Zain sensed it because it bothered him and it's not like he cared.
The castle was massive. It had many rooms, the audience hall was a little far away from where the king reside and every servant has their quarters. The Knights had a room where they could sleep, the maids had their rooms as well as their own baths and the butler slept in the same room as the Knights. It looks like the male slept on this room and the female slept on the other.
Not every servant has its own room, only the higher servant has their own room like head butler, head maid, head chef, holy knights, head medic, and so on.
The house was impressive, it had everything including the training grounds and the tea house.
The king looked like he was on his late 30s or early 40s. He had broad shoulders and a solid build. He looked tall from where his sitting. He has a stern look that's perfectly controlled. He has a beard that well maintained.
He's dressed in a heavy royal purple fabric that looks extremely expensive. He had gold embroidery everywhere around his body like collar, chest, sleeves. Everything looks intentional like those red gemstones set into design. He wore black leather boots that's well polished like he just brought them yesterday.
Zain realise that he has responded to the king after few seconds because he "inspected" the castle.
"Okay." He said casual as he shrugged his shoulders and continued to say, "Are you still willing to sell the house, your majesty?"
The king's twitched because he probably thought that Zain was mocking him when he said "your majesty".
"Hear me out." The king said in a deep voice with his stern look.
"If you buy the house, you'll get the rank of a Baron." the king said to Zain as he looked at him to see his reaction but Zain didn't react. The one who reacted the most was Iso.
"WHAT!" She said in shock and continue, "You're going to become a noble just for buying a house. Aren't you happy Lucas? You get to become a noble."
"No, I ain't happy."
Zain said in serious tone. Everyone was shocked when they heard that including the king but he remained expressionless.
"Why?" Iso said and it looks like everyone wanted to know.
"Listen Iso. Being a noble comes with responsibilities and a lot of work. If there's a meeting that involves the entire kingdom, then I have to appear. I'm not allowed to travel to other kingdom without informing anyone. Everything I do affect my reputation and standings. Assassins will be sent after me which is not a bother for me but a nuisance. The higher rankings will try to pressure me or manipulate me to do they're biddings." Zain said in a serious voice with a casual tone mixed in them.
Everyone silently agreed with what he said and Iso tried to find an arguement she can make with what he said but there's none. She found one arguement which is irrelevant.
"What about the kids born into nobles? They have no responsibilities." Iso said trying to argue.
"Iso, every child is born a commoner. Just because the child is born on a noble family it doesn't mean the child is a noble. That's why they have a title of Hereditary before the succession and that title means nothing. Everything that child does affect the family. I'm sorry when I said that title means nothing but it probably means Entitlement to something. They're born into power with no merits." Zain said to Iso in a calm-casual voice.
"Okay I understand." Iso said as she remembers something.
"What if you have no responsibilities?" The king said
"Will you still take the title and the house?"
Zain looked at the king in suspicion and wondered, 'What is he playing at? It feels like he's targeting me."
"What's the reason?" Zain asked the king in suspicion.
"Reason for what?" The king said
"For trying to give me the title of a noble. I only wanted a house."
"I heard you captured Brad the Rapid, is it true?" The king said.
Zain pointed at the man in the corner and said, "He told you. After all, he saw him turn himself in. I only captured him."
The man finally materialised in the corner. Iso became suprise and realise something, "You're that man who came to my office." She said and Zain became suprise by what she said.
"Didn't I tell you he was the man who came to your office after I left?" Zain said in surprise.
"You did and I remembered him but this is the first time I see his face." Iso said trying to reason with Zain
Zain didn't bother to try to figure out the train of thought of Iso. He just let it go.
"How long did you know?" Jareth asked Zain
"From the beginning. I just let you follow me." Zain said casually.
"So, you defeated him?" The king said
"Defeat? That is a strong term. If I defeated him, it means I had a direct fight or duel with him which I did not but yeah. He lost to me." Zain explained to the king.
Zain suddenly said, "Wait is that the reason you're giving me the title?"
"No!" The king said to Zain.
"It's because you belong to no kingdom and you already have a last name as well as a name."
"How do you know I belong to no kingdom?" Zain asked the king.
"Because you had no form of identification when you entered the kingdom."
"So you're trying to make me affiliated with your kingdom in a way."
"Yes."
"But why?"
"You're an S-Rank who got recognised by Rhaelis and Zack. You captured Brad and as well as rescued those children from the bandits. Most of all, you're already strong." The king said
"How do you know that I'm already powerful?"
"Because to get a recommendation of Rhaelis, you got to give her 100 gold coins or defeat her in a fight."
"Speaking of 100 gold coins, I still gotta pay her."
"Why do you have to pay her? Didn't you defeat her?" The king said as he looked at Jareth but Jareth just shrugged his shoulders.
"It's not about that. It's about something else." Zain said brushing the topic off.
"Wait, you defeated Miss Rhaelis?" Iso asked in shock.
"Yeah but forget that." Zain said and looked at the kingto say, "So you're giving me title because of me merits and not because of anything else, right?"
"Mostly yes but partly because of support." The king said
"Support?" Zain became confused when he said that
"Yes, I want support from an unaffiliated person."
"What does that have to do with... Oh, I get it. Territorial warfare." Zain said in surprise.
"Yes." The king said. Iso was confused by what Zain said about territorial warfare.
"What do you mean territorial warfare?" Iso asked Zain.
"You see Iso, kingdoms are always at war. Ever since the hero has become an emperor, the kingdoms has signed a treaty but in secret, a war between kingdoms still happens." Zain explained to Iso.
"Wow, you know a lot." Iso said in surprise and the king nodded too.
"Well, I've read almost everybook." Zain said reminiscing about the events of the island.
"Are you going to take the title?" The king asked Zain
"Yeah, I'll buy the house."
"What about the title?"
"You'll have my support if... IF you don't give me responsibilities." Zain said to the king. Zain sensed someone coming to the audience hall.
"Okay." The king took his mace and walked towards Zain. He tapped Zain shoulders with a mace and said, "Then from now on, You're a Baronet. Baron Dawnbreaker." He didn't ask Zain to kneel because he probably knew he was going to refuse.
The man entered the hall and waited for the king to return to his throne.