"Royal Duel Knight!"
Compared to Aisha, whose ahoge curled into a question mark, most of the senior noble heads present reacted far more strongly to the title.
Some of the elderly family heads even shot to their feet in shock.
"His Majesty actually bestowed the title of Royal Knight… I never thought I'd see this in my lifetime."
"Royal Duel Knight. Royal Knight… a living Royal Knight!"
"The Kingdom of Livorden has produced its first living Royal Knight. Incredible… truly incredible."
"A living legend!"
More than the title "Royal Duel Knight" itself, Miles caught another key phrase from the nobles' whispers: a "living" Royal Knight. Why emphasize living? Is it so strange for a Royal Knight to be alive?
Arms folded, Kaima of House Seth watched with a slight smile.
"Royal Duel Knight… I didn't expect the Old King to grant that. But honestly, besides 'Royal Knight,' there's no other substantial reward that matches House Carlos's accomplishment."
Kevin whispered, "Sister, what exactly does 'Royal Knight' represent?"
"Throughout Livorden's history, several have borne the title. Without exception, they were people who gave their lives protecting the kingdom."
Though the Spirit Continent had enjoyed centuries of surface peace, dark forces always moved in the shadows—far beyond mere Slint‑trained Shadow Duelists. Rare Card hunters driven by greed, antisocial minds warped by injustice, or outright bloodthirsty duel fanatics—where there is light, there is darkness; in every era, under the calm surface, undercurrents churned.
Even the still‑young Princess Nova carried childhood scars from a Shadow Duelist's attack.
In such a climate, Livorden's history recorded duelists of great strength and duty—those who saved people, cities, even the nation in times of peril. Heroes who staked their lives for the kingdom against hidden malice. The highest praise and honor for such heroes was the title personally conferred by the kings: "Royal Duel Knight."
However, one could not earn it merely by standing up to darkness. Within the royal house, the standards for this supreme honor were severe and passed down through generations. Since its inception, only duelists who died protecting the kingdom—who fell in battle—were posthumously named Royal Knights.
In other words, only after weighing "sacrifice of life" did they qualify for investiture.
That is why, when the Old King spoke of granting Aisha Carlos the title, the veteran nobles trembled with excitement. They knew what it meant… and they knew that a living Royal Knight surpassed Livorden's history itself: unprecedented.
And yet, for all the extraordinary pomp, none dared object. Because Aisha's deeds were likewise unprecedented.
Amid the fog barrier, she went alone to the palace and rescued the Third Princess and Second Prince.
In a one‑on‑one duel, she repelled the famed titan of the continent—Imperial Marshal Locke Slint. With Kaima Seth, she struck the Empire's dreadnought, took out General Cameron Slint, and reversed the frontline.
She faced the Sacred Beasts and, in a Shadow Game wagering the capital's souls, carved light through darkness.
Finally, gathering every duelist's prayer, she completed a god's summoning and used The Winged Dragon of Ra's flame to dispel the fog.
Any one of these feats would make a bard sing her as the kingdom's guardian. All of them… on the same day, by the same person?
—Royal Duel Knight.
With her impossible record, everyone reached the same answer. The white‑haired girl fidgeting in the hall was the most fitting bearer of the title.
Seeing Aisha slow to reply, the Old King asked, "What is it, Aisha Carlos? Are you dissatisfied with the title?"
It wasn't dissatisfaction; in her mind, "Royal Knight" meant nothing—zero context. Even with the grandiose investiture, it didn't feel real.
Miles felt the same.
'What? The reward phase only gives a title? No rare cards?'—his thought.
Uncertain how to answer, Aisha simply voiced Miles's doubt, "Um… are there any rare cards?"
Alice could only lower her head and cover her face in exasperation, regretting how overly she'd coddled her sister and never taught her the etiquette for such occasions.
"Honorifics… use honorifics, Little Ai," Ren hissed from behind. Lively though she was, Ren had attended plenty of noble soirées with her brothers. She wouldn't bungle a scene like this.
