After the Ceremony

After the ceremony had come to a closed, the air was filled with the sound of nobles greetings one another.

The atmosphere was a charged with a sense of excitement and anticipation as everyone made their way to the exit.

They exchange pleasantries and compliments each other child for receiving the goddess blessings including the commoners who doesn't know what to do in this kind of conversation.

There were also talks of business and trade deals towards each other, as many of them saw this as an opportunity to network and form valuable connections.

The Geayforth Kingdom is exactly this kind of nation. Even if you used to be a commoner, once you receive the goddess' blessing, everyone will treat you with respect.

The people that receives the most compliment in the middle of it are the triplets, who wears different kind of expression on their face.

Lance thanked them with high energy even though it's obvious from his face that he wants to get the hell of it.

Leisha thanked them with an ecstatic and deadshot look on her face.

The hell with that face?! She's probably thinking how to torture someone with her ability!!!

A creeped out Voltaire who is now on his mother's embrace guess as he saw her older sister face.

Luke was the last, and for some reason he gave them a dignified and gracious welcome.

What's with that Daddy's Boy today? He is not acting like his usual annoying self although I feel like there's something bothering him.

After these troublesome greetings and salutations Voltaire and his family finally reached the outside of the temple.

Thank goodness, we're done with that shit called meet and greet with your troublesome nobles.

Voltaire said, but what he witness outside the temple are the civilians who wait for hours for them.

All of them filled the area with anticipation and excitement probably waiting for the king to reveal how successful the ceremony this time is.

Oh, good. Another annoying bunch.

Voltaire directed his eyes towards his father to guess what he's thinking, after seeing his father is looking all seriously, 'Guess he needs to act like a king this time and assured the people.'

Benedict steps forward and stand firm.

Upon seeing their king, people stopped at their tracks, became quiet, and focus all their attention to him.

"He looks dignified when he does this." Mathilda said in a low voice no one can be heard and chuckled.

Except for Voltaire, who heard this clearly, 'Yeah, I agree. But what kind of reaction is that? It's the first time I saw mother looks like a teenager in love'

"The ceremony for this year were successful." Benedict said in a refined voice that surrounds the whole place.

This leads to Voltaire to change his attention to him too.

"My fellow citizens of the Kingdom of Geayforth, I stand before you today with a message of hope and unity. From my own children to the nobles and commoners standing beside me, each of them received the goddess blessings and will assure you that our future will prosper and that the Kingdom of Geayforth will always stand as a ray of strength and hope in an uncertain world!" Benedict shouted with compassion.

'That's it? Is he trying to hyped up the crowd? I doubt people who have brain wouldn't been a little bit excited about that.'

The next moment, all the people, contrary to Voltaire's assumption, shouted in unison. The short speech indeed assured them that the Kingdom they're living in will continue to be safe.

"Long live the royal family! Long live the kingdom" Everyone's reply to their king.

Oh, well. I guess I was wrong.

The roar that echoed across the place marked the beginning of a joyous celebration.

The people of Geayforth could feel a sense of unity and pride that was palpable as the night sky was lit up with brilliant fireworks and the stars above sparkled in delight.

The community's strength and fortitude, as well as the tenacious spirit that had seen them through even the worst of times, were recalled to them during this time of celebration.

They were dancing, laughing, and having a good time because they knew their kingdom would survive and flourish for many years to come.

The royal family spent the time to celebrate too but left early as Mathilda notices her children are tired (except for Lance) and done for today.

'Are we really going home, now? No one's gonna stop us and delay our homecoming again, right?' A thought comes to a weary Voltaire's mind.

He forces himself to be awake for the whole day just for the sake of the ceremony and now his body is starting to feel exhausted.

'I want to experiment about my mana but at this point, I'd rather spent the rest of the night asleep on my comfortable crib.'

Thankfully, no one interrupted them on their way home, and they returned to the castle without difficulty, although Voltaire had already fallen asleep during the trip.

As they returned to the castle, the weary bunch were greeted by the warm smile of their maid, who had been eagerly anticipating their arrival. With a gentle bow, they welcomed them back to their home.

***

After dinner, inside of the royal couple chamber.

All of the members of their family are there sitting on the huge bed except Voltaire who is sleeping soundly in his own room.

Mathilda and Benedict were simply having their time with the triplets in celebration to their successful participation for today.

"Luke? What's wrong?" A worried Mathilda asked upon seeing her son looks discontent since the ceremony.

Luke bit his lips, clenched his fist tightly, avoid his mother's gaze, and kept quiet.

"Come on, you can tell us what's bothering you." Benedict added.

"Dad? Why am I have to be a ranger?!" Luke burst out with tear dripping in his eyes, "I want to be a swordsman like you! Also, I understand Lance, but what about Leisha becoming a swordman when she's a female?!"

"I-is that so?" A hesitant reply from Benedict.

He looks at his wife's direction in desperation to which she responded with a sighed.

"What's wrong with being a ranger?" Mathilda asked, "I'm a ranger too, you know?"

"I read in a book that rangers are mana user specifically for girls. Since the goddess is widely known as a woman herself, some scholar throughout the world theorized that she wants women to be useful in a war against the monsters while also keeping them safe. That's why the rangers came to be who fight in the distance," Luke said clarifying his reason as to why he's not gullible about being a ranger.

"But that is just a THEORY." Benedict said firmly.

"Then please explain to me why no man became a ranger throughout history?!" Luke yelped and started to cry again.

"Oh, I see, you're already aware of that."

"What?! So Luke is like a girl?! Hahahaha!" A dense person joined in and got hit in the head by Luke.

"Then, were the swordsmen typically men?" Leisha asked to which Mathilda responded.

"Yes. All men recorded in the history became a swordman and all female became a ranger. As for the support, it would not matter as both gender can become one."

"So, both Leisha and Luke are bizarre?" Lance teased covering his mouth trying not to laugh.

"Yeah, it's kinda weird that these things happen."

Upon hearing it, Mathilda pinched her husband and whisper, "Don't call your kids 'weird' or you might shattered their confidence."

"It's okay, mom. I understand where dad is coming from, but still, it's frustrating that I became a ranger."

"If they're really that weird like dad said, how come no one pointed that out in the ceremony earlier?" Lance asked.

"Because they couldn't. We're a royalty, and doubting us means they're doubting the kingdom." Leisha proudly stated.

"Ohhh." a stupefied reply from Lance.

While the two were talking, the annoyance on Luke's face is still clear as the night sky.

Mathilda returned the gaze at her husband's eyes as if she was telling something. Benedict somehow understand it's meaning.

'Luke likes you than me so explain it to him.'

Is what Benedict guessed from his wife's gazing look.

"Isn't that fine to be a ranger? It means you and Leisha just created history." Benedict said in a pumped up voice.

"No it's not. I don't want to be called a girl."

"For me it's fine," Leisha move to the part of the bed close to her mother and yawned, "Anyway, I'm going to sleep now."

"Lance, it's your fault your older brother came to a conclusion people might think that way about him."

"I'm gonna sleep too." The joyous Lance said in avoidance to his dad piercing stare.

"Don't go around blaming someone." Mathilda said in a cold voice resonating the room.

"I-i'm not..."

The royal family spent their night together like that, especially the couples who had a hard time comforting their eldest son.