The Courtesan

Chapter 115

ELAYNE

The award ceremony got more fanfare than the whole competition itself. It was the first of its kind and it got everyone in the kingdom excited. So excited that it made everyone forget that the church was still on trial with the court. It was so convenient that it was amazing.

The church was less than impressed with that happening that they showed up at the award ceremony ready for a fight. The prizes for the other participants were handed out by the soldiers. The royal family was present, seated at the highest platform.

Kalvin caught my eyes and smiled. The queen looked bored and the king watched attentively. When all the cash rewards were handed out, the king rose for his speech. The crowd went silent and he cleared his throat.

“It has been a long eventful week and I’m sure like I have, you have all enjoyed the competition. I must admit at first I was skeptical but thanks to our beloved Crown Prince, this was a success. I am very pleased to see the talents of our great kingdom and am more than pleased to present the winning prizes. Let the winners come forward.”

I shouldn’t really have been surprised when none of the winners wanted to stand next to me. Almost all the other competitors were glaring at me. It was a a fair competition, why the hate?

“To the third ranked, I give…”

While the King announced the prizes, my eyes found Kalvin’s once again and he was mouthing words. I managed to make them out.

{I’ve planned our picnic for after the awards.}

{Why?! Can’t it be tomorrow?}

{Why not today?}

{I don’t want to do it tomorrow.}

{Kalvin.}

“And for the first ranked, who has performed remarkably well in this competition, we offer…”

{It’ll be better today, believe me.}

{Dear gods, you are infuriating.}

“... For such a prize, I would knight this man. He has shown outstanding talent and is fit to be part of this kingdom’s great nobility. Please step up here, El…”

{I love you. Go with me.}

{Go to hell.}

“... El! Can you please come up here?”

“Oh my, I am so sorry, your majesty. I was so dumbstruck that I cannot believe this is happening.”

Saying every possible profanity I could in my mind to the snickering Kalvin, I went up to the platform and knelt before the royals.

“For your service and incredible talent, you would be knighted by our great and lovely queen…”

“Flattering me would not make me happy.”

“... Who is a great knight herself? Please, do us all the honor.”

“Urgh, whatever.”

The queen was in a more terrible mood than I remembered. The King was visibly distressed. I eyed Kalvin and he finally stopped laughing. He started whispering to his mother. The crowd wondered what the delay was all about but I really wasn’t surprised. The queen had a fairy reasonable temper, if all children weren’t all annoying her at once.

“Fine, I’ll do it. Hand me the sword.”

The King presented the sword to her humbly. I could definitely see a shadow of Kalvin in his father.

“With the power vested in me by the ancestors of this great kingdom, I knight you El, a servant of the Royal court and the people of Zerramond.”

“Thank you for this great honor, your majesty.”

“Yes, yes, whatever.”

The crowd cheered loudly as I rose. I smiled brightly, smirking at the applauding Kalvin. The Queen was the only one visibly upset, well, if we weren’t counting the church.

“Your majesty, I have an objection to make,” the saintess said loudly enough to get attention. She also used announcers. This saintess in particular did not sound like Noelle. It made sense if she didn’t want to get her hands dirty.

“Urgh, what is it this time? I have two children running amok in other kingdoms and I cannot get them because of a request from my first son and husband. If you annoy me, I would kill you where you stand.”

A large gasp reverberated in the crowd. It made sense because the Queen was one the biggest supporters of the church.

“I promise this is worth your while. This man that you have just knighted has committed various offenses.”

“Name them.”

“Assaulting a captain of the church, insulting and accusing the church, organizing an attack against the church, nepotism in the competition and finally, this man is actually… a woman!”

Unlike the shouts of disagreement I expected, nobody actually said a thing. They must have been surprised. But the woman beside me had words.

“You know, I used to think the church of light was a spectacular religion with incredible teachings enough to subject my dislike of religion. I even willingly gave up my spot as a model for women to you, the priestess who is venerated by almost every woman in Zerramond. How could I have been so blind to not see you’re a selfish w***e who probably hasn’t worked a day in a life and encourages stupid practices?!”

“Your majesty! Please check the facts.”

“Shut up! Just shut up! So what if she’s a woman? So what if she assaulted the church? Haven’t you guys been killing innocent citizens for years for no reason? You have no right, absolutely none, to say that here. Now, take your jealous self and get out of this arena. You are not welcome here.”

From beginning to end, the arena was silent and the queen barely needed an announcer. She denounced the church with much disgust in public. I knew there was a reason I respected her.

“And as for you…”

She pointed at me with narrow eyes.

“We’ll be having words later.”

Oops, I forgot about that.

The church representatives were forced to leave the arena by the royal guards and when I walked back, I could hear some murmurs. Having the Queen denounce the church was much more effective than staging a protest which I realized would’ve failed because someone sold me out to the church.

Some people wouldn’t take freedom even if it was offered on a platter of gold.