Caesar lifted his hand to calm them down, "don't worry, the dwarf that was imprisoned here is no longer. Only my subordinate, named Joe, is left." Caesar said with a comforting tone towards the guards.
The guards looked back and forth between Caesar and the dwarf before finally sighing and saying, "as you command Marshall!"
"You guys can go first, leave us," Caesar said towards the guards.
"Yes, sir," the guards saluted and scrambled out of the prison room.
Caesar started to walk out of the prison room as well; the dwarf followed behind him in silence. "I heard you killed some knights," Caesar broke the silence and directed a question at the dwarf.
"Hmph, do I act like someone that would kill some knights?"
Caesar looked at Joe up and down before finally nodding vertically, "yes."
"Psh, well, I didn't. I was set up… I made armor and weapons for some rich noble, but they didn't want to pay, so they framed me instead. So, here I am."
"How long have you been down here?"
"Damn, I don't know, probably 20 years? I lost track of time a long time ago. dwarves live a lot longer than humans, so I wasn't too worried about it, but damn, not having ale for such a long time is making me go insane!"
Caesar nodded in comprehension as the dwarf went on…
"Those bastard guards only gave me two meals a day, and there aren’t even any women down here, man… I haven't seen a woman in 20 years." Tears threatened to fall from Joe's eyes as he said that last sentence.
Caesar chucked.
They soon made it to the surface after walking for about ten minutes. Once they walked into the sunlight, Joe began to run around with his arms spread wide.
"HAHAHA, IM FREE YOU BASTARDS," he roared out in laughter.
Caesar looked quietly at all of the people with dumbfounded faces looking at him and the dwarf, "it appears as though they were going to try to surprise me when I got out of the prison" he thought to himself.
His father, Crowley, Renee, Sebastian, a large number of elves, and knights all looked at the dwarf curiously.
Joe's large nostrils suddenly moved, he abruptly opened his eyes wide and grumbled: "I smell women!"
He observed all of the people looking at him, and his head suddenly stopped, and he stared at a beautiful purple-haired woman. Saliva started falling out of his mouth as he rushed towards her with open arms… " I'll treat you well!"
Before he could even take three steps, Joe felt a considerable force hit his back, causing him to crash into the ground. His face went one foot deep in the cement. Caesar had placed his right foot on his back while smiling widely to the others.
"Thank you for waiting out here for me, and congratulations, my father," Caesar bowed respectfully while his foot was still pressuring Joe to the ground.
Crowley's smile was twitching as he asked, "who is this?" As he gestured to the dwarf on the ground.
"Ah, this is my friend Joe… We became great friends while in prison together," Caesar said as he slowly lifted his foot from the Joe.
Joe pulled his face from the ground and glared at Caesar "what's your problem brother, I was just trying to test my luck with the ladies… back in my day, I had lines of women trying to take my hand in marriage."
Caesar looked at Joe with doubt, "I'm sure you did. I don't care if you try to court a lady," Caesar said in a sarcastic tone.
"But…" suddenly, Caesar's voice turned serious, and he crouched down to become eye level with Joe.
"If you try to court someone that is mine, then we'll have problems" Caesar's voice contained killing intent as he whispered in Joe's ear.
Joe started sweating profusely, "well damn, let a brother know first…" Joe mumbled as he started looking for other women in the crowd.
Caesar put his hand on Joe's shoulder and looked towards his father "Although you are king now, I'm sure there are many problems we need to solve. After all, being crowned king isn't so easy… I suggest we go through it together over dinner father," Caesar smiled while pressuring Joe's shoulder.
"Ah, y-yes I guess that is a good idea, come let’s all head towards the dining room."
Caesar and the rest all started moving towards the palace. The rest of the crowd dispersed, leaving only Caesar's family along with Renee and Joe. As they were making way to the palace, Caesar whispered in Joe's ear "control yourself, I know you have been in jail for a long time, but people won't take too kindly to a random perverted dwarf… plus, I heard that the relations between dwarves and elves were bad."
Joe nodded his head sadly, "I will control myself, anyhow… why did you want me to become your subordinate, by the way?" Joe quickly changed the subject and asked curiously.
Caesar looked up the sky and said in a quiet voice that only he and Joe could hear, "after settling things in the kingdom, I need to go on an adventure to a very dark place!"
Joe's eyes opened wide as he stuttered, "y-you d-don't mean that place?"
Caesar didn't answer his question and just continued walking towards the palace.
CHAPTER FOUR
Caesar and the rest moved through the palace gates, the beautiful white pillars and the marbled floor entered into their eyes as they walked in. A long red carpet stretched from the doors to the throne room.
"So, this is our home now? Quite the upgrade compared to the last house," Caesar said slyly while looking at his father.
