Chapter 95 - Earning Rather Than Receiving

Green and lush grasses decorated a plain, whose scenery alone made one gasp in amazement. A big and lush tree stood strongly in the middle of it. Its leaves swayed each time wind hurdled the tree, creating a peaceful and beautiful scenery.

Below this tree, a young man sat himself, and leaned his body toward it.

"I have never wept for anyone. However, I will weep for the mistake I have done. Who knows I would commit one this soon," The young man muttered to no one in particular.

A smile adorned his face, before he opened his eyes. Two bright and brown glassy orbs full of mystery were revealed. The young man stared at the lush grasses decorating the plain, and hummed to himself.

It was a song which he had often heard when he had been a child. A song which the one he cared had liked to sing.

"Whenever I laid my head on your lap, I always felt peaceful. You liked to sing a song, which I have always favored because of your voice. This scene reminds me very much of you, Irene."

The young man, who was none other than Basil, threw his gaze to the side. His eyes were planted on a tombstone, that had Irene's name carved on it. He smiled softly, hiding the forlornness in his heart.

"We came from nothing, and returns to nothing. Never have I expected, it will be this soon, Irene." Basil patted the tombstone. "Forgive me for my ignorant decision. May you live happily in your next life, if reincarnation does exist."

He stood up, and left the tombstone alone, in the middle of the green plain.

It had been two days since Irene had been buried. Today, he was called to the Capital for the succession of Nicholas' Viscount title to him. He would meet the King today, and everyone's attention was focused on him, the sole son of Cobham Household.

Surely, he didn't want to rush. He wasn't very eager to meet the King who he had eventually killed in his past life. The King had subpar power, and the only thing holding back the other people in power to seize his seat was his father, the Human Emperor.

Just like most of the people under him, he was corrupt. The only good thing about him was his competent subordinates, who managed the Kingdom in his stead.

Basil held no respect for someone like that.

"Brother, are we leaving now?"

Upon arriving in front of the carriage he had ridden to visit Irene's last resting place, Basil was greeted by Shirley. She was nervous for some reason, and she shifted a lot in her place.

Basil smiled softly, and patted her head. "Yes, we are leaving now." Shirley nodded her head reluctantly, before holding Basil's hand tightly. "Will everything be okay?" She asked. Basil merely hummed softly, and led her inside the carriage.

The ride to Randalvine was silent. Basil forged his body the entire way, and Shirley held his hand to comfort herself. She was nervous about what would happen next. The succession ceremony would be a turning point in her life.

She sighed, and inched her body closer to Basil. She found comfort in his presence.

...

"Basil will be having his succession ceremony today?" Iliana asked Lawson who was ready to leave. "Yes. That's why I am going to attend the ceremony." Lawson nodded in confirmation.

Iliana hummed to herself, before opening her mouth, and asked Lawson, "Can I come too?" Lawson threw his gaze at her, and sighed. "You can. But, don't beat anyone!" Lawson sternly warned Iliana.

Iliana met Lawson's gaze unwaveringly, and exclaimed righteously, "It is not my fault they are born with punchable face."

"This lass..."

Lawson sighed once again. Iliana was a prideful Mage. She didn't care about titles, anyone who messed with her would be met with an unpleasant fate. As she was a beautiful young woman, many young Nobles were eager to take her hand in marriage.

Surely, she considered it as them messing with her. Thus, she always, at least, blew their consciousness away. Due to that, Lawson was always forced to bail her out of troubles. He couldn't let his favourite student got in trouble, just because she wasn't a Noble.

"Anyway, just ignore them. You don't need to punch them everytime they say something silly." Lawson warned once again.

Iliana nodded faintly, and answered, "That depends on how they behave."

Lawson opened his mouth, before closing it again. He didn't know what to say. He just sighed, while hoping for the best.

With Iliana in tow, he got out of his office in Randalvine Magic Institute, and set to the palace.

The trip to the palace didn't take long. Since the palace was located in the inner part of Randalvine, it took merely half an hour to arrive.

"Hmm... I didn't know there would be so many Nobles attending the ceremony." Iliana hummed upon seeing the people crowding the palace.

"Normally, it is not that crowdy. But, since Basil is the hottest topic in our Kingdom right now, many are curious. Of course, these people are also waiting for the opportunity to pull him to their side," Lawson explained to Iliana.

"Is who the next King really that important? They are pretty enthusiastic doing this 'faction' thing."

Lawson chuckled at Iliana question. "No, Iliana. They don't care about who is the next King. They care about the profit they will get later," Lawson stated.

Iliana merely hummed in understanding, and followed Lawson to enter the palace. Surely, they needed to identify themselves before entering. Even though Iliana was not a Noble, she was still granted entrance, due to Lawson.

"These guys are dreaming too much. What is there a title, when it is useless in front of an absolute power."

"It is what you called politic, sweetheart. You will get used to it later."

"I don't find myself will get used to it."

"Haha. I can see it."

Lawson chuckled helplessly at Iliana's remark. She didn't say anything wrong. In every kingdoms, titles didn't symbolize status. It symbolized participation in the political strife.

It was the reason why many powerful Mages rejected the offer of being a Noble. They were too busy improving themselves to mind the worldly matters — such as political strife.

