Family Business 21: The Benefit from One Life

Family Business
Chapter 21: The Benefit from One Life

-VB-

A week after I left Jorasmang, I knelt on one knee before King Jarvan III not in the private office of the king where talks that could not be said in public were held but in the throne room of the Palace of Demacia where hundreds of the rich, noble, and important members of the Kingdom of Demacia looked upon me and the king.

I could feel many awed looks as well as jealous and hateful ones burning away at the back of my head.

Before I came here, the people of the city had given me a pseudo-triumph. When they learned that it was my specially trained agents who had captured the wanted criminal who made them suffer for no reason, they threw flower petals and confetti. They chanted my name as I rode in on a magnificent black stallion, black as the Black Guards who rode in on their own black horses behind me.

And now, I knelt before the king, telling the world that for all of the power I held, for all of the development, wisdom, strength, and lethality I possessed, I knelt before my liege willingly.

If the king and the royalty had anything negative to say to me now, then they would only harm themselves.

Of course, I didn’t kneel because it would give me an advantageous position but because it was proper etiquette and rightful conduct. Demacia was a nation of hierarchy and castes. To break that because I had gained some power?

That would make me unnecessary enemies very quickly.

“It’s only been two months since we last met, Count Jorasmang, and yet here we are again,” the king began as he leaned in. “I am very pleased with the work of your men.”

“Thank you, your highness,” I replied firmly without looking up. “They were only able to work on your behalf because you were gracious and tolerant enough to allow them to do so. You are a wise king, your highness.”

A moderate amount of bootlicking also helped.

He waved me off. “I only took your advice to fight fire with fire,” he replied with a graceful smile that belied a ruler's cunning. “After all, you continue to provide the kingdom what it means to be a good magician.”

And that was a double entendre. Did he intend to keep me tightly leashed?

“Tell me, Count Jorasmang-” he said, once again using the given surname rather than my born surname. “You have provided the kingdom with service and justice. What is it you wish for as your reward?”

I paused.

I … actually hadn’t thought about it. I only did what I did - everything from getting the people to accept magic and sending the Black Guard to bring back Sylas - because it would benefit me to do so. Hadn’t the Black Guard’s action in the first place been to make sure that I wouldn’t be punished for overly public displays of magic-?

… Public.

Oh. Oh…

This was a show of benevolence for the king.

I smiled.

“I have nothing I wish for, your highness. I have only completed my duty to the crown and the kingdom as a noble should, for I am one of those with the means and as such, acted with my means to serve the kingdom.”

The king laughed while the court watched intensely.

“Very well, then!” the king laughed as he stood up.

Then I heard the scraping of steel against the scabbard.

The court stood up as one in shock.

He walked down the steps from the throne to the floor and placed the flat of the blade on my left shoulder.

“Count Marris Crownguard-Jorasmang, I charge you with the duty of nobility.” The blade lifted and then fell on my right. “I charge you with the protection of the royalty and the kingdom.” The blade lifted and slid back into its scabbard with a very quiet hiss. “I hereby name you Duke Marris Crownguard-Jorasmang, a peer of the realm second only to the royalty.”

… Was he trying to trap me?

I smiled a fake one as I finally looked up. “Thank you for the honor, your majesty.”

“It is only a right reward for something of your achievement. You’ve unveiled corruption and brought a strategic resource to our kingdom.”

I did not like how he said “strategic resource.”

-VB-

I knew there was a reason I didn’t like it.

An hour after the ceremony and showboating in the throne room was over, we - along with his son and other advisers - sat around in his private office.

“I see,” I replied after the king made his “request.” Honestly, it made sense why I was being given the task. “It will take more than a few years for Demacia to train anything resembling a competent magi-regiment, your majesty.”

The king nodded. “We know. It is something, however, that must be done. Even with magic-nullifying petricite, there is simply too much magic for Demacia to deal with. Our allies are also hesitant to fight alongside us because they fear our traditional ways. If we are to survive and thrive, then magiphobia and anti-magic policies cannot continue. You understand, too, don’t you? You told me as much.”

I nodded hesitantly. My magic troopers were always meant to serve as bulwark against an inevitable confrontation between me and the kingdom’s anti-magic ways. I always thought that I would be fighting against the kingdom… not helping it develop its own magical institutions.

“I do not believe that I can build an academy for magical learning on the income of my city and province alone,” I replied cautiously. “On top of that, Demacia lacks anyone with proper education capable of teaching others in the ways of magic…”

“Do not worry,” the prince spoke up for the first time in one of these meetings, and the way the king smiled told me that this may have been intentional - silence before and the speech now. “The Crown will provide the funds you need within reasonable limits.”

I nodded slowly. “I am glad to hear that.” But it also meant that the Crown would see its interest done in the policies, staffing, and students of the institution. It would be, essentially, a very corrupt - by which I mean nepotism, the very lifeblood of all hierarchical societies - institution that will accept people based on how well they and their families have connected to the royalty and me.

I was fine with that.

For example, if the Duke of Angrimoria wanted their retinue’s children or his children to enter the academy, then he better be prepared to pay a hefty sum, because I haven’t forgotten all of the shit he’d pulled on me since we got to know each other.

I grinned.

“Very well, your highness. I will do my utmost to build a magical academy and research institution on the behalf of the kingdom. I hope you will not begrudge me for building the academy in my city?”

My city and province was only a few days’ travel, after all, not at the edge of the kingdom where I could hide from the eyes of the government, build up an army, and revolt successfully.

“Of course. You have been a good subject of the crown. That said, there are … members of royalty’s branch families who might be interested in joining the academy as soon as classes are available. Or perhaps even your personal guidance…”

Ah, he was trying to get rid of political debt he had to gain for the recent reforms.

I didn’t mind.

Oh, I did not mind at all.

It would only benefit me more to become a mentor to many noble children.