Became The Son Of The Final Boss [EN]: Chapter 134

134.

I received the Sword of Destruction in the Grand Hall.

A 100% pure mithril sword!

A masterpiece among the Reinhardt family’s creations!

The nobles’ eyes were filled with admiration, quickly followed by unconcealed greed.

Duke Beregon even trembled.

“From this moment forward, I appoint the Crown Prince as the Commander of the Eastern Expedition.”

“I am deeply honored, Your Majesty!”

I bowed deeply.

The ceremony ended quickly.

My father left the Grand Hall first, as always.

Just as the nobles were about to approach me, I spoke first.

“I intend to hold a banquet at the Crown Prince’s Palace soon.”

Everyone focused on me.

“It will be a banquet to celebrate the victory and to send off the Eastern Expedition. I hope many of you will attend and honor the occasion with your presence.”

Duke James stepped forward.

“Since Your Highness is hosting a banquet, I must attend.”

Duke James, who was always quiet, had been making his presence known since my return from the West.

I nodded briefly to Duke James. Several other nobles also expressed their intention to attend.

I shook hands with each of the nobles and left the Grand Hall.

The blue sky and the profusely blooming flowers signaled that it was now spring.

Like a new season where all things revive, I shed my old self and was reborn as a new me.

The Sword of Destruction at my waist felt heavy and significant.

‘I don’t even have a real use for the sword yet.’

Since I had acquired such a fine sword, I decided to at least learn the basics of swordsmanship.

The sword could be my last resort to protect myself.

Looking at my waist, I thought it looked pretty cool.

“Your Highness.”

I turned my head at the voice coming from behind.

It was Duke James.

“Duke.”

“Are you returning to the palace?”

“Yes. I received a sword from my father, so I was thinking of learning how to wield it.”

“Your Highness’s talent for spiritism is already outstanding, but if you master swordsmanship as well, you will become an absolute powerhouse, following in His Majesty’s footsteps.”

Swordsmanship, magic, spiritism.

Even having talent in one field is amazing, but my father has mastered all three.

“I would be fortunate if I could even come close to following in my father’s footsteps.”

Duke James followed me, so I continued the conversation out of courtesy.

“Would you like to have lunch together?”

“An invitation from Your Highness is always welcome.”

I nodded at Duke James’s faint smile.

I was slightly taken aback when he readily accepted, but there was no harm in having lunch with Duke James.

As we headed to the Crown Prince’s Palace, I had a pleasant conversation with Duke James.

“It is now fully spring. Originally, the evaluation tournament would be in full swing around this time, but there have been many events this year, so the palace is quiet.”

“The situation in the West was urgent.”

“If the forces of evil had greatly revived, it would have been a great disaster for the empire, but it is fortunate that Your Highness is here.”

Duke James confessed.

“In fact, when I first heard about the situation in the West from Your Highness, I was half in doubt.”

I recalled the memory.

Duke James neither opposed nor supported my opinion to advocate for the Western Expedition at the time.

He simply sided with the decisions of others.

‘Duke James’s typical attitude? He always goes with the flow. He is someone who reads the political situation faster than anyone else.’

He was the one who offered his entire country to my father.

Even before the name Calpheon was decided, Duke James moved quickly.

‘This capital… was also the capital of Duke James’s country.’

It could be said that he made a quick choice in the face of my father’s unstoppable conquest of the continent, but that was only a thought that could be made after seeing the results.

At the time, I did not know what circumstances Duke James had and with what heart he offered his country.

‘I need to find out more.’

Duke James was also a strong figure, no less than the other three dukes, and his power was even greater.

He was the owner of a kingdom.

Even if the Aetran and Riverhill families were called prestigious families, they were just families and could not build a country.

“I was amazed by Your Highness’s foresight.”

With Duke James’s words, we arrived at the Crown Prince’s Palace.

“Your Highness!”

“I will have lunch with the Duke. Prepare it.”

I said to Soris and turned my gaze to Duke James.

“Let’s go to the dining hall.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

The two of us soon arrived at the dining hall.