"All of this still doesn't feel real. I'm not sure I am fit for this position…" Crowley coughed awkwardly and replied to Caesar with a hesitant voice.
"Don't worry father, even if you were to fall, you still have all of us to carry you," Caesar said in a soothing tone.
Surprise flashed in Crowley's eyes before he looked at Caesar with a lost expression. "You have changed so much since that expedition to the northern forest, my son… you have made me so proud." Crowley was choking on his words, and tears were threatening to fall out of his eyes.
Caesar walked over and put his arm around Crowley with a smile on his face. "There is no need to be sentimental, my father, this is a happy occasion," he explained.
Crowley nodded his head and replaced his sad expression with a happy smile, "you're right. Come, the dining room is even more extravagant." Crowley said while laughing happily.
The group started to move again, while they were walking Joe walked up and whispered in Caesar's ear "I didn't know your dad was the king, I want to change my condition to a gallon of ale at least once a day!"
Caesar turned to look at Joe with a sly smile, "too late" Caesar abruptly quickened his footsteps, so he didn't have to hear Joe's whining.
Suddenly Elizabeth went towards joe with a happy grin "everyone is so tall, I'm glad someone is my size around here now… nice to meet you my name is Elizabeth” she chuckled and put her hand out
Joe didn't know whether to laugh or cry as he slowly raised his right hand, but before he could shake hands with her a different pale hand with slender fingers grabbed her hand first and placed a glove on it.
"Remember darling, always put a glove on when shaking another man's hand," Caesar said with a serious face.
"Okay, daddy!" Elizabeth grinned widely and put her hand back out towards joe, but this time the glove was on it.
"This bastard…" Joe grumbled as he shook her hand.
"Nice to meet you, I'm Joe," Joe said with a twitching smile.
"Uh-huh, let's be friends!"
While the three of them were busy bantering with each other, they finally arrived in front of a beautiful wooden door engraved with two white tigers brawling.
"Whoa, those big cats look so real" Elizabeth let out a gasp in amazement.
Crowley smiled with pride and opened the large doors, inside was a large table with a golden chandelier risen above it. Murals of different mythical animals surrounded the room, making it look even more extravagant.
Sebastian and a few other butlers were already standing at the table while half-bowing, Sebastian opened
his lips first.
"welcome your majesty and young master, today we have prepared flame bear steak, garlic mashed potatoes, And of course a light salad. For refreshments, I have prepared red wine and liquor from Solace, the kingdom of ale."
Everyone opened up their mouths wide, staring agape at the delicious-looking food, except Caesar, of course. In his past life, he had seen much more luxurious foods.
Caesar and the rest quickly sat down at the large table. Caesar sat on one end of the table while Crowley on the other… soon, Renee came and sat down on his right, and Joe went to sit down on his left.
"No, Joe, I want to sit next to daddy," Elizabeth said with a pouting expression.
Joe scratched his head and gestured to the seat, "as you wish, princess."
"Hehe, you're the best," Elizabeth said quickly and darted passed joe to sit down next to Caesar.
Caesar slightly glanced at Joe and showed him a mocking smile before changing back into his typically graceful look.
Joe caught a glimpse of Caesar's mocking smile, and a vein popped up above his right eye, "this bastard just because he is handsome…" Joe gnashed his teeth and sat down at one of the other seats.
Once Joe sat down, everyone started to eat. Joe immediately started scooping the food into his mouth, nonstop, and guzzling the wine and liquor to help the food move down his throat faster.
"Oh my god, I've never eaten better food in my life," Joe said with food still in his mouth.
Caesar glared at him, "eat slower and don't talk with food still in your mouth."
Crowley raised his hand "haha, don't worry about it… this is a happy occasion after all."
For the rest of the meal, everyone ate quietly, only the sound of chewing echoed throughout the dining room. Renee kept stealing glances at Caesar while they were eating, so Caesar turned to face her and asked: "what's wrong? You have been glancing at me all night."
Renee adverted her eyes from Caesar. "I was just wondering if you remembered our promise," she said quietly.
Caesar gently put his fork and knife down on the plate and turned towards Renee "don't worry, I have not forgotten. I need to do a few more things in this kingdom before we can go."
A smile suddenly blossomed on Renee's face "okay!" she said energetically and started gobbling her food again.
Caesar also picked up his fork and continued eating again, as he was about to put food in his mouth he looked at Renee with a curious look. "I haven't seen Edward in a while, where is he?"
She chuckled softly, "He has formed quite the connection with those knights… he trains them with the sword all day long."
Caesar nodded his head slowly in understanding, "I see."
