Chapter 5: Banquet
"Thi... This, I swear on my noble name that what I've said is the truth, your Majesty!" Ray Nolan declared in a fearful tone.
There were a few moments of deathly silence in the Throne Hall, making the people inside feel fidgety and nervous.
The Emperor abruptly tapped the armrest of the Throne in a rhythm, making the ones who heard further gulp in suspense and anticipation.
"This matter concerns the well-being of my son. You won't blame me if I conduct investigations, right?" The Emperor inquired in a rather stern tone.
"I wouldn't dare! It is only your right to check the health and environment your son lived in, your Majesty." Ray Nolan tactfully said and not at all was bothered by the suspicions cast on him.
The Royal Prince was indeed in a coma all the time but woke up just a few days before he sent them the signal to be picked up in three years' time. If he were the child's father, he felt that perhaps even he wouldn't believe his own words.
"Good, you're pardoned."
Ray Nolan let out a sigh of relief when he was released from this not so offensive pressure.
The Emperor pondered for a moment before commanding, "Tonight, arrange a banquet, we're celebrating the return of my son, the Crown Prince of the Loret Empire!"
"Yes, Your Majesty," The people shouted in unison.
The Emperor and Empress left the Throne Hall and made their way to a room in the Emperor's Quarters, which was none other than their room.
They two were the only ones in the room.
"Logan, I don't mind if the investigation is conducted or not since it is advantageous to us that any strange or evil characters didn't influence our son..." The Empress said as she kept looking at her child, who was none other than Tian Long.
She was fine as long as her son was well and healthy. However, the way he currently looked rather made her heart feel distressed.
"Yes, but there are a lot of questions that are left unanswered, such as how our son, who was in fatal danger three days ago, managed to recover healthily. Is it a miracle? Or did an unknown expert decided to save our son with unknown motives?"
"Hmph, if it was an unknown expert with good intentions, I'll be surely thankful to him even in death. On the other hand, you sent our son to an unknown place that I don't even know about, and you won't even tell me about it!" The Empress coldly harrumphed.
"Claire, I had no other choice but to do that... It is for the absolute safety of our son. Even I didn't know where I sent him, not until that messenger pigeon arrived from Ray Nolan..." Logan told the truth.
"What?" Claire received a shock and looked at Logan with an incredulous expression on her face.
"All this time, you were saying that you knew where you sent our son and that he is safe?"
Suddenly, she felt as if she understood everything.
His expression was something quite profound to behold. He buried himself with his plan and didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
Claire and Logan readied Tian Long with a royal outfit. They didn't require the help of servants because this was the first time they were dressing Tian Long, their son.
Tian Long felt embarrassed when Claire removed his pants, but he realized that he was still a child. It made him even more ashamed about having dirty thoughts. He then kept reminding himself that she is his mother, which he still hasn't come to terms with yet.
Logan laughed when he saw him resisting a little, obviously misunderstanding with something else. However, he also felt a little doubtful as to why a child who knew nothing would feel shame in the first place, but he didn't give it too much thought.
Tian Long had complex feelings about being taken care of by a mother figure, which he never experienced in his previous life. He felt warm and cozy somehow, and he even secretly liked it.
In any case, with a body that hadn't much nutrition, he rather felt that he could do nothing at this point, like pushing them away. Neither did he do something stupid so as to make them realize that he was not their son and someone else.
They then picked him up and went to the Banquet Hall.
"Your subordinates greets your Majesty!" When the people saw the Emperor advancing into the Banquet Hall, they stood up, bowed, and shouted in unison.
"At ease, my subjects!" Logan acknowledged in a firm tone.
Everyone then took their seats.
"This banquet is to celebrate the return of my son and the continuation of our prosperous Empire. Glory to the Loret Empire!" Logan lifted his drink and drank commemorating the start of the banquet himself.
"Glory to the Loret Empire" The subjects also drank their cups.
Everyone enjoyed the banquet in high spirits. The spirit drinks and cooked meats were delicious, and the castle maids who were dressed up in classical robes were rather a sight to see as they danced.
After some time, the banquet was about to end.
"Your Majesty, isn't this the best time for that?" The Royal Advisor, Hendrickson, commented.
"I guess it is..." Logan superficially muttered and announced, "Everyone, it is time for the main event of this banquet."
The people in the banquet went silent as the banter calmed down.
Logan looked at Claire, who was seated by his side, both of them nodded together.
"I, the Emperor of Loret Empire, Logan Loret, hereby declare that the name of the First Prince, my son, to be, Davis Loret."
"Ahhh! Glory to the Empire, long live Davis Loret." An official suddenly exclaimed.
Everyone looked at Tian Long and started chanting his name loudly, which made the banquet end in high spirits. Today was also his third birthday.
From that moment, even without understanding the language, Tian Long knew that he had been given a new name, Davis Loret.