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The castle was bustling with activity due to an upcoming event. Despite the women\'s glances toward Adam and the men\'s looks toward Amarantha and Elyra, no one yet knew about them. However, the court servants or officials could sense their importance from their aura. With the main butler accompanying them, usually reserved for dukes, no one dared to hold their gaze for more than ten seconds.

Some women had been staring at Adam for ten minutes already and only stopped when his figure disappeared into the castle corridors. "Oh God, what a handsome man..." sighed one of the maids, murmuring with a sweet and infatuated voice. She looked about nineteen, and her cheeks were blushing deeply.

Although the surrounding women remained silent, they were deeply impressed by his beauty. At the same time, Adam received more than twenty notifications of admiration. Eventually, all the notifications merged into one.

[Thanks to the user\'s actions, the "Casanova" class received 50 experience points.]

Adam glanced at the notification screen from the corner of his eye and rolled his eyes, deciding not to comment on it. Twenty minutes later, accompanied by the butler, whose name was surprisingly not "Sebastian" or "Sebas" but Louis they arrived at a massive door flanked by fully-armored guards.

"Lord Adam, forgive me, but Madam Catherine and Madam Elyra cannot accompany you," the butler bowed ninety degrees and apologized. "I will ensure they are escorted to the guest chamber, and after the audience, you can meet them."

Hearing the butler\'s words, Adam waved his hand in agreement. Smiling at his wives, Adam nodded to the two guards who saluted him by striking the spear on the ground (with the bottom end), a traditional greeting: "May the Goddess of Light bless you!"

This was the customary exchange between believers, and Adam responded warmly while maintaining a dignified expression: "And may her sacred light illuminate us!"

This was a classic response similar to "Christ is risen!" and the reply "Indeed He is Risen!"

Affirming the exchange, the two guards turned to the left, and with a soldier\'s stride, they struck the ground with the lower end of their spears and turned to face the door. They each placed a hand on the relatively large doorknob (there were two) and pulled it towards themselves, stepping back with each pull.

The doors swung open, and the guards vanished behind them. The loud creak of the massive door caught the attention of officials and high-ranking courtiers, making them turn their heads toward the entrance where Adam stood, gazing forward with a penetrating look.

"Good luck to you, Sir Adam," the butler whispered and before Adam could respond, the man disappeared into the castle\'s corridors.

Adam smirked at the butler\'s behavior, adjusted his bowtie and hair, took the first step, and stepped across the threshold. In the hall, quiet sounds of footsteps echoed on the smooth marble floor, with a red carpet laid down on the throne.

On both sides, courtiers and officials stood, their scrutinizing gazes causing Adam some nervousness, which he concealed carefully. Nevertheless, despite the pressure, he continued to move forward until he halted about five meters from the throne situated on a raised platform.

Keeping his mind calm and thoughts collected, Adam elegantly bent his knee, placing his hand over his heart and bowing his head so that his eyes looked at the floor. Avalonian etiquette dictated not to gaze at royal family members without permission.

Returning to the topic of his elegance, some perfectionists found fault with his posture and fluidity of movements. He mentally rolled his eyes at their scrutiny. However, the disapproval of a few couldn\'t change the overall picture, especially with the condemning looks of other officials and courtiers silencing the "perfectionists."

A knock resounded, and though Adam couldn\'t see it, he sensed a strong aura in front of him. The person was within arm\'s reach, judging from the sounds and clinking of armor – a knight. First, the knight placed both hands on Adam\'s shoulders, then patted them.

"Her Majesty, Elizabeth De Lilya Avalonia, commands you, Sir Adam, to raise your head."

With this announcement, the knight\'s hands left Adam\'s shoulders as he retreated to his place – the first step of the throne. Adam mentally noted the knight\'s youthful voice but refrained from reacting much, raising his head smoothly. However, he avoided looking directly at Elizabeth\'s eyes.

"These etiquettes and protocols get on my nerves," Adam thought, already growing tired of the numerous rules he had to follow in public. Yet, he knew that in the future, even stricter etiquette would be required for him to occupy a higher position, which made him push aside his annoyance.

