“The revision plan and its rationale are solid… and…”
Lonas read every single document Dien had prepared, including those related to Dante. After finishing, he looked up with a resolute expression.
“That mental illness, such as post-traumatic stress, can be considered a service-related injury… I will personally visit the Council of Elders to request this revision. It likely won’t face much opposition, as it doesn’t directly infringe on their interests.”
“Thank you.”
Dien’s expression brightened as Lonas readily accepted his request.
“Once the law is revised, I promise to approve Dante’s status as having died in the line of duty.”
“I am grateful for Your Majesty’s grace. Because of this, the soldiers of Delos will hold their swords even higher for the country and Your Majesty.”
“I suppose they will. However, I am not the one who should be receiving your gratitude.”
Lonas, who had been staring intently at Dien, stood up from his seat with a determined look.
“Thank you, Dien Portran. To think you worked so hard for my people… As the King representing the people, I offer you my sincere gratitude.”
Dien stood up in a hurry at Lonas’s unexpected gesture.
“No, Your Majesty!”
Dien was stunned that the King would bow his head to a mere subordinate.
“I intended to reward you… but I feel as though I owe you a debt. This is something that the King and his ministers should have looked into…”
“Ma… Majesty! That is not true at all!”
“You have lightened my burden.”
Lonas and Dien both felt an indescribable emotion. No one had ever given a King such a shock, and no King had ever bowed his head to a subordinate.
‘He is a great man…’ Dien thought as he looked at Lonas.
‘What kind of country will Delos become when this child is commissioned?’ Lonas thought as he looked at Dien.
The stormy private audience finally came to an end. Dien returned to the House of Portran in a carriage provided by Lonas.
Although there had been many surprising situations, Dien was in a good mood after receiving confirmation that Dante’s honor would be restored. His heart fluttered at the thought of how he would deliver this joyful news to Dante’s family.
***
“Your Majesty, how was the banquet?”
On the way back to the Crystal Palace, the Head Chamberlain approached Lonas and spoke.
“It seems you took a liking to Young Lord Dien.”
Although there was no verbal answer, the Head Chamberlain smiled along when he saw the lingering smile on Lonas’s face.
After enjoying that pleasant mood for a moment, Lonas spoke.
“Looking at Lord Dien reminded me of when I first wore the crown. Back then, I vowed that I would break my own body if it was for the peace of the people of Delos.”
“Your Majesty is already a sage king who will be remembered for ages.”
“Hahaha, thank you for saying that. But seeing that child makes me feel like I need to work even harder.”
Lonas imagined Dien running around for the sake of a dead knight’s honor.
‘Dien Portran… He is beyond my imagination.’
At first, he was impressed by Dien’s refinement and deep insight; later, he was moved by his deep compassion. As an administrative official, Dien lacked nothing.
Lonas turned toward the Head Chamberlain as he considered Dien’s potential.
“If I were to transfer Lord Dien to the Royal Department, would Persian’s opposition be severe?”
“Hahaha, the Crystal Palace might be turned upside down by Count Persian’s commotion.”
The Royal Department was the office responsible for the kingdom’s inspections and personnel. It was the most powerful department in the kingdom and was under Lonas’s direct control, located within the Crystal Palace. It was a place where only Lonas’s closest aides gathered.
“I must give a reasonable position to a great talent,” Lonas whispered softly.
The Head Chamberlain’s mouth hung open in surprise. “Count Persian will oppose it fiercely…”
“No, I won’t call Dien to the Royal Department. Even the Royal Department is too small to contain him.”
“Then…”
Lonas touched his chin, lost in thought. “Is it correct that Lord Dien’s scheduled position after commissioning is construction supervisor?”
“That is correct, Your Majesty.”
“I will need to reconsider his placement after he is commissioned. The location where a tree that will become a giant tree is planted is of the utmost importance.”
“Eh?”
“Hahahaha!”
Lonas burst into a hearty laugh at the Head Chamberlain’s confusion. The Head Chamberlain was even more surprised because it had been a long time since he had seen the King laugh out loud.
‘If it’s that child… he will be a great help to my plan…’
An unusual light began to flicker in Lonas’s eyes. It was for his long-held plan. Lonas was wondering if Dien was the talent who could finally fulfill his long-standing desire.
***
The next day.
Dien stopped by the house of the old woman, Dante’s mother, and delivered the good news. Dien felt happy to have kept his promise as the old woman bowed her head repeatedly at his words.
“You don’t have to give me these.”
She kept pressing bundles of gifts into Dien’s hands. He already had no hands free after receiving fruit and fish. Despite Dien’s protests, she continued to bring things out from her house.
“I… I’ll be going now… Please stop bringing things out!”
“Oh, Young Lord! This is a small token. Hey! Wait a second… this too…”
“No, no! I really have to go now. I’ll visit again as soon as the approval for Dante’s status as having died in the line of duty is finalized!”
“Wait, even just this…”
Unable to withstand her insistence, Dien hurriedly left the house.
“Young Lord! Thank you!” the old woman shouted after him until the very end.
Dien turned back and smiled at her words.
