Ethan had gotten used to eating the delicious food of the academy, yet he had to admit that the food served in the palace was a little bit fancier and more delicious than what he was accustod to.
During the entirety of the dinner, the three of them talked casually about random topics like their adventures in the Domain that belonged to Nightfall Academy, as well as their battle against the Dungeon Monsters during the Dungeon Outbreak.
The Grand Archmage of Eastshire didn’t ask anything too personal, so the discussion went smoothly, making the atmosphere quite lively.
After they were all done eating, Lord Edmond ordered the staff to leave the room.
Ethan and Nicole knew that the casual talk was over and that they were about to discuss more important things.
“As you may already know, this Ballroom Party is being held not only to celebrate the victory of Otto City against the Dungeon Outbreak but to also bestow upon the two of you the titles of Honorary Knights,” Edmond said with a smile.
“Unfortunately, most nobles are greedy. Every ti soone rises in the ranks, they are bound to deal with opposition. Unfortunately for them, the rits that both of you have achieved were enough to silence them.
“Otto City’s importance is known to everyone, so anyone who disagrees with the King’s decision to reward the two of you will fall from his grace. But, even though they are not saying anything now, it doesn't an that they will not attempt to mock and even insult you in public.
“That is just the way of nobles. So, I advise the two of you to not pay any heed to them. In fact, it will be best if both of you just ignore them completely.”
Ethan and Nicole nodded their heads in understanding. Truth be told, Ethan didn’t really care about knighthood or any noble titles.
If not for the fact that he had made a deal with Chloe’s father, Soren, that he would strive to beco a noble, he wouldn’t have even bothered to show up to the Ballroom Party.
Nicole, on the other hand, was different from Ethan.
As soone who grew up in a Noble Family, she wanted to gain recognition and have a title of her own, separate from the Asta Family.
But since her family was one of the Pillars that was loyal to the crown, it would not be easy to separate from them.
This was also why she decided to take the Heir Wars seriously. If she couldn’t break free from the family, then she would take control of it.
That way, she would be able to do what she wanted and change a few rules that the Asta Family had imposed on everyone, including their branch families.
“Also, there is one more thing,” Lord Edmond said with a mischievous smile on his face. “Tonight, there is an event that will be held here in the palace. It’s called ‘Knight and Seek’.”
“Knight and Seek?” Ethan blinked. “This is the first ti I’ve heard about it.”
Nicole’s face beca solemn after hearing Lord Edmond’s statent.
Clearly, she knew what this event was because it was a very common ga held in the Asta Family.
It was a ga where the Knight would have to hide or fight for a period of ti.
If they managed to hide or survive until the ti limit, then they would win.
Simply put, it was a survival ga with a handful of people hiding and the rest searching and hunting them down, hence it was called Knight and Seek.
After Lord Edmond explained the rules of the ga to Ethan, the young man’s face also turned serious just like Nicole’s.
“As I ntioned earlier, there are nobles who don't like the fact that both of you are going to beco Honorary Knights. Although it is the lowest rank of Nobility without any real power or lands under its na, it’s still a Noble Rank.
“It’s enough to make them go all out to hunt the two of you, so they can vent out their displeasure. Ah, the King will also give a prize to those who manage to hunt either of you, so keep that in mind.”
“What a sick ga,” Ethan said coldly. “I guess this is what Nobles refer to as entertainnt?”
“It is,” Lord Edmond nodded. “It allows those in power to watch those below them struggle. Since the King only invites everyone to gather at the Palace during special occasions, events like this are hosted to make things more lively.”
The Grand Archmage then pointed at the door.
“The mont you leave this room, the ga will start,” Lord Edmon smirked. “The ga will end after the two of you are caught. And if you manage to survive until nine in the evening, then a wonderful prize awaits the two of you.
“If you survive until the end, the King will personally give the two of you treasures from his personal collection, so do your best to survive until the end, okay?”
Ethan glanced at Nicole, and the latter nodded her head.
The young man then faced the Grand Archmage and asked him a question.
“Are we allowed to fight back?” Ethan inquired.
“Of course,” Lord Edmond answered. “However, no one is allowed to kill anyone.”
“Will we be given a grace period to hide? Nine o’clock is just two and a half hours away.”
“You’ll be given exactly thirty minutes to hide. You can hide up to the third floor of the castle as well as outside of it. However, you are not allowed to leave the castle premises. If you leave the castle premises, the ga will end, marking the two of you as the losers of the event.
“By the way, if you choose this thod, you will receive a punishnt, so it will be best if you just play the ga and have fun.”
Ethan scoffed. “Have fun being hunted? Yep. This is definitely going to be fun.”
“Mmm. So, do you have any more questions?” Lord Edmond asked playfully.
“None,” Ethan replied. “Let’s get this over with.”
“Good,” Lord Edmond waved his hand. “May fortune be in your favor.”
Before Ethan and Nicole could even do anything, they found themselves in front of the Grand Archmage’s room.
A mont later, Lord Edmond’s voice reached the two teenager’s ears.
“Your thirty-minute grace period starts now.”
Ethan and Nicole glanced at each other before nodding their heads at the sa ti.
Since the nobles wanted to play a ga, they would give them a ga that they would not be able to forget anyti soon.
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(A/N: Only one chapter today. the plane landed safely, but I'm burned out from the exhaustion of the journey. I will go ho on the 29th, and prepare myself to write more chapters for Wizard so I can mass release due to the number of days I slacked.
Thanks for always supporting , and the well wishes of those who wished for to recover faster is greatly appreciated. Kekeke, for the ti being just read my other novel, System's POV while I recuperate.)
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