The food on the table was soon devoured, and everyone at the table was stuffed, Joe was rubbing his stomach while finishing up all of the extra glasses of wine placed on the table.
"This is what heaven tastes like after all, haha," Joe said with a satisfied smile.
Caesar soon clapped and stood up, "what do you say we go for a walk to digest the food we ate, Joe?"
Joe looked at Caesar, confused, "alright, I guess."
Caesar pushed his chair into the table and walked towards the doors… Joe pushed his chair in as well and guzzled the last bit of wine in the glass and rushed to follow Caesar.
Caesar pushed open the doors and walked out. Joe naturally followed behind him, "what's up Caesar, what do you need?"
Caesar glanced at him, "you're a dwarf, so you should be a skilled crafter, right?" Caesar asked him a question instead of answering him.
Joe nodded, "Well, yea, I don't make weapons and armors, though. I make magic accessories."
Caesar looked at Joe with an inquiring look, "what is a magic accessory?"
Joe puffed up his chest, "they help your mana flow through your body, or I can make a defensive accessory that helps block any magic-based attacks."
Joe paused for a second and continued in a hushed tone.
"How do you think I knew you weren't human; some dwarves can see the mana flow in things… your mana is an abnormal icy blue."
Caesar nodded his head in understanding, "so that's how you knew? What is Renee’s mana color?" Caesar asked curiously
"It's a very dark purple" Joe replied
Caesar and Joe continued walking for a while before finally turning around and heading back towards the dining room, "so what do you need to make these magic accessories that you speak of?"
Joe strokes his beard for a second and replied with a serious face "I need a very hard material and the person that wants the magic accessory to pump mana into it as I'm inscribing the accessory."
"Why do they need to implant their mana into it?" Caesar asked curiously
"A magic accessory can only be used by the person it's crafted for, it needs mana power to feed off of, and naturally it uses the owners."
"I see, when can you start crafting one?" Caesar asked curiously
"Well, I can make one at any time. I need my tools, but any normal blacksmith should carry them."
"I will get you those tools, I want you to make me one," Caesar thought for a second and said towards Joe.
"Alright, I'll do it as thanks for the ale."
Caesar and Joe soon made it back to the dining room and entered, Renee and Elizabeth were playing with each other, while Sebastian and Crowley were looking at them with smiles on their face.
All the people present turned their heads towards Caesar as he arrived, Crowley stepped forward with a smile on his face "my son, you had left so early earlier, so I didn't get a chance to give you a gift."
Caesar walked over towards Elizabeth and put her on his shoulder while turned towards Crowley, "a gift?"
Crowley dug in his robe and pulled out a large book "I had overheard that you have someone else training your knights with weapons because you don't have those skills so…"
Crowley presented the book toward Caesar.
"I purchased the most expensive sword technique book on the market. I also got you two swords crafted from the best blacksmith in our kingdom."
As if Crowley's words were Sebastian's cue he brought a case towards Caesar and opened the lid, inside were two slender and silver rapiers, the handguard was extremely elegant, and the grip was wrapped with a splendid red cloth. They appeared similar to modern-day spadroons back on Earth.
Caesar looked up at his father and hugged him, "thank you, father," He said in a thankful voice.
"It is what you deserve. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a lot of paperwork to do. The other nobles, as well as the officials, aren't exactly going to let me become king while laying down," Crowley said as he walked away with Sebastian following him.
Caesar looked at Crowley's departing back for a second before shifting his attention back to the book… the title translated to "The Noble Art of Swordsmanship."
Caesar's lips curved upwards as he turned the front page "looks like I have another thing to do before I make a trip."
CHAPTER FIVE
Caesar observed the book in his hands and flipped through the pages. The book didn't contain just one sword art but many different techniques… fencing, dueling, killing. At the very end of the book was an obscure fighting style that could use multiple rapiers to dual-wielded.
Caesar rubbed his chin in contemplation and didn't notice the curious eyes that were placed on him by everyone else in the room.
Caesar abruptly closed the book in his hands and looked towards Renee and Elizabeth apologetically, "I am going to retire to my room, I will be back out tomorrow morning for breakfast," Caesar didn't wait for their reply and slowly walked out of the dining room.
After walking through the long palace halls for a few minutes, Caesar squinted his eyes, "I don't know where my room is located," he thought to himself quietly.
Caesar walked for a few more minutes before walking in a random room. He noticed some girly dolls on the bed, and a few combs resting on the table.
Caesar
didn't pay it much heed and just sat at the table and flipped through his book… "I want to learn dual-wielding first," Caesar muttered to himself as he flipped to the end of the book.
The pages were full of illustrations of two people fighting; the diagrams showed the techniques and explained how to use them. Caesar studied them seriously and started at the basics.
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