"Your Majesty, we present to you the summoned hero."
The king's eyes settled on Noah, and his face lit up with relief and joy. He stood, arms outstretched as if welcoming a long lost son. "At last, the hero has arrived! A Dragon at that! Praise the gods!"
Noah frowned, wondering how the king had known he was a dragon.
"I am King Cillian, hero! And with your strength, we shall cast the darkness from our lands!"
Noah didn't move from where he stood. Instead, he placed his hands in his pockets, grinning up at the king.
"Yeah, about that." He stared at the king with a grin, not wanting to miss the king's expression at the news he was about to deliver. "I'm not fighting your war for you."
King Cillian blinked, his smile flickering like a light bulb. "What?"
"You summoned the wrong guy." Noah said.
He knew he held most of the power here. They needed him to take care of their demon problem, but he didn't need them. If push came to shove, he would nullify their powers, and retreat.
When his powers had fully bloomed, he would return. And they would regret it.
"I don't know what you were expecting, but I'm not here to play the hero." He grinned. "I'm just here to have fun."
Murmurs spread throughout the court. The gathered nobles and attendants exchanged confused glances, some whispering among themselves.
The knights beside Noah shifted uncomfortably, as if unsure whether to draw their weapons or step away.
One of the nobles, a man with graying hair and a fur trimmed cloak, leaned toward another and muttered, "Unbelievable," like he'd expected this outcome.
King Cillian took a moment to regain his composure, then gestured for silence.
"Surely you must understand your duty, hero." He said, locking eyes with Noah. "You were summoned here for a reason. The demons take the lives of our people. Without you, our people will suffer."
"Yeah, that's rough." Noah said, shrugging. "But it's not my problem. Why should I make it mine? After all, the so-called demons have done me no wrong."
King Cillian narrowed his eyes, the gears turning in his head.
"Alright."
He leaned back in his throne, staring down at Noah.
"If not for honor, then surely for reward. Tell me, hero, what is it that you desire? Gold? Jewels? I will grant you wealth beyond your wildest dreams."
Noah chuckled, shaking his head. "Nah, I'm good. I don't need to work for wealth when I can just take it. And I doubt you have the wealth present in my wildest dreams."
'The balls on this king. Trying to buy a billionaire with money.'
King Cillian frowned, clearly not expecting that answer. "Then power? Land? I can make you a lord. You would have servants, estates, influence over my kingdom."
"Pass."
The murmurs in the court grew louder. Noah could feel everyone in attendance staring at him, as if they couldn't understand why he was rejecting such offers.
King Cillian, for his part, looked frustrated but still confident. After a moment's thought, he clapped his hands.
The side doors of the throne room opened, and from them stepped a young woman, draped in an elegant white gown.
She had golden hair that shimmered in the light, soft blue eyes, and a graceful air about her. Every step she took made her look like she was walking on water.
Royalty in every sense of the word.
The murmurs among the courtiers turned to gasps. Some even looked at Noah with envy.
"This," King Cillian said, gesturing toward the woman, "is my daughter, Princess Ines. She is the jewel of Camelot, and desired by many. If you agree to aid us, she shall be yours."
Noah looked at Ines, then back at King Cillian. "Not interested."
The entire throne room fell into stunned silence.
Princess Ines herself seemed taken aback, as if she had never been refused before.
A noble off to the side nearly choked on his own breath. Even the knights standing beside Noah seemed to stiffen in shock.
King Cillian frowned down at Noah. "You would refuse my daughter?"
Noah shrugged. "I'm sure she's a great person, but I'm not interested in being bribed into a fight I don't care about with a woman. That's for chumps, not for dragons."
The princess remained composed, but there was a flicker of something behind her eyes.
Amusement? Interest? It was hard to tell, but she didn't seem insulted. Instead, she studied him quietly.
King Cillian sank back into his throne, exhaling slowly as he rubbed his temples. It was clear that he had exhausted every option he had thought would work.
After a long pause, he finally spoke. "Then, what do you want?"
Noah fought to suppress the widening of his grin, but it was a lost cause. Such an open ended question.
"Anything?" He asked.
"Anything." King Cillian answered.
Noah tilted his head, staring at the king. What could he ask for that would send chaos into the kingdom. That would make things so exciting, he would never be bored?
"What if I want your throne?" Noah finally spoke.
Stunned silence filled the room.
The king's eyes widened, before he controlled himself. His expression grew cold as he stared at Noah, processing his words.
Around them, the murmurs of the nobles were a dull roar. Everyone was shocked at the audacity of the hero, but both Noah and the king could tell. Some of them were seriously considering it.
King Cillian finally raised his hands for silence. After a few seconds, the murmurs of the nobles were reduced to a pin drop silence. And just when he was about to speak, Noah chuckled loudly.
"I'm kidding, I'm kidding." He grinned at King Cillian. "Why would I want the throne when it'll be more boring than exciting?"
Stunned silence. Again.
"I see." King Cillian forced a smile onto his face. "Just a joke."
"Of course." Noah grinned. "Just a joke."
But they both knew it was not just a joke. Noah had made a request that would give any rebel in the kingdom an excuse to organize a revolution. An excuse that disgruntled or opportunistic nobles could use to overthrow their king.
Why put up with an old king, when the hero could take the throne, wipe out the demons for them and rule justly with that same strength?
'Your move, king.' Noah smiled at Cillian, his eyes glittering with excitement. 'What hand would you play?'