King Morel stood as Simon came closer and knelt in front of him once more.

The king drew his sword and held the hilt in front of Prince Simon who gently kissed it. It showed the royal crest of the Krems’ royal family which consists of three twigs in a pyramid, burning.

“Welcome back, my son! I am proud of your accomplishment, and prouder still to see you return as a hero!”

“T-thank you, father,” Simon beamed, his face, flushed. “I’m so happy that you have finally acknowledged me!”

“I always acknowledge all my children!” replied the king with a loud laugh. “Especially you, Simon, my seventh -“

“Ninth,” Juno said with a small cough from his left.

“My ninth son!” the king corrected himself. “Your mother must be very proud of you!”

“T-thank you, father,” Simon said teary-eyed, disregarding the king’s blunder. “I-I’m sure, Mother is very happy in heaven...”

“Oh?” the king looked surprised. “That’s right, your late mother must be very proud to see how far you’ve gone and how big you have grown now!” he said with another loud laugh. “Now that we are celebrating your accomplishment, let us move to the royal dining hall for a feast befitting our hero!”

King Morel led the way, supporting his 9th son along, while the rest of the congregation tailed behind them. They entered the dining hall, where long banquet tables were overflowing with all types of food, enough to feed a thousand guests.

“Let everyone have their fill!” the king bellowed. “Today we feast, for we have been spared from the terrors of the evil behemoth who dared to come near our kingdom! And we have my son, Prince Simon, to thank for this triumph!”

“Let us all raise a glass for Prince Simon’s triumph!” cried Prince Juno.

“For Prince Simon’s triumph!” all the nobles in the banquette replied.

And as they ate and made merry, Simon could not help but think that this truly is the beginning of a brand new stage in his once dismal life full of woe and suffering.

‘Maybe this time, I can truly be a prince worthy my father’s attention?’ he thought to himself. ‘Perhaps now, I can be equal to my two elder brothers, and not just an insignificant worm they like to make fun of...’

“Why do you look like you’re so deep in thought?” his brother Largos asked him. “Put all your troubles aside and eat your full!”

Largos filled Simon’s empty cup with more wine.

“This feast is all for you, brother,” Juno told him, “you should be the merriest man in this hall!”

“T-thank you brothers!” replied Simon as he drank his wine and ate his venison. “I will do just that!” And he did, thinking that this was for the best.

Or was it?

‘I guess it really is best that I keep Will’s secret and tell everyone that I killed the behemoth single-handedly!’ thought Simon, the alcohol rising to his head. ‘But then again, what if they ask me to prove myself as the hero?’

This made Simon think.

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CHOICES:

‘What should I do, then?’

[I should proudly take credit!] – go to Part 20

[I should stay meek and humble.] – go to Part 21

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