The Imperial Court and the Emperor's Offer
The grand hall gleamed with the splendor of the empire, its decorations far surpassing those of Solea Castle.
Rows of knights and officials stood arranged along the left and right walls.
In the very center of the hall, highest of all, sat the ruler.
“The Sun of the Empire bows before you. Prince Erewon von Soleil of the Knight Kingdom of Solea.”
“Princess Lua von Soleil.”
“We welcome you. Raise your heads.”
It was Emperor Franz von Reichland.
The capable ruler who had stabilized the empire and ushered in its Second Golden Age, the living embodiment of the title “the Greatest Emperor.”
And the mortal enemy who had once driven Solea to its brink of ruin.
Standing before the emperor was my first time since the exile of my previous life.
I tried to keep my composure, but the swirl of emotions was unavoidable.
“I must speak plainly once more: I am truly sorry for the things I did to Solea. Though they were necessary for the sake of my own nation.”
“Even the mere fact that you say this brings me comfort.”
The one who replied was Lua, receiving the emperor’s formal apology.
*So she was the one who accepted the emperor’s apology when I had tried to brush it off so casually.*
“By the way, I was quite surprised to hear that you both entered the academy as fourth-years. I had no idea a fourth-year could enter, especially you.”
The emperor paused, then gestured with his hand.
A page nearby moved.
He brought in a box that looked like it held something valuable.
“You took on the temporary position of professor as well, I hear?”
“Yes, that is correct. I am standing in for Professor Arcan and serving as the swordsmanship instructor for a time.”
“Even though you are only fifteen, if your ability supports you, then age is no obstacle. But do you not find teaching students difficult? Because of your young age, you do not receive the respect due a professor.”
“There is no such problem. On the contrary, students come from other classes just to hear my lectures.”
“Excellent. Truly excellent.”
The emperor stroked his beard.
A signal that he approved.
“But what surprised me most was not that. Kruuks?”
“Yes, Your Imperial Majesty!”
The voice was familiar.
The middle-aged knight I had dueled with yesterday stepped forward.
This time he wore not light armor but gleaming full plate.
Because he stood before the emperor, his rough manner was gone; his tone was exceedingly polite.
“I heard there was a fight with Prince Erewon yesterday. Tell me what happened.”
“Yes, Your Majesty. In the course of passing down the street, an altercation broke out through my own carelessness. But that is not important. At that time, Prince Erewon displayed the territory of the Sixth Circle’s upper realm.”
“Indeed. That very part. Displaying the territory of the Sixth Circle’s upper realm at fifteen! Impressive. Truly astonishing! I am so pleased that someone like you exists in this era.”
*When exactly did I earn his trust…*
From the emperor’s voice, heavy with admiration for the realm I had reached, came an outpouring of genuine warmth.
The emperor rose from his seat and slowly descended the dais.
The page carried the box and stood close beside him.
“What I called you here today is to fulfill a promise I made before. Your sword is finally complete. May I show it to you?”
The page opened the box.
The emperor drew out a sword.
The moment I saw it, I thought it beautiful.
The hilt was inlaid with gems, and the blade was flawless and unyielding.
Yet my gaze, as I studied the blade, came to a halt.
The emblem engraved on the blade—it was the eagle crest of the emperor.
“The sword you give me must, by nature, bear your emblem, must it not?”
“That is true, but…”
I could sense the emperor’s tone.
This was not a pure gift.
The prince of Solea swinging a sword with the emperor’s emblem?
It would appear that I was advertising the fact that Solea was a vassal of the empire.
The emperor had clearly intended to bestow this sword upon me as a symbol of that very thing.
I had no choice but to accept it.
*As expected of Emperor Franz…*
“Presenting the sword with the imperial eagle to my dear brother, the prince of Solea, is a clear demonstration that our two nations are firmly allied.”
It was Lua who answered so.
*As I expected from my little sister!*
“Hahaha, of course there was no such intent.”
“Though it is a gift for my dear brother, I am also grateful. There could be no finer present than this.”
I noticed the muscles in the emperor’s face tighten slightly.
There was indeed some such intent, but he did not wish to speak of the other.
In other words, a masterful way to shut the conversation down: “No more words about that.”
“How bold. Truly bold!”
The emperor chuckled and lightly tugged at his beard.
Somehow, the situation reminded me of when Lua had accepted my apology to the emperor before I arrived in the empire…
“Very well. Let me be honest with you. Let me lay bare my true feelings. Erewon, in that sense, I have a request of you. This is the true reason I summoned you.”
“What is the request?”
“Enter the Imperial Knights. I will guarantee you a position.”
“…Excuse me?”
What kind of proposal was this?
I had assumed he wanted to use me as political leverage, but he was actually asking me to join the Imperial Knights?
“I am grateful for the offer. However, I heard the Imperial Knights are not open to just anyone. One must satisfy all the strict conditions…”
“Kruuks, what were the three most important conditions for entering the Imperial Knights?”
The emperor cut me off and asked Kruuks.
“The first is loyalty, the second is ability, and the third is character.”
“Since Mana is already at the Sixth Circle’s territory and serving as a swordsmanship professor, ability is not a concern. From what I see, your character seems excellent as well. So the only question is one.”
The emperor extended the sword to me.
“Can you pledge your loyalty to me?”
The answer required no thought.
There was no room for hesitation; it had already been decided.
“I cannot. I am…”
“So I expected.”
“Excuse me?”
Just as I had answered coolly, the emperor accepted it just as readily.
“Loyalty is unnecessary. Prioritize yourself and your homeland above all. I am granting you the post of commander of the newly formed Eighth Division.”
The officials gathered in the hall murmured in surprise at the emperor’s proposal.
It was far too drastic, even for him.
“Of course, you must know that it will not be a normal division. You will be under the Imperial Knights yet granted independent command. I leave the selection of members to you as well.”
As the emperor’s words grew bolder, the officials finally stood.
“Your Majesty, this is improper to say, but such a measure seems far too excessive!”
“To allow one who does not pledge loyalty to the empire into the Imperial Knights?!”
“Please reconsider, Your Majesty!”
Even amid the voices of the ministers, the emperor did not so much as blink.
He simply stood there offering the sword to me, then gave a single decisive shrug.
“What do you say? Will you accept?”
It was far beyond even my expectations.
I had known the emperor valued talent above all, but I had not realized he would go to such lengths.
Moreover, the fact that he would resort to such an extreme measure simply to win me over as his own… was exactly why he was the emperor.
With heavy heart and caution, I opened my mouth.
“I am…”
* * *
“So, what do you plan to do?”
“That is precisely why I have come to consult with you, Professor.”
After meeting the emperor, I had immediately sought out Aipman.
He was the only person I knew in the empire at the moment who could offer counsel.
In the end, I could not make a decision on the spot.
The emperor granted my request for time.
“Hahaha, what words could I possibly give you? Do as you wish. The position of commander of the new division of the Imperial Knights. You could outpower even the king of a minor nation.”
“Do not mock me. I seek realistic advice.”
At the words “realistic advice,” the laughter faded from Aipman’s face, and he finally wore a serious expression.
“You know that the Imperial Academy is not used purely for education, do you not?”
“Yes. I am aware it is also used to hold the children of vassal states and allied kingdoms as hostages.”
“You are well informed. It is a bitter yet unavoidable reality. Normally, one would only detain students. In your case, however, it is different.”
Aipman patted my shoulder.
“Congratulations. You have truly been acknowledged by the emperor. You are not being held as political leverage but as someone to walk forward with for the future.”