Lunch was being prepared in advance, but it took a little longer to prepare an additional portion for the unexpected guest.

“When will the banquet be held?”

At Duke James’s question, I filled my glass and answered.

“It is in preparation. It won’t take long. Since it is the first banquet, there are many things to take care of.”

“Many nobles are expected to attend.”

I smiled.

“Yes. It is a grateful thing.”

“There will also be many nobles who bring their daughters.”

It is always the case that many noble daughters attend banquets, but anyone who is not a fool can easily guess the intention.

I smiled awkwardly.

Duke James fiddled with his fork and said casually.

“I am also thinking of bringing my youngest daughter.”

“Yes?”

“I have no successor. I have no relatives to adopt. I only have three daughters, and the first and second have already met their match.”

“I see.”

“I would be grateful if Your Highness would look favorably upon her at the banquet.”

I nodded.

“If she is the Duke’s daughter, she must be a wonderful young lady. Why would I dislike her?”

‘Did Duke James discover the trend in me?’

I simply asked calmly again at Duke James’s face, which was wearing an inscrutable smile.

“Is the food to your liking?”

Ordinary conversation continued.

Duke James seemed to have achieved his purpose of having lunch with me, and he did not say anything special anymore.

* * *

The banquet was scheduled to be held tonight. Soris was the busiest, and Ken also helped Soris.

“Oh, looking good?”

I exclaimed, looking at Gail. It was nice to see Gail wearing knight’s attire instead of casual clothes for the first time in a while.

Riorden, David, and the knights also looked definitely cool.

Knight’s attire worn for social gatherings rather than armor was quite sophisticated.

“Thank you, Your Highness.”

The banquet was a banquet, but it was also the first day that the Crown Prince’s direct knights order was revealed to the outside world.

Gail seemed to have given the knights a thorough mental preparation, and everyone was exuding a sharp aura like a single sword.

“Isn’t it too stiff? The nobles might feel threatened.”

Gail shook his head at my concern.

“Although it is a banquet, it is a place to show Your Highness’s power. The Knights are Your Highness’s force.”

“Then I can’t help it.”

Gail gestured, and the knights scattered throughout the palace.

“Then I’ll be on my way.”

“Where to?”

“I have to greet you at the entrance.”

I was slightly taken aback by the fact that the commander of the Knights was directly greeting the guests.

“Just me being at the entrance has a big effect.”

“Ken?”

“Yes.”

I chuckled. A banquet where a Sword Master comes out to greet you!

I could see Ken’s thoughts, and I could also feel Gail’s heart, which had sharpened the knights’ spirit to match it.

“Okay. Then shall I go down slowly.”

The banquet was scheduled to take place in the Crown Prince’s Palace garden.

Every palace has a garden, but the Crown Prince’s Palace garden was much larger than the gardens of other princes and princesses.

Magical lights decorated the spring flowers and gave a colorful effect to the fountain.

‘This is no joke.’

I clicked my tongue.

I had never been to a festival in my life.

I could never have dreamed of becoming a host, but the fact that I was the main character of the banquet still didn’t feel real.

As the sunset began, guests began to flock in earnest.

I was exhausted just shaking hands with one or two people who greeted me.

The last to appear were the dukes with the highest titles.

Beregon and Austin were also present.

Duke Beregon, Duke Austin and I exchanged greetings as if nothing had happened.

“Congratulations on your victory, Your Highness.”

I smiled and replied to Duke Beregon’s words.

“Thank you. It seems that the banquet is even more brilliant because you attended.”

I said similar words to Duke Austin.

The two dukes tried to kill me, and I took the opportunity to extract enormous compensation.

The two dukes, whose faces did not change color, and I, who welcomed them without even trembling, were not much different.

‘I’ve changed a lot too.’

Finally, Duke Yan and Duke James arrived, and the garden was filled with people.

The maids and servants moved tirelessly, carrying wine and food.

Ken proceeded with the banquet.

The nobles responded with applause to my short greeting.

‘Hmm…’

Spring had come, but the weather was still chilly as the sun set.

I summoned Salamander, Phoenix, and Ignis.

