ushernet Chapter 120
Chapter 120
“I’ve been waiting for you!”
“Seeing how dignified you looked standing before His Majesty, I wished someone could immortalize that moment in a portrait.”
“Haha, everyone... you’ve worked so hard to come all this way.”
Penelope expressed her gratitude to the Halo vassals who had come all the way to the capital.
The retainers, who had been instrumental in helping Penelope revive the near-failed governance of Halo, looked deeply moved. Some even had tears welling up in their eyes—most notably the administrative officer.
‘To think we are serving such an extraordinary person as our lord.’
The administrative officer had witnessed firsthand the struggles Penelope endured to rebuild Halo. He himself had spent sleepless nights dedicated to the territory’s restoration.
From developing the green herb soaps to leading the soap workshop’s success, the administrative officer had been a cornerstone of their achievements. The triumph they celebrated today was his greatest pride.
“Sniff... hmph...”
The administrative officer finally couldn’t hold back his tears.
Ahwin, noticing this, leaned toward Penelope and whispered, “The administrative officer is crying.”
“Unless you’re planning to console him yourself, just pretend you didn’t see.”
Penelope, wearing a smile, whispered back in rapid succession. Her breath brushed against Ahwin’s cheek, leaving him momentarily frozen in place. Slowly, his earlobes turned red.
‘To think the Tower Master and Penelope could look so intimate... were the rumors in the papers true?’
The nobles watching from a distance fidgeted, eager to approach Penelope. Yet none dared take a step forward.
They were desperate to congratulate Penelope, the newly minted baroness, but the fact that the Tower Master stood by her side made them hesitate.
‘Who knows what might happen if we get on the Tower Master’s bad side?’
Ahwin had long been the subject of strange rumors. The most infamous one claimed he could transform any noble who displeased him into a donkey.
Just a few weeks ago, there had been talk that Ortega, the eldest son of Baron Hillos, had been turned into a donkey and left eating feed in the stables. Ortega had fled to his estate not long after, leaving the truth of the rumor unverifiable.
The nobles continued watching the pair from afar, waiting for someone else to make the first move.
Just then, a loud announcement rang through the hall.
“Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress are arriving!”
At the herald’s booming voice, the nobles immediately knelt, bowing in respect. Penelope did the same. The only one who remained standing, indifferent, was Ahwin.
He frowned slightly as Elizabeth, wearing a radiant smile, made her way toward Penelope.
“Penelope, I sincerely congratulate you on receiving the baronial title! Watching the entire ceremony filled me with such pride.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty. All of this is thanks to you.”
“I wanted to host a grander banquet to celebrate, but I regret that I could only manage something this modest.”
The empress seemed entirely unaware of the true meaning of the word "modest."
‘Born with a golden spoon, her perception of reality is just different from others.’
“This is already more than splendid. I’m simply grateful for Your Majesty’s kindness.”
At Penelope’s humble reply, Elizabeth bit her lip and smiled warmly, clearly pleased. Her gaze brimmed with undisguised affection for Penelope.
This was the first title conferment ceremony held since Elizabeth had become empress, and she had personally overseen every detail from start to finish. To her, it was a perfectly satisfying event.
Reflecting on Penelope’s accomplishments and the future she would build, Elizabeth felt that, for the first time in a long while, she could embrace the changes she had fought for without a shred of regret.
Stopping directly in front of her, the court mage folded his arms and glared—not at Penelope, but at the person hiding behind her.
‘Dark circles under the eyes. Yep, he’s a mage.’
The man’s exhausted face suggested he hadn’t eaten or slept properly in at least a week. Maybe all mages shared the same hollow-eyed look.
‘What kind of mess has Ahwin gotten himself into this time?’
Penelope wasn’t sure she wanted to know.
The mage ground his teeth audibly before growling, “Come with me immediately.”
“....”
Without waiting for a response, he spun on his heel and strode off.
Penelope, still frozen in place, turned to Ahwin. “He said to follow him.”
“...Let’s run.”
Ahwin’s suggestion made Penelope internally sigh.
“If we run now, it’ll be worse later. Let’s just go.”
Ahwin’s expression darkened. For the first time in a while, Penelope felt the urge to pinch his sharp tongue.
“Hurry up. If we delay any longer, he’ll disappear.”
“It’s going to be a hassle no matter what.”
“Even so, go!”
Dragging the reluctant Ahwin along, Penelope hurried after the court mage.
Fortunately, they spotted him descending a staircase not far ahead. Penelope quickened her pace, and Ahwin, with obvious reluctance, followed suit.
The court mage waited for them at the entrance to the imperial palace’s garden. Strangely, no nobles were in sight, and imperial knights stood watch as if guarding the area.
Frowning, Ahwin clicked his tongue. “The barrier’s broken. What a mess.”
“And whose fault do you think that is?”
The mage’s voice was like a grizzly bear’s growl.
Ahwin replied casually, “The court mage who failed to maintain it?”
Sparks seemed to fly from the mage’s eyes. Penelope flinched.
As the court mage stormed toward him, glaring daggers, Ahwin quickly shrank back behind Penelope. Clearly, he knew he had said something to provoke the man.
“Someone recklessly expanded the mana field into the palace, completely wrecking the barrier! Who in the empire do you think is audacious and shameless enough to pull something like that?”
“....”
The mage’s booming voice made Penelope feel as if her hair was being blown back by the sheer force of it.
‘So that’s why Elizabeth told me to run.’
Then, from behind her, a voice chimed in.
“Tell him, Penelope. I wasn’t the one who struck first.”
“...What?”
Startled, Penelope turned to look back, but Ahwin kept his head down, refusing to meet her eyes.
‘Is he seriously hiding behind me right now?!’