“Not at all, ma’am. On behalf of the Royal Castle, I thank your son for his devotion to the country. Please, stay healthy.”
The old woman watched Dien until he was far away, then slowly turned to her grandsons.
“Children.”
“Yes, Grandmother.”
They were Dante’s sons, not much younger than Dien.
“You must grow up to be great, just like that young lord.”
The grandsons looked puzzled. Since Dien looked to be around their age, they couldn’t help but tilt their heads at their grandmother’s words.
“Our family owes a great debt to Young Lord Dien. That debt must be repaid by you, not me. Do you understand?”
“We understand.”
The boys nodded. They spent the rest of the day reflecting on Dien’s face.
—
“That’s a lot of baggage.”
“Yeah, thanks.”
As soon as Dien entered the House of Portran, Shilona, who saw him first, took his bags.
“Are you feeling okay?”
“I’m almost fully recovered now.”
Her body had recovered enough to easily carry light loads.
“Shilona, if you have nothing to do today, do you want to go somewhere with me?”
“Where?”
Shilona’s eyes widened. Usually, he didn’t interfere with her daily routine except for swordsmanship lessons.
“The Pathos Smithy in the capital,” Dien answered briefly.
“Why the smithy?”
It was because he had to tell Lorentz the news regarding the death in the line of duty. However, he didn’t feel the need to mention the details about Dante to Shilona.
The reason he was taking Shilona to the smithy was that while he was visiting Lorentz, he wanted to ask him to make a sword for him to use.
“To order a sword. I thought I could use your advice when choosing one.”
“I understand. I’ll get ready and be right out.”
Shilona readily accepted Dien’s request. Lately, she had been out so often it was hard to see her face, but fortunately, it seemed she wasn’t going out today.
The two of them headed to the Pathos Smithy. Despite being busy, Lorentz ran out to greet Dien as soon as he heard he had arrived.
“You’ve come, Young Lord!”
“Lord Lorentz!”
“Come inside quickly.”
Unlike before, Lorentz welcomed Dien with a bright smile and led him to the reception room of the Pathos Smithy.
“Reconsidering the approval for Dante’s death in the line of duty?”
“Yes, His Majesty promised it.”
“Hahahaha! That is truly wonderful news!”
Lorentz burst into a hearty laugh that matched his large frame.
“It’s all thanks to you! I had no idea you were such a capable administrator!”
“An administrator? I’m just a student still learning about succession.”
“Hahahaha! Do you think just anyone gets a private audience with the King? I’m also from the Royal Castle; I can tell you’re an official who has already been recognized without even looking!”
Lorentz expressed his gratitude to Dien as if he were the one who had received a great favor. To Lorentz, Dien was no different from a savior for restoring the honor of his late best friend.
“Actually, there is another reason I came to see you, Lord Lorentz.”
“Hahahaha, tell me what it is!”
“Are you not the greatest blacksmith on the continent? I’ve come to request a sword from Lord Lorentz, the master of the Great Pathos Smithy.”
“Hahahaha, this fellow! You even know how to use flattering words.”
Lorentz’s smile widened at Dien’s excessive praise.
“I will gladly make it for you. Tell me what kind of sword you want!”
“I request a blade that is long and high-quality, with a hilt nearly twice as long as a normal sword.”
Shilona spoke up as soon as Lorentz finished his sentence. Lorentz leaned his chin on his hand, lost in thought at her words.
“The shape sounds similar to the swords supplied to the Knights Templar of the Holy Empire. Hmm…”
Shilona gave an awkward smile, as if she felt a bit guilty at Lorentz’s offhand comment. Fortunately, Lorentz didn’t notice and stood up.
“Hahahaha, I didn’t know Young Lord Dien was learning swordsmanship! But it’s a relief. Now I have a way to repay you! Wait here for a moment… I’ll bring out something that will surprise you.”
With those words, Lorentz left the room. Dien’s expectations rose higher as time passed, wondering what kind of sword Lorentz was so confidently going to bring.
“Did you wait long?”
Lorentz returned, holding an old wooden box.
“Is it this?”
“That’s right.”
Lorentz smirked with confidence. Under Dien’s expectant gaze, Lorentz opened the box.
“Wow.”
Inside lay a clear and transparent blade.
“This is…”
The transparent blade emitted a brilliant light as it caught the sun. How could a sword made of metal radiate such light?
“This blade is the future of Pathos.”
Lorentz puffed out his chest as if the surprised expressions of Dien and Shilona were only natural. Then came the explanation. As expected, the raw material for this blade was not iron.
“Just looking at it, I can feel that the sharpness of the blade is extraordinary… As expected of the Pathos Smithy…”
Dien couldn’t hide his admiration as he listened to Lorentz’s explanation.
“Indeed. Everyone who saw this blade said the same thing. But… the truth is, I didn’t make this.”
Lorentz slowly lifted the box as he watched Dien, who was staring at the blade.
“You didn’t make it, Lord Lorentz?”
“No. As I mentioned, the material for this sword isn’t known on the continent yet. And with the current technology of the Pathos Smithy, we cannot forge this blade.”
“Then how was this sword made…”
Lorentz stared at a wall as if lost in thought at Dien’s question.
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