Chapter 453 - 449: Declare
High Duke Oris introduced the man who was selected to be the new marquis by him.
He talked about his achievements and what he had done for the betterment of the Empire. Ryder wasn't the least bit interested in these things since it wasn't a big deal for him.
He was certain that the man deserved the position. All needed scrutiny was most probably already done by High Duke Oris, but he still listened.
He couldn't show how bored he was when facing the people in front of him. He had to act the part at least, and thus, he listened.
"Impressive," Ryder complimented after High Duke Oris finished. "I believe in your decision as well. Kaia is a good choice to take the position of the diseased Marquis."
"I believe so," High Duke Oris agreed.
Ryder shifted his focus back to the middle-aged man and asked, "Kaia, do you promise to work with full honesty and take care of my citizens like they are your own family?"
"I promise, Your Highness." Kaia dropped to his knees as he answered.
"Good," Ryder nodded as he stood up.
He walked over to Kaia. Rale walked beside him.
As Ryder reached near Kaia, he reached his hand towards his left where Rale was standing. Rale gave Ryder a red leaf that seemed like it was from a beautiful tree.
Kaia extended his hand towards Ryder.
Ryder placed the leave in the hands of Kaia. "I have high expectations from you. Don't disappoint me."
This was something that Rale had told Ryder. The leave that was given by Ryder to Kaia symbolized his acceptance of Kaia in the noble hierarchy as a Marquis.
Ryder walked back to the throne and sat down.
"I will die before disappointing Your Highness," Kaia said proudly as he stood up.
"Good. You may leave now. Wait for me in my Palace. I should be there soon," High Duke Oris told Kaia, telling him to leave since the meeting for which all High Dukes came here also needed to take place.
He could already see the first High Duke getting impatient.
Kaia nodded and didn't say anything. He understood what he needed to do and why. He simply turned back and left the hallway.
"Now that he left, can you start? I have more things to do," High Duke Magna let out lazily after the man left.
"Right. What could be so important?" High Duke Oris asked as he walked back to his seat. "Is this about the Death Domain?"
"No. It's about my Master," Ryder replied as he straightened up his back.
"His Majesty?" All High Dukes stopped up, shocked as soon as they heard it.
Rale and Miku were standing behind Ryder, but even they grew stunned.
'Emperor Salem? Is he coming back? Or did something happen to him instead?' High Duke Oris thought, seemingly concerned for the safety of Salem.
"No, you shouldn't concern yourself. It's nothing serious. What actually happened is Master had come here recently," Ryder said, conveniently lying.
"His Majesty came here? Is he still here? Where is he? Let us meet him! It's been so long!" High Duke Eston let out in an unusual tone. He was excited to meet Salem again now that he was here.
"Yes! It would be even better if he actually decided to come back. Where is he?" High Duke Oris asked.
"No, he hasn't decided to come back. He just came to see me and ask how I'm doing. Nothing serious. He also talked about traveling the world and see even more places. Anyway, he already went back now," Ryder answered, making up even more stuff.
"He even left? We really didn't have the fortune to see him; it seems," High Duke Mila let out in disappointment.
She sat back down on her seat as she continued sighing repeatedly.
The other High Dukes also sat down.
"How was he?" High Duke Magna inquired.
"He was good. Just the way I left him. Anyway, I didn't call you here to talk specifically about that. I called you here because of something else," Ryder replied, making them curious again.
"Something else? What else could be the reason then?" High Duke Oris inquired.
"It's about the people who worked in the Royal Palace," Ryder answered.
"Hmm? Now that you mention it, I did see a lack of maids or guards on the way," High Duke Eston mentioned what he observed on the way here.
Other than the two guards at the entrance, he saw no one else inside the Palace. Miku and Rale were the only other people they saw.
"Exactly. As High Duke Eston mentioned, you saw fewer people inside the Palace. That's because I sent them all with my Master to take care of him outside," Ryder answered.
"What? You send all helpers in the Palace away?" High Duke Oris asked, squinting his eyes.
"Yeah. Since I am not with my master because of becoming the Prince of this place, my Master had become alone. It's my duty as a student to make sure that he stays comfortable. Even though he insisted on not taking anyone, I got him to take them," Ryder explained, making a bigger story.
It was all so he could find an excuse about the missing people in the Royal Palace.
Rale and Miku were confused previously when Ryder mentioned meeting the previous Emperor. When did that even happen? They thought.
Miku thought it happened when Ryder had left this world with Rale, but Rale knew that it wasn't what happened. Rale wondered when it happened himself.
Their confusion remained only until the moment Ryder mentioned about sending the workers of the Palace with him.
They both knew that everyone was dead. How could they be sent back if they were already dead.
They realized that Ryder was using the previous Emperor as an excuse. Even though it was disrespectful, they realized that this might be the best option since they wouldn't be interrogated as much. No one was going to doubt his words.
They didn't know that Ryder had used the same trick before just because he was certain that he could keep lying his way. They still didn't realize that, in reality, his so-called Master was already dead. And more importantly, Salem wasn't Ryder's master either.
Unfortunately, they still didn't expect that more lies existed. This lie itself was based on another lie.
"So that's why this Place seemed so empty. This isn't a big deal. Those maids are lucky that they get to serve His Majesty now. It's the blessing of their lifetime." High Duke Magna sat back comfortably as he commented.
Ryder nodded, "Yeah."
"In any case, since they won't be returning anytime soon, I was thinking about hiring more people. Miku can take care of the hiring process. I just wanted to inform you all about this so that you aren't confused when you hear the announcement of this hiring," he continued.
"Oh, so that's what it was about. You called us all for such a minor matter? You can handle things like this. You don't need us or our permission. You couldn't just have someone deliver the information about what happened to us, so we weren't confused," High Duke Oris said with a calm smile on his face.
"Yeah. This isn't such a big deal," High Duke Mila said as she nodded her head.
"I'll even help with the search for new helpers in the Palace. My Palace has a few experienced maids. They would be more than happy to serve here. I have too many of them anyway," High Duke Eston chimed in.
"Ah, that would be good. It would be better to have a few experienced ones to train the new ones," Ryder nodded as he thanked High Duke Eston.
"I can spare a few maids as well. You should take a few guards from me as well. Your Palace is not really secure now that you don't have anyone," High Duke Oris offered.
"Well, I do have all the Royal Guards, so that isn't needed," Ryder let out as he rejected the offer.
He didn't wish to take guards who could spy on his movement. He had a trusted group of people, and he wanted to keep it that way.
As for taking the maids of other High Dukes, that was only temporary as well. He had already decided to send them back after they finished training the newly selected maids. Only Miku was enough after that with the new candidates.
"Alright. I'll only send maids," High Duke Oris agreed.
"I can spare some maids as well." High Dike Mila also offered.
"Looks like you have plenty. You won't need my maids," High Duke Magna said, excusing himself.
"Is that all you had to talk about?" He asked. "If this is, I'll take my leave since we're done here."
High Duke Magna had just stood up when Ryder answered. "Not at all. There is one more thing."
"I will be taking the Kingship Trial," Ryder declared, stunning everyone.