Chapter 96 - They Choose Their Path, He Creates His Path

Anthony looked down at the kneeling Shirley, and the uprightly standing Basil. He creased his eyebrows. He couldn't believe these two youngsters had just refused a Viscount title.

Although they would still remain a Noble even without it, they would have no territory to rule over. By then, their status would be no different from a Baronet. They would need to climb up once again to reach the height they had gotten down from.

That was ignorantly ridiculous.

"What a burning spirit the two of you have showed. Very well, I will grant your wish. Your parent's former territory will be hand over to another Viscount. However, you can keep the belongings and the wealth your parents had accumulated."

Anthony motioned Shirley to get up, before continuing, "I will remind you once again, you can't reclaim your parent's former territory that you have refused."

"Yes, your majesty."

"Hm. From today onwards, both of you would bear the same status as a Baronet!"

While some of the crowds nodded their head in amazement at the two's determination, most of them shook their heads in disappointment. Basil and Shirley could've been a ruling Noble, if they hadn't refused the title.

Now, they weren't even given a title. They were merely given a status as low as a Baronet. Even then, Baronets were still better than them. They had not only the privilege, but also the title, unlike Basil and Shirley.

"Pardon me, your majesty." Basil suddenly spoke, gathering the crowd's attention on him.

"Yes?"

"As I have stated in the beginning, I merely am an adopted son. Now that even Viscount Nicholas has died, I have nothing to bind me to the Cobham Household anymore."

"Your point is?"

"I am going to throw away my Nobility"

Gasp!

The crowd recoiled in surprise. If they were previously bewildered, they were shocked this time. Basil was basically degrading his status!

"Pardon?"

"I will pull myself out of Cobham Household."

"Are you sure?" Anthony said with a raise eyebrow.

Previously, he had looked down on Basil for refusing the Viscount title. However, at that time he still had a little bit pity on Basil. After hearing Basil's next word, he had instantly lost the pity he had on Basil.

For him, titles and status matter. He had no pity over an idiot who couldn't even know their worth.

"Very well." Anthony glanced at his counselor, and the counselor nodded his head. "Basil Cobham, from today onwards, you are stripped of your Nobility status!"

Bang! Bang! Bang!

The counselor hit the butt of his staff to the floor.

"With this, the succession, or rather the degradation ceremony is concluded." Anthony stood from his throne, and left the room.

"Honor to your majesty Anthony Lionheart Braxtein!" The counselor declared loudly.

Everyone paid respect to Anthony in the unique way belonged to Braxtein Kingdom's people — by touching their left chest with two fingers.

...

Basil had quickly left the palace with Shirley in tow. He didn't want to get caught up in the political approach of those hypocritic Nobles.

Now, they were in Randalvine's Central Garden enjoying the scenery.

The first time Shirley had come here had been to watch Basil's tournament. She had even left midway, due to an unwanted interference. She hadn't had the chance to admire the grandeur of Randalvine yet. Basil came here for that perfect reason.

"Woahh! It's so beautiful here!"

Basil smiled at Shirley who was admiring the garden full of flowers like a child. There were many people — mostly couples — in the garden. However, due to the garden's vastness, it looked as if they were the only people there.

"Irene must have liked this scenery, if she were here." Shirley muttered to herself.

"Hm." Basil hummed softly to himself.

He gazed at the scenery in front of him. The garden was full of many kinds of flowers. Pleasant fragrances assaulted his nose, bringing a calming effect to his mind. Children of both genders running around, while laughing happily with their friends.

If Irene were here, she would definitely like the scenery.

"Brother, come, sit here." Shirley, who had just set their mat on the ground, motioned Basil to sit beside her.

Basil sat himself, and helped her to set the food they had carried from home. When everything was done, Shirley served Basil the sandwich she had made.

"Did you learn how to make it from Irene?"

"Yes, Brother. How is it?"

"It's edible."

Normally, anyone would feel insulted. However, Shirley didn't. She knew Basil was honest in his word. He didn't like to sugarcoat things, and never insulted people. He was just honest.

Therefore, Shirley smiled brightly. Considering Basil's high standard in almost everything, 'Edible' was already a compliment.

"Brother... I know we have talked about it, but... are you really okay if I stay with you?"

Basil quirked his eyebrow, and looked at Shirley. "Are you doubting me now?"

"No, no, no! I will never doubt you!" Shirley waved her hands in strong denial. "It's just... We are not even a real sibling. I am just worry I may trouble you."

"Hm."

Basil nodded his head in understanding. He understood Shirley's worry very well. Considering the not so heartwarming past between them, she must be feeling guilty for "troubling" him. Luckily, he had the perfect answer for this.

