Chapter 98: BALD EAGLE AND FROG FACE
BALD EAGLE AND FROG FACE
"Father, let me introduce you to the young Earl of Kaleon, Oriese", Prince Raslee introduced me to King Lavrentios as I bowed before the king.
Prince Raslee invited me to his father, the King of Drachia's banquet where he celebrates his union with his sixteenth concubine. The King heard about my exploits and wanted the prince to bring me and introduce me to him in his party.
"Oriese? The Bully of Starri city is here to grace my banquet. This is a rare pleasure", King Lavrentios said to us and those in the banquet.
The nobles at the tables immediately raised their voices as they heard my name and started to gossip about me when I was presented to the king. It seemed my infamy preceded me, and I suddenly became the object of the king's court's hatred.
"I told you that you should stop that Raegeon spilling dirt on the nobility and making them look like fools. You are making too many enemies at the king's court", a book that I carried spoke to me.
Raegeon ran an edition which frequently spelled the misdemeanors and transgressions of those in the noble families without fear and favor. Most of the nobles in this banquet were made fun of by Raegeon in his publishing and these people know that I am the owner of the Herald Times.
"I believe he hasn't riled them up enough", I replied to Ratatouille softly.
"What is the good of making so many enemies who are rich and powerful?" Ratatouille asked me.
"The more enemies that I have here in this banquet, the more the king will like me", I replied to him softly.
"Bullshyte, you just like to piss people off is the real reason", Ratatouille replied to me.
"Oriese, the people here seem to have opinions about you", Prince Raslee said to me softly.
"I will be happier if they actually attack me", I replied to him to his shock and horror.
"Your majesty, I brought a gift to celebrate your union with her highness, concubine Stephinese", I said to the king before I signaled for to my people outside the banquet hall.
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Suddenly, a magnificent being entered the grand hall of the royal palace. Its mane, as white as snow, exuded an ethereal purity, casting a luminous aura around it.
The creature moved with a regal elegance, each step resonating with a harmony of magic and music that enchanted the entire assembly within the banquet hall.
As it approached the throne, the king hastened to greet the creature.
With a gentle bow of its head, the horn atop its forehead radiated with a dazzling brilliance. In that moment, a bond formed between the king and the Unicorn, and the king was filled with delight at the majestic gift bestowed upon him.
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"Is this a Unicorn? I have never seen a creature so pure", King Lavrentios said to me and commented about my gift of the Unicorn to him.
"We found this Unicorn in the forest of Tarah city and immediately, I thought about your majesty and your love of ponies and pets. This Unicorn will bring joy to your majesty", I told the king.
"Ponies? I've got a pony recently from Samlee. You and your newspaper do know a lot about me and my family. You do know that spying on the royal family is a crime", King Lavrentios said to me.
The King knows that I am the owner of Herald Times, the newspaper that all the nobles in attendance were lobbying the king to ban.
But the king did not listen to his advisers about sanctioning my newspaper. He needed to meet me first before he made a decision about my newspaper and my gift of the Unicorn gave him the excuse to start talking about my newspaper.
"A crime? No, your majesty. The people want to know more about their king. How can that be a crime? It is their hope and dreams", I replied to the king.
"The people want to know about me. Is that true?" the king asked me.
"Of course that is true. In their dreary lives, they dream of being close to your majesty. They even mimic those close to you. Even the dresses of your majesty's concubines have become the latest fashion among the people", I told the king.
"Is that true?" the king's newest concubine, concubine Stephinese asked me suddenly.
"Dearest, it is out of place for you to speak to my subjects directly", King Lavrentios scolded his concubine playfully before he added to me, "Is that true, young Earl of Kaleon?"
"Yes, the concubine's style in clothing is pursued by the people. They may never get to meet your majesty and your highness in person but at least they can mimic your taste", I said to the king and his concubine who laughed at my words.
"Huh… I might become more popular than the Bully of Starri", King Lavrentios said to me and laughed.
"Your majesty, you cannot compare yourself to the lowly actors of this so-called newspaper", a minister advised the king suddenly and broke his laughter.
"Don't be so serious, Minister Kimon. There is no harm about some friendly interaction with my subjects", King Lavrentios told the minister.
"This newspaper is spilling filth about good people and making stories to defame the good names of the people of the kingdom", Minister Kimon said to the king.
"Really? What kind of nonsense are you talking about?" King Lavrentios asked his minister.
"The Herald Times called Prince Fotis a bald eagle for one and Prince Antonias a Frog face", Minister Kimon told the king who laughed out loud upon hearing it.
Prince Fotis and Antonias were at the banquet and their faces didn't look too good when they heard their nicknames being mentioned to the king.
"Why didn't I read about those before?" King Lavrentios asked Minister Kimon before he told Prince Fotis, "Bald eagle, that is quite obvious, hahaha".
Then the king addressed Prince Antonias, "I wonder where they got the idea about a frog face", and then he laughed uncontrollably again.
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone