Chapter 499: Investiture

A few days after arriving in the Royal Capital…

While Tauro and his companions were resting at the Graunewald residence, a messenger from the royal palace arrived with a summons. They were to meet with the King.

According to the messenger, once the Prime Minister learned that Tauro and the others had returned to the Royal Capital, he quickly found room for them in the King’s already crowded schedule.

“Tomorrow morning, I’ll return as your official escort. This will be a formal audience with His Majesty, but it won’t be excessively grand. As long as everyone is dressed neatly and appropriately for their station, there should be no problem.”

As he spoke, the messenger briefly glanced at Ragune and the others standing behind Tauro and Aeris.

“We understand. We’ll be ready tomorrow.”

Tauro replied and saw the messenger off.

“I thought only you and Aeris would be meeting the King, but apparently we’re included too.”

Once the messenger had left, Ragune finally voiced her surprise.

“I-Is that really all right? I… I don’t know anything about court etiquette…”

Zion looked nervous, clearly feeling the pressure.

“They’re the ones asking to meet us, so I’m sure they’ll overlook a little ignorance. Even I don’t know how you’re supposed to behave in front of a king. If necessary, I’ll just copy Leader and Aeris.”

Ankh, who was actually fairly familiar with how to behave around nobles, lightly patted Zion on the back to reassure her.

“Haha. Honestly, I don’t know much about formal court etiquette either. I was making it up as I went along the first time I met the Prime Minister. In the end, it’s about showing respect, right?”

Tauro admitted this rather casually.

“Tauro, that attitude could get you into trouble… Fine. Just follow my lead tomorrow. First, don’t stare at His Majesty. Don’t even glance sideways at him. Keep your eyes on the floor or at his feet, and only raise your head when you’re given permission. Also, if His Majesty asks a question, don’t answer him directly unless you’re told that you may.”

“Seriously?! If you hadn’t told me, I probably would’ve stared out of curiosity and blurted something out without thinking…”

Ankh was surprised by how different royal court etiquette was from ordinary noble etiquette.

“Tauro or I’ll probably be addressed first anyway, so just copy us when the time comes and you’ll be fine.”

Realizing how important her role was, Aeris took responsibility for keeping everyone on track.

The Day of Their Audience with the King

Tauro’s party was escorted to the royal palace and led into a small audience chamber used for less elaborate formal meetings. Even so, it contained a proper throne.

The King sat on the raised platform, with the Prime Minister and several Royal Guards standing nearby.

Tauro and his companions knelt on the plush carpet and kept their heads lowered.

Thanks to Aeris’s guidance the previous day, everyone avoided looking toward the throne and simply copied Tauro and Aeris as they waited.

“Tauro Graunewald. Aeris Van Dyne. Your respective parents have both rendered great service to me. I have also heard that you’ve taken good care of one of my sons, Fleue. Over the past few years, he’s grown into his role as a prince, contributed to affairs of state, and improved his reputation considerably. You have my gratitude.”

The King addressed them directly instead of speaking through the Prime Minister.

Tauro and Aeris glanced toward the Prime Minister to confirm whether they were permitted to answer.

The Prime Minister looked at the King, who nodded.

“You may both answer His Majesty directly.”

Without having planned it beforehand, Tauro and Aeris responded at the same time.

“We’re deeply honored by Your Majesty’s words. Thank you.”

“Hmm. You both have more spirit than the rumors suggested. Now then… Tauro Graunewald, the Prime Minister has recommended you for a peerage. I hear that you’re, in fact, the same Giro Sugar who has caused such a stir throughout the kingdom. Your cultural contributions are noteworthy. Furthermore, I have received a report from Viscount Musai, the Prime Minister’s son, stating that you played an important role in resolving several problems surrounding the recent visit by the Saint and the delegation from the Kingdom of Luwan. Something also happened in the Halagoura Marquisate, did it not?”

The King seemed well informed about Tauro and his companions’ activities.

Tauro explained that Marquis Halagoura had been using large-scale magic and sorcery in his capital to draw magical power from surrounding lands, likely causing poor harvests and illness in neighboring territories.

He also explained that something had subsequently undone the system, inflicting severe damage on the facilities in the Halagoura capital.

“Hmm. That agrees with the reports we have received. Do you know whose power caused the disruption? …No, never mind. I’ll leave that there. Your achievements are already more than sufficient. I’d heard stories from Fleue, but apparently they weren’t exaggerated. Prime Minister.”

The King turned toward Duke Barriera.

“Then, first, Ankh and Ragune shall be granted the title of Honorary Knight of the Kingdom.”

“What?!”

The two, who had been quietly kneeling behind Tauro, couldn’t suppress their surprise.

“Zion shall be granted the title of Honorary Priest of the Kingdom. Aeris Van Dyne, you shall be granted the title of Honorary Mage of the Kingdom.”

“Eh?!”

Zion and Aeris were equally startled.

“And as for you, Tauro Graunewald: in recognition of your contributions to the kingdom and your recent achievements, you shall be granted the title of Viscount.”

“…Huh?”

For a moment, Tauro’s mind went blank.

Aeris and the others were just as stunned, and all five of them wore equally bewildered expressions.

Until that moment, they had assumed Tauro would be granted an honorary knightly title, the sort of honorary nobility sometimes awarded to distinguished adventurers.

Even Honorary Knights of the Kingdom were rare, with only a select few A-rank adventurers holding the title.

Instead, Tauro had skipped straight past honorary knighthood and been made a viscount, not even an honorary one.

Tauro was still too shocked to speak.

Then, as though to drive the point home, the Prime Minister continued.

“Furthermore, your family name shall be Giro Sugar. From this day forward, you shall be known as Viscount Tauro Giro Sugar.”

And he continued speaking.