"Honorifics, got it, Ren‑chan." Aisha's soft ears twitched; bolstered by the cue, she squared up. "Your Majesty… are there rare cards?"
"…" Even the Old King was momentarily stumped.
Awkward silence fell in the grand hall… until the King's sudden hearty laughter broke it.
Stroking his white beard, he seemed not the least offended—if anything, more charmed.
"It seems our young Royal Knight doesn't yet grasp the title's meaning. Homar, explain."
"Yes, Father." The eldest prince, Homar Kaiser—calmest of the heirs and long accustomed to aiding his aging sire—stepped forward. As royalty, he understood what lay behind the title.
"Aisha Carlos. The family of one who bears the Royal Duel Knight title will be raised to a rank equivalent to Count."
"A Count?" Aisha nodded lightly. Even if she lacked social grace, she knew the basics: Duke, Marquis, Count, Viscount, Baron.
Only House Seth held a ducal rank, just below the king. The next tier—Marquis—numbered only three in all Livorden (including the late House Barret). Below the four great houses stood the Counts. In status alone, Counts were second only to those four—high indeed.
That was why Count Ormon, whose lands bordered the Carlos domain, once acted so arrogantly toward Alice.
From the lowest rank of Baron, House Carlos now leaped to Count—by Aisha's single title alone. Overnight glory for the family.
"That's wonderful, Little Ai—and Sister Alice! House Carlos is a Count now!" Ren was sincerely happy for her dearest friend, even though House Austin was only Viscount.
She had seen Carlos' hardships since childhood: a fallen name, no duelists, contempt from all sides. This turnaround was thanks not only to Aisha and Miles's heroics, but to Alice, who had never given up and shouldered everything.
"Congratulations, Alice," Ilon said—the first time he'd spoken to her in a week. Though their paths might diverge, as childhood friends, he knew what she'd done.
"Alice, are you crying?"
"No… I'm just so happy."
The tears on her lashes were tears of joy. However, she'd fought, even embracing darkness, she had only barely held House Carlos together. The family needed the true duelist who bore their last hope: Aisha Yuna Carlos—and the glory she brought.
Prince Homar continued, "Also, the holder of the Royal Knight title is both the nation's blade and its shield. To let a Royal Duel Knight fully wield their power, the royal house will provide every convenience for dueling."
Even Homar couldn't help a smile. "I suspect this is what you most care about, Aisha—the rare cards."
He'd never seen anyone quite like her: a savior of the realm, a newly minted Royal Knight who could have asked for wealth, status, even authority—yet who only asked, twice over, for rare cards.
"Provide convenience… you mean—?" Aisha was even more excited than when she heard 'Count.'
"Yes. A Royal Knight may freely use any tradable rare cards stored in the royal card vault. If you will it, no one may stop you."
"Freely use! From the royal card vault! Rare cards!"
Such tidings raced to Miles in the Millennium Puzzle's room.
"We're taking off, Mr. Miles! We'll never worry about spell points again—it's our turn at last!"
"We finally made it, Aisha!" Even Miles was stunned by the title's perks: free run of the royals' tradable rares. At last, farewell to filler D‑rank spells. Academy credits and spell points could now be saved for branches the vault lacked—unique entries in the Spell Index.
For instance, several Poker Knight support cards—and the A‑rank Quick‑Play Spell the Pharaoh once used to summon a God. With Ra now in their hands, they could consider crafting it.
Still smiling, the Old King stroked his beard. "Seeing you pleased pleases me as well, young Royal Knight."
The right had always existed—but no one had ever exercised it. The dead cannot use cards. Aisha Carlos was the first Royal Knight in history who could: a living Royal Knight, a living legend.
And the Old King permitted such largesse because he saw infinite possibilities for the kingdom's future in this young knight. He also had a request.
"While enjoying your rights, I ask that you also fulfill a Royal Knight's duty."
"A duty?"
"Call it duty, though I admit my private wish weighs heavier. In Fusion Academy, in the name of the Royal Knight, protect Princess Nova's safety."
...
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