"Duke Fernández invites you to the ball to be held tonight in his mansion in the Lion King's capital, Count Sanchez, Count Durand, Count Schultz...... Almost the entire nobles of the Lion King Capital will participate. It could be bigger than His Majesty's previous balls. ”

"The Duchess of Dunguiss has invited you to this afternoon's tea party, which should be no less than fifty people. ”

In the Lion King's Palace, Ireen leaned on the armrest of the sofa and drank tea, listened to Abby Robles' report, and asked softly, "Has the Duke of Tangis come to the Lion King's capital?"

"No, he didn't come himself. ”

"He's not coming. Count Grugru, who was sitting on the side, said: "He has just had an unpleasant quarrel with the royal family, and it is impossible for him to come to the lion king at this time." ”

But his wife and son came. With that, Abby Robles looked at Count Grugrew and said, "Lord Earl, Duke Fernandez's invitation also has your names and that of Lord Paladin. In addition, the Duchess of Donguis's invitation focused on Miss Shelley. These two are today's and the main ones. There are others...... So much. ”

Abby Robles showed the invitation in his hand. A thick stack, at least thirty servings.

"The most important family of the entire Lion King has sent an invitation, it seems that the Duchy of Belsil is already the center of the vortex. Count Grugrew smiled.

Irene didn't speak, just listened quietly.

"Not the entire Lion King, to be exact, but the entire kingdom of Isaac. Abby Robles explained: "The day after tomorrow will be the canonization of His Majesty, and all the families of the entire kingdom of Isaac will send people. Many of these invitations are in conflict with each other, and all of them are focused on the period before the canonization. However, no one had any conflicts with the Duke of Fernández's ball and the Duchess of Donguis's tea party. Other than that...... There is no royal family on the list of invitations to these gatherings. ”

"What does Uncle Grugrew think?" asked Irene casually.

"The situation is changing, and everybody is on the move. Count Gruglu said softly, "The prestige of the royal family is at an unprecedented ebb, and there is another change in the kingdom of Allen, which is a sign of the eve of the storm. If I hadn't been sitting next to you, I'd have handed you an invitation. ”

"Why?"

"Let's see if you have any intention of guarding the royal power. The royal family no longer has the prestige to control the country, once the Allen kingdom sends troops...... I think there should be many people who want to take the opportunity to get rid of the control of the royal family at this time, especially the family that has been suppressed by the royal family. After all, the vast majority of people do not think that the royal family can win this war. Of course, if you were willing to take the paladin with the king, the outcome could be very different. They want to test your attitude in order to predict the future. Maybe even ...... In the most serious case, the other two dukes were already disagreeing. If that's the case, there's a chance they'll get you on their side. In that case, while keeping the kingdom of Isaac, you can divide up everything that belongs to the royal family. ”

"They thought so, and the king certainly thought so. Irene bowed her head and took a sip of tea.

Count Gruglu sighed, "So what? What are you going to do? The Duchy of Besil has never been so strong in history. ”

"Uncle Gruglu, what would you do if it were you?"

"I, heh, it depends on the outcome. If you want to abolish the royal family, it is easiest to unite with the other two dukes. Of course, it's also possible to take a little risk. In the present situation, it is not impossible to swallow the entire kingdom of Isaac alone. After all, Gray is standing by your side, and neither the Kingdom of Allen nor the other two dukes will want to fight against the Paladin. ”

"But I don't want to do that, the king has done nothing wrong. At least not yet. ”

"Really?" snorted Count Grugru, "he had seven brothers, but now he has only one left, and he has been sent to keep horses. It's in the stables of the Lion King's Palace. If none of this is wrong. ”

But he also drew up a plan to reduce taxes, and after the official canonization, he would reduce his forced labor. He even promised to abolish unjust laws. ”

"That's just because he really can't help it. The great nobles no longer supported him, and if the minor nobles and commoners did not support him anymore, his throne could be overthrown at any time. Anyone else would do it, and it has nothing to do with good or evil. ”

"As a king, what he is doing now is still acceptable. I don't want civilians to suffer because of my ambitions. ”

"I see what you mean. ”

Irene looked at Abby Robles and said, "Tell them that I'm not in good health and can't attend in person." But I will have Earl Grugrew and Miss Shelley represent me at the party. Is that okay? Thank you Uncle Gruglu. ”

Irene looked at Count Gruglu.

"Yes. Count Grugru nodded.

Abby Robles saluted respectfully and said, "I'll let someone do it." ”

After thinking about it, Abby Robles said again, "That's right, Miss Irene. I heard that Lord Paladins went out early this morning, apparently at the invitation of His Majesty the King. ”

"Let him go. Let the king have personal contact with him. It would also be a good thing if the king could understand Gray's attitude. ”

......

At this moment, the Otillette Theater.

Outside the open door, the king was talking to his courtiers, and his face seemed to be a little unpleasant.

The author was holding the crumpled "Knight Guide" and looking at it repeatedly, and sniffed it.

"How's that? is it genuine?" asked Gray earnestly.

"It seems to be, but it's weird, it smells weird. The author frowned and said, "It seems to smell like a cat." ”

"This writer is a dog, right? can you smell it?" muttered the black cat in a low voice.

Returning the book to Gray, the author patted Gray on the shoulder and said, "You are indeed an upright and kind person, and the legend is not wrong at all. ”

"What does it have to do with the integrity and kindness of the book?"

"You don't understand this, do you? Anyone who reads the genuine version is a good person. ”

"Uh...... Is it like this?"

"Of course, what better way to reflect a person's integrity and kindness than reading a genuine novel?"

"Don't listen to his nonsense, this guy has a problem with his brain at first glance. Catherine said.

