57
Chapter 57
I see a massive castle gate that looks to be four, maybe even five times my height.
The guards, who had been nodding off, hurriedly bowed and opened a small side door next to the main gate.
Of course, they weren't doing that for me, but for Duke Dylan beside me.
"Good work. Let's go."
"Ah, yes!"
I'm feeling troubled.
It's not because I'm meeting the Emperor.
That's unavoidable, and I've already figured out how to handle it.
What's troubling me is the Duke's request.
When I asked what it was, he said it was a personal matter and that he'd tell me after we saw His Majesty.
I wonder what on earth he wants.
'Maybe the Duke is also asking me to help the Imperial Princess?'
'That's a possibility.'
Since I escort the Princess every day, we've naturally talked a lot, and I once asked Shine why she became an Escort Knight to help Princess Helena.
She answered that it was because Princess Helena had provided the ingredients for a medicine to slow down her mother's illness when she was young.
At first, I didn't quite understand.
While rare items from all over the world gather in the Imperial Palace, Duke Dylan should have been able to obtain most of them.
But once I heard what the ingredient was, I understood.
A branch of the World Tree.
Even for Duke Dylan, accessing the World Tree, which Elves value as much as their own lives, would not have been easy.
When I asked how the Princess obtained it, she said it was a memento from her mother, who had been a Wizard.
I thought she had received it as a gift from the Emperor, but she said she had received it after freeing Elf slaves before she married.
Hearing that, I understood why Shine was so respectful toward the Princess.
Even if it wasn't a cure but only something to slow the illness, it was for her mother.
I used to think she was just an ignorant woman whose mind held nothing but her sword and the Princess, but hearing this story changed my perspective a bit.
Though we haven't fought since she became obedient after I found her weakness.
Anyway, Ark's point makes sense.
Just like Shine, Duke Dylan likely feels gratitude toward the Princess.
But if that's not it... things could get quite troublesome.
Because a request from Duke Dylan—the strongest in the empire and second only to the Emperor—is never going to be easy.
"Bio?"
"Yes... yes?"
"Are you nervous because it's been a while since you've visited the Imperial Palace?"
"Haha, I suppose I am."
"Don't worry. His Majesty will be very pleased to see you. Let's head inside."
So this is the Great Hall.
During my active days, I always saw the Emperor in his office, so this is my first time in the Great Hall.
I followed the Duke as he led the way inside.
"I've come to see His Majesty."
"And your companion is...?"
"This is by His Majesty's command, so do not concern yourself with it."
"I understand."
The Palace Official bowed, channeled Magic Power into the nearby Crystal Ball, and announced our arrival.
Since it's a vast Great Hall, they seem to use the crystal ball to announce arrivals.
"You may enter."
The doors opened as the Palace Official led the way.
I wondered if other nobles would be present, but there was no one inside except for one Palace Official and the Emperor.
Man, this place is huge.
It looks to be about twenty times the size of a Belliard Academy classroom.
I followed the Duke as he strode forward, and then he bowed.
"Dylan greets Your Majesty the Emperor."
He raised his head immediately, but unlike the Duke, I prostrated myself fully.
Nobles of Marquis rank or higher may simply bow, and Dukes can choose when to raise their heads.
However, nobles of Count rank or lower must prostrate themselves before the Emperor.
"Baronet Bio Rain greets Your Majesty, the sky of Beluga."
"Baronet Bio? Are you the Bio I know?"
"Yes. I was the Blue Mist, the Intelligence Agency agent Your Majesty had ordered to be brought before you."
"I heard Daph had retired. You may raise your head."
When I looked up, the Emperor had already descended from the podium and was standing before me.
"It has been a long time. I hope you have been well."
"I am always well. More importantly, it really is you. Have you returned to the Intelligence Agency?"
"He is not currently with the Agency, but he saw the White Flame while nearby and stepped in."
I tried to explain, but the Duke beat me to it.
"Is that so? Since you aren't back in the Agency yet you called yourself an agent, you're an impostor."
"Your... Your Majesty? While he may have claimed to be an agent, he was previously with the Agency and did so to respond more quickly, so please take that into account."
The Duke spoke up for me in a panic, but the Emperor didn't even glance at him, staring only at me.
He was the Commander of the Imperial Guard Knights for ten years, but does he still not understand the Emperor?
I appreciate the sentiment, but he's doing something useless.
This is just a mischievous prank to put someone in a difficult spot by finding a flaw.
"Tell me yourself."
After I gave a calm and detailed explanation, the Emperor gave me a smirk.
"Indeed, a sharp awl always pokes through the pocket."
"You flatter me. Though I retired after losing my arm, I have not yet repaid the grace bestowed upon me by Your Majesty and the Empire, so I merely did what I could."
As I played the part of the humble servant, the Emperor took another step toward me.
"I don't see it that way, but if you feel that way, how about helping me by my side? Dylan