Chapter 262: 262 Come Over Here (Requesting Monthly Tickets! Requesting Subscriptions!)
The knighting ceremony was a very formal occasion, with everything arranged according to a set procedure.
Thus, during the knighting ceremony, except for Reiger, who was the main character, everyone else was merely background decoration and had no role other than as witnesses.
However, with so many high-ranking nobles present, it was naturally impossible for them to just make an appearance and then leave.
For them, the knighting ceremony was Reiger’s stage, but after it ended, it was their time to shine.
Especially for those nobles who had long had their sights set on Reiger, they finally found their opportunities one by one to establish a connection with him once the ceremony was over.
This was not an easy feat!
Even before Reiger had revealed his identity as a Sword Saint, many nobles had already wanted to get closer to him, but they were all rebuffed.
Whether they were major nobles or minor, even if people from a duke’s house came to visit, they would never see Reiger, not even once. Most letters sent to him sank like stones in the sea, and the responses they got back were filled with pleasantries that were clearly not written by Reiger himself but by someone writing on his behalf.
This caused many nobles who wanted to communicate with this young and newly risen Sword Saint to fail in their goal, including a certain young lady from the Bolelei family who wanted to meet Reiger in secret through Kaliya.
Even more astoundingly, after revealing his strength, Reiger set up a fighting ring right outside the Fronzel’s house, accepting challenges daily from morning till evening. Other than being enclosed in that ring, he would not step out of the house at all.
This situation made it even harder for the nobles to get a word with Reiger, causing considerable frustration.
Not until today, did their chance finally arrive.
Thus, after the knighting ceremony ended, and the King had retired with the support of the civil knights, one noble after another finally surrounded Reiger.
"Greetings, Sir Brilliant."
"Greetings, Sword Saint Sir."
"I’ve long admired your renown, Mr. Reiger."
They greeted Reiger one after another, their faces full of friendly smiles and even some with expressions of ingratiation.
"Hello."
Reiger knew that he probably couldn’t escape this social gathering on this occasion either, and he nodded to everyone in greeting.
In an instant, Reiger became the focal point of the entire venue, surrounded by dignitary after dignitary dressed in regalia, engaging in conversation with each other.
Even Yuri came over, taking Reiger’s hand and standing together with him to help him handle these nobles.
Everyone at the venue saw this scene, their minds filled with myriad thoughts.
Especially those nobles who had not seen Reiger or Reiger and Yuri together were quite surprised.
They knew the relationship between Reiger and Yuri was not simple, but seeing how extremely close Yuri was to Reiger, their relationship seemed even better than they had imagined.
At least, they had never seen the Count of Fronzel stand so close to someone in public, let alone hold someone’s hand.
This led many people to start speculating excitedly.
"Could these two be a couple?"
"Just look at Count Fronzel’s demeanor; she’s obviously very close to the Thunder Light Sword Saint."
"If these two are a couple, that would be incredible."
"If this relationship is brought to light, it would shake the entire continent."
The nobles began whispering to each other.
If the relationship between Reiger and Yuri was indeed a romantic one as they surmised, the claim that it would shake the continent was indeed no exaggeration.
One was an unprecedented 17-year-old Sword Saint and Tactical Level Magician with limitless potential and a promising future.
The other was one of only three 17-year-old Strategic Level Magicians on the continent, also with boundless potential.
Seeing these two, who appeared to be young and immature in others’ eyes yet had both achieved the highest honor and success on the continent, if they truly came together, it would indeed make countless nations tremble.
Just by pondering such a future, considering the influence and developments the pair could bring together, there was not one among the attendees who wasn’t inwardly astounded.
"It seems I can’t overlook them anymore."
"Even if we can’t foster a good relationship, we mustn’t offend them lightly."
"To offend one might be tantamount to offending the other, and the consequences could be unimaginable."
"Let’s maintain a good relationship. If we could really become friends, it would be tantamount to winning over two people at once, not a bad deal at all."
Thinking this way, those nobles who were still observing couldn’t help themselves and one after another, they approached Reiger and Yuri.
Unfortunately, not everyone was so discerning.
Inevitably, there were some unwelcome guests who would still approach them under unwelcome circumstances.
"It seems quite lively here. Mind if I join in?"
When such a dominating voice overpowered everyone else’s and burst into the scene, including Reiger and Yuri, everyone went silent.
All eyes turned toward the source of the sound.
Both Reiger and Yuri paused in their actions, one with a calm expression and the other furrowing her brows.