"No! I think he's right! Think about it, how can he be wrong about writing a novel that you like?" Vivien exclaimed in Gray's head, "If he has a problem with his brain, doesn't that mean that you who love to read his novels also have a problem with your brain?"

"But I don't have a brain. Gray replied.

Vivien almost choked Gray to death: "No brains...... Well, there's no question of whether there's a problem or not. ”

The black cats laughed out loud.

"Paladin-sama, Paladin-sama, are you in a daze?" the author stretched out his hand and shook it in front of Gray.

The king, who was standing outside the door, seemed to notice, waved his hand to give the courtiers who had come to report a moment's pause, and then turned and walked into the room.

"Paladin-sama, I'm sorry, I'm busy with something. Do you still like this gift?"

"Of course, I love it!

"There's something even better. The king stretched out his hand and snapped his fingers, then spread his palms and said, "I am going to ask him to write a novel for you, yes, a novel made for you." With you as a prototype, you can give any opinion, tell the perfect story in your heart, and he will write it. This is the second gift. How?

"I like it very much!" Gray screamed with delight.

"That's not going to work!" said the author solemnly, "Your Majesty, although you are Your Majesty, please respect the rights and interests of a writer." I still have a book to write, readers are waiting for my manuscript, and I can't leave them behind!"

An attendant hurried in and placed a bag of gold coins in the king's hand. The king casually placed the gold coin in front of the author.

"It's a deposit of a hundred gold coins, well written, and there's more. ”

......The author slowly swallowed his saliva, reached out and took a hundred gold coins in his arms, and smiled awkwardly: "I think my readers will understand." ”

"Good. That's it. You talk, I'll be busy first. So saying, the king had turned and left the room, and continued to stand outside the door and talk to his courtiers.

Gray and the author were left in the room again. Oh, and Tenadas, the bone horse that takes up most of the room.

"Alright, Paladin, tell me what you think. The author took out his notebook and pen and asked, "What kind of story do you want?"

After thinking about it, Gray asked seriously, "Is it okay to have any kind of story?"

"Of course. You have to believe in the quality of a professional writer, I can write any kind of story. ”

"Really?"

"Really. ”

"Then ......," Gray whispered, "I want the protagonist to be a lich, is that okay?"

For a moment, Black Cat, Catherine, and Vivien were all stunned.

The author was also stunned.

"Uh...... You mean you want a story with a dark protagonist? It's a surprise that a paladin would love it. But this kind of story is really popular, and people nowadays are different from before, and they all like the protagonist who is selfish and goes around killing and robbing. Although I didn't write about it, it doesn't matter. Pointing to the money bag next to him, the author said, "For its sake, I can write." ”

"Nope. "I mean a lich in knight's armor who hides in the human world because he is hiding from other lichs. ”

"Hiss~"

"And a bony horse, that's Tenadas's suggestion. Gray said earnestly.

The author is already a little confused: "You mean to say...... He disguised himself as a knight, rode a bony horse, and was then unidentified and burned at the stake? Nowadays, people don't like tragedy very much, but tragedy is the most touching thing. Don't worry, no problem!"

"No, I mean to say, he was not debunked, on the contrary, he was also approved by the Holy Spirit and became a paladin. ”

"It's a bit more difficult...... He deceived the Holy Spirit into trusting him by pretending?Later the Holy Spirit found out and burned him?" The author gritted his teeth: "But don't worry, I can write too!"

"Nope. He did not deceive the Holy Spirit, and his faith was religious. ”

“......”

"He was a chivalrous man and had a strong faith. ”

“......”

I couldn't talk anymore this day, and cold sweat was already beginning to break out on the author's forehead.

After a long pause, he wiped his sweat and said, "I'll take a look, you can hear if that's what you mean." ”

"Good. ”

"The main character is a lich. ”

"Yes. ”

"Because he lurks in the human world to avoid pursuit, he is disguised as a knight and has a bone horse. ”

"Yes. I'm also in love and ready to get married. ”

"The Lich in Love...... Well, he also had a strong knightly faith, and at the same time longed for the light and believed in the Holy Spirit. And became a paladin?"

"That's right. He prayed every week, and although he didn't have to eat, he prayed regularly every day. ”

"Tragic ending?"

"No, I want a happy ending. Gray said firmly.

All of a sudden, the author's psychological defense line was broken: "Are you kidding? A pious lich? I want to have a happy reunion! I also have to have a bottom line in making up a story!"

With a "snap", he slammed the notebook in his hand onto the table.

"Hey, hey, hey, what are you talking about, are you crazy?" the black cat screamed with nervousness.

"Gray, I don't think that's good, too. Catherine said.

"Don't ask me, I'...... It's a bit messy. Vivien's brain is stuck.

Gray said earnestly to his three exotic brains, "People love me, and I can't always deceive them. This is not right. I hope that one day, I can take off my helmet and stand in front of them calmly with my truest side, and I don't need to hide anything anymore. I knew very well that it was only in that moment that I was truly bathed in the Light. Remember the picture in the church? The story of Abselde, it was a tragedy, I know. It worries me. The Holy Spirit says that if one day I can be exposed without being crusaded by humans, they will truly accept me. Although I am a lich, I also hope that one day I will be truly accepted by the Light. It's my dream. ”

All of a sudden, the three guys in my head fell silent.

Silence, after a long silence, Catherine could only sigh and whisper: "So, when you hear that resolution, the first thing you think of is not how to hide your identity, but one day, you may take the initiative to reveal your identity and then stand in the sun, right?"

"Yes, that is the gift of the Holy Spirit to me. It's not easy for a lich to be a great knight, I knew it from the beginning. But it's my choice, and I'm going to go with it. Gray earnestly continued, "So...... I wonder what people think when they know I'm a lich. Even if it's not true, it's just through a novel. Is that okay?"