Lifting his head gracefully, Adam\'s gaze was level with Elizabeth\'s chin, and he marveled at how her attire concealed her bust and figure. He thought, "The Queen truly cares about her subjects."

Ignoring his thoughts and not attempting to discern them, Elizabeth rested her right hand on the throne\'s armrest and scrutinized his face. Then, she raised her left hand, prompting all officials and courtiers to kneel.

"Long live Her Majesty, the Holy Avalonia!"

Again, it was customary for her servants to greet her with their left hands – part of the etiquette. Amarantha had taught him this, spending hours drilling all the necessary information into him to appear a refined and elegant young man.

Though as a demon, Adam considered himself above humans, he wouldn\'t mix pride with duty. A minute of silence followed punctually, and the officials stood only when the gentle female hand returned to the armrest.

Adam squinted imperceptibly from irritation as the music started playing, a trumpet playing the anthem of Avalonia.

"Long live the kingdom held in the hands of the Great Saint."

"May the kingdom prosper as the stronghold of humanity."

"May the people rejoice as the sun lights our path…"

Rolling his eyes, Adam noticed how this propaganda was fed to him, quite meticulously, to make sure it settled in his mind. Despite his urge to click his tongue in annoyance, Adam maintained an excited demeanor, as if he was ready to don Avalonian court attire, dance their national dance akin to a galliard, and perhaps pair up with a beautiful widowed noblewoman.

The part about the widow was his genuine desire.

Either way, the music ended when the young boys finished singing the anthem, and with a proud demeanor, they received applause from courtiers and officials, some of whom looked like they might burst into tears. Adam too got swept up in the atmosphere, feigning enjoyment even though Elizabeth\'s piercing and cold gaze indicated her skepticism.

Nevertheless, after much anticipation – about half an hour – it was finally time to commence the official ceremony. Raising her right hand, the one traditionally referred to as the "ruler\'s hand," Elizabeth silenced everyone and restored order. Then, after briefly scanning the faces of courtiers and officials, she looked at Adam, who seemed bored, his eyes narrowed. She began her speech.

"On this sacred day, August 12th, the date when our sacred kingdom celebrated victory over demons and cleansed the lands tainted by their activities... I, the third ruler of Avalonia, Elizabeth De Lilya Avalonia, declare..." Her gaze narrowed even further, and devoid of emotion, she continued, "...to welcome Adam, the mayor of the city of Sedyon, as our new fellow citizen and advisor to the Queen."

Applause erupted, and Adam lowered his head, waiting for Elizabeth\'s next words. She continued her speech without lowering her right hand. The courtiers and officials, noticing the slightest movement of Her Majesty\'s lips, fell silent and stopped clapping.

"Adam will open a world of future and development for us, and his advice will strengthen our kingdom. In this world, Avalonia is humanity\'s last stronghold, and we must defend the honor of our people." Elizabeth looked at Adam and stood. A scepter appeared in her right hand, and with a wave, she concluded the audience with the words, "By the authority of the Queen of Avalonia, I, Elizabeth De Lilya Avalonia, announce the incorporation of the city of Sedyon and its surrounding lands into Avalonia. I also bestow upon Adam, now Sir Adam, the title of Advisor!"

"Praise the Queen!"

"Eternal life to the Queen! Eternal life to Avalonia!"

"Holy Avalonia! Eternal life!"

Courtiers and officials erupted in applause, greeting Adam with approving smiles, smiling even without eyes. However, despite the initial positive impression, most of them still harbored little respect for the new advisor.

Would this lack of respect persist? Who knew?

Adam, flashing his eyes, bowed and loudly thanked Elizabeth, reciting his speech and pledging loyalty amidst the enthusiastic ovation.

***

Adam was given an hour to catch his breath and rest in the guest room before he had to attend the banquet in his honor with his wives.

Entering the guest room and locking the door, Adam slumped onto the couch, tiredly embracing his wives around their waists. 

"A-a-ah... I\'m so tired," he sighed, closing his eyes and taking in the relaxing scent of his wives\' perfumes. "Damn it. Those bastards looked at me like prey, and I barely managed to escape. If it weren\'t for the fact that we were in the audience hall, those hyenas would\'ve devoured me."

To be continued...