"But I still have to refuse!"
When Shien made that declaration without the slightest hesitation, everyone present was stunned.
"What did you say?"
Anxi was taken aback.
"Refuse?"
Yule, Jacinta, and the others were equally surprised.
"You—"
Even Barry had not expected Shien to so grandly refuse under these circumstances. A rare trace of astonishment appeared on his cold, merciless face.
Shien really wanted to say, That's right, I wanted to see those expressions on your faces.
Of course, he would not say that aloud.
Shien merely said this.
"It may sound like something I have a duty to do, but Your Majesty, I believe you have misunderstood two things."
Shien spoke with great solemnity.
"What things?"
Now, even Anxi was curious to hear what Shien would say.
Shien calmly opened his mouth.
"First, I have no need to prove myself, because I did not do this to earn merit. I simply could not stand the Old Demon Faction—no, I simply could not allow the Old Demon Faction to run rampant. That was why I stepped forward without hesitation. It was not for merit, but for the stability of the kingdom, and to keep innocent people from suffering persecution at the hands of people like them."
Shien spoke with such righteousness that many people in the hall fell silent.
Barry had not expected Shien to say that either, and his expression darkened.
Because this did not fit his plan.
Originally, Barry had thought that, in order to prove himself and receive a title so he could become a noble, Shien would accept this request.
But the very premise of his thinking had been wrong.
Not everyone sought profit, nor did everyone wish to become a noble.
When one viewed everything through the lens of profit, one would inevitably judge matters