The party carried on well into the night, laughter echoing through the halls of the Blue Rose Magic Knight base.
The once formal atmosphere gave way to camaraderie and celebration, with stories growing wilder and toasts getting louder.
But as the hour grew late,
a messenger from the Wizard King's palace arrived,
requesting the urgent presence of all Magic Knight squad leaders for an immediate meeting.
With a reluctant sigh,
"____"
Sigh~
Charlotte stood up.
She cast one last glance at the feast before her eyes met Ben's across the room.
She gave a small nod, and he returned it with a reassuring smile.
Sol, still munching on a roast leg, jumped to her feet when she heard Charlotte was leaving and quickly followed her out,
not even bothering to argue this time—
though she did grumble about missing dessert.
Ben, however, decided to stay the night.
He made his way down a quieter corridor, away from the main hall's fading music and merriment.
The moment he reached his old room, a wave of memories washed over him.
The wooden door creaked open.
Everything was just as he had left.
The simple bed tucked against the wall, the old training robes hanging by the corner, a few scuff marks on the floor from late-night practice sessions with Marie and Anny.
His Omnitrix-themed grimoire stand still sat near the window, untouched but carefully dusted.
Ben let out a soft breath, stepping inside.
He lay down on the familiar bed, arms behind his head, staring at the wooden ceiling.
The quiet was a strange but comforting contrast to the constant buzz of royal duties.
Here, in this room, he wasn't a king. He was just Ben—
a Blue Rose magic knight, a friend, a brother-in-arms.
The distant sound of a lute being strummed drifted faintly through the walls, followed by a burst of laughter—
probably Peggy again.
Ben smiled.
"It's good to be back here,"
he whispered.
He closed his eyes, letting the warm hum of familiarity and fading music lull him into a peaceful sleep.
The next morning, the early sun poured in through the windows of Ben's old room, casting golden rays over the wooden floor and gently waking him from his sleep.
He sat up slowly, stretching with a yawn, feeling more rested than he had in weeks.
It was peaceful—
no council meetings, no urgent reports, no political tensions.
Just the calm air of the Blue Rose Magic Knight base, filled with faint morning chatter and the smell of fresh bread from the kitchens.
After getting ready,
Ben stepped out of his room in his usual calm, composed manner, only to bump into Marie and Anny,
who were already up and chattering near the training hall.
"Morning, you two,"
he said with a smile.
"Ben!"
Anny beamed.
"Sleep well?"
"Like a rock,"
he replied.
"Felt like old times."
They walked together for a bit, enjoying the light banter.
Then, just before they reached the courtyard, Ben turned to them more seriously.
"I wanted to say... anytime you two are free, feel free to visit the castle. You're always welcome. It's been a long time, and I'd really appreciate it."
Marie smiled warmly.
"Of course, Ben. We'd love to."
"Yeah, and don't think you're off the hook either,"
Anny added playfully.
"You better come visit us more often. Don't go hiding behind that fancy throne of yours!"
Ben chuckled.
Chuckle~
"Deal."
As he reached the broom rack where his guards were waiting, Ben turned one last time to look at the base—
the place that had been his second home.
He gave a nod to Marie and Anny, a silent promise that he'd be back.
Nod~
Then, mounting his broom, he took off toward the sky, heading back to the royal capital, with the wind behind him and the warmth of his memories pushing him forward.
High above the clouds, Ben soared on his broom, the cool breeze brushing against his face.
Behind him, a short distance away,
the royal guards who had been stationed near the Blue Rose Magic Knight base followed closely,
maintaining formation.
Their presence was silent yet sharp—
a constant reminder of the responsibility he carried as the King of the Clover Kingdom.
The capital came into view soon enough, the tall spires of the royal palace standing proud under the morning sky.
King's Palace...
As they neared the castle, Ben signalled the guards to return to their posts.
He landed smoothly on the courtyard stone, greeted by the ever-dutiful Henry, who gave a crisp bow.
"Welcome back, Your Majesty."
"Thanks, Henry,"
Ben said with a small smile, his tone already shifting to something more formal.
Without wasting time, Ben made his way through the castle halls and headed straight to his office.
As the doors opened, the sight that greeted him was... expected, yet no less frustrating.
Stacks of documents.
Letters.
Royal seals.
Unread reports from various villages and nobles.
A fresh pile of parchments marked urgent sat squarely on his desk.
Ben sighed, muttering under his breath,
"Who knew being king meant so much paperwork…"
He rolled up his sleeves, cracked his neck, and took his seat.
Just as Ben reached for the first stack of paperwork, something caught his eye—
a neatly folded envelope tucked beneath a pile of documents.
Its worn edges and simple handwriting stood out from the rest of the royal correspondence.
His eyes narrowed as he picked it up.
The seal was nothing official.
No noble crest.
No magic imprint.
Then he saw the familiar name on the back.
"From: Father Orsi, Hage Village"
Ben blinked, surprised.
"____"
His grip on the letter softened, and a faint smile tugged at the corner of his lips.
"Been a while…"
he murmured.
He carefully opened the envelope and pulled out the letter inside.
The handwriting was a little crooked, but unmistakably warm and genuine.
"Dear Ben,
I hope this letter finds you in good health. It's been a while since we last heard from you. The children at the church still talk about you. They boast to travellers, saying, 'Our big brother is the king now!'
We've been doing well. Sister Lily still complains about your old eating habits, by the way. The roof's holding up after that last storm, but I was hoping you could let me know how you've been. We may be far, away but you're always in our prayers.
Take care, and don't work too hard.
—Father Orsi"
Ben leaned back in his chair, the letter still in his hand.
A moment of silence passed as he stared out the nearby window, watching the sun rise over the capital.
A soft chuckle escaped him.
"Same old Father Orsi…"
He placed the letter to the side, neatly folded again, and made a mental note to send a response—
and maybe even visit Hage Village soon.
Before turning back to the never-ending stack of royal paperwork.
Ben dipped his quill into the inkpot, skimming over yet another dull document requesting tax adjustments for a minor noble estate.
His eyes were half-lidded—
this was the part of being king he didn't enjoy.
With a sigh, he signed the parchment and moved it aside.
Just as he reached for the next scroll—
[System Notification: Hidden Task Completed – "Liberator Lockdown"]
Ben's hand froze.
[You have successfully ensured the imprisonment of all core Liberator members within Clover Kingdom's maximum-security prison.]
[Reward: 250 Fame Points (FP) has been added to your total.]
A small smile flickered across his lips as he leaned back in his chair.
[You are getting noticed. Word of your actions is spreading through the kingdom—and beyond.]
Ben raised an eyebrow.
"A hidden task, huh? Guess the system's keeping an eye on things just as much as I am."
Even though he didn't directly take place in arresting the Liberators since he was involved in the battle thanks to the assassins attempt on him he had completed a hidden task.
[ Ding... ]
[ FP Bar: 367/500 ] --> [ New Alien: ??? ]
[ Ding... ]
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(Author's POV)
(A/N):Thanks for reading the chapter!
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