Chapter 522: Chapter 522- More Rewards?!

“Thank you, Your Majesties.”

Reinhardt knelt on one knee to show his gratitude. For him and the Temple of Light, there could be no greater honour.

The hall buzzed for a while, with the Seven Commanders and their orders congratulating the party in question.

Just when it seemed like the assembly was over, the King spoke again. His eyes had been on the Divine Paladin the entire time, his expression unreadable.

“Reinhardt.”

The King rose from his throne and walked towards the knight. As a 6-foot-3 man, Reinhardt was quite tall. Not to mention his unparalleled features, which only increased his handsomeness.

Next to the knight, the King could not even reach his shoulders. What’s more, decorate himself as much as he wanted with jewellery and a crown; not even the brightest crystal could outshine the halo of this hero.

The King extended his hand and patted the knight, saying, “Well done.”

To many, it looked like admiration or perhaps belated recognition. But beneath that measured expression, something far less dignified stirred.

Ever since that night, no, since the dream that had felt too vivid, too real to dismiss, something within him had changed. At times, he would suddenly become absentminded, and at times, his heart would start pounding on its own.

He had tried to bury it, telling himself it was nothing more than insecurity by indulging himself with the maids. However, the image returned again and again, relentless.

The sight of his wife, the Queen, radiant and distant… and the knight with whom she made forbidden, passionate love right next to him. Even now, the way she looked at Reinhardt, that subtle yet controlled glance that clearly held a lot of meaning.

It only fed the unrest coiling in his lower abdomen, stirring something nefarious.

This desire was nothing like the pure romance poets and bards spoke of, but an obsession. A growing need to see, to confirm, to relive that ecstatic dream once again. And so, he used this chance to indulge in his fantasy.

“For services rendered beyond expectation, Reinhardt, the commander of the Temple of Light, has earned not only commendation but a personal royal reward.” The crowd that had just settled down buzzed once again.

The King continued, “The Divine Paladin shall henceforth be granted direct access to the inner court, without intermediary. You may attend councils at will… and be summoned privately by the crown at any time.”

At those words, a ripple spread around the assembly. Carving their deed in the Hall of Fame was already a great honour, yet the King granted them yet another great honour.

To get direct access to the inner court and be summoned privately meant that the crown trusted the Divine Paladin wholeheartedly. Not only was this a great boon for Reinhardt, but it also extended to his order.

The Temple of Light’s reputation and standing were going to see a tectonic shift from this day.

To others, it seemed like the King had granted Reinhardt a royal boon, but for some reason, the latter felt a little disturbed by it. Of course, it was just a vague feeling, and he did not let it show on his face.

Immediately, Reinhardt thanked the King; after all, it was no ordinary reward.

Standing a few metres away, the Queen narrowed her eyes slightly. She looked at the King, then at Reinhardt, and then back to the assembly. Whatever thoughts crossed her mind, she buried them behind a composed smile befitting a ruler.

That said, inside her mind realm, she was having a fierce discussion with her other self.

“Such access is not granted lightly, nor lightly earned. However, your actions this past month have earned the merit.” The King spoke with a deep smile. “I hope you continue to work for Solaris with the same dedication.”

That’s right; the royal benevolence was just a disguise. His hidden desires were much more messed up. To grant him access to the inner court, what’s more to summon him anytime, was all to satisfy his fetish.

To keep Reinhardt close, to place him where he could watch the two, and possibly observe the two in the act. The King thought that he was doing all that by his own will.

However, little did he know that it was all a machination of Minerva, who had planted the seed of corruption within him.

“I accept the crown’s will.” Reinhardt bowed, not submissively, but with knightly formality. There was no excitement in his eyes, just normalcy, as if he was just doing his duty.

After that, the King tore his eyes away from the knight and went back to his throne.

The Queen took it from here and addressed the assembly on how the kingdom of Solaris would move from this point on.

“Today marks the end of one calamity, but it also marks the beginning of restoration.” She spoke of the reconstruction of cities scarred by demons, villages that were destroyed due to the Great Holy Cleansing, and the people who lost their possessions or dear ones in the process.

After that, she also discussed the long overdue Magic Knight Entrance Exam. Had everything gone according to plan, the Exam would have been conducted a month ago. However, due to the incidents that plagued the capital and the kingdom, it had to be postponed.

“Now,” the Queen spoke firmly, “the tumour has been excised. The demons that hid among us have been purged. Solaris stands cleansed. As such, the Entrance Exam shall proceed.”

With that, the Queen dismissed the assembly. Everyone left the hall with measured steps. Reinhardt and the Temple of Light also made their way out when, from the end of the corridor, a figure called out to him.

“You all go ahead. I have something I need to discuss with that person.” Seeing who it was, Reinhardt instructed his order to leave without him.

.

.

Royal Palace, Marigold Garden…

At the heart of a sea of golden blossoms stood a white gazebo. Within it sat a woman with blonde hair wearing a pristine white dress that accentuated her ample curves. She had a veil donned that hid her face. Nevertheless, every action and movement of hers carried a royal grace that was difficult to miss.

As she stood there gazing at the field of marigolds, the wind swaying her hair, she looked absolutely mesmerising. Standing at a modest distance away, donned in his divine armor, was Reinhardt.

With the backdrop of the garden, a white gazebo, a beautiful woman sitting beneath it, and a handsome man… the scene couldn’t be any more picturesque.

“What is it that Princess Diana wanted to discuss with me?”

The woman had a veil to conceal her identity. However, he was one of the two people in the entire royal palace to know that this personage was none other than the missing princess of the Kingdom of Aetherion.

Why did he know that? It was because he was one of the two people who aided the princess in escaping her wedding.

What was it that she wanted to talk to him about?

“Sir Reinhardt, after I woke up in the infirmary, I heard from the Queen that you were the one who helped me break out of that nightmare.”

As she spoke, her hands rose to grip her shoulders, fingers digging into fabric as if trying to stop herself from trembling. Yet even with the sunlight and calm surroundings, her body still trembled.

She could recall it as if it had just occurred yesterday, a dream where she could not scream. A body that moved without her will. Chains, not of iron, binding her soul. It was like a dark nightmare that had no end in sight.

Although she did not remember everything, she did know that she was the reason behind the disturbance that fell on the capital of Solaris.

She remembered watching helplessly as her own hands unsealed the demonic treasure. Remembered the tower rising. The eclipse. The capital drowning in something she had unleashed.

Just as she was starting to despair, feeling herself drowning, the one to reach out to her and pull her out of the mire was the Divine Paladin.

The silhouette of his figure, while covered in light, was so brilliant that it practically engraved itself in her memories.

Right now, she called him out because…

“I know I don’t remember everything, but I know I was the reason the capital suffered. I wanted to thank you. Not only for rescuing me from that nightmare… but for not revealing my actions in front of everyone.” Diana spoke in a wavering voice.

So that’s how it was. Reinhardt smiled and shook his head. “Princess Diana does not need to thank me. I was only doing my duty. Besides, you were only the victim in all of this and were only being manipulated by those vile demons. If not for that, you wouldn’t have done all that you did. So, Princess, you do not need to blame yourself or feel responsible.”

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