While the townspeople celebrated merrily, Emperor Vasilias Fotia could be found sitting on his mythril throne waiting eagerly for the hero’s arrival. He was a stunning, young-looking man despite being in his early thirties, with golden hair and sapphire blue eyes. Atop his head was an elegant crown and from his shoulders fell a long and velvety scarlet cape. He wore the finest of clothes and shoes befitting his status. Though what stood out to him the most was not his physical appearance but the way he carried himself with utmost dignity and nobility making him exude an aura of admirable majesty.

The graceful Empress Charis whom he loved sat beside him while his vassals sat on their right and left side all according to their hierarchy. The kings and queens sat the closest to him on their own little thrones, followed by the archdukes and their archduchess, dukes and duchess, marquess and marquesses, counts and countesses, viscounts and viscountess, and last, the barons and baronesses. They all gathered in the throne room to pay respect to the hero as commanded by the emperor.

As they all waited for the Hero’s Parade to finish, the vassals couldn’t help themselves and started discussing their personal concerns with the emperor. After all, not everyone was in favor of such a grand welcome for a commoner hero who just started serving the kingdom a few months ago. But out of all the vassals who raised their concerns, one archduke, in particular, was brave enough to bring up a sensitive topic in the emperor’s ears.

“Your majesty,” the archduke said, “if you would allow me to speak. I would like to bring a matter of great importance to your attention.”

Emperor Vasilias turned to him, dropping the smile on his face. “You are permitted, Archduke Gennaios. State your concern.”

Archduke Gennaios was an old man in his forties with dark ashen hair and jade green eyes, and also one of the archdukes of the north.

“Thank you, your majesty,” he bowed in reply. “You might find this rather displeasing but still, I shall dare say it. Truthfully, some of us are concerned about the vacant position of the King of the North.”

Everyone gave a curious look towards the courageous archduke. They knew full well how the emperor cherished the King of the North. Just hearing that title uttered on his lips brought wrinkles to the emperor’s brows.

“I understand it was your will to search for him first and investigate his sudden disappearance. However, six months have already passed and we are yet to find a single clue about his whereabouts. For our greatest scouts to return fruitless despite their thorough search around the world could only mean two things—that he is deliberately hiding or that he is already—”

“Enough!” Emperor Vasilias shouted in anger. “Six months of searching and you have already given up. I do not believe that the hero who has protected our kingdom for several years and helped found the very peace we enjoy with every nation across Terra to suddenly vanish like mist! Do you even hear yourself?!”

“But, your majesty, we have already spent great efforts in the hope of finding him. Even the greatest sorcerers couldn’t detect his presence anywhere. We have rallied the help of other nations around the world and even they couldn’t find him. He is too skillful, your majesty. We, too, doubt that he is dead, for there is no one who could kill him. But if he wishes to hide himself, I’m afraid there is no one who can find him—unless there is anyone else in the world strong enough to rival him.”

Hearing this, Emperor Vasilias sighed deeply. He himself knew that the person who could rival the great Holy Knight Calcifer Ardor, the one and only King of the North, had not been born yet.

“And I’m afraid that is not all,” Archduke Gennaios continued. “The main problem is how the demons in the north have already learned of his disappearance. They are now back to their evil ways and going rampant, destroying villages as they please! Because of this, our people are suffering. The north needs its king who can tame those demons or else the whole place will be left in ruins and all our people there will die.”

Everyone murmured amongst each other—most of them agreeing to the archduke’s reasons. It was truly pointless to keep waiting for the hero who seemed to have abandoned them already.

Conflicted, Emperor Vasilias sighed once more and pressed his temples. Empress Charis held his hand tightly and smiled at him, wanting to relieve his stress.

“My love,” the empress whispered to her husband. Her voice was so sweet and endearing. “I understand how dear King Calcifer is for you. He is not only a hero but also a friend whom you trusted and cherished the most like your own brother. However, the lives of our people are at stake. We cannot turn a blind eye to this matter any longer.”

“I know,” he whispered back. “I admit I have been too stubborn.”

“You truly have been,” she chuckled. “If you wish for King Calcifer to remain the King of the North, why don’t we assign a temporary protector there and send our strongest knights to guard the land? That way, we can continue our search for him while we secure the people.”

“That is how I’d love to have it as well, however, these people,” the emperor looked at the curious eyes of his vassals, “I know them all too much.” Turning to them, Emperor Vasilias asked, “And what would you have me do?”

Hearing those words, his vassals started looking at one another. Some of them surveyed the other’s reactions, some gave either confirming or disapproving gazes and a few others were too good at mind games, making their thoughts hard to read. Like all other kingdoms, his vassals were divided into different factions. Truly, being an emperor over such cunning people was not an easy feat.

Archduke Gennaios answered the emperor, “Now that we finally have a new hero with us, why don’t we appoint the new Holy Knight, Alexander Drausus, as the new King of the North?”

“Aye!” said those in favor of his idea.

Emperor Vasilias wanted to scoff at them, however, he couldn’t possibly show that to his venomous vassals. He knew too well what they were planning. How laughable it was for him though—one moment they were complaining about how “extravagant” it was to welcome a commoner hero with all of them present, and the other, they wanted to appoint him as the new King of the North. Only the foolish wouldn’t be able to comprehend their desires. Too bad for them, he had already prepared for their ploys.

“In that case, why don’t we ask the Holy Knight Alexander himself? If he agrees to take over the north, then let him take the position. But if not, we shall continue our search for King Calcifer and at the same time, send our strongest knights to aid the north. Whatever the result, I expect each noble family to send help and contribute supplies for the people.”

“As you wish, your majesty,” the archduke replied and bowed his head, followed by the other vassals, who agreed in unison.

Just as the heat rose between the emperor and his vassals, the door to the throne room suddenly swung wide open.