Surprises. Yui was met with too many surprises to utter a word.
She'd never known Koul to be like this. From the very beginning, he'd been acting strange.
Had his time alone shaped him into something else?
First, he looked at her like he'd nerve seen her before. Then he even touched her and proceeded to talk to her.
And now, he has freed her from a punishment and even called her by her name.
Yui was utterly shocked and confused.
And now? The same man that had never cared for her is asking if she would come visit him in his chambers.
Was she even allowed to near his chambers in the first place?
She knew what they all thought of her, all of them. They question her honor with their gazes. They disrespect her just because she isn't a noble and so many more.
"B-but.. your highness.." she attempted to protest but when she saw how firm and unwavering Koul's gaze was, she swallowed back her words.
She didn't want to really refuse him. After all, he had just saved her from humiliation. Although it was to save his honor and prove his authority, he still helped her.
Another thing was that Yui had come to notice how different Koul's gaze was compared to all the others.
Previously, he had never really spent a second looking at her for her to notice this. He had always just passed by like the wind without so much as a glance like she didn't exist.
But now that she's given the opportunity to look him in the face, she came to know his gaze was different.
Could it be possible he didn't actually see her as a shameless woman with no honor like everyone did?
She couldn't know this.
"As you wish, your majesty. I will come see you tonight," she smiled, tilting her head to the side.
Koul's eyes slowly widened at the new sight of her he'd been blessed with. It was the first time he was seeing her smile, seeing her gaze forward without feeling so awkward.
But why? Why would she smile in his presence? In the presence of the person who forcefully coveted her. One who ruined her happy home and took her just because he had the power.
He couldn't understand.
He didn't need to. He was happy as long as she was willing to come meet him tonight.
It was still only the first day of the task, but he'd be glad if things move fast and smoothly.
"I will be expecting you then," he said with a serious face.
With that, he turned and started hurrying away. He couldn't contain the joy bubbling inside him and didn't want to show this to Yui.
The system might've allowed him to interact this much with Yui but showing such unsightly reaction he was sure the real Koul wouldn't, would definitely earn him a penalty.
He strutted happily to his chambers, feeling motivated and overjoyed. But this bubbly emotions were short lived as he recalled the arrival of king Sestrus. And the banquet he had ordered them to throw for him.
His joy wasn't killed because he was reminded of the incident earlier, no. It was because of the real reason he ordered them to hold the banquet.
Koul wanted to bring up the matter of one of his wives being held captive by king Sestrus. To do that, he wanted to liven king Sestrus' mood.
Due to the incident earlier, he knew the king would be in a foul mood even though he refused to show it.
Through this banquet, Koul hoped to rekindle their bond, then bring up the matter and coerce him to free his wife.
Reminded of such work, his joyful moment was immediately stolen and replaced by a long sigh.
I've never even worked this hard in my previous life.
To prepare for the banquet, Koul had his bath and dressed up in a formal outfit. A neat and flowing garment that spelt his title and power.
And matching that was his golden crown that sat perfectly on his head.
He was then escorted to the banquet hall. When the guards pushed open the big doors to the banquet, Koul was immediately met with the bustling crowd.
The hall was fully decorated. Fancy lights brightened up everywhere. And round, fancy tables were placed all around.
Only one table differed from the rest. A long table stretching from end to end, placed at the far end of the hall. And there, king Sestrus and his son sat.
Beside them, an empty seat rested which Koul knew to be his.
On these tables, lots of delicacies filled up the spaces. The aroma of food and wines clashed in his nostrils.
The hall was anything but quiet. Although he couldn't understand what they were cheering for, king Sestrus' men were really lively.
"This way, your majesty," a guard gestured to him with his hand toward the long table.
As he was being escorted there, he sighted his knights seated round two tables. Some knights' faces he could recognize, some he couldn't.
And standing not too far from the long table he was heading to, was another of his knight. The very one who stepped out to question his authority when he had wanted to punish those three guards.
Koul's face drew stern, annoyed by his presence.
"Why the hell are they even here?"
[Host, do not show your displeasure this blatantly. They're only doing their jobs,] the system replied.
[Normally, at such occasions, the knights would join in because most fights and assassination attempts tend to break out here.]
"…. So they're here to protect me?" He questioned with no interest whatsoever.
[Yes.]
"Hmph!"
What use is it when their real king already died? Tsk!
Koul reached his table and he was welcomed warmly by king Sestrus. There were a lot to drink and eat as they watched the entertaining performances presented to them.
But as king Sestrus kept pouring Koul wines after the other, a doubting question rose in his chest.
Was the real Koul even a party person? Does he drink a lot?
His head creaked mechanically toward his system. When he met the system's knowing gaze that spelt suspicion, his heart dropped.
I'm cooked again, aren't I?