Chapter 417: Duke of the Star of the Sky
Chapter 417 -412: Duke of the Star of the Sky
Although Prince Otto had expressed his intention to marry Natalia to Count Kais several years ago, Duane didn’t dislike him for it.
After all, Otto had merely been conveying the wishes of his father, King Eric. And when he was rejected, he hadn’t gotten angry or resorted to any tricks like Orisien.
In the past four years, Otto had not only grown more robust and mature, but had also gotten married.
His wife was Hariya, the daughter of the Minister of Finance, Leon Frank. She was said to be one of the greatest beauties in the Royal Capital.
As the King’s second son, Otto had no right of succession and rarely involved himself in politics or the military. Aside from the occasional task assigned by the King, he lived the life of an idle prince.
Honestly, it was a good life.
Duane and Count Kais had just stepped out of the castle when His Highness Otto arrived in a carriage. After exchanging warm greetings, they invited the second prince inside.
“I’ve traveled to many cities over the years, but this is my first time visiting Star Sea Castle.”
Gazing at the Gothic-style castle before him, built with a blue color scheme, he noted its size and splendor were in no way inferior to Duke Kelvin’s castle.
No, in fact, it was even grander than the Hughes Clan’s castle.
After all, the Star Sea Clan had once been the rulers of this land.
“You can’t imagine how shocked we were in the Royal Capital when we heard you had conquered the Starfall Islands. In this war, your front was the only one to achieve victory, and such a glorious one at that!”
He looked at Duane, his eyes filled with pure admiration. “Duane, could I hear from you personally how you managed to take the Starfall Islands so quickly?”
“Of course!”
The three of them strolled through the castle as they talked.
His Highness Otto asked about everything, from the attack on the Crown of Tides and the Scorching Wind Territory to how they had killed Veselar.
Duane didn’t know if the prince was genuinely curious or if he was asking for the detailed battle process under orders from His Majesty the King. In any case, he told him everything he could.
He revealed the unbreakable alliance between Black Forest Island, the Silent Shore, and Coral Island, while also hinting at their strength. This was to let King Eric know not to try and scheme against the three parties when it came to dividing territory and resources.
On the steps leading to the castle’s keep, Count Kais saw that Duane and Otto’s conversation was winding down and got straight to the point.
“Your Highness, might I ask what instructions you have for us, having traveled so far across the ocean?”
Otto stopped, his hand resting naturally on the hilt of his sword. He looked up at the sturdy keep ahead and chuckled. “I didn’t travel by sea. The detour would have been too much trouble.”
He didn’t answer the Count’s question first, instead explaining how he had arrived.
It turned out that after crossing the Michaelson River, Otto had taken a fast horse to Orisien’s Baron’s Territory—the Needleleaf Forest, directly east of the Starfall Islands—and from there, he took a boat to the Crown of Tides.
Although the route wasn’t a straight line, it was much faster than circling around from the Silent Shore and then making the long ocean journey to the northwest.
“As for instructions…”
He shook his head. “I have no instructions. I came this time purely to convey my father’s congratulations to you both.”
As he spoke, he climbed the steps and entered the castle’s keep.
Duane and Count Kais exchanged a glance. The King’s congratulations would clearly not be limited to mere words.
They had already noticed the guards and Male Servants following His Highness. The boxes they carried were likely related to these “congratulations.”
‘Could the conferment documents have arrived?’
The two of them followed.
His Highness Otto walked on his own to the main seat at the top of the dais.
The layout here was the same as the main hall of Cyan Snake Fortress. As a former king, Duke Eldrin had his own throne here.
His Highness Otto sat down on this former throne.
Looking down from this angle certainly gave one a commanding perspective over those standing below, and he could briefly experience the aura of a person in power.
However, Otto had no interest in such things. Royal authority had nothing to do with him, so he stood up again and said with a smile, “I was going to make the announcement while seated, but it feels freer to stand.”
Duane and the Count couldn’t help but smile. The second prince’s personality seemed a bit more direct than before.
“Your Highness, has the King agreed to our request?” the Count asked.
“Yes!”
Otto admitted it crisply, then held out his hand to his Male Servant, who immediately opened the golden box he was holding.
The second prince took out a heavy, black-and-gold book from within and opened it.
He announced in a loud voice, “In the name of Eric Pruck, the second monarch of the Pruck Kingdom, I proclaim to all within the Kingdom and beyond!”
He paused, glanced at Duane, and then continued in a clear voice:
“Duane Brian, you who have forged a path of conquest with iron and blood, who swept through the Starfall Islands like a storm, demanding the heads of enemy chieftains and forcing the mighty to submit!”
“Today, in the name of royal authority, I hereby confer upon you the title of Duke of the Star of the Sky, with dominion over the Starfall Islands, and grant you the right to enter the Cyan Snake Fortress at any time to discuss matters of governance, in recognition of your peerless courage and strategy, and your world-shaking military achievements!”
Duane hadn’t expected King Eric to be so straightforward this time, conferring upon him the title of a Kingdom Duke without imposing any conditions.
“Congratulations, Duane. From now on, you are only the second Duke in the history of the Pruck Kingdom, and also the Kingdom’s youngest Duke!”
He said, putting the book back. “These are the Duke’s certificate of conferment, scepter, and medal. Please, swear your oath!”
Duane came to his senses and knelt on one knee. “Thank you for His Majesty’s grace. I swear on the honor of the Brian Clan, my Longsword shall forever be wielded for His Majesty and for the Pruck Kingdom!”
Otto couldn’t help but smile, letting out a sigh of relief in his heart. ‘I thought Duane might object to swearing such an oath, or perhaps try to obscure his status as a vassal of the Pruck Kingdom.’
‘It seems he doesn’t want independence like King Eric said he might. At least, not yet.’
‘As for the future, I’ll let my father and older brother worry about that.’
Otto held a long, golden box with both hands and presented it to Duane. “The Kingdom has witnessed your oath, Duke!”
Count Kais clapped his hands with great delight. “Congratulations, Duane! You are a Duke of the Kingdom now!”
Duane chuckled. Just as the Count had said before, the title of Duke wasn’t all that important to him.
But in the eyes of outsiders, the title of Duke was something else entirely.
To go from a Hereditary Baron to a Hereditary Duke in a single leap—the jump was so vast it was hard for people not to let their imaginations run wild.
To put it in more modern terms, it increased Duane’s soft power.
“And there is also your conferment, Count!” His Highness Otto said with a smile.
Count Kais was taken aback. “Oh? I have one as well?”
“Although Duke Duane’s military achievements are as dazzling as the Scorching Sun, the existence of the Silent Shore and Coral Island cannot be ignored.”
As he spoke, Otto opened the remaining box held by the Male Servant. “His Majesty the King has promoted Uriel Whiteman to Kingdom Viscount, and he is also promoting you to Marquis of the Silent Shore!”
He took out another book. It looked simpler than the one Duane had just received, but it was no less substantial.
His Highness Otto began to read the words of promotion, lavishly praising the unwavering loyalty of the Silent Shore and the wisdom and courage of Count Kais.
There was no grand ceremony, no Blessings from a host of Nobility.
In this newly conquered fortress, Duane and Kais completed their promotions in rank.