Chapter 40: Paths of power and influance

*King of Sapin Blaine POV*

In the opulent chambers of the king, draped in rich tapestries and lit by the soft glow of a hundred magical candles, king Blaine sat at his ornate desk, his brow furrowed in deep contemplation.

Standing beside him was his most trusted servant, Sir Richard, a man whose loyalty and resourcefulness had served the kingdom for decades.

"Sir Richard." The king began. "You know how long we have sought the fabled Blue Necklace, a treasure of immeasurable value and significance to our realm."

Sir Richard nodded gravely, "Indeed, Your Majesty. Generations of seekers have combed the kingdom, following tales and legends to find it."

The king leaned forward, his voice hushed with urgency. "And now, we have information that it has been found, in the hands of a most unexpected guardian, a ten-year-old girl named Lucy and a member of the most promising adventurer party, the one with Meliodas Leywin."

Sir Richard's eyes widened in surprise. "Lucy, Your Majesty? How did this come to be?"

The king sighed deeply. "It is a story shrouded in mystery, but we have a reliable source that she possesses the Blue Necklace, and we must uncover the truth." He meant the messenger he sent yesterday.

Sir Richard leaned in, his concern evident. "What do you propose, Your Majesty?"

The king tapped a parchment on his desk. "I've thought about it, I will first talk with Meliodas. We will question her and discover how she came into possession of the Blue Necklace, after this meeting gather all information about this girl."

Sir Richard nodded, his face determined. "We will proceed with the utmost caution, Your Majesty. If Lucy truly has the necklace, it could bring great prosperity to our kingdom, but we must tread carefully."

The king gazed out of the grand window, the moonlight casting a silvery glow on the kingdom below. "Indeed, Sir Richard. The Blue Necklace holds the key to great powers and our kingdom's future, and we shall do whatever it takes to protect it."

The king, his thoughts momentarily consumed by the matter of the Blue Necklace, turned his attention to another pressing concern by Richard's next words. "Your majesty..." He began.

"While we await Lucy's arrival and the truth about the necklace, there's another matter that has been weighing on my mind. Our young adventurer, who recently achieved AA rank – a position of considerable power and influence. I've been hearing rumors about his extraordinary abilities and his growing following among the people."

The king considered this for a moment. "You speak of the young prodigy, the one who's been making a name for himself with his remarkable feats and powers?"

Richard nodded. "Yes, that's the one. It is clear that his power is growing, and we must ensure that he remains loyal to the kingdom, that he doesn't become a threat."

The king replied to his loyal servant concerns. "Richard, I already prepared a plan for this, this is why I sent an invitation for him to come to the party..." The king catched his breath then continued.

"I will grant him a noble title and a territory of his own. By making him part of our aristocracy, he will be bound by our laws and expectations. This will keep his powers in check and allow us to monitor his activities more closely."

Richard regarded his king with Awe and respect. "A noble title and a territory? It could provide him with a sense of belonging and responsibility, and we can offer him guidance. It might just be the solution we need to ensure his loyalty and prevent any betrayal. Truly genius from you, hour majesty!"

Sir Richard continued. "Furthermore, by rewarding his achievements in this manner, we may inspire other young adventurers to strive for excellence and serve the kingdom with unwavering dedication."

The king's expression softened with agreement. "Very well, Sir Richard. Prepare the necessary documents and arrange for the territory we shall offer. We shall offer him a noble title and entrust him with this territory, binding him even closer to the heart of our kingdom."

In this manner, the king and his loyal servant began to shape a strategy to secure not only the loyalty of the young prodigy Meliodas, but also the future stability and prosperity of their realm.

*Meliodas POV*

The party at the castle was a week after the messenger came to me, but you know the song, time goes by like a flash.

The day quickly arrived for me to go with my friends there, Arthur was invited to go there too as Note, but he refused due to the problems he had with the king.

Im now with Ash and Lucy at home waiting for the carriage to arrive. I am currently dressed in a crisp black suit with a white shirt and a neatly tied black bowtie.

