It had been a few days since the "dragon incident," and the kingdom had officially dubbed me their Hero of Peace. The worst part? Everyone believed it. Sir Reginald was practically my personal cheerleader, constantly reminding me of my "heroic feats" and making me attend pointless ceremonies.
"Lord Kaito! The royal banquet is tonight!" Sir Reginald shouted with enthusiasm as he barged into my room.
"Again? Didn't we just have one yesterday?" I groaned, rubbing my temples. I could feel the weight of the entire kingdom's expectations on my shoulders, and it wasn't even the kind of weight that comes with being strong. It was the weight of having to do something I didn't ask for and didn't care about.
"Of course, my lord!" he said, as if it was completely normal. "Tonight's event is to honor your incredible defeat of the dragon! You're truly the kingdom's greatest hero!"
I sighed and threw my pillow at him. "You're all insane."
Ignoring my protests, Sir Reginald continued, his excitement undeterred. "The princess is preparing your new attire, and I've arranged a proper entourage to accompany you."
"An entourage?" I blinked, not even bothering to look at him. "I don't need an entourage! What I need is to figure out how to get out of this mess."
But Sir Reginald just laughed. "The people love you, my lord! Why would you want to escape?"
"Because I didn't sign up for this! I just clicked 'yes' on a pop-up message! Why are you all so obsessed with me?"
Sir Reginald gave me an appraising look, as if seeing me for the first time. "You truly have the heart of a humble hero." He beamed. "Now, get ready, for the banquet awaits!"
And with that, he left. Again.
I was about to collapse back into my bed when a knock came at the door. I hoped it was a mistake. Maybe if I ignored it, they'd go away.
No such luck.
"I've brought your attire for the evening, my lord!" Elara's voice floated through the door.
I groaned and stood up, dragging myself to the door. "Elara, I swear to the gods, if this is another dress-up thing, I'm going to lose it."
The door opened, and there she was, holding a beautiful outfit in her hands—a dark red and gold ensemble that screamed "Hero of the Kingdom" louder than a megaphone.
I stared at the outfit, and then at her.
"Do I look like the kind of guy who wears this?" I asked, my voice flat.
Elara smiled like I had just complimented her. "Oh, my lord, you'll look magnificent in this! It's the attire of a true hero."
I let out an exasperated sigh. "Fine. Whatever."
I took the clothes from her and dragged myself into the next room to change. When I finally emerged, I saw that Elara was beaming.
"You look wonderful!" she exclaimed. "You'll surely wow everyone at the banquet!"
I wanted to argue, to say that this wasn't me, but before I could open my mouth, Sir Reginald reappeared, looking more excited than ever.
"Ah, my lord, you are stunning!" he cried. "The kingdom will be in awe of your presence!"
"Yeah, yeah," I muttered, adjusting the tight collar. "Let's get this over with."
I followed Elara and Sir Reginald through the halls of the palace, each step feeling heavier than the last. I was walking straight into another event I didn't care about. And yet, as we approached the grand dining hall, I had to admit that a part of me felt… strange. It wasn't fear or anger; it was a sense of… dread. Like I was slowly sinking into something I couldn't get out of.
As we entered the hall, the people of the kingdom greeted us with a deafening cheer. My mind immediately went into autopilot. I waved halfheartedly, pretending to be excited while my stomach churned at the thought of another long evening of forced smiles and fake gratitude.
The grand table was covered with food from every part of the kingdom. Roasted meats, pastries, exotic fruits—everything looked so delicious. But I didn't have an appetite for any of it. My mind was too preoccupied with the idea that I'd never escape this ridiculous situation.
"Well, well, well! If it isn't the Hero of Peace!" came a voice from behind me. I turned to see a tall, thin man with a smirk plastered on his face. He had a ridiculous-looking mustache that seemed like it was glued on, and his royal attire looked overly expensive.
I sighed. "What do you want, noble guy?"
He laughed, clearly not bothered by my lack of enthusiasm. "I am Lord Balthor, one of the kingdom's highest-ranking nobles. It is an honor to meet such a legend."
"Yeah, sure. Whatever." I waved him off. "Just leave me alone."
Lord Balthor leaned in, his smile turning even more obnoxious. "You should be careful, Hero. There are those who do not share the kingdom's enthusiasm for your… sudden rise to fame."
"Great," I muttered. "First, dragons. Now, political intrigue. What's next? A zombie apocalypse?"
Before Balthor could respond, another voice interrupted us. "Leave him alone, Balthor. He's had enough of your nonsense." Elara stood beside me, glaring at the nobleman.
Balthor raised an eyebrow, clearly taken aback. "I wasn't doing anything, princess. Just offering some… advice."
Elara's smile was sharp. "Then take your advice elsewhere."
I sighed in relief. "Thanks, Elara. I'm starting to think everyone here is either trying to make me a hero or make my life miserable."
"That's because you are a hero, my lord," she said sweetly, placing a hand on my arm.
Before I could protest, the doors to the dining hall swung open. A group of knights entered, and their leader was none other than Sir Reginald himself.
"My lord Kaito," he said with pride, his voice carrying across the room. "The knights of the kingdom are ready to celebrate your victory!"
"Why am I always the center of attention?!" I groaned, slumping into my chair. "This is the worst."
The knights began to chant my name, and the rest of the room followed suit. I could feel my face turning red with embarrassment.
"I swear, if I have to do one more thing in this ridiculous outfit…" I muttered under my breath.
But before I could finish my thought, Sir Reginald appeared with a tray of food.
"Have some cake, my lord! You've earned it!"
"Cake? Seriously?" I deadpanned.
And just like that, I found myself surrounded by more cake, more people, and more problems than I ever could have imagined.