Meeting the Empire's Sun
I bowed my head deeply.
"It is an honor to stand before the Empire's Sun."
"You have arrived, Lord Lisite."
The moment I stepped down from the carriage and scanned my surroundings, someone waiting nearby called out to me. At the familiar voice, I turned my head to find a middle-aged woman offering a graceful curtsy.
"It's been a while, Bella."
"Indeed, Lord Lisite. While you stay at the Imperial Palace, I have been assigned as your guide."
"I see."
Bella, the Imperial Chief Maid. She was someone I had encountered many times back when Raiden treated the palace like his own home. After the incident with Lucy, however, I had never had the chance to see her face again.
"Then, allow me to guide you."
"Please do."
Bella took the lead with mechanical precision. I followed quietly behind her.
From the beautiful gardens to the lavishly decorated interior of the palace, the white floors and walls were interwoven with red and gold lines that formed the massive emblem of the imperial family. I found myself momentarily entranced by the brilliant chandeliers hanging from the ceiling.
It's magnificent...
Though I had inherited Raiden's memories, seeing the fantasy world's palace with my own eyes was enough to send a thrill through me.
As I kept glancing around, Bella suddenly turned to look at me.
"Before you have your audience with His Majesty, I will prepare a place for you to wash up."
"Pardon? Wash up all of a sudden? Why... Ah."
Only then did I realize what kind of state I was in. My hair was flattened from sleeping in the carriage. My clothes were splattered with the blood of the bandits I'd fought. Even a faint metallic scent lingered around me.
It was true—this was hardly appropriate for entering the audience chamber. No matter how much the Emperor favored me, basic etiquette had to be observed. I nodded quietly.
"I'd appreciate that."
"Very well. This way, please."
I followed Bella toward the room where I would be staying.
Meanwhile, while Raiden was grooming himself with Bella's assistance, a secretive conversation was taking place in the audience chamber.
— Elsewhere in the Audience Chamber —
"Hoo, is that so?"
"Yes, Your Majesty."
The two men engaged in this private discussion were the Emperor of the Empire, Milliam von Lietro, and the coachman who had been driving the carriage Raiden had ridden until just moments ago.
The coachman, kneeling in a respectful posture, continued his report in a steady voice. He detailed everything he had observed and felt while watching Raiden for the past day.
"And at that time, Lord Lisite..."
"Hmm."
Milliam stroked his chin with interest as he listened to the coachman's story. Normally, he rarely showed interest in anything that didn't involve his children or official duties. Yet the words flowing from the coachman's mouth were enough to spark curiosity even in him.
"He single-handedly took care of around twenty bandits."
"To be precise, he slaughtered twenty-two bandits in five minutes and thirty-eight seconds."
The coachman added the detail calmly to the Emperor's mutter. Milliam mulled over the answer, stroking his beard.
"Until half a year ago, I was under the impression that Lord Lisite had no talent for martial prowess..."
"Yes, that matches my recollection as well."
"Hmm..."
Milliam fell silent, seemingly lost in thought. He tapped the armrest with his fingers out of habit, then asked the coachman another question.
"What is your assessment, Sir Austin?"
"Are you referring to Lord Lisite?"
Milliam nodded at the coachman's counter-question. The gray-haired old coachman known as Sir Austin then offered his evaluation of Raiden without hesitation.
"He is exceptional."
"Oh? Is that so?"
"Once he matures a little more, I intend to recommend him to the Imperial Knights."
"To that extent?"
Milliam's blue eyes widened in surprise. He had not expected such high praise to come from Austin's lips.
Who was Sir Austin? He was the Knight Commander of the Imperial Knights, an order comprised solely of the Empire's greatest geniuses. Known for his ice-cold personality, he bore the moniker "Winter Commander." A man who rarely offered even a single word of praise to his own subordinates had just given unprecedented acclaim to Lord Lisite.
"How surprising. To hear such words from your mouth."
"......"
"Was there anything else that left a deep impression?"
"Yes, Your Majesty. It is not certain, but... it seemed Lord Lisite had seen through the fact that the entire situation was a test from Your Majesty."
"Heh heh... I had anticipated that part as well. The boy has always been sharp, so he must have noticed."
The Emperor let out a pleased laugh, his eyes sparkling. The corners of his mouth had already drawn into a long arc.
"Hearing your words makes me even more eager to meet Lord Lisite."
"I understand the young lord is currently grooming himself."
"Hm, then... I suppose we should prepare as well."
Milliam turned and called out to the maids who were waiting on standby.