However, when a Mage was too powerful to be left alone, they were forced to receive a Noble title. If they rejected it, it would be considered as a betrayal to Human Empire, thus would be hunted down by everyone.

Therefore, there were many people decided to become Wandering Mages. They wanted to avoid this troublesome thing that might occur to them later.

"Oh, that's Basil."

"Where is he?"

Iliana was eager to see Basil. It had been a week since his abrupt leave. She was curious about his condition. Moving her eyes to the pointed direction, she found Basil in the middle of the throne room, standing valiantly with his sister by his side.

Upon seeing him, Iliana did a double take. He still exuded the same overbearing aura. However, there was something different about him.

"He is sad." Iliana muttered, picking Lawson's interest. "Oh, you didn't know?" Iliana threw her head at Lawson upon his question. "What do I not know?"

"Basil has just lost his important person due to the tragedy. People say she was his nanny. But, I don't see him that sad."

At Lawson's response, Iliana muttered softly to herself, "See not from his face, but his heart." Lawson stared at her curiously. However, she didn't have intention to make herself clear.

Suddenly, the counselor of the king tapped the butt of his staff to the ground.

Ding!

The people's attention moved to him, and no one dare to make a noise.

"Greet your majesty Anthony Lionheart Braxtein!"

Everyone in the room touched their left chest, right on the position of the heart, with two fingers as a form of respect. Then, came in the person who they had pledged their loyalty to.

Anthony Lionheart Braxtein was a fit man in his late sixties. He was 190 centimeters tall, and had a fairly muscular body. His long blond hair was untied, yet neat. With condescending eyes, befitting of a ruler, he looked at the crowd.

"It is a good day, everyone."

"Yes, your majesty!"

The crowd replied Anthony's greeting that didn't really sound like greeting. He nodded in satisfaction, before planting his eyes on Basil, who was already left alone by Shirley, in the middle of the throne room.

"I can see it from your eyes, you are a great young man, Basil Cobham."

Anthony stared at Basil, and he stared him back neutrally. Basil held no respect, nor was he afraid of this Seventh Circle Mage in front of him.

Being the prideful person he was, the former was irked by Basil's unwavering gaze. Therefore —

Boom!

— he pressurized Basil.

To Anthony's surprise, Basil kept staring at him with the same neutral eyes. Not even his finger twitched under the pressure. Getting irked even more, he increased the pressure on Basil.

Imagine his surprise when Basil still had no reaction. Therefore, he increased the pressure once again. This time, he was fully intending to make Basil kneel on the ground.

Iliana, who was watching the scene together with Lawson on the side, frowned her forehead at Anthony's action. Even though the pressure was concentrated on Basil, she could faintly feel it.

Everyone was puzzled too, however no one dare to ask what was happening.

It was only when they even could clearly feel the pressure did a surprising thing happened.

Boom!

Three Ultimate Circles floated behind Basil, and shone intensely. Surely, all of them thought they were merely Grand Circles. However, it was enough to make them widen their eyes. The pressure Basil was also exuding was unbefitting of that belonged to a Third Circle Mage. It easily outclassed it.

"Hoh? Interesting."

Anthony retracted his pressure, and smiled in mild fascination. Basil also retracted his, and quirked his eyebrow at Anthony. He was a bit puzzled by the stupid king's mood.

"You really are an exceptional Mage, Basil." Anthony praised him rather sincerely. Motioning Basil to kneel with his hand, Anthony said, "Very well, let me grant you the title that fits you."

Basil didn't kneel, he opened his mouth instead, "About that, I will have to decline, your majesty."

Although it was distasteful to call Anthony that way, he had to do it. The current him wouldn't be able to go against a whole empire yet.

"Hm? Why?"

"As you may have already known, I am not really a Cobham. Viscount Nicholas adopted me due to his pity over me. Therefore, I can not succeed his title."

Basil purposefully didn't tell him the truth. He was sure something unwanted would happen, if he were to tell Anthony that he was Halton's son.

The crowd gasped in surprise, not due to the fact he was adopted, but because he had rejected the offer.

"Basil, you are already a Cobham by the time you are adopted into the family. Blood relation holds no significance in the title succession."

The other Nobles nodded their head at Anthony's word. It was the exact reason why they were surprised Basil had rejected the offer.

"I might take the offer, if I was alone. However, I have my sister, who is related to Viscount Nicholas by blood. It will not be fair to her, if I take the title."

"Hmm..."

Anthony hummed to himself. The logic behind Basil's word was sound. The other Nobles also thought the same as they nodded in appreciation at Basil.

"Still, don't you think it is unfortunate? Not just anyone is offered the chance to be a Viscount."

"Anything that is given on a silver platter is never an achievement. I want to achieve things, and cherish them. I choose earning over receiving."

Anthony smiled with a well hidden disdain at Basil. To him, what Basil had said was ignorant. Still, he didn't want to convince him otherwise.

"Very well. May Shirley Cobham step forward!"

"Yes, your majesty!"

Shirley stepped forward, and quickly kneeled in front of Anthony. Anthony was ready to open his mouth, when suddenly Shirley said something.

"I beg your pardon, your majesty. I, Shirley Cobham, will also decline the title. Like my brother has said, I, too, prefer earning rather than receiving."

The crowd gasped in bewilderment at the two siblings' choice.. Needless to say, Anthony was irked.