The villagers gasped aloud this time, the whispers deafening. But before the knights could move to carry out the order, the villagers shot to their feet hastily.
Still reluctant but didn't want to die, they awkwardly bowed and chorused.
"We greet you, your majesty, the rising sun of the kingdom."
A cryptic smile curved Koul's lips.
I can't say I hate this.
He turned his gaze to the knight, watching his back as he remained standing before him.
Doesn't he still hate me?
The kings who were happy to see Koul's plight with his subjects, were now disappointed. But even in this disappointment, they were amazed at how the vice captain handled things.
Though they were also quite confused that Koul still had a knight who respected him enough to stand up for him.
They were both amazed by his actions and as well as displeased.
Especially king Sestrus. While king Aziel on the other hand, was displeased but was still observing things.
He was noticing the subtle changes around Koul.
King Aziel was a tall, slender but toned man. He had fiery blonde hair that was spiky and long. He was a man with low morals when needed.
He got things done if needed and by any means possible. Although he wasn't one to pretend cunningly like Sestrus, he wasn't exactly a goody two-shoes.
After the villagers greeted, the knights sheathed back their swords and everyone finally took back their seats.
The air remained tense and the silence was quite loud.
The vice captain turned back to Koul, bowed swiftly and returned to his place behind him.
"This way, your highness," he gestured toward the steps Koul needed to climb to get to his seat among the royals.
As Koul climbed up the steps, all eyes were on him. While he kept a grin plastered boldly on his face.
Even though he didn't quite like the vice captain, he couldn't deny he was proud of his actions.
Koul took the seat prepared for him among other kings, while the vice captain returned to his knights.
Without any waste of time, the event started.
Only one rule was announced to guide the knights: No use of abilities, skills, or magic. It's simply physical.
While it went on, Koul wasn't exactly concentrating.
Not in the cheers and claps of the people when a knight comes out victorious. Neither on the joust nor the sword fights.
He was simply stealing glances occasionally at his wives. He couldn't help but gawk and admire their beauty.
But amid this, he was actually questioning things in his mind.
Why were his wives at the middle tier while the kings and their wives were at the top like him?
He thought his wives should also sit near him like the wives of the other kings.
Plus, he wasn't the only one with a harem. A few kings there had more than two wives.
And if his wives were too numerous to sit near him, then they should at least be sitting at the top level as well, not middle.
He knew all this was happening because they weren't being given the respect they were due. And it all started with him.
Still, because he was admiring their beauty, he couldn't let himself gloom.
The event went on. It was riding on Munrhal's favor as Koul's knight weren't mere says.
In the Knights vs Knights fights, Koul's knights always won their parts.
Be it in the joust, melee battle, sword fights and all.
"You should concentrate," King Sestrus tapped Koul on the thigh.
This made Koul remember his wife being held captive by him. It surged a wave of rage through him and made him clench his fist.
It also made Koul start watching the event.
The herald of the event called out a knight from one of the other kingdoms and a knight from Munrhal, Koul's kingdom.
It was for a joust.
As the two knights stepped out and passed by each other, the other knight spoke lowly in mockery.
"You not only serve a child as your king, but a foolish one."
Koul's knight's temples bulged instantly with veins. They pulsed angrily at the mockery but their location didn't permit any brawl.
If he was going to make the knight pay for such mockery, it'd best be in the joust.
And that's what they've all been doing. Since they know their king wasn't as graced as the others, they knew they had to step up their games.
To alleviate the shame they already have from serving Koul, they decided to savagely win every fight in the event.
And they've been!
Something the other kings found unpleasant. Koul might be a foolish child in their eyes, but his knights sure weren't.
And that was the message the knights intended to get through.
The knights got on their horses with the lances ready. And once the herald dropped the flag, they charged at each other.
It didn't take long for Koul's knight to fiercely knock the other knight off his horse. With this, he'd already won, and the herald was about to announce him as the winner.
But Koul's knight hastily got down from his horse, charged toward the other knight and tackled him back to the ground.
Punches after punches, he pummeled the knight. His rage was overflowing.
The kings, including Koul and everyone watching wondered what could've been the problem.
It took more than three knights to pull him away. And this act of his disqualified him.
However, he wasn't sad about his disqualification because he knew his team mates could handle things on their own. If anything, he was satisfied he got to beat the one who mocked not just him, but his king.
It was true that their king was a child, and he might be a foolish one. And they might not like him either, but any blatant disrespect from outsiders wouldn't be tolerated.
The knight returned to his seat, disheveled but satisfied.
The event and match went on for quite a while, and Koul's knights were still having the upper hand.
Though Koul couldn't care less about this. He just wanted a way to free his enslaved wife.
Seeing the event go only in Koul's favor, King Sestrus thought to change things up.
As the herald called out another knight and tried to call out the other, King Sestrus raised his hand.
The herald and everyone stopped, turning to him.
"Please, allow me the honor of calling out the next participant," he said with a smile.
"Huh? King Sestrus has someone else who wants to participate?"
"Did he bring someone special?"
"Could it be his son?"
Everyone wondered.
King Sestrus stood up, his smile growing wider.
"Let's all welcome, the generous royalty that has decided to bless our eyes with a duel."
Everyone's eyes shot to his son, waiting for him to stand up.
But to their surprise, the one who stood up was none other than a king, Koul Abner Ysmay.