In such a situation, dressed resplendently and with an extravagantly ornate sword at his waist, the Prince made his entrance.
It was none other than Prince Solok Jinas.
"Your Highness."
"Your Highness."
The nobles immediately bowed their heads, unconsciously making way while respectfully greeting Solok.
"Is it him?"
"Why has he come?"
A portion of the nobles visibly frowned.
Clearly, they were supporters of the Duke’s faction, and they felt uneasy about the arrival of this ’Mad Dog Prince.’
In a formal knighting ceremony like this, typically only nobles with titles, civil officials, and knights from the knightly orders would appear.
That means those nobles and royal offspring who had not yet inherited titles usually wouldn’t attend such ceremonies.
During the recent knighting ceremony, not a single royal prince or princess was present, including Prince Solok.
Yet now, after the ceremony had ended, Solok had entered the scene, causing the nobles to feel unrest.
Solok, indifferent to the reactions around him, entered on his own and approached Yuri and Reiger, smiling at them.
That smile, so characteristic of him, made people feel he was mocking, sneering, and looking down on others.
"Nice to see you again, both of you."
This time, Solok’s gaze wasn’t just on Yuri alone but also clearly included Reiger, looking at the couple holding each other’s hands, his mouth curling into a smile.
"I hear there’s been quite a stir about you recently, even ’His Highness the confined Prince’ hears about you daily in the palace talks. It seems you’ve been having quite a fun time out there."
For reasons unknown, Solok made such a comment, with a rather suggestive undertone.
"... Your Highness jests," Yuri, though clearly frowning, responded in a subdued tone, "We haven’t done anything particularly special."
"Now that’s a joke, isn’t it?" Solok laughed out loud, turned to Reiger, and said, "The youngest Sword Saint in history stands right beside you. He instantly killed the Borlay family’s Sword Saint descendant, set up an arena, and has fought a thousand matches each day, earning the title of the Thunder Light Sword Saint."
"Thunder Light appears, and defeat is imminent?"
"What a resoundingly loud title!"
These words, coming from Solok’s mouth, felt not at all like praise but rather like sarcasm.
The surrounding nobles all frowned, some displeased with Solok’s manner, others displaying sheer timidity.
As for Yuri, she just watched Solok coldly.
But in Solok’s eyes, she no longer existed.
He simply looked at Reiger, who remained calm, his mouth curled but his eyes flickering.
Even now, Solok couldn’t really accept that this person, whom he had once deemed unworthy and even explicitly warned once, had become a Sword Saint.
Solok had even expressed doubts about Reiger’s earlier rumor of being an experienced swordsman and a tactical level magician, let alone now with such an absurd development?
A 17-year-old Sword Saint—if someone had told Solok this about Reiger before, he would’ve snorted in derision, finding it unnecessary to even listen further.
Today, the rumor that Reiger had instantly killed the number one person beneath the Sword Saint, Saint Albert, and fought a thousand matches each day maintaining an undefeated record had been firmly established, and any doubt from Solok would just be futile rage.
Thus, Solok was forced to recognize Reiger as a threat.
That’s why Solok had come today.
Being confined, he wanted to see Reiger, and perhaps this was his only chance.
"Reiger Brillhaut," Solok looked directly at Reiger and said, "I admit, I underestimated you before."
Making Solok admit such was no easy feat.
His brutal temper and jealous nature never allowed him to admit inferiority to anyone.
Albert, considered the top man under the Sword Saint, was in Solok’s view only advantaged by his age. If it were him at that age, he definitely would not lose to Albert.
He also looked down on all his siblings and any so-called genius of his age, so arrogant that he regarded the throne as his for the taking.
Therefore, when Saint Nidor, not much older than he, was considered the best successor to the next King and recognized for his superior talents, Solok’s reaction was explosive, attacking him like a rabid dog.
He wouldn’t admit being inferior to Saint Nidor.
He wouldn’t admit that there was someone his age in the kingdom worth looking up to.
But Reiger’s emergence had torn apart his pride in an even more brutally simple manner than Saint Nidor’s.
Not only was Reiger younger than Solok, but his strength also far surpassed him, becoming the first person in history to become a Sword Saint before the age of 20, leaving no room for denial.
When the disparity is so vast, it tends to deflate one’s aggression.
This was the case with Solok.
Fortunately, Reiger was not of the royal blood, posing no competition to him.
So...
"Come to my side,"
Solok candidly threw out this proposition to Reiger.
"Swear loyalty to me, and you will be the greatest man in this country after me."