“…Big brother, you’re weird!”
“Amy, what do you mean by that?”
“Is my latest knight outfit really that awkward?”
“It seems you’re rather far from flashy, my friend. But maybe that’s for the best. It may attract less attention.”
With that, Kalintz adjusted Amy, who was nestled in his arms.
Amy seemed to have had quite a fun time playing with me until she went to bed last night, giggling and calling me ‘big brother’.
“Are you going to see the Emperor now?”
“…Yeah.”
“When did you start being called that by Amy?”
Why are you looking at me like I’m a thief? With the age gap, do I really look like someone who would steal her away?
As I gave Kalintz a look of disbelief, he seemed to notice his own faux pas and cleared his throat, avoiding my gaze.
“Ahem… Well, at least the outfit isn’t too shabby, so I guess you can stick with it.”
“Lord Kalintz. We still have about twenty more outfits left to try on.”
“Then let’s dress you up some more.”
What?
“Sir Quartz. Please stand still.”
Katrina, the head maid from the House of Duke Ryan, looked up at me with fierce eyes, signaling the other maids to begin undressing me.
Still… Twenty more outfits to go?
Does that mean I have to endure this dress-up doll play twenty more times in front of people?
I couldn’t find my voice in the shocking reality as I stood there like a scarecrow, staring blankly into the void. Am I just imagining it, or is my chest starting to feel heavy?
But refusing would be too much trouble, so I quietly closed my eyes and moved my body as the maids requested.
——————-
“There are three important things in the palace, you see.”
As Kalintz, now stylishly dressed, stepped into the carriage, I lent him my ear.
Considering the palace is a place where one can be exhausted with just a simple misstep, it was incredibly important to hear advice from someone with decades of experience working there.
Advice from someone experienced is, in different words, a compressed little nugget of practical tips.
“High-ranking nobles are all prideful. They’ll forgive some level of arrogance, but I would recommend treating them with courtesy.”
“I understand.”
“The second thing… there will definitely be those looking to pick at you. When such a person shows up, don’t respond. We’ll handle it. If you try to respond, it’ll only complicate matters.”
So even without a title, if I say something wrong, things could get messy. That was a fair point. Given this annoying quasi-feudalism, I should probably play it safe. I don’t want to become a bother in the eyes of the princes.
Even though my practical affiliation is different, they wouldn’t touch me recklessly… but it wouldn’t hurt to be cautious considering there aren’t any normal guys among the princes.
“I believe you’ve understood up to this point.”
“It’s not too difficult, is it?”
Kalintz chuckled at my words, then suddenly adopted a serious expression, lowering his voice as he spoke to me.
“Now for the last point. This one is the most important, so engrave it in your mind.”
I wiped the smile off my face and nodded in response.
“Maintain as much neutrality as possible.”
“…Does that mean I should avoid getting embroiled in the throne struggles?”
“Exactly. You’re a famous figure in the capital right now. Having been the first to capture a demon, there will be all sorts of persuasion trying to pull you into their faction. I recommend avoiding contact with other factions as much as possible.”
“Am I really that famous?”
“The demon has long been humanity’s oldest nemesis. Could anyone who has defeated such an enemy be anything less than famous?”
Hearing that makes it feel a bit uncomfortable. It was actually the original protagonist, Lewis, who should’ve done this. I feel a bit awkward since I stepped in and took his place.
But since I’ve already done it all, there’s no helping that.
“…I get the feeling this will become quite troublesome.”
“That’s why I’m saying to be careful. Getting caught up in central power struggles is one of the most troublesome affairs.”
“I’ll keep it in mind.”
“Lord Kalintz, we’re almost at the palace…”
Hearing the coachman from the coachman’s seat, we adjusted our outfits once more. Gone was the usual amiable demeanor; Kalintz now emanated an aura that suited words like strict, serious, and solemn.
“Surely you remember the etiquette I taught you? Just do as you were instructed.”
