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Chapter 142: The Invitation

Under the glow of the sunset, a grand banquet kicked off at the Sunset Red Castle.

It held numerous meanings, from the founding ceremony, the victory over the Abyssal Dragon, to the birthday celebration of the princess. The lively atmosphere was undeniable.

Beneath the brilliant lights, elegantly dressed guests mingled, toasting each other while praising the knights’ bravery, the king’s great name, and the beauty of the ruby of Lionheart Kingdom.

However, aside from the usual chatter, this year’s banquet had added an unexpected star.

Roy Ainbrad.

When people glanced at the handsome young man with black hair and eyes, exuding a gentle charm, they couldn’t help but recall the scene from that morning.

In past years, oath knights were mostly conferred in private, often causing a bit of a ruckus.

After all, the desire to confer an oath knight was entirely in the hands of a single royal family, and it wasn’t unheard of for young princes and princesses to fancy some playboy, much to their parents’ chagrin.

Few were like Charlotte, who was willing to undergo a public ceremony with the king’s approval.

What was most ironic was, considering Roy’s recent exploits, everything seemed rather fitting.

Setting aside the gossip between the two, Roy had genuinely tamed the Golden-Winged Griffin and played a significant role in protecting the royal family. That alone was enough to win the royal family’s respect.

Achievements could be replaced, but these bonds of friendship were unshakeable.

“Go make friends with Roy,” was the universal instruction given to children by the nobles with any sense.

Roy’s future looked promising, so it was essential to cultivate good relations.

Typically, children rolled their eyes at the social demands from adults. But that rule didn’t apply to everyone.

A dashing, gentle, kind young knight who had proven himself through actions clearly wasn’t on their list of dislikes.

On the contrary, whether it was boys admiring his feats or girls swooning over his looks, they all displayed extraordinary enthusiasm.

As a result, the freshly arrived Roy was immediately surrounded by numerous peers.

“Lord Roy, congratulations on becoming an oath knight!”

“I heard you defeated the villains of the Evil Dragon Society, could you tell us about that glorious battle?”

“Oh right, and your Golden-Winged Griffin, Cheese! You should tell us its story…”

Roy inherited the memory of ‘Rascally Roy’ and vaguely recognized many familiar faces that had once looked at him coldly, but now their attitudes made a complete 180, leaving him feeling a bit giddy.

Until he heard that bizarre name.

“Wait, Cheese?” Roy’s expression became somewhat strange.

Upon hearing Roy speak, the crowd became even more animated.

“Exactly! Your mount, Cheese! They say it fought alongside you against the evil dragon and rescued the princess!”

“Wait a second, its name is clearly Knowledge!” Roy couldn’t help but grumble, his face darkening.

Unexpectedly, someone just laughed and said, “Oh, sorry, I mispronounced it, Cheese! We won’t make that mistake again!”

“No, I’m saying it’s really…”

Feeling slightly frantic, Roy glanced around and realized the people were either giving him strange looks, too timid to comment, or trying to hold in their laughter, which was clearly not the kind of reaction one would expect for the name Knowledge.

No way?

Could it be that the guy remembering names simply got it wrong?!

Imagining that the name Cheese would go down in history alongside him, Roy felt an urge to cry without tears.

Yet, the crowd seemed oblivious to his plight and became even more enthusiastic.

“Cheese! What a graceful, unique name!”

“It sounds so cute, it pairs perfectly with the princess’s Cake!”

The crowd’s forced compliments felt like an open execution to Roy, making him feel so embarrassed, he just wanted to find a hole to hide in.

But the worst part was, a straightforward guy suddenly piped up: “But I think naming a griffin after food is just odd!”

Silence fell over the crowd for a moment.

Then, someone suddenly burst out laughing, “No, no! Cheese is a great name!”

“Exactly! Lord Roy surely has his reasons for this name, you wouldn’t understand!”

“Right, isn’t there a saying that cheese is power? This name actually represents strength!”

“Got it!”

“So cultured!”

This bizarre explanation nearly made Roy spit blood on the spot.

The more they strained to justify it, the more it felt like the name was utterly ridiculous!

Who would’ve thought that he used to mock others for having silly griffin names, and now here he was, stuck with Cheese!

Luckily, the awkward flattery didn’t last long.

The blushing princess wrapped up the royal duties and gracefully approached, causing the surrounding young nobles to politely bow and discreetly retreat like a receding tide.

Unlike this morning, Charlotte, attending the banquet in a stunning crimson court gown, looked even more elegant with her hair styled high. The off-shoulder dress showcased her beautifully shaped shoulders, adding a touch of sensuality, and her elegant legs, dressed in sleek black stockings with delicate red ribbons, created an appealing curve, her dainty feet encased in red high heels looked incredibly cute.

The princess, clad in her finery, shone brighter than rubies, attracting even more gazes than usual, instantly becoming the centerpiece of the banquet.

Yet her eyes seemed to land only on Roy from start to finish.

As per tradition, the royal partner for dance events was usually the oath knight.

Though anticipated, the moment still left many of Charlotte’s suitors feeling crushed and bitter. After all, as the aloof princess, Charlotte had always danced alone, but by dancing with someone, it clearly indicated she had found a partner.

However, many were keenly eager, casting hopeful glances their way. In an era of scarce entertainment, shipping couples was a communal hobby, and the pairing of the knight with the princess was a classic romantic trope from knight novels, so it would be strange if it wasn’t popular.

Gazing at the princess before him, as he thought about dancing with such a captivating lady, Roy couldn’t help but feel nervous.

Roy wanted to instinctively bow, but a delicate, unadorned hand rested on his shoulder, halting his movement.

Charlotte pursed her lips. To others, she appeared haughty and unapproachable, but Roy understood that she was just as nervous, anxious, yet filled with uncontainable anticipation for their agreement on this night.

Thinking this, Roy relaxed a bit, smiling gently, “That outfit suits you very well.”

“Of course.” Charlotte feigned calmness with a hum, but the smile tugging at the corners of her mouth betrayed her delight.

“However, aren’t you forgetting something?” Charlotte slightly angled her body, deliberately exposing her empty arm.

“What do you mean?” Roy chuckled playfully.

“Just that, you clearly know…”

As the girl frowned, glaring at him like a disgruntled cat, Roy immediately bowed slightly, extending his hand in a courteous invitation.

“Esteemed princess, may I have the honor of dancing a piece with you?”

 

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