“Hey…”

‘Quiet.’

I cut off Ignis’s nagging in an instant.

Ignis shook his head and climbed onto the large tree in the garden and took his place.

The Phoenixes also scattered, and the Salamanders jumped and played on the empty tables.

The surrounding temperature rose sharply.

I even summoned Sylphren to adjust the wind appropriately.

No matter how wide the garden was, it was not difficult for Sylphren to control the wind.

“Brother, I want to touch that!”

It’s my youngest sister.

My ten-year-old youngest sister was far from the political maneuvering of the court. In my memory, I often played in the garden with her.

At some point, my sister’s mother prevented me from hanging out with her, but now she was just bowing slightly to me from afar.

‘Is it okay for someone else to touch it?’

The Salamander answered my question.

‘Only for a moment.’

I smiled bitterly at the prickly answer.

“Touch it carefully. Not for long.”

“Yes, Brother.”

I couldn’t help but smile at the cute answer.

Duke James approached.

“Your Highness, congratulations again on your victory.”

“Thank you.”

“This is my youngest daughter.”

A breathtakingly beautiful woman bowed to me.

“Ah! Hello.”

“My name is Olivia. I am honored to meet Prince Iri today.”

As Duke James introduced his daughter, the nobles, as if they had been waiting, slowly approached me with their daughters.

It was a difficult situation in its own way.

‘Isn’t this banquet going to end just by saying hello to everyone?’

“Your Highness, I know it’s not polite, but perhaps we could…”

Olivia held out her hand.

It seemed like she was asking me to dance.

‘Yeah. When will I get a chance to greet each and every one of them?’

Just as I was about to take Olivia’s hand, she continued.

“May I request a duel with Gail?”

It seemed that she held out her hand not to ask for a dance, but as a way of issuing a challenge.

I quickly pulled my hand away.

-Hehe, all human men are the same.

‘Be quiet.’

I said to Ignis and asked Olivia.

“With Gail?”

“Yes. If I can cross swords with the newly recognized Sword Master in the Empire, it will be a memory that I can cherish as a knight for the rest of my life.”

At Olivia’s outspoken appearance, I asked Gail without realizing it.

“Gail, are you okay with that?”

Duke James stepped forward.

“It’s rude to Sir Gail, but there’s no better way to liven up the banquet than a duel. You don’t have to hold back. I apologize for my daughter’s rudeness, Sir Gail.”

A Sword Master could not be ignored by anyone, no matter how low their title was.

Even a duke found it difficult to offend a Sword Master.

‘I know Duke James himself is close to a similar level.’

Beregon, James, Yan, and even the leader of my father’s shadow group. They are the Sword Masters belonging to the Empire, excluding my father.

They were often called the Empire’s Four Great Sword Masters.

Duke Austin was a wizard, befitting the head of the Riverhill family.

As James, the same Sword Master and Duke, bowed his head, Gail was put in a difficult position.

“Your Highness.”

I replied briefly to Gail’s voice calling me.

“It’s okay. It’s up to Gail.”

Gail said.

“I was wondering about the White family’s swordsmanship, so this is good.”

He was clearly talking to Olivia, but Gail’s gaze was directed at James.

Duke James Dilen White!

He became a meritorious subject without participating in a single battlefield.

‘Did James orchestrate this? He’s being quite considerate of me. The White family’s swordsmanship is still shrouded in mystery because he has always been in charge of supplies on the battlefield, and the first time it is revealed is at my banquet.’

I went to James’s side and said.

“It’s quite a gift from the Duke.”

Duke Beregon and Duke Yan also couldn’t hide their curiosity and focused on Gail and Olivia.

A place for a duel was quickly prepared.

“There is a saying that I, who was a king, offered my country to His Majesty and became a duke of the Empire.”

Duke James said after taking a sip of wine.

“That is also true, but it was a kingdom that His Majesty would have conquered someday, and that alone would not have made me a meritorious subject.”

Olivia drew her sword.

It was a real sword.

Clang-!

Papapat-!

Olivia’s momentum dominated the banquet hall.

Duke James’s smile deepened.