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Chapter 141: The Oath Knight

“Let’s celebrate, siblings of the kingdom! Celebrate the victory over the Dragon and the peace of our realm!”

Charlotte’s speech wasn’t too long, just some words about mourning her brother’s sacrifice, celebrating her father’s victory, and the arrival of the founding ceremony.

But just when Roy thought the speech was wrapping up and he could relax a bit, the princess suddenly switched gears: “However, aside from these great achievements, there are also some honors just as worthy of celebration that shouldn’t be forgotten!”

As she finished speaking, the princess turned abruptly, throwing Roy a stunning look.

When Roy snapped back to reality, all eyes in the crowd were drawn to him, following Charlotte’s gaze.

“Isn’t that the young man recognized by the Golden-Winged Griffin?”

“The son of the Iron-Blooded Marquis, Roy Ainbrad? Wasn’t he just a scoundrel?”

“Dude, your news is way out of date! Don’t you know? It’s said that the princess was kidnapped by a cult, and it was Roy who fought valiantly to protect her, slaying dozens of dragons and holding out until reinforcements arrived, saving her life!”

The crowd below buzzed with chatter, and the nobles around showed surprise. If Roy’s protective efforts had been known only among a small group of high-ranking nobles before, Charlotte’s words had now brought it right to the forefront.

Charlotte looked at the crowd, passionately proclaiming, “That’s right! I believe you’ve all heard that I was threatened by the vile people of the Cult of the Evil Dragon, trapped in a near-fatal situation. And Mr. Roy Ainbrad stood up to protect me!”

“As a knight, he rightly deserves the honors that belong to him!”

The moment the last word left her lips, a roaring cheer erupted, overwhelming the entire capital city in response to this honor.

Charlotte wore a joyful expression, while Robar maintained a stern face, pretending it had nothing to do with him.

But how could Roy not guess that this was a plan set up in advance by the father and daughter duo?

By not revealing the truth about his slaying of the Blood-Red Dragon, he hid his trump card while also attempting to return the honor of protection to himself as much as possible.

Even though he had said before that he didn’t care…

Complaining inside, Roy found himself inadvertently smiling amidst the praises.

Since it was their heartfelt intention, it would be rude not to acknowledge it.

Uncertain who moved first, the nobles parted ways, and Roy made his way through the crowd to stand before the princess, who looked as vibrant as a summer red lotus.

Looking at her face, which resembled someone preparing a surprise for a friend, Roy couldn’t help but tease, “Honestly, you didn’t have to go this far.”

“How could that be? This is the honor you deserve! I certainly don’t want to be a foolish ruler who fails to distinguish between merit and punishment. Besides…”

The girl paused slightly, a gentle light sparking in her eyes, stunningly beautiful, her voice softening as she continued.

“You are the knight I cherish.”

The whispered words sent a ripple through Roy.

But before he could fully process the meaning, Charlotte continued with the ceremony.

“Everyone, I’ve made my decision.”

“Roy Ainbrad has proven his loyalty and bravery to me. No achievement or wealth can express my gratitude to him—only the same sentiment can repay this knight!”

“Therefore, I hereby recognize him as my personal Oath Knight!”

The cheering escalated, almost shaking the entire Sunset Red Castle.

Being an Oath Knight meant that Roy would share certain rights with the royal family, making him a figure of great importance, almost on par with royalty itself. Given their similar ages and differing genders, it added a layer of ambiguous tension to their relationship, in line with the precedents set by previous Oath Knights.

Even commoners knew how special such a title was, prompting all kinds of speculation about the somewhat ambiguous relationship between the young boy and girl. Even the usually composed nobles could no longer hide their astonishment, appearing a bit flustered.

Queen Leia, having mourned the loss of her son, finally revealed a long-lost smile. The Lionheart King Robar had complex feelings but bore no discontent, only a hint of a lonely father’s melancholy. The happiest among them was Carl, who was usually calm and reserved, almost bursting into laughter at this perfect match—though it was not strictly a marriage pact, it certainly looked like it was on the horizon.

But all this commotion meant little to Roy.

In this moment, his eyes were solely on the fiery red figure.

“I, Roy Ainbrad, shall from this day forth be your singular knight, trusting you, protecting you, cherishing you. Beyond blood, we shall share glory and hardships, and I vow to stand by you until death.”

Charlotte looked back, her eyes glistening with moisture, responding softly yet firmly.

“I, Charlotte Reinhardt, shall from this day forth be your singular sovereign, trusting you, protecting you, cherishing you. Beyond blood, we shall share glory and hardships, and I vow to stand by you until death.”

The black-haired knight and the red-haired princess locked eyes, smiling at each other.

“With a kiss to seal the oath! *2”

Roy knelt before the girl, taking her delicate, fair hand and gently placing a kiss upon it, humble and sweet.

According to tradition, Charlotte, as a member of the royal family, should have returned the gesture with a kiss on his forehead.

However, the girl’s shy and nervous gaze unconsciously landed on Roy’s lips.

For a fleeting moment, Charlotte really wanted to throw caution to the wind and kiss him.

But thinking of the thousands of eyes watching, the bashful girl ultimately closed her eyes and settled for placing a gentle kiss on Roy’s cheek.

Even so, it was enough to incite another wave of commotion.

The previous rumors about the two had circulated without substance, but Charlotte’s shy yet enchanting kiss had effectively put all doubts to rest, solidifying the nature of their relationship.

At that moment, Roy’s status board suddenly changed, bringing him a wave of surprise.

【Reputation +10000】

【Title Change】

【Title】:

【Oath Knight】: A hero in the eyes of the common people, a role model among knights. In the face of grave danger to the princess, you stood up to confront the conspirators, defeating cultists and saving her life through your loyalty and bravery. Young knights will hold you as their paragon, and noble peers will greatly appreciate you. From now on, you will share the glory and fame of the Fiery Lion.

The title clearly explained Roy’s current standing, making him deeply contemplative.

How he had once been despised as a “villainous scoundrel,” and now, he could proudly stand beside the princess.

As Charlotte’s Oath Knight, enjoying the protection of royal authority, he also understood that the road ahead might be fraught with hardships. Yet, Roy had resolved to become the sword and shield that belonged to Charlotte alone, fighting for her—just as the oath demanded.

Gently squeezing the girl’s hand, Charlotte instinctively returned the grip with equal strength.

The clear blue sky was beautiful and bright, as amidst the sunshine and white clouds, flowers and cannon fire, and the witness of countless subjects of the kingdom, the oath that belonged solely to the two of them was established.

 

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