Chapter 49: Attack(2)
"Brother!"
Finesse suddenly jumped inside the magic teleportation circle and hugged Luke as soon as he arrived at the estate. Luke just patted her back and heard Noah's question.
"Where are the others?"
"They stayed because they didn't want to go. Only Liam, Lina, and Julius came with me."
Noah looked at Liam, Julius, and Lina standing behind Luke. They all waved at him. Noah just sighed.
"Their opinion of noble parties must be very negative."
"Yeah, even the children protested about coming."
Luke felt Finesse break from the hug and talked in a sad voice.
"I am sorry if only I hadn't invited Baron Paul at that time..."
Noah walked towards her and hugged her.
"It's okay, it is not your fault."
Luke stared at the cheesy scene in front of him and just sighed. He, Liam, Lina, and of course, the invisible Nash came to the estate at night time since Luke found it troublesome to wait until tomorrow. He then walked outside the teleportation room with the others and went inside his room. He then prepared his clothes for tomorrow. Luke sighed.
'Tomorrow will be an exhausting day.'
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Luke climbed down from the carriage with Noah, Finesse, Liam, Lina, and Julius in front of the palace of the crown prince. He then saw all the nobles waiting in front of the palace. They seemed to be waiting for the birthday boy and the rest of the royal family to appear.
Luke turned his head around and saw the capital is decorated with flowers and there was even a red carpet raging from the castle to the middle of the plaza where a large stage was waiting for them at the end. Luke flinched when he heard the whispers and turned his head around. He saw all the nobles looking his way. He then heard Finesse's proud voice beside him.
"It appears that almost everyone knows who you are, brother! The hero of Ceb City and Hak Village! I am so proud!"
Luke frowned while looking at the stares of the nobles directed at him. Now that Sujin siblings and Selena are not here, who also helped save Ceb City and Hak Village, all the attention is now directed towards him.
'Damn it, I should've forced Spencer and the others to come with me if I knew this would happen.'
Luke sighed, his energy quickly dwindling as he realized that all eyes would be on him. He then stopped when he heard the knight's loud announcement.
"Your Majesty, King Carlos, and Queen Liana and the royal family are now here!"
All the nobles made way for the king and queen and bowed. Luke also bowed and glanced forward. He then saw the king and queen walking forward. He also saw Lance looking at him. Luke stood up straight and flinched.
The King and Queen were walking towards him with bright smiles on their faces. Luke suppressed his urge to shout in frustration.
The Queen and the King are now standing in front of Luke. All eyes are on him. He then saw Lance suppressing his laughter while looking at him from behind his parents. Luke just glared at him as he stood up straight and heard the King speak. His voice sounded weak as if he was seriously ill. Well, he is truly sick, but he can still manage to go outdoors and participate in events.
"So, you are the young hero who saved Ceb City and Hak Village."
Luke lowered his head respectfully.
"I do not deserve the title of a hero, your majesty."
The king laughed.
"Ahaha! Don't be shy! "You deserve to be praised."
Luke's eyebrows twitched.
"I am fine even without recognition, your highness."
The queen then butted in.
"Ohoho! You are so humble! "You are exactly what the rumors say you are."
"Thank you for your compliments, your majesty."
Luke kept a blank face. But in reality...
He wanted to cry.
He despises the stares he receives from those around him. He felt as if he'd puked. He then heard Lance's voice in front of him.
"I'm sorry, father and mother. You see, my little brother is quite shy. "
Lance patted Luke's shoulder with a bright smile. He then stopped when he felt Luke's tense shoulders. He tried to suppress his laughter while knowing that Luke was slowly dying inside. He then heard the King's low-key disappointed voice, which made Luke and Lance's faces turn blank.
"Oh? You two were brothers?"
"Of course! Our friendship began when I paid a visit to my brother Noah's estate. We immediately felt the bond of brotherhood as soon as we met."
Luke's eyebrows twitched.
'Brotherhood my ass. We were talking about the war at the time. And how did I end up being your little brother?
Luke felt shivers running down his spine. He couldn't understand Lance's flowery words. He then heard the Queen's indifferent voice. She immediately changed the topic.
"Is that so? Oh well, shouldn't we now start the parade? Our birthday boy appears to be eagerly awaiting the start of the parade."
The King and Queen then turned around and left the two of them. Luke then spoke quietly to Lance, who was standing beside him.
"It seems like they didn't care about you. They lost interest in me as soon as they found out we were close. "
Lance snorted and answered with a bitter expression.
"It's always been like that. Mother and father wanted to enlist you to their side. And they always ignored the people associated with me, so it is hard to gather people into my faction."
Luke could feel Lance's grip tightening on his shoulder. Luke just sighed. He felt a little bad for some reason. He then put his hand on Lance's shoulder and smiled brightly at him. He then spoke loud enough for everyone around him to hear.
"Big brother, let's walk to the parade together."
Lance looked stunned for a moment before also smiling brightly. It seems like he finally got Luke's intentions.
"Of course, let's walk side by side together."
Luke and Lance happily laughed. The nobles around then thought they saw colorful and bright flowers surrounding the two young handsome men laughing together. It seemed like a scene straight out of a painting. Noah, Finesse, Liam, Lina, and Julius all smiled as Luke and Lance's brotherly bond was highlighted.
They then went into their positions behind the royal family and heard trumpets and loud drums playing. Everyone on the road threw their petals into the air. Luke looked at the petals falling and heard Nash's amazed voice.
· Wow, so this is a parade. So pretty!
Luke just ignored him and heard Lance suddenly calling for him.
"Little brother! Come here beside me!"
Luke frowned at the smiling crown prince waving at him. Lance was making fun of him, he could feel it behind that cheerful smile. Luke then smiled.
"There's no need, brother; how dare I, a lowly noble, walk alongside the royal family? I'm perfectly fine here."
"No, you need to come here. The people are waiting for you!"
Luke's face crumpled like wet paper and then he flinched when he heard people shouting by the side. He then turned around to see a few banners being hoisted into the air.
[Hero of the kingdom!]
[We love you, Luke!]
· Hey! Everyone here loves you! They also seem to be searching for you!
Luke frowned and felt someone pulling his arm. He then saw Lance dragging his body to where Lance had just stood a while ago. Once he was properly placed alongside the royal family. The cheering intensified.
"Luke! Please look this way!"
"Thank you for saving my father in Ceb City!"
"Luke! Please accept this!"
Luke then received a bunch of gifts on the way. He then felt the third prince glaring at him. Luke just avoided his gaze and hid his face in the bunch of gifts in his hand.
'Please... Let this end!'
Luke felt very frustrated enough to flip everything over. He could still hear people cheering for him while walking. He then stopped when he heard Nash's urgent voice.
· Luke! Something is coming! And I can feel that it's not a good one!
Luke's eyes widened and he dropped his gifts from shock. based on how urgent Nash sounds. It sounded very important. Lance was about to ask why he had dropped the gifts but stopped when Luke shouted.
"Everybody! Take cover!"
Booom!