The knight captain straightened his posture and said solemnly, "Of course it’s you, Lord Rhodes."
"..."
Rhodes blinked. ’So that’s what this is about...’ He sighed inwardly, realizing it was probably part of the king’s "gratitude."
"Please rise," he said. "Could you explain the situation in detail?"
"Yes, my lord."
The knights stood, and the captain continued, "To express His Majesty’s thanks, the King has decided to confer upon you, Lord Rhodes, the title of Earl. The exact location of your fiefdom is still under discussion."
Rhodes raised an eyebrow. ’A fiefdom?’
Beside him, Mira gasped softly, covering her mouth with both hands, eyes wide in disbelief.
Even Rhodes was caught off guard. After all, in Fiore, noble titles were purely honorary, none of them ca with actual land or tax rights.
Take Duke Everlue, for instance, the pompous noble Natsu and Lucy had once dealt with. Despite calling himself "duke," he had no real fief. Shirotsu Town wasn’t his land; he simply lived there, owned a ridiculous mansion, and threw his weight around.
When he broke the law, he was arrested and imprisoned like anyone else, and, as far as Rhodes knew, he was still rotting in that cell.
But in Joya Kingdom, an Earl could apparently hold a fiefdom outright. That ant genuine land, tax rights, and political authority. In other words, actual power.
’If this were Fiore,’ Rhodes thought, ’even dukes would envy .’
He frowned slightly. ’But could such good fortune really fall from the sky?’
"I understand that Petryula was a major criminal in your kingdom," Rhodes said. "But even so, capturing a few remnants of his group shouldn’t warrant a noble title, should it?"
The captain looked awkward but remained earnest. "Normally, no. I can’t claim to understand the King’s reasoning either. But His Majesty said that simply by accepting his invitation and setting foot upon our land, you have already rendered sufficient contribution."
Rhodes’s eyes narrowed slightly.
Interesting.
Was this king trying to use his reputation for political gain? Or perhaps hoping to borrow his na to intimidate soone else?
He wasn’t particularly attached to noble ranks. Titles without substance ant little to him, and a fiefdom far across the sea was hardly useful.
Unless, of course, he installed a Hex Gate there.
Rhodes rubbed his chin thoughtfully. ’In that case, it would be practically next door.’
He felt a small twinge of temptation.
If this was a gift of gratitude earned through honest reputation, he’d take it gladly, Magicians worked for money, after all. But if soone was trying to use his na to do sothing shady, that was another story entirely.
One way or another, he had to et this king in person.
The knight captain, noticing Rhodes’s thoughtful silence, grew a bit nervous. When Rhodes finally looked at him, he straightened and said quickly:
"You must both be weary from travel, my lord. His Majesty has ordered lodgings prepared for you. Would you prefer to rest first, or proceed directly to the palace?"
"It would be impolite to et His Majesty covered in dust," Rhodes replied calmly. "Please take us to our lodging first so we can change."
"Yes, my lord."
As they started walking, Rhodes asked casually, "By the way, Captain, what should I call you?"
The knight placed his hand over his heart and declared proudly, "Panther Lili, Captain of the First Squadron of the Royal Guard of the Joya Kingdom!"
"What?" Rhodes blinked.
"My na is Panther Lili, Lord Earl!" the man repeated, a little louder.
Rhodes and Mira exchanged glances. Slowly, identical smiles crept across their faces, not of surprise, but of recognition.
Because they had already seen that na before.
On the royal letter that had arrived days ago, the one signed by the King of Joya himself.
Mira sighed softly. "Sohow, this is starting to feel very familiar."
Rhodes chuckled under his breath. "Yeah. I think we might’ve just t another interesting royal family."
Captain Panther Lili, completely oblivious to their private amusent, could only march on in dignified confusion.
Rhodes smiled faintly. "My apologies. It’s just that soone in our guild shares your na, Panther Lili. We found the coincidence a little amusing."
The difference, of course, was that their Panther Lili was a black Exceed who insisted on being called Lily, while this one was a dignified knight captain.
