A Degenerate's Tale

Exiting the bush maze, the stairs to the Royal Palace hall was revealed. On the marble stairs, several youths sat in an undignified manner. They were the sons of the nobles who came to attend the birthday party of the prince today.

They looked to be at the pubescent age and totalled 5 in number. Earl paid them no mind as he approached the stairs with Lily and Aria behind him.

Clack.

A stone was thrown across his feet.

A blonde boy from within the group was the one who had thrown it. He looked to be the leader within the group, being the one who dressed most extravagantly. With a smirk on his face and his eyes looking at Lily and Aria lustfully, he greeted, "Hey."

Earl looked to the group of little noble boys who were starting to become very excited after one word from their leader. Putting a gentle smile on his face, he asked, "How can I help you?"

"Nothing much..." the blond trailed his voice, scanning his eyes through Earl and his girls. "Just thinking it was an eyesore to see a little runt run around with two slaves in the Royal Palace."

The little group behind the boy laughed like monkeys after their leader spoke.

"Hehe! Look at how scared he is now!"

To this, Earl was speechless. It was his first time encountering such a cliche, cookie-cutter situation that came straight out of a play. At his sides, he could feel Lily and Aria pressing their body closer to him.

"Master..." Lily fidgetted and looked at Earl with upturned eyes.

They were becoming intimidated by these mob nobles and that was not good. As their master, it was his responsibility to make them feel safe.

"What obnoxious display not fitting of your status. Tell me, what do you want?"

"A little kid using big words, haha! Well, we'll make it quick. Lend us your two slaves and we'll let you off." The leader stepped forward. It was hard to believe that a well-groomed noble kid would be saying such a thing by Earl's standards but different worlds had different standards.

"Just so you know, we're all Intermediate Mages so you better not do anything stupid!" Another one said from the group.

"I should not have asked, forgive me." Earl apologized sincerely and pointed his finger at the blonde leader.

"Huh-?"

Boom!

Before anyone could react, the blonde was violently pressed against the wall with wind pressure. The wind was invisible. To the other 4, it looked like their leader was swatted like a fly into the wall.

"..."

The monkey-like display of the other 4 nobles was now replaced by a statue-like one. Their bodies were frozen in shock as one of them muttered. "C-Chantless? W-Who are you..!?"

Earl pointed his finger at the one who spoke. Narrowing his eyes and keeping his gentle smile...

Boom!

He was catapulted headfirst into the wall like his leader.

"Earl Roth. Pleased to make your acquaintance."

Boom!

Bang!

Boom!

The whole ordeal was easily dealt with. Earl admired the sight of the 4 bodies that was now stuck in the wall outside the Royal Palace as he clapped his hand. "That was refreshing! Now their eyes won't be bothering you guys anymore."

"That was awesome, Master!"

"They were boom into the wall!"

When Earl and his girls returned to the party, the atmosphere within the hall of the Royal Palace had slowed down considerably. A few nobles were still dancing but most were gathered sparsely and conversing among themselves over a glass of wine.

Looking through the hall, he was able to spot the figure of his mother easily in the wide hall that was lit up by huge chandeliers. Ari was standing with the Roths near the table where they first started.

From far away, she looked dignified, mysterious, and devilishly charming in her black mage robe. Even while she was merely conversing in a low voice with her uncle, many eyes were still drawn to her. Earl could see many young male nobles who were itching for a chance. It was inevitable. With her smooth, long black hair, she was like a black opal in a sea of unpolished gems. A breath-taking beauty that enriches the soul and magically attracts the attention of others.

When Ari noticed Earl approaching, she smiled and called him over. "Earl! There you are. How was the view of the Royal Palace at night?"

"It's very different from during the day. I got to show Lily more of the palace!" Earl told her.

His words raised the eyebrows of many. More specifically because he showed his slave around the Royal Palace. He was already outrageous enough to bring two servants into the royal party but since he was the son of one of the Court Mages, what could anyone say?

And from his tone...

"He sounds like he's already familiar with the Royal Palace?" Old man Lyle pointed out curiously.

"My Earl frequents the Royal Palace often with me."

Lyle was a sly old fox. He could deduce the reason for Earl's frequentation of the Royal Palace. Narrowing his eyes, he whispered, "The rumours are true then? A princess?"

"Fufu. Who knows?" Ari said with her lips behind her sleeve.

Culturally, the existence of any children of nobility was to be hidden before their 10th birthday. There was no good reason behind it except tradition and the privacy of the royal family.

"Not planning to say it, eh?"

There was not much change to the flow of the conversation between Lyle and Ari after Earl returned. This was the benefit of being a child. There were no expectations for him to say anything in the conversation so he could simply doze off and not pay attention to what they were saying.

Time passed and it was approaching late into the night.

The lights suddenly dimmed and King Ablax clapped his hand to gather the attention of the nobles.

"It's time for us to leave. It was great to see the faces of you all today. Have a great night, my people!" King Ablax waved and fluttered his cloak.

"Enjoy the rest of your night, Your Majesty!" The nobles echoed.