“Lord Kalintz, formerly of House Ryan, is entering!”
With the booming voice of the coachman, the jostling of the carriage gradually diminished. So it’s walking from here, huh? Following that, the carriage door opened, and Kalintz stepped down first.
I slowly followed him and stepped down from the carriage.
As soon as I stepped outside, the dazzling sunlight stung my eyes.
“Lord Kalintz, I’ve been waiting.”
As I turned toward the direction of a strange voice, a middle-aged man in a finely tailored butler’s uniform bowed to us at about a 30-degree angle.
“Formalities aside. Has everyone else arrived inside?”
“No, Lord Kalintz, you’re the third one.”
“So, there are those more diligent than us.”
The third, huh… I dismissed the small curiosity about who had arrived before us and followed behind Kalintz as we stepped onto the stairs of the imperial palace.
The luxurious stairway, lined with a red carpet, had to be over a hundred steps, making even daily ascents feel like quite the workout.
“I will guide you right to the audience chamber.”
“Got it.”
As the massive gates of the palace opened, a corridor far more extravagant than the staircase was revealed. With about four to five pyeong of corridor space, it must have cost thousands of gold coins just to lay it all out. Feeling like a country bumpkin, I cast sidelong glances at the splendor of the palace.
It was clear the walls were adorned with gold, but the jewels and exquisite frames embedded throughout were quite alluring as well. I wondered if I could take some of these treasures if the palace really gets wrecked as per the original story.
Lost in those thoughts, I suddenly spotted a door far grander than any I had seen before. With ornate patterns crafted from gold and silver, could this be the door to the audience chamber?
“Get ready to feel some tension.”
“Understood.”
I quietly adjusted my outfit and stared intently at the door to the audience chamber.
Once that door opens, will it finally begin?
“Lord Kalintz, former Duke Ryan, and Sir Johann Quartz request an audience with His Majesty the Emperor!”
“Enter!”
Ah, so the Emperor’s voice isn’t just for show, huh? I was impressed by the voice of the ruler who almost governs the continent. It was far more imposing than I had anticipated. Though it didn’t quite mask the hint of sickness underlying it.
“From now on, just look straight ahead.”
I followed Kalintz’s whisper, sticking closely behind him as we stepped into the audience chamber.
I took a quick glance at the elegantly dressed nobles I could see from the edges of my line of vision and the old emperor sitting at the end of the chamber, before kneeling after Kalintz.
“O Sun of the continent and supreme one! I, Knight Kalintz, present my greetings!”
“I greet you!”
Is this correct? I bowed my head as I’d learned and checked my surroundings to the sides.
If Rue was here, she would probably be thrilled like a child. Right now, she’s likely taking a stroll with Millia at this hour.
“Lift your heads.”
I snapped out of my thoughts and raised my head. The emperor’s face came into clear view. The countless wrinkles etched into his face and tired eyes clearly showed his poor health.
I couldn’t tell whether he wasn’t wearing makeup or whether even makeup couldn’t hide the effects. It’s not like I know much about makeup anyway.
“Thanks to your efforts, I hear you have vanquished the demon Harpas.”
“Isn’t it thanks to your grace, Your Majesty?”
“Haha, you’re buttering me up.”
“Without the grace of Your Majesty, who governs the empire peacefully, how could we have achieved such an accomplishment?”
Oh, the emperor is older than my grandfather.
I found it hard to resist the urge to roll my eyes at Kalintz’s flattery and kept my gaze blankly ahead.
“That’s enough. I’m tired of empty compliments.”
Perhaps caught off guard by the emperor’s surprisingly down-to-earth tone, he then turned his attention to me. Our eyes met.
What was it again? I think I was told to meet gaze without being too intense.
“You are the young hero from the West.”
“I am Sir Johann Quartz, and I greet Your Majesty!”
