Chapter 287
Side Story 20
The soil of this land and the knees of its ruler. What Dale demanded was crystal clear, and at the same time, there was no way anyone could fail to understand its meaning.
Count Valien knelt, and his knights held their breath. Before the eyes of all the county, he had shown undeniable proof of submission.
“That will do.”
The man in the raven-black robe, the Lord of Black Gold, nodded impassively.
“Rise.”
“Ah, understood!”
Dale extended his arm, and Count Valien hesitated before grasping his hand with both of his.
“As before, I entrust this entire county to you, and furthermore, it shall be protected under the name of the Fourth Empire and mine.”
“Your Majesty, it is an honor!”
“Your loyalty shall be duly rewarded. But never forget.”
Dale said. His voice was cold, devoid of any emotion.
“The mercy and protection I grant you are, above all, the price of your loyalty to me and my empire.”
“I shall remember, Your Majesty!”
Count Balien bowed his head once more and shouted. Only then did he finally grasp the earth and kneel, while Dale turned away impassively.
The dark veil shrouding the midday sky vanished. The world finally regained its light, and sunlight began to pour down.
As if awakening from a daydream, the world reclaimed its true scenery.
Yet nothing had changed. To Count Valien, the being before him was not human like himself. It was an entity beyond human description, an absolute being filled with incomprehensible, unknown terror.
