Island in the Lake, Royal Palace.
Shien finally came here again. After showing the pendant Roxie had given him to the Knights guarding the gate, he was respectfully ushered inside.
However, Shien was laden with bags and parcels the entire way, looking exactly like some poor bastard who had just accompanied his girlfriend on a shopping trip. Many passing knights and civil officials cast strange looks his way.
The richly dressed nobles, on the other hand, started whispering among themselves when they saw Shien.
"Could that man be...?"
"Ah, that's right. It's him."
Conversations like these occasionally arose among the nobles, making it clear that they had all recognized Shien.
Of course, after recognizing him, quite a few of them looked exceedingly unfriendly. Some even seemed ready to step forward and stop him.
Unfortunately for them, Shien had already seen through their intentions. While sighing inwardly at the cliché, and having no time to play games with these noble young masters, he flicked the small stones he had long hidden in his hand when he saw them preparing to approach, using the same technique one would use to shoot marbles.
"Ah!"
"Wah!"
"That hurts!"
At once, all the noble young masters who had been preparing to pick a fight suddenly cried out in pain and fell to the ground. Some had been struck in the knees by the flying pebbles, others in the stomach, while a few fellows who practically had the word "arrogant" written across their faces were hit directly in the crotch. They writhed on the floor in agony, crying out for their fathers and mothers.
Shien snuffed out every cliché underdog scenario in the cradle and headed for the Princess's chambers without wasting a moment showing off or humiliating anyone.
When Shien arrived, the place was still