Epiloque

The end of year came once again. I was about to go to school after new year and right now I was in waiting room before audience with the King withall the important nobles of the kingdom in attendance.

But I wasn’t here alone. Taru, Kiira and Lulu were here as well. During the time between the dragon subjugation and this meeting, I released the slave contract on both Taru and Goli just to be sure no noble would start picking a fight with me over it as it happened to many low nobles before.

„Everyone. It’s time to go,“ attendant came to pick us up.

We went through the highly decorated and extravagant hall and entered the konference room. The nobles were divided into two groups. High ranking nobles on right side and middle with lower ranked nobles on the left side.

We wakled through the way between them and kneeled before the king.

„We came in response to your summons, Your majesty,“ I said for my group.

„Two months ago, my darling daughter was attacked by a demonized wyvern.“

„Demonized?“ murmur rose from the nobles.

„And about the same time simmilar thing happened in Monster forest near Roseburg. But this time it was adult Forest dragon,“ Prime minister continued.

Murmur and fearful voices rose from the nobles again.

„Silence! The reason our kingdom is still intact is becouse of heroic actions of Leonard Hirano Netrose and his group who defeated both monsters with minimal casualities! For that we have to reward them,“ Prime minister finished his speach and turned to king.

Well I’m the only one who almost died out there…

„For the act of saving my daughter, my kingdom and my people I reward you Leonard Hirano Netrose with title of Count. Normally I would also give you city to govern, but you still have to enter a society and formal schooling. For that reason, I will give you a residence here in capital and one hundred white gold coins instead.“

But that’s like a one hundred thousand regular gold coins! What do you want me to do with them?! Build a nation?!

„From now on, you shall be known as Leonard Hirano Dragonrose, and I give you permision to use dragon and sword in your coat of arms.“

„I gratefully accept, Your highness.“

„Now that I rewarded your Leader, I shall reward all of you. Miss Tarumipemi and Miss Kiira, as retainers of Count Dragonrose, shall be awarded with title of chevalier. Miss Lulu Seawed as Hononary Baroness will move up one rank to Hononary Viscountess.“

„I gratefully accept your Highness,“ they all responded as one.

„Good. And as no-one have any objections we will now dismiss this meeting and will continue in my private chambers. Brother,“ king nodded at Prime minister.

„Everyone’s now dismissed!“

Well, of course there is no objection, they still remember Duke Varill and Duke Glemburg. And I’m sure they heard about Count Melhave… well, I probably went a liiiittle overboard with those guys…

We moved to private chamber and found princess Victina already waiting there with her little brother from second mother, who was just few months younger then her, the eight prince Rinbell Gustau Ostilian.

The king sit between his children and we sit across from him. The prime minister was standing behind the king and my father and mother were sitting between our sides.

„Now that all of us are here, let me thank you for saving my daughter. Not as a king, but as a father,“ the king bowed.

„Th-there is no need for you to bow Your Majesty! I just did what was right.“

„Yes, but still… okay I understand your point,“ the king said looking softly to my eyes, „Now let us discuss other business. As a head of independent family, you will probably recieve a lot of marriage proposals, so I propose that you will marry my Victina. Not like you can move away now.“

I tilted my head as I didn’t understand.

„Linking our hands on our way to the capital… and sleeping in same room“ princess giggled.

Wait, but there were Taru, Kiira and Lulu aas well! Plus Kiira and Taru were way closer that time... Wait, was that a trap all along?

„If princess is to marry Leo then me too!“ Lulu jumped up, red in face, holding my hand.

„Me too!“ Taru and Kiira added.

„Wha—“ the kings jaw dropped.

„Heh, I expected that Kiira and Taru would say so,“ Father smiled.

„How did you charm them so much I wonder?“ mother asked looking at me.

I would like to know too, mom.

„Your majesty, I know it will sound weird, but all of us are like a one big family, and I love all of them. That’s why, I’m thinking of taking all of them as my wives.“

„And my daughter on top of that as well?“

„I won’t be forcing her. If she wants to join our family, then all of us will welcome her.“

„Fine by me!“ princess said and jumped from her seat on my lap.

„Huh?!“ we all got surprised.

I mean, wasn’t she same type as mother? The kind that doesn’t let her husband play with other woman no matter what? See? All of us had same image of her! Even the king!

„Surprised? I knew all the time you would take Lulu and the others so I was prepared for this in advance!“

I was played by a twelve year old!!!

„Well, that got finished quickly… anyway, Leo, if you plan to marry my daughter you need to be at least an Earl. Normally you would be promoted to Earl right away with your acomplishments, but the nobles would be more noisy then they already are. So Count it is for now. After your first three years in school, I will grant you a city to govern. If you manage to develop it highly in short amount of time, then the promotion will be fast.“

„I understand.“

„Great. Brother will send you location of your mansion with a key in few days so wait until that day with your family.“

„I will, thank you.“ We all bowed and left the room.

Thus a story of a greedy man, who became called New generation's hero started. Now I was a Count, hero, Apostole of god and Dragon slayer.

I had my dearest family and girls around me. But this is but a start of a story, I will soon enter the Royal academy with my fiancées. Who knows what awaits us in this world of skills, magic and swords.