The King slowly pulled out a small box from his cloak. Albedo, his most trusted bodyguard and Imperial Knight stepped into view. Measuring an impressive 2.3 meters (7.55 feet) tall, he bowed in respect before taking the box and walking towards Broken with the utmost reverence. Albedo was not only the King’s protector but also his closest confidant.
“Broken,” the King said in a loud and clear voice, “You have won the grand prize, and I congratulate you on your success.”
The King paused to glance at the crowd before continuing.
“You have done us all proud, and I am honored to present you with a special gift: a ring that the late King Elandorr had entrusted to the winner. I trust that you will use this ring wisely and with great care.”
Broken accepted the box from Imperial Knight Albedo and discreetly placed the item into his Inventory, postponing reading its description to savor the moment.
The King continued, “Furthermore, I am granting you the privilege of becoming the personal blacksmith for my daughter, Princess Alora. You will be given access to the royal blacksmith workshop, as well as five Knights and one Knight Commander to serve as your personal guards. This is my gift to you in honor of your impressive success.”
Feeling deeply humbled by the King’s words, Broken bowed deeply and expressed his gratitude. “Your Majesty, I am deeply honored and will do my best to serve the Princess and the kingdom.”
King Alorik nodded, a warm smile spreading across his face. “I have no doubt that you will, and I look forward to seeing the great work you will create. Congratulations, Broken.”
The King stepped back, allowing Broken to bask in the glory of his victory. The applause from everyone in the area was deafening.
Comments from everyone who witnessed the event flooded in from various directions, both from those who were there in person and those watching the live stream.
“This is unbelievable! I never expected the reward to be this grand. Just look, a single player now has their very own land in the kingdom! They’re sure to be one of the richest people around!”
“And what is that? Personal blacksmith for Princess Alora? I can hardly believe it; a commoner is getting close to the Princess? This is outrageous!”
“That lucky fool, Broken-I should be in his position! What an ideal life he must have, crafting weapons for Princess Alora…”
“I’m so envious. But it doesn’t matter. Princess Alora will be mine one day.”
“What kind of ring did Broken receive from the King?”
“I don’t know. I hope it’s just a trash ring because he’s already gotten too many rewards!”
“He is so lucky! He’ll likely have an accident that will end his life soon enough. He has no right to this fortune. It should be Lanceshot who gets it-at least he’s someone we know!”
“Maybe Broken was chosen for a reason, or perhaps it’s all a part of the King’s grand plan.” “It doesn’t matter who gets it anyway. Our lives will remain the same.”
“But do you know what kind of town Slumdon is?”
“A ghost town.”
“Really? A ghost town? What happened?”
“Slumdon had been slowly deteriorating for years due to the dry climate and lack of rainfall. Folks just couldn’t make a living off the parched land, so they all drifted away, leaving only a broken-down husk behind.”
“Wait, so you mean this Broken guy was duped by the King? He was given a piece of worthless land?”
“It seems he got more than he bargained for… poor chap.”
King Alorik had just finished his conversation with Broken, and Knight Albedo stepped forward to inform him of his next steps.
“Her Highness Princess Alora will give you the full details about everything that needs to be done. I’m counting on your cooperation and support for the kingdom,” he said.
Broken bowed deeply in response. “Yes, thank you, Sir Albedo.”
Broken could truly feel the authority and strength emanating from the Imperial Knight standing before him. It struck him that here, in this very moment, he was surrounded by the most powerful individuals in the Dissidia Kingdom.
He watched as the King gracefully exited the area. The King’s composure and dignity left a lasting impression on him.
After King Alorik left, Morbit and Max quickly took control of the situation.
“It seems that this has become something truly remarkable,” Morbit began, addressing the awestruck crowd. “Surely you thought about how this would end. Who could have predicted that Broken would come out on top? We have all witnessed something incredible today.”
Max chimed in, “Before you head off into your next journey, why don’t we all reconvene in the capital of the Dissidia Kingdom to celebrate our victory?”
Morbit nodded in agreement with a smile. “Yes, I think it is best that we take some time to enjoy our success before continuing on our journeys.”
Firmly concluding their agreement, Morbit added, “We will surely meet again.”
Princess Alora and her knight started to move away when Knight Lionell turned to Broken with a gesture for him to follow. At first, Broken walked behind them, but he stopped when he saw Princess Alora pause as well.
“Can you walk a bit faster beside me, so we can talk more easily?” she asked.
Broken nodded slowly and quickened his pace. As they walked toward the castle, Broken
found himself walking beside Princess Alora.
“So… I see you just got a lot of extraordinary prizes,” the Princess said in an inviting tone. “Once again, I congratulate you.”
Broken took a deep breath before answering quietly, “Thank you, Your Highness.”
“No…” Alora shook her head. “Please, just call me Princess Alora or simply Alora,” she insisted firmly.
Sensing the uneasiness in the air, she then smiled to ease the tension. “I know you’re not from Yunatea, and I’m sure you aren’t accustomed to the complicated hierarchy between the royal family and citizens. So don’t worry too much about addressing me with the proper respect- something more casual is perfectly fine,” she paused, then added with a smirk, “At least do it while we’re alone, not in front of the King.”
Her voice calming despite its authoritative undertone, she continued, “Let’s discuss many things together. After all, I’m interested in hearing your thoughts.”
Broken nodded and replied quietly, “Yes, Princess Alora.”
Alora smiled warmly at him. She could sense he was trying his best to be respectful yet remained somewhat uncomfortable due to the unfamiliarity and formality.
To dispel any lingering anxiety, she added reassuringly, “You don’t need to worry about Lionell and Mercy either-they are my loyal knights and will never question you for being more casual with me.”
Broken smiled and nodded. “Thanks, Princess… I think I still feel more comfortable calling you Princess. It’s a form of respect and honor from me to you,” he said.
“Sure, that’s better,” Princess Alora agreed. “Now, let’s talk about the real deal… Do you need
some time to rest?”
“No, I’m curious about what we’ll be working on first. So it’s okay for me.”
“I like that spirit… I knew from the first moment that you might be someone special,” she responded with a smile.