Eugene met with Lord Bemos, who had been waiting near the entrance of the dungeon in advance.

“Sir Palo. Your Majesty. It’s good to see both of you.” Lord Bemos gave a light bow to Baron Palo before turning to Eugene and bowing deeply. It was the utmost courtesy he could show to someone who had come to rescue his territory from an unprecedented crisis.

“I’m Jan Eugene Batla. By the way, you seem to have quite a few guards,” Eugene commented.

“It couldn’t be helped with the current situation. I have nothing to say,” Lord Bemos responded. He had three knights and about seventy soldiers guarding him. The situation was so bad that the lord had to use almost all his forces just to travel only half a day’s distance from his castle.

“…” Lord Bemos took on a stiff expression and closed his mouth. He felt quite uneasy after finally coming to see Eugene in person. The rumor was true, and the King of Maren was truly much too young and beautiful. All the outstanding knights he had encountered up until now had been manly and rugged. And Lord Bemos thought that true knights would have rough, strong appearances at first glance.

However…

‘Even if he is a member of the Dark Clan… Isn’t he basically just a pretty-looking boy?’

In fact, the knights standing behind the nobles representing the different countries, including the prince of the Roman Empire, looked to be stronger and more trustworthy...