MTLNOVEL Chapter 94.1
Stage 4-1. Saint
A cloudless blue sky, the perfect weather for a celebration. The grand hall of the royal castle, bathed in sunlight, exudes a solemn atmosphere.
I, too, straightened my back, maintaining a posture befitting a noble, one that wouldn’t bring shame.
“Now, we shall commence the award ceremony for Ouga Vellet! Ouga Vellet, please step before His Majesty, King Anbald!”
Waiting near the entrance, I began to walk on the red carpet laid over the marble floor.
With each step, the gazes from both sides grew stronger.
Nobles lined up along the red carpet… were sizing me up with their precious scrutiny.
After all, some of them were seeing me in person for the first time.
The eldest son of one of the Four Great Ducal Houses, who had been a recluse until now, suddenly stepping into the limelight and receiving a direct reward from the King himself.
Even if you flipped through the pages of history, you wouldn’t find a similar case. In the future, my case would undoubtedly remain the only one of its kind.
With Andraus executed—officially, at least—and my father’s influence growing stronger, my emergence as a potential connection to Gordon Vellet was significant.
In noble society, it’s either eat or be eaten.
Essentially, the nobles were trying to gauge whether Ouga Vellet was someone they could easily control.
But those close to my father, who behaved as corrupt nobles, would hardly approach me.
If the King himself was bestowing an award, they would assume I was someone who had done good deeds.
Corrupt nobles with secrets to hide wouldn’t risk exposing themselves.
“…………”
My father, standing in the front row, briefly let his composure slip when our eyes met.
Beside him were the current heads of the Four Great Ducal Houses, including Karen’s father.
Indeed, the aura my father and the others exuded was different. Instinctively, I could tell they operated on a higher level—no, two levels higher.
After thoroughly enjoying the attention, I finally reached the foot of the throne where King Anbald sat. I knelt on one knee and bowed my head.
…Thinking about what was to come, I just wanted to return to the mansion and heal in the comforting space with Mashiro and the others.
The ornate suit I wore, befitting the Vellet family’s corrupt noble name, felt unbearably heavy.
On top of that, the pain in my right arm hadn’t subsided, and I still had to keep it immobilized with an arm holder…
Of course, I couldn’t voice such complaints directly to the King, who had come all the way to my family’s estate.
At this point, I already felt stripped of my freedom, drifting further away from the carefree life I had dreamed of.
“Raise your head, Ouga Vellet.”
“Yes!”
“Despite your unhealed wounds from the fierce battle, you have come to the castle. I must reward my loyal subject as soon as possible, so please forgive my parental concern.”
“Not at all, Your Majesty. Just hearing those words from you is reward enough for me.”
“You possess humility as well. I am once again convinced that you are truly worthy of the title I bestow upon you today.”
The grand hall erupted in noise. In contrast to the bewildered nobles, the King was in high spirits, smiling warmly.
In the Londism Kingdom, a title is proof of recognition by the King himself.
It is granted only to those deemed to have made exceptional contributions to the nation, and their names are recorded in the history books compiled since the founding of the kingdom.
Frankly, I haven’t achieved anything comparable to the great figures of the past.