Read Novel Full Chapter 232: Helping Augus
Chapter 232: Helping Augus
"Augus, stay here. The rest of you may leave," Richard said as he waved his hand.
The knights and officials left the palace hall, clearly showing envy toward Augus for being allowed to remain.
Augus was naturally confused, unsure why Richard had asked him to stay.
However, he hesitated to speak first. Right now, he was even unsure how to address Richard.
Calling him Your Majesty felt awkward, yet he was also worried about calling him by his name directly.
"Augus, I’m in a good mood right now, and last night, you did something good for me. Tell me—what do you want as your reward?" Richard said as Augus awaited his words.
Hearing that, Augus’s eyes widened and sparkled.
"Are you serious, Richard?" he blurted out instinctively, then immediately covered his mouth, realizing his mistake in calling Richard by name.
Fortunately, there was no one else left in the hall.
"You don’t need to be formal with me. Just keep calling me by my name," Richard said, knowing exactly what Augus was thinking.
Augus was slightly surprised, then showed a deeply moved expression.
So Richard still regarded him as a friend.
In truth, this was also because Richard needed someone who was personally close to him; otherwise, his life would become too lonely if no one remained truly familiar with him.
"Ahem! Ahem!" Augus cleared his throat twice.
"Richard, will you really give me whatever I want?" he asked.
"Yeah..." Richard replied casually.
"Tell me what you want."
"I want to marry Emma," Augus answered.
Upon hearing that, Richard rolled his eyes.
"You only want a woman? I could give you something far more valuable," he said.
"I find it hard to live peacefully if I can’t marry Emma. If I don’t marry her, this will keep weighing on my mind," Augus replied.
"You like her that much?" Richard was surprised and puzzled, not expecting Augus to have such an obsession with her.
He had thought it was just a simple crush, not something prioritized above all else—especially in front of an opportunity like this—yet Augus chose her.
"Yes, I like her that much..." Augus nodded.
"Hmph, you’re probably just curious because you’ve never slept with her," Richard said cynically.
Augus became awkward and seemed unable to refute that.
"Maybe that really is my life goal," he said with an embarrassed expression. "But as I said, if I haven’t done it, I can’t feel at ease."
"Well!" Richard tapped the armrest of the throne with his fingers.
He wondered whether he could help Augus with this matter. After all, marriage was a personal affair, and usually only one’s family could arrange such things.
Richard certainly did not want to force Emma, as that would damage his own reputation.
He wasn’t sure whether the woman would agree if he merely asked or suggested it.
"Maybe this offer needs to be accompanied by a gift," he thought.
Pa! Pa!
He clapped his hands to summon the head butler, who had previously gone to the back.
The head butler arrived quickly, ready to receive his orders.
"Head butler, please call back Vice Commander Emma," Richard instructed.
The head butler nodded and left immediately without asking anything.
"Augus, I will only ask Emma to marry you and offer her a gift she desires if she agrees. However, I will not force her. If she still refuses, then there will be no reward for you," Richard said to Augus.
Naturally, he did not want the trouble of changing the reward if this failed.
Augus swallowed hard upon hearing that. Even so, he nodded—this was what he wanted most.
Emma had not gone far. She returned with the head butler shortly after, looking confused as to why she had been summoned again.
When she saw Augus, she frowned briefly, as if harboring some suspicion.
Augus looked awkward and chose to pretend to look elsewhere.
Emma walked toward Richard and stopped about three meters in front of the throne, while the head butler returned to the back of the palace.
"Greetings, Your Majesty!" Emma behaved properly and greeted Richard respectfully.
Richard had to admit this was a little difficult to say.
"Emma..." Richard began by calling her name, and Emma immediately looked into his eyes in response.
"Augus has been pursuing you for a long time, yet you have not accepted him. I want to know—do you truly have no interest in him at all?" Richard asked.
When this was said, Emma did not look surprised.
Augus, on the other hand, became even more awkward.
He looked as though he wanted to hide somewhere.
"Your Majesty, I only wish to focus on my career as a knight. I am not thinking about living a romantic life before achieving my goals," Emma replied.
She did not tell him whether she had feelings for Augus or not.
Perhaps, in her eyes, this was a matter of privacy she could not share with anyone.
Augus could not help glancing at Emma upon hearing this.
Richard, of course, did not force Emma to reveal her feelings.
The two of them could be said to be on the same level in terms of talent.
And Augus, at the very least, had an attractive appearance.
He was not far inferior to Richard. Even in the capital, it was not easy to find a man as handsome as him.
As long as Emma was normal, Richard felt it was impossible for her to have no physical attraction to Augus at all.
Moreover, they had remained friends until now.
Women usually do not remain friends with men they have absolutely no interest in.
The only time Emma seemed displeased was when Augus invited her to meet with romantic intentions.
Perhaps Emma did not completely reject Augus—she simply felt that the timing was not right yet.
On the other hand, Augus was already extremely impatient.
"Emma, you don’t need to worry. I won’t force you to do anything you don’t want," Richard said.
"However, I suggest that you marry Augus. That way, your children will certainly become talented knights—perhaps even more so."
Richard did not forget to mention another reason why they should marry.
"And I have promised to help Augus marry you. But I already told him that I will not force you. This must be decided by you alone. Still, if you follow my suggestion, I will give you the chance to ask anything of me—whatever it is. A high position, noble status, or a High-Tier Sky Armor from the kingdom. No, actually, I will give you all three."
His words shocked Emma somewhat. She had not expected Richard to merely suggest it—he was even willing to offer rewards if she followed his advice.
This meant that Richard truly wanted her to marry Augus.
With such an offer, even if it was not what Emma desired, she still felt awkward refusing.
Refusing would be tantamount to disregarding the goodwill of her own king.
She appeared to think deeply, and this time, Augus began staring at her intently.
If she still refused, Augus knew it would be difficult for him to approach Emma again.
Now, all he could do was hope that Emma would not dare refuse Richard’s suggestion—or better yet, that she would be tempted by the rewards.
For people at their level, such things were indeed extremely tempting: noble status, a high position, and a High-Tier Sky Armor. If they wanted to obtain all of that through their own efforts, a long road lay ahead.
"Your Majesty, very well—but you must give me all of that first. After that, I will marry Augus," Emma replied suddenly, almost making Augus jump in place.
Richard himself was extremely surprised by her answer.
She had agreed immediately, contrary to Richard’s expectation that Emma would at least ask for time to think.
Richard stared into Emma’s eyes with curiosity, but this woman was somewhat similar to Grace in terms of personality, making it difficult for him to read her thoughts.
Of course, since she had agreed, there was no need to complicate matters.
Pa! Pa!
He clapped his hands again, summoning the head butler once more.
The latter appeared again, this time standing beside Richard.
Richard gestured toward Emma and said, "Help me arrange the bestowal of the noble title of Count to Vice Commander Emma. Also give her a high-ranking position—she may choose which department she wants, whether it’s remaining in the Sky Armor Legion or another department. And give her a High-Tier Sky Armor from the royal vault."
Richard said all of this in a single breath.
It even surprised the head butler, who previously had shown no reaction to his orders.
Naturally, it was extremely rare for someone to receive so many things at once.
All of it was even being given to someone so young.
If this news spread, it would surely cause an uproar in the Holy Star Kingdom.
It took a few moments before the head butler nodded.
"Very well. I will take care of everything, but I will need your decree," he said.
"Of course!" Richard took out a piece of paper and began writing a decree, complete with his signature, which was even imbued with his aura so that anyone could tell it was genuine.
"If anyone disagrees, tell them that I challenge them to a fight," Richard said as he handed the decree to the head butler.