"Attend me. We will soon receive the young lord. Summon the Crown Prince and the Imperial Princesses."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
The maids moved to obey the command. Milliam watched their retreating figures and murmured to himself.
"It has been quite some time since I last saw him... Lord Lisite......"
Milliam stroked his chin with a smile whose meaning was impossible to read.
"Haa... That's much better."
After washing up and changing my clothes in the room, I once again followed Bella's guidance toward the audience chamber. With the thick stench of blood that had clung to me now gone, I finally felt like I could breathe properly.
I adjusted the fit of my formal attire as I walked.
"...Damn it. I really should have brought Rachel with me."
This blasted necktie was proving incredibly difficult to tie. I had followed the method Rachel taught me exactly, yet somehow one or two spots always ended up crooked. How on earth did Rachel tie it so neatly every time? Was this the power of a dedicated personal maid...?
I muttered to myself as I repeatedly loosened and retied the clumsily knotted necktie.
As I wrestled with the tie, Bella, who had been walking ahead, turned to look at me.
"If the necktie is uncomfortable, I can retie it for you."
"Ah... Um, no. I'll try to do it myself."
"As you wish."
"Thank you for the offer."
I shook my head at Bella's question and resumed my battle with the necktie. At eighteen years old, it felt a bit embarrassing to ask a stranger to tie my necktie for me. Besides...
—If it's alright with you, young master...
—I'll do my best...
Tying my necktie. My necktie already had someone in charge of it.
I nodded to myself with a calm expression. My cheeks felt strangely warm, but I told myself it was just my imagination.
While I continued fiddling with the poor necktie, Bella's steps, which had been leading me, came to a stop in front of a massive door. We had arrived at the audience chamber.
"His Majesty is waiting."
"Yes. I'll enter immediately."
I stopped my fidgeting hands, straightened my back, and assumed a proper posture. The door attendants who had been watching began to slowly push open the heavy doors.
—Kuuuung...
With a heavy rumble, the doors began to open. Through the widening gap, the dazzling interior of the audience chamber came into view. Golden pillars and a long red carpet stretching across the floor. At the end of that path stood a high staircase, and atop it sat a single throne.
"Huu..."
I took a deep breath and stepped into the audience chamber. The soft texture of the carpet, which I could feel even through my shoes, helped ease my tension just a little.
I stopped before the stairs, bowed my head toward the throne, and then knelt on one knee in a respectful salute.
"Raiden Lisite, eldest son of House Lisite, stands before the Empire's Sun."
The figure who had been silent finally spoke.
"Raise your head."
A gentle, resonant voice filled my ears. I lifted my head and looked up at the sun floating above me.
"It really has been a long time, Lord Lisite."
Platinum hair that seemed dyed by the summer sunlight. Eyes that held the blue of the ocean. A neatly trimmed beard and an overwhelming charisma that commanded the room. It was the Emperor of the Empire, Milliam von Lietro.
"I heard you returned about a month ago... but this is the first time we've met face to face in nearly a year."
"I should have come to see you immediately. Please forgive my disloyalty."
"Heh heh... I am not scolding you. I am simply expressing how glad I am to see you."
Milliam stopped me as I tried to bow again and continued speaking.
"I also heard that you saved the Empire's star. I am not sure how to properly reward such a great deed."
"I merely fulfilled my duty as a subject."
"Hmm..."
I bowed at the waist as I spoke, and Milliam let out a small satisfied hum at the sight.
"Since the children have not yet arrived... let us speak of rewards later."
"The Crown Prince is said to reside in the palace, but... are the Imperial Princesses here as well?"
Why are they here? I had clearly seen them at the Academy just the other day.
"Of course. I brought them here as soon as the incident was resolved. Both of them arrived yesterday."
That made sense... There was no way they would leave members of the imperial family at the Academy after it had been breached. At least until the school's systems were reorganized, they would need to be protected within the palace.
"It seems it will take a little while for the children to arrive... In the meantime, would you tell me about the attack?"
"Yes, Your Majesty."
I began to calmly recount the events of that day.
On the opposite side of the audience chamber stood the 'Palace of Stars,' the place where all the imperial children except the Crown Prince usually rested.
Lucy, who had returned there after a long time, was sitting blankly on the sofa, killing time. That is, until she heard Milliam's summons.
"What? His Majesty is calling for us?"
"Yes, Your Highness."
"What could it be...?"
As Lucy stood up and muttered to herself, the maid attending her from the side answered.
"From what I understand, it seems Lord Lisite has come to visit the palace."
"...Pardon? Raiden...?"
At those words, Lucy's body stiffened slightly as she turned to look at the maid.