
The king sat at the center on a throne crafted from gleaming gold, his regal figure contrasting sharply with the worn and tired expression on his face. His graying brown hair was unkempt and his once-bright blue eyes now held a world-weariness that belied his true age. The crown atop his head seemed to sit askew, as if it too were weighed down by the burdens of ruling a kingdom.
Despite his appearance, there was an air of authority surrounding the king, and Nate couldn't help but feel a sense of reverence in his presence. The mismatched and casually thrown-together clothes only added to this sense of power, as if he did not need extravagant adornment to prove his status.
Sitting regally on the king's right was a stunning woman, her delicate features accented by dark green eyes that seemed to hold a world of secrets. Her hair was a cascade of golden strands, adorned with a striking crown that shimmered in the dim light of the throne room. Nate could only assume she was the queen.
Nate's jaw nearly hit the floor in surprise when he saw who the other figure was: it was the spoiled girl he had saved during the monster attack. She sat before him with a dazzling demeanor, her long brown hair now neatly pinned up and a delicate tiara perched on top of her head.
Her gaze rested on Nate with an adoring gleam, sending a shiver down his spine.
He followed the Headmaster's footsteps, approaching the king until he was only a few steps away. He then humbly kneeled before him, mirroring the actions of the Headmaster.
"You may rise," the king declared in a commanding tone, causing both Nate and the Headmaster to rise from their seats. The king's expression was a mix of excitement, curiosity, and a hint of anger. Nate hoped that the king wasn't upset that the princess was looking at him with the heat-filled gaze of a maiden in love.
"Your student is truly remarkable, Gilmore," the king stated.
"Yes, Your Majesty. I am honored to have him at my school."
"Oh, no need for formalities, old friend. You can call me by my name," the king said, a hint of amusement in his tone.
Headmaster Gilmore wasted no time and went straight to the point. "Frederick, what can you offer my student?" This casual approach caused a burst of laughter from the king, filling the room with his booming voice.
"Always right to the point," the king's eyes then landed on Nate.
"As a token of gratitude for your assistance in closing a spatial rift to a dangerous realm, I hereby confer upon you the prestigious title of baron and grant you ownership of the land surrounding your beloved hometown, Mildew. You may claim this land once you reach the age of 18, and from this point on, you shall be known as Nathaniel Mildew-Cromwell."
[Title Awarded: Baron Nathaniel Mildew-Cromwell
Description: You are now a baron with ownership of the land surrounding Mildew. You may claim the land once you reach the age of 18.]
"As a bonus, I shall also bestow upon you 1,000 gold coins and allow you to choose one item from the royal treasury," declared the king. Nate's heart raced with excitement at these rewards that far surpassed his expectations.
Nate knelt before the king. "I humbly accept your grace, your highness."
"Now, as for your reward for rescuing my cherished daughter," the king began, a hint of restrained disdain coloring his voice. "Your baron title shall be elevated to viscount, and you shall be endowed with the privilege of courting her romantically," he concluded, bitterness laced within his tone.
A choked cough escaped Nate's mouth as he prepared himself to try and turn down this reward only for the Headmaster to shoot him a scathing glare. "I thank you for your generosity," was all Nate could say before returning to his feet.
The princess emitted a delighted squeal as she bounced off her throne, rushing over to Nate. "Father, can't we just have our engagement ceremony now?" she whined, shooting the king a pleading look.
Before the king could respond, the queen spoke up, "I don't see why not. We're all here; no need to delay."
"Your Majesty, if I could interject?" Nate requested, hoping to put a halt to this. The king turned his hopeful gaze towards Nate and said, "Yes, speak," seeming to share the desire to put an end to the proposal.
"I am already committed to an engagement, which would make the princess my second wife, a position that is not nearly worthy of her," Nate declared. As his words sank in, the king's eyes brightened as if delighted by the news.
"That is no issue, young man. Nobles often have multiple wives," the queen stated before turning her gaze to the Headmaster. The king's face seemed to once again turn sour but her offered no protest to the arrangement.
"Gilmore, why don't you go ahead and perform a ceremony for the two?" she suggested.
The Headmaster cast Nate an apologetic look. "Of course, Your Highness."
The Headmaster then moved and directed Nate and the princess to stand in front of him facing each other.
Nate felt the weight of the situation pressing down on him, his heart pounding loudly in his chest. The Headmaster began the ceremony, his voice resonating through the grand hall as he recited the ancient vows. Nate stole a glance at the princess, whose eyes sparkled with anticipation and adoration. He couldn't deny that she was beautiful, though he realized Gwen might just kill him for this.
"By the will of the god of marriage, I now bind Nathaniel Mildew-Cromwell and Chloe Von Alister Carmichael together. May their lives be filled with endless joy," proclaimed the Headmaster.
Immediately after the vows were concluded, Chloe stepped forward and sealed the deal with a daring kiss on Nate's lips. With the ceremony complete, the system chimed:
[Skill Update: Lovers Embrace Second Wife: Chloe Von Alister Carmichael (partial) - 1st part: gain poison affinity (High), 2nd part: locked]
"Quickly retrieve an item from the treasurer and then depart," the king stated, clearly not as satisfied with this agreement as the queen and princess were.
Giving a respectful nod, Nate allowed himself to be dragged away by Chloe. "I thought you didn't like me."
A blush made its way onto Chloe's face. "I found your roguish behavior unsettling, but after seeing how you ended up from all the trouble you went through to rescue me, I couldn't help but become smitten."
Chloe's cheerful expression remained as she revealed, "I even enlisted my mother's help in arranging our marriage. She was more than willing to assist."
Nate knew there was no use dwelling on the fact that Chloe was now his second wife. He decided to accept it and move on. Not long after, the two entered a room filled with treasures. Nate casually walked around and used his appraisal skill on various items. Suddenly, his attention was caught by a sleek, jagged black dagger adorned with an emerald jewel on its hilt.
[Item: Demonweave Dagger
Description: A sleek obsidian blade with an ethereal glow, Demonweave exudes an ominous presence, featuring demonic motifs on the hilt.
Effects: Infused with demonic energy, Demonweave skillfully weaves illusions, manipulating perceptions upon striking, adding a mysterious and disorienting edge to its capabilities.]
Happy with his decision, Nate followed Chloe to the hallway, where he was greeted by Headmaster Gilmore. After saying goodbye to Chloe and making plans to meet up later, Nate accompanied the Headmaster back to the carriage.
As they made their way back to the Academy, the Headmaster burst into a loud fit of laughter, during which Nate couldn't help but think of all the ways Gwen might murder him for his surprising marriage update.