"—The Duke and Duchess has arrived!"
Lantern light spilled inward, banners shifting as a man in his forties with blond hair and a composed warm smile entered the hall and walked onto the dais. It was the Duke of Jian: Reynard von Jian!
Walking beside him was the Duchess of Jian. She looked equally composed, and had a nice warm smile on her face. When they reached the dais, they turned around. Then the Duke raised his arm as to hint on silence and address everyone.
"Thank you all for attending," Duke Reynard started. "Today's gathering is not only to celebrate the liberation of the City of Salience from the Demon Lord's grasp…"
He paused.
"…but also to honor another one of us. A young man who had risked his life to defeat that Demon Lord who had possessed my younger brother."
The hall fell silent.
"Thanks to him, my brother was freed, and the countless lives lost to the Demon Lord were avenged."
He turned slightly, his gaze remaining on Ard.
"Baron, Lord Ard De Salience."
