Laddie led the two men over to Quirk, who had been petrified, and formally introduced both sides. "Your Majesty, this is the captain of the Southern, Captain Quirk. Captain, this is His Majesty the Grand Duke of the Eton Duchy."
She finished speaking and tugged on Quirk's sleeve.
Captain Quirk jolted back to his senses. Like a wind-up mechanical toy, he stiffly dropped to one knee, recalling the scenes of foreign envoys paying their respects to kings in the third-rate plays he had seen, and awkwardly performed a salute.
"Your Majesty, please forgive my rudeness... I represent Earl Greiman of the Auldo Kingdom in extending our respects to you."
"No need for formalities, no need. You are all my heroes."
The Eton Grand Duke personally helped him to his feet.
"You braved the dangers and ventured deep into the wolf pack to save my wife and sister-in-law. On behalf of the Eton Royal Family, I extend my respects to you."
The Grand Duke thanked them warmly, mixing in some noble speech patterns Quirk could not understand at all. Quirk merely responded with repeated "Yes, yes," terrified that he might say something wrong.
Damn it, Lord Greiman, what am I supposed to do now???? "Please also convey my respects to Earl Greiman. Arda has already won the friendship of the Eton Duchy. If he or his envoys ever come to Horn Bay in the future, the Eton Duchy will certainly receive them warmly."
"Yes, yes, Grand Duke Your Majesty. I will convey your words truthfully."
"Then, please accept our gift of thanks."
The Grand Duke clapped his hands, and two attendants carried a wooden chest over and placed it in front of Quirk.
When the wooden chest was opened, everyone around them cried out in surprise.
It gleamed with golden light.