"I see." Captain Panther chuckled politely. "What a coincidence indeed. I’d very much like to et him if fate allows."
He was curious but remained reserved; before a Wizard Saint, excessive curiosity was poor manners.
Then, as his gaze drifted past Rhodes, he suddenly stiffened. "Wait, isn’t that... the leader of the Makhno Gang?"
Rhodes followed his line of sight. The man in question was tied up and being herded along by one of Rhodes’s summoned beasts, still wearing a dazed expression.
"I happened to run into them on the way," Rhodes said casually. "I was planning to present them as a gift to the King, but it seems circumstances are different from what I imagined. I’ll leave them in your care."
"Ah, understood!" Panther quickly saluted, though his eyes widened slightly.
The Makhno Gang was infamous across the region, known for their brutality. And yet this man had captured them as casually as one might collect seashells on the shore. Even more astonishing, neither Rhodes nor Mira bore so much as a speck of dirt.
No wonder His Majesty had been so generous with titles and honors.
Suppressing his awe, Panther gave efficient orders to his n to take custody of the captured gangs. Then he turned and bowed slightly. "Lord Earl, Lady Mirajane, please, co aboard. We’ll escort you to the capital."
The group boarded a sleek royal airship. The flight was brief; before long, the towering spires of Joya’s royal capital ca into view.
They landed before one of the city’s most luxurious hotels, its entrance adorned with banners bearing the royal crest.
Captain Panther personally escorted them to their suite, an elegant room filled with golden light and soft blue curtains, and inford them that he would return in two hours to escort them to the palace.
Rhodes arched an eyebrow as the door closed. "So the captain can even schedule audiences for the King now? Interesting."
Mira smiled knowingly. "Sounds like this might be part of the King’s plan too."
Rhodes swept his hand across the room, releasing a faint wave of magic to check for surveillance. When he found none, he relaxed and leaned back on the couch.
He looked at Mira, his tone suddenly playful. "Please, go ahead and bathe and change first, Lady Earl."
Mira pursed her lips to hide a laugh. "Are you really planning to stay here and play the part of an Earl?"
"I’ll decide after I et the King." Rhodes slipped an arm around her waist and steered her gently toward the bathroom. "If he turns out to be decent, being an Earl here for a few days might be... fun."
Mira’s expression softened. It was all still a little surreal. She’d once been an "evil spirit" exiled from her village, and later a Magician of Fairy Tail, and now she was being treated as a noble’s wife.
It wasn’t impossible for a powerful Magician to reach such heights, especially in smaller kingdoms. But for her, it still felt dreamlike.
Until a pair of mischievous hands broke her reverie.
She caught his wrist with a smirk. "If you touch now," she warned teasingly, "you’ll be the one suffering later."
Rhodes froze, withdrawing his hand with a wry smile.
He vaguely recalled Wakaba once joking, ’Before marriage, they’re your roadblock; after marriage, they’re your savior.’
Rhodes wasn’t sure what that ant, but right now, he didn’t need saving, only patience.
He sighed and took what was possibly the least romantic shower of his life.
When they erged, the transformation was remarkable.
Rhodes wore his Ten Wizard Saints formal attire, elegant, crisp, and radiating quiet authority. Mira had chosen a flowing dress in pale lavender, her hair elegantly tied, her makeup subtle yet flawless.
They fixed each other’s collars and straightened each other’s hair before sitting down together to chat idly about noble customs and fiefdoms.
Then ca a firm knock on the door.
When Rhodes opened it, Captain Panther stood there again, this ti with two full squads of knights, a small orchestra, and a gilded royal carriage waiting outside.
The level of etiquette was impeccable.
Rhodes stepped forward and turned back, extending his hand toward Mira.
Mira gracefully lifted her skirt with one hand and placed the other on his, stepping into the carriage with practiced poise.
They sat side by side, posture straight, deanor composed.
Normally, they weren’t the type to stand on ceremony, but when soone offered this much respect, it was only right to return it in kind.
....
Bonus @400
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