Ash is adorned in stylish and luxurious attire, wearing a finely tailored tuxedo made of deep navy blue fabric, with a satin sheen. His ensemble is completed with a silk pocket square and polished leather shoes.

As for Lucy, she wears a beautiful floor-length gown made of soft lavender silk. The gown is adorned with delicate lace and intricate embroidery. Her hair is elegantly styled with a tiara that glistens in the candlelight, and she wears dainty ballet flats to ensure comfort.

We were at our max for this event. "You guys look so cool!" I expressed.

"Thanks bro, it's all thanks to you Meliodas. With the team money, we are able to buys clothes like these." Ash smiled at me.

"I really love my dress hehe. But even you look really handsome Meliodas!" She said with a big smile.

"Well it is my mom who actually helped me choose these clothes, I not really the best when it come to style and fashion." I replied.

"Fufu~ If that is the case then next time I'll be the one dressing you up, when it comes to style you can count on me!" Ash pointed his thumb on himself, his tooth shining like in an ad.

"Where are your Draids Ash?" I turned into a mini chibi version of myself with an indeffirent look on my face as I said that.

The once proud and flexing smile on Ash quickly darkened and crumbled hearing my words. "NOOOO! YOU FUCKING BASTARD...!" He held his head in frustration.

"Why would you remind of that! Now I had to do a buzz cut bacause of that freaking minotor!" His expression was really funny and I couldn't help but laugh at him with Lucy.

After a while, the sound of hoofbeats echoed through the cobblestone streets as a magnificent royal carriage drawn by four majestic white horses came to a halt in front of my house. It was adorned with gilded ornaments, and the crest of the king glittered in the fading light.

Waiting outside the house, the coachman shouted. "I have came to take The brave adventurer Meliodas Leywin and his party memebers to the party of the king!"

My two friends, Lucy, Ash and I had become renowned young adventurers. Our successive successful quests and achievements had earned us an invitation to a grand party at the king's castle, a celebration for nobles from all across the kingdom.

Lucy, Ash, and I stood on the doorstep, our eyes wide with excitement. The coachman, resplendent in his royal livery, opened the carriage door with a bow and welcomed us inside. "His majesty awaits." He said, his voice filled with a sense of honor.

As the carriage began to roll forward, the other two couldnt help but feel a rush of exhilaration. The interior was plush and lavishly decorated, with velvet seats and ornate chandeliers casting a warm glow. The two exchanged excited glances with. "Can you believe we're going to the king's castle?" Ash exclaimed.

Lucy, with her inquisitive nature, leaned over and looked out of the window. "I wonder what the castle looks like from the inside. I've heard stories of its grandeur."

Ash, always the adventurous and excited spirit, added. "I hope there will be knights and jesters and all sorts of fascinating people at the party."

"Guys dont let your expectation go high, the king isn't someone worthy of my respect. I dont know about you but i feel like he is plotting something and I don't like this."

"W-well, of you say this then it must be true." Lucy said.

We chatted and giggled, our voices filled with the infectious enthusiasm of children about to embark on a grand adventure. The carriage continued its journey through the town, the magic lamps flickering to life as night descended, creating a magical ambiance.

As we neared the castle, I couldn't help but wonder about the grandeur and splendor that awaited us, it was even bigger than the castle where Tess and Eli live.

Little did we know that this night would be the beginning of an unforgettable chapter in our lives, one filled with excitement, intrigue, the promise of even greater adventures and... Problems...

TO BE CONTINUED --->

--NOTE--

Sup guys! You can read all the advanced chapters as well as lemon and spicy +18 content on:

p a t r e o n .com/Nouflex_Naoufal

Support me to have access to many advanced chapters for very affordable prices, I would really appreciate it, even if it isn't much it would still mean the world to me!

You can also find and read the next chapter '40' for free on my p@tre0n page, find me by typing: 'Nouflex_Naoufal'