The Palace in the capital city of Daelon was covering half the City in it's shadow, inside the brightly shining halls Free walks with calm yet authority, each step was heavy with a burden of a noble and duty, the servant leads him quietly to the throne room.
"Baron Hoshi, we have reach the throne room, please enter" the servant formally bowed as Free pushes the door open
inside, the place was lined by guards, ministers, sorcerers and mages, and in one of the tables a group of higher-ranking nobles sat, their eyes filled with greed and ambitions. Free ignored them, they weren't worth his time anyway.
"Your majesty, it's an honor to be called like this?" Free greeted, the ministers gasp as his tone was informally normal with no fear and hesitation.
"Baron Hoshi...." the King's voice echoed in the room sending a wave of chill to everyone's neck , low yet filled with authority, Free's didn't flinch. "My daughter wanted to meet you, to express her gratitude formally".
"I'm grateful but i should be the one to express my gratitude" Free added, everyone gulped down as the King's face twitch, yet Free continued talking. "You gave such a high status to this peasant, i couldn't be more grateful" he added.
"I quite like you" the King said, with a light smile on his face, Free smirk with his head low and staring to the ground. "We will talk after again, but my daughter is my first priority" the King added with a smile, as he stands up from his seat and walk out of the room, his long coat sweep across the marble floor with his rubies glinting brightly with the sun's reflection.
A servant enters inside the room and bowed politely to the audience. "Pardon me Baron Hoshi, please follow me" the servant leads Free out of the room, while the nobles in the corner of the room clinged their tounge.
One and a half hour later, Free was in the garden with princess Elize sitting opposite to him with tea's and pastries perfectly placed on the table.
"Baron Hoshi, you are quite the genius!" she complimented, Free gave a faint smile while sipping his tea.
"I'm pleased" he replied, taking a slice of cake.
"I was in awe that day when i first tried your hot-spring!" she shouted, explaining her experience at his hot spring and how their drinks were. "I felt refreshed!!".
"Please don't give me all the credits" he replied in a flat tone while Elize excited swayed from side to side of the chair.
"But it was astonishing, i should take my sisters and brothers there a few times" she added, Free chuckled and stands up from his chair to leave.
"It's getting late, so please excuse me" he requested, Elize gave a gesture of approval and Free left the garden and was about to head to the direction of the hallway, when.
"Hey!!" she called out, Free tilt his head. "You will be invited as a special guest in the Hero's festival!!" she announced, Free paused and smirk, he wave his hand while dissapearing into the steps.
He was walking calmly, servants and maids walks by, he walks slowly with his steps echoing in the marbled floors, but then something, a voice reached his ears.
Hello, is someone there.
the voice ran in his ears, she paused and looks around but no one was around. "Maybe my imagination?" he muttered and continued walking but then.
Can someone hear me!.
It came again, Free was now a little freaked out, and tries to follow the sound, after a little walking he cama across a room which look intimidating to his prespective, he extended his hand to open it but his hands hesitated.
'Why am i hesitating?' he thought as his hands were trembling the closer it gets to the door, without knowing that something was creeping behind him.
"What are you doing?" a deep voice asked, Free almost jump and turn his head behind and a towering muscular figure stands infront of him, he was intimidating with his physical pressure escaping in mist form from his body.
"W-who?" Free asked.
"I'm Alfred De Daelon, the first prince" Alfred muttered in a low tired voice, Free quickly regain his composure and gave a nod.
"It's a pleasure to meet you!" Free polite greeted, The prince didn't gave much attention to his words.
"Leave" the prince ordered, Free gave a final bow and left the scene, the prince stared at him for a little while longer and takes a deep breath. "Atleast he didn't open this door" the prince muttered in relief and left the place.
meanwhile Free on the hallway where his Skyboard was, takes a deep breath, the 1st prince's physical pressure was intimidating and creepy.
"That guy gave me chills" he muttered, just then the king passed by and saw him.
"If it isn't Baron Hoshi?!" The king spoke, his tone was different, it was now filled with excitement rather than judgement.
"Your.....majesty?" Free muttered, the King gave a pat to his back with a smile.
"You can talk normally to me" it wasn't a order but a request, Free paused for a moment and then nodded. "How was your talk with Elize?".
"It was great, she praised my hot-spring and the park" Free replied, the King nodded in approval.
"Your hot-springs and Park are great by my prespective too" he praised, Free smiled shyly trying not to be awkward.
"It's my pleasure" he added, and quickly strap his foot to the Skyboard and readies himself to launch in the sky. "If you excuse me" he added before launching himself in the sky.
"Wait" the king ordered, Free quickly freeze on his tracks. "If you have a great story please tell me" he asked.
"Ye-a what?".
"Well, i like novels and poems so please inform me if you have any great stories" he added, Free forced a half smile and nodded before ascending into the sky.
The King watched as Free dissapear into the horizon, he smiled with his hands brushing his white beard, meanwhile in first prince on the sparring ground was getting a hard time as a muscular man with silver hair and a big sword grins and throw the prince to a invinsible wall in a single strike.
and Free on the other hand was returning home not knowing something interesting was waiting for him, just 2 weeks before the Hero's festival, where he was going to become more stronger.
End of Vol.3-