I yelled as loudly as I could, placing my right hand over my chest and bowing precisely at a 45-degree angle.
“That will suffice. Are you the young knight who quelled Harpas?”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
“Hmm… How old are you?”
…Should I say my age properly?
They say if you lie, you’ll get caught right away, so being honest seems like the best bet.
“I’m 20 years old.”
“I dislike deceit.”
“I mean it.”
“With a face like that, you’re telling me you’re twenty? You look older than my eldest son…”
“I would have guessed at least in your mid-twenties…”
What the heck. If we weren’t in the audience chamber, I would have dug a pit and tossed him in. I let the whispers of the nobles flow into one ear while waiting for the emperor’s lips to part again.
“Ha, ha… You seem to have gone through considerable hardship.”
“Is there a greater challenge than ruling this land, Your Majesty?”
“Ha, ha. This is precisely the kind of thing Duke Ryan’s predecessor would say.”
The emperor chuckled at something and then suddenly stared at me, asking:
“Young hero, since you’ve slain one of the empire’s nemeses, I will bestow upon you a fitting reward.”
He paused, whispering something to a middle-aged man standing beside him in a hushed tone, and then turned back to me.
“I shall grant you the title of Baron! And as a reward, I will present you with 50,000 gold coins!”
Wow, I’m moving up in social status. Wow, a slush fund!
I’ve gained something potentially useful. At least I could feel that the hardship I endured has paid off to some extent.
In a world where nobles exist, being one makes an undeniable difference.
“Your grace is immeasurable!”
“And I will grant you one wish!”
This is a bit significant.
What should I even ask for?
After a brief moment of pondering, a wish formed in my mind.
“Your Majesty, I wish to enter the imperial treasury.”
The emperor seemed taken aback by my unexpected answer.
Did he think I would express a desire to join the imperial knight order? When I think about it, the fact that he didn’t even present that offer hints that he had inferred as much.
“The imperial treasury, huh… Very well! I grant you permission!”
Wow, our emperor is quite generous.
Normally, if one were to be granted a title, they’d consider rejecting it just to get into the imperial treasury.
Knowing full well what I might take out of there.
Though I guess the top-tier national treasures are stored in the personal vaults of the royal family, so what I’m allowed to take won’t matter. If I think of it that way, it’s a win-win for me.
This could actually be a win-win strategy.
“I thank Your Majesty for your grace!”
“Enough with the pleasantries, just head to the imperial treasury.”
“Yes!”
“Remember, you can only take one treasure with you.”
Thus, my first meeting with the emperor concluded more smoothly than I expected.
——————
“I will rest here in the reception room, so you go on to the imperial treasury.”
“Understood.”
“Follow me, Sir Quartz.”
I walked quietly down the corridor toward the imperial treasury with the court officer introduced as Hertz.
“This is the imperial treasury. Remember, you can take one item with you.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
The doors to the imperial treasury opened.
Without hesitation, I stepped into the treasury and began searching for the item I wanted.
Fortunately, the object I sought wasn’t hard to locate.
As soon as I grabbed it, I promptly exited the vault, addressing Hertz.
“I’ll take this item.”
“Wow, you’re quick. It’s like you had already decided what to take from the beginning.”
“It just caught my eye.”
“You have good eyes.”
“That’s quite flattering.”
“Flattering or not, I think you deserve to be praised just for that.”
Huh?
I turned around to see who was speaking from behind me, only to confirm that it was none other than…
Oh no.
Where did this landmine come from?
“I greet His Highness Prince Killian.”
Upon the sudden appearance of the second prince, I immediately knelt.
My site has received a lot of DMCA notices, lol. From now on, I will update the MTL on https://darkmtl.com/.
The site is fast and lightweight because there are no ads yet. However, the theme is different from Cybor-TL, so take some time to familiarize yourself.
Support me by donating at least $10, and you'll have the right to request any novel from Novelpia (excluding 19+ content) using a newly developed tool.