The return to Oakhaven was nothing short of a victory parade. News had traveled fast through the Guild’s communication crystals: the Azure Aegis hadn't just rescued the expedition; they had dismantled the threats of Floor 27 with surgical precision.
The city gates swung wide, and the bells of the Great Cathedral rang out. But while the Royal Knights celebrated their survival, Clara and Seraphina walked with the same quiet, disciplined gait they had maintained since their recovery. They weren't looking for the spotlight.
The Throne Room
The duo stood before King Alaric the Elder. The throne room was a sea of gold filigree and crimson banners. The King sat upon his high seat, his eyes misty as he looked at his son, who stood safely to the side, his gaze still fixed on Seraphina.
"Seraphina Thorne. Clara Green," the King began, his voice echoing with gravity. "You have returned the crown’s future to us. A feat of such bravery deserves more than words. I have prepared a decree."
He gestured to a chamberlain, who stepped forward with a velvet cushion. Upon it sat a heavy chest overflowing with 5 million gold in royal ingots, alongside two shimmering Gold-Trimmed Capes—the mark of Nobility.
"I offer you titles of Baroness, estates in the southern valleys, and wealth enough to never step foot in the Spire again," the King declared. "You have earned your rest."
The Refusal
The room went silent, waiting for the girls to kneel in gratitude. 5 million gold was enough to buy a city.
Seraphina looked at the gold, then at Clara. She saw no greed in her partner’s eyes—only the same hunger for the climb they had shared since they were Bronze ranks. Seraphina stepped forward, her armor clinking softly. She didn't kneel. She bowed her head with respect, but her voice was as firm as the stone of the Spire.
"Your Majesty, your generosity is as great as your kingdom," Seraphina said. "But we must respectfully decline the gold and the titles."
A collective gasp rippled through the nobles. The King blinked in shock. "Decline? Why?"
Clara stepped up beside her friend, her lakeside-blue eyes shining. "Because our goal isn't to be rich or to be nobles, Sire. Our goal is to be the best of the best. We climb the Spire to help those who get lost in the dark, and to prove that we can reach the top on our own terms. If we take your gold and stay in a palace, we lose the edge that keeps us alive. We are adventurers. That is our pride."
The Prince’s Heart
Prince Alaric, watching from the side, felt his heart swell. He had grown up surrounded by people who would sell their souls for a fraction of what his father just offered. To see these two women—who had been through the depths of the dungeon—turn down a life of luxury to keep their "Steel" sharp was the most honorable thing he had ever witnessed.
He looked at Seraphina’s scarred gauntlets and then at her determined face. In that moment, his admiration turned into a deep, unshakable love. He didn't want a Princess who sat in a tower; he wanted to stand beside a Knight who could conquer one.
The King looked at the duo for a long time, then slowly began to smile. "Very well. I cannot give titles to those who already carry the hearts of Queens. Oakhaven is honored to have such protectors."
As they walked out of the palace, leaving the gold behind, Clara nudged Seraphina. "We're officially the poorest B-Ranks in history, you know that?"
Seraphina smirked, the first real smile of the day. "Yeah. But we're the only ones who can't be bought. Let’s get some cheap ale and get back to work."
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and then Add to home screen.