The Emperor's Order and the Tea That Changed Everything
“Actually… I really mean it.”
I had no choice but to speak the truth. After all, it wasn’t a lie.
The moment those words left my mouth, Irene—until that moment she had been staring at me in shock—whipped her head around to the opposite side with a sharp snap.
“Am I… angry? I wasn’t even teasing you.”
“I’m not angry,” she said flatly. “Now that I think about it, I have a question for Professor. May I ask?”
“Of course.”
“Then… you draw a clear line between work and personal life, don’t you?”
I considered for a moment and answered honestly.
“I do.”
“Then… you’re my sister?”
“That’s right.”
“Aha! Oof.”
‘What in the world did I just hear?’
Just to be sure, I asked her directly.
“Could you repeat the voice you made just now?”
“No way. Absolutely not.”
“It was an incredibly interesting sound, though.”
“I said no!”
Irene gripped my hand tighter as if she might crush it.
“No matter how much of a knight you are, Professor, I’m a knight too. I’ve been thinking… it feels wrong for someone my age, in the same situation, to keep receiving an escort.”
“But His Imperial Majesty’s order…”
“I’ll handle the escort. As your proper sister.”
From one step behind me, Irene had suddenly stepped forward, leading the way with a confident stride.
“But I’m not a lady, so I don’t need to be led, do I?”
“Quiet, please… Aah!”
Irene’s body tilted forward suddenly.
She had rushed ahead in heels that were far too high.
With no other choice, I hurried to steady her, bending at the waist to catch her.
Our eyes met, both of us flushed with embarrassment.
“You really are a lot of trouble, Sister.”
“S-sorry… it’s because I’m so much trouble.”
I helped her up, but she still couldn’t balance properly.
The moment she wobbled, her heel snapped with a loud crack.
“Your heel has broken.”
“It’s fine. I’ll just walk barefoot.”
“That’s ridiculous. You can’t walk barefoot—you’ll hurt yourself.”
“Then what do you want me to do?”
“Allow me.”
“What kind of—”
“Whoa! Aah!”
Before I could think, I scooped her up in my arms. Irene startled and wrapped her arms around my neck in a panic.
“W-what are you doing?! Put me down at once!”
“I cannot. I have received a direct order from His Imperial Majesty.”
“That old man! I’m fine, put me down!”
No matter how much she shouted, I had no intention of lowering her.
“I’ll take you home, but I don’t know where your home is…”
“Of course you don’t… Kyaaah!”
I leaped lightly. Irene let out a sharp, piercing scream.
I had launched us onto the roof of the imperial palace, the city of Lykland spread out far below like a miniature toy.
“Point with your finger. Where is your house?”
“H-how did you… do that so fast? Up here?”
“Just tell me already.”
Irene pointed with a dazed expression.
“I’ll carry you comfortably, Sister.”
“You said you wouldn’t tease me… yet here you are teasing me again… Aaaah!”
It took less than a minute to reach the vicinity of Irene’s house from the palace roof.
I had walked as lightly as possible, but unfortunately, Irene’s hair was now a complete mess.
I checked again, just to be sure.
“Is this your house?”
“Y-yes…”
“Thank goodness I found the right house. If not, we’d have to climb back up to the roof to look again.”
“We’re already near the house… can’t you put me down now?”
“I can’t. Not until we get inside.”
“Please… my dignity as a sister will be ruined like this!”
“When have I ever preserved it? From now on, I’ll only do this when I’m not carrying out an order.”
I headed toward her house, Irene still in my arms.
People around us whispered in shock, but I paid them no mind.
I was simply fulfilling the Emperor’s order, after all. Nothing more, nothing less.
Irene’s house was large and beautiful, though not quite as splendid as a royal residence. Compared to a commoner’s home it was still substantial, but among noble dwellings it was nothing exceptional.
‘Because her mother isn’t the Emperor’s daughter. Still… even someone who isn’t the Emperor’s daughter lives in a house like this…’
“Put me down now.”
“I can’t. The floor is still dirty.”
“If you don’t put me down right now, I’ll be angry!”
“It’s an order from His Imperial Majesty.”
“No, really…”
At that moment, two guards stationed at the gate came running over in surprise.
“Irene-sama?”
“Oh, hello. I hope you’ve been well.”
“We’ve been well, but… who exactly is the person carrying Miss Irene?”
I hesitated for a moment, then smiled gently.
“My little brother.”
“Professor, please…”
“Sister’s heel snapped because she was rushing. I had no choice but to carry her this way. May I bring her into the house?”
“Of course. Come this way.”
The guards led the way, eyes wide with astonishment.
Throughout the walk inside, Irene never once removed her hands from her face.
“Irene-sama has returned!”
The guard’s shout brought an elderly woman from deeper inside the house shortly after.
One glance was enough to identify her.
That woman was Irene’s mother.
“Oh my… what in the world happened?”
Still holding Irene, I bowed at the waist.
“I am Erewon von Soleil, knight who received the order to escort Irene-sama from His Imperial Majesty.”
“Welcome. I am Erayah von Lykland. Thank you for bringing my daughter. Please come in.”
“Thank you. I’ll gladly accept the hospitality.”
I stepped into Irene’s house, still carrying her.
In the reception room, I finally set her down on the soft sofa.
“Hoo.”
Even after being set down, Irene remained frozen for a long moment.
“Irene, stop making a fool of yourself in front of guests! Sit up properly!”
Erayah scolded her sharply. Irene shot to her feet and sat straight in embarrassment.
Only then did I get a clear look at her face.
What I saw made me realize.
‘A person’s face can turn this red?’
Erayah called for tea from her servant.
We hadn’t even finished drinking, but it was polite and necessary before we could talk.
“I’ve heard a great deal about you, my daughter.”
“What exactly have you heard?”
“That you are my daughter’s swordsmanship teacher… that you are a prince from the kingdom of Solea. I didn’t believe the part about you being young, but now it makes perfect sense.”
“I’m sorry to be so abrupt, but I was merely delivering the order to escort you.”
“No, it’s fine. My daughter probably wanted me to put her down as quickly as possible.”
Irene nodded vigorously.
“But I never imagined you would be accompanying my daughter to the audience with His Imperial Majesty today.”
“I came because His Majesty summoned me.”
“Then… is this related to your daughter’s apprenticeship?”
I hadn’t heard anything like that from the Emperor, but Irene nodded cautiously once more.
Perhaps the Emperor and Irene had spoken privately before my arrival.
“I have a great many apologies to make.”
“No, it’s fine. Actually, it turned out for the better. That sword of yours… even if it was sharp, it would never have been enough to slice through my daughter’s cheek.”
“Mother…”
“You be quiet. Do you know what story Irene has told me the most lately?”
I stayed silent, waiting for her to continue.
“About you, Professor.”
“Mother!”
“Ah, I understand.”
Irene looked as if she might cry.
Seeing that expression, Erayah gave a quiet chuckle and took another sip of tea.
“You’ve told me too much. Now tell me the real reason you’ve come all this way under the pretext of escorting my daughter.”
“Eh?”
The unexpected turn left Irene’s face blank.
‘When she’s calm, she’s endlessly composed… yet she can look that innocent and gentle all at once. How fascinating.’
I decided to stop teasing her and took a sip of my own tea.
The warm liquid slid down my throat, calming my nerves.
I couldn’t afford to be tense. This matter was far too serious.
“Since you asked for the main point, I’ll speak plainly. I wish to entrust my daughter Irene to you.”
“Yes, yes!!??”