"Shirley, do you remember what I said when we talked about this?"

"Yes. You said you would always be my brother even if we are not related."

"Not that one."

"Is it the one where you said you would let me follow you?"

Basil shook his head faintly, before staring at Shirley's eyes deeply. "Although I said that, I have also said a condition you have to fulfil before following me. Can you say what the condition is?"

Shirley hummed, and assumed a thinking manner. "I have to be independent?"

"Yes, that means, aside from letting you to follow me, I won't help you with anything else. You will struggle by your own, and I will not do anything about it."

"Hm." Shirley nodded her head in understanding. But, she was still puzzled by the point Basil was trying to tell her. "So, what do you mean, Brother?"

"Can you see where you trouble me?"

Shirley turned silent. Now that she thought about it once again. Aside from providing her a place to stay, Basil did nothing for her. When Basil said she didn't trouble him, he really meant it.

When the conclusion was reached, another thought sprout out. She looked down on the ground, then held her hot and flushed cheeks in embarrassment.

"B-but, I want to trouble you, Brother..." She muttered her real feelings in a barely audible voice.

Basil quirked his lips upward faintly, and patted Shirley's head tenderly. "That's what a Brother for."

Shirley let go of her cheeks, and put her hands on top of her thighs. She felt like a heavy stone was finally lifted from her chest. Her anxiety, her fear, and her insecurity were all gone. As if a thirsty person given water, she felt refreshed.

Her eyes were honest as they became hot and blurry.

Drip. Drip. Drip.

Before she knew it, the mat was wet with her tears. She raised her head, then looked at Basil with her teary eyes, and flushed face. Thoughtlessly, she jumped at Basil. She hugged his sturdy and warm body, before crying her heart out.

"Thank you. Thank you. Thank you for being by my side."

Basil patted Shirley's back tenderly. "Thank you for being by my side." This sentence made Basil smile bitterly. His mind travelled back to the past, where Shirley had been abandoned by everyone.

When she needed someone to be by her side the most, anyone she had trusted had turned their back on her. She had been so lonely that she had felt she had been not wanted. In the end, she had decided to end her life.

The past Basil who had been too busy on his quest to reach the top didn't know any of this happening until it had been too late.

Shirley had been the one who had introduced him to Knight Principal. She had been the one who had opened his path to reach the top.

In the past, he had planned to pay his debt on her upon returning from one of his expeditions. Sadly, he had never managed to do that.

Now that he had received the chance to make amend to his tragic life, he would pay the debt he had never been able to pay.

Sob.

"Are you feeling better?"

"No, let me be like this for a while." Shirley shook her head, and hugged Basil even tighter.

Luckily, Basil didn't have any thoughts to pry the koala off. He let her be like that, and ate his sandwich.

Rustle.

Basil's eyes flickered to the side. Someone, or rather two people were coming his way. Glancing at the frontmost person from the corner of his eyes, his mouth quirked upward faintly.

"Basil Pacifer!"

"Hello, Iliana."

Surprisingly, the two people coming his way were Iliana and Lawson. They had wanted to talk to him after the ceremony, but he had quickly left like a ghost. They had chased him to here, but had found he had been having his moment with Shirley.

Being the sensible person he was, Lawson held himself back from meeting Basil right away. However, Iliana was different. She didn't care about that.

Therefore, Lawson was shaking his head, and looked at Basil apologetically. "I am really sorry for this insensitive lass."

"What do you mean insensitive, Master Lawson? I am as polite as I can be right now."

Lawson sighed, and massaged his forehead. "As you can see, she is like this."

"I don't mind." Basil motioned the two people to sit on the mat. "What is the purpose of the two of you meeting me?" Basil was always to the point, he didn't like wasting breath.

"It is about your choice. Are you going to establish a new Noble Household?"

"No. I don't care about such a thing. I just want to use my real family name."

"Oh, so that's the case."

Lawson nodded his head in understanding, and amazement. Normally, he would think such a reason was a little bit stupid to throw away Nobility. However, he couldn't find fault in Basil. The boy got the right to do.

Looking at Basil who was still hugging Shirley, Lawson admired his guts. He didn't feel awkward even if there were two people watching. Especially, there was Iliana who was gazing at him intently.

"Why is she like that?" Lawson was mortified at Iliana's insensitive question, and quickly chided her. "Iliana, that's rude!" The latter merely looked at the former in confusion.

Luckily, Basil quickly solved the situation.

"Don't mind her. She's just in her Sleeping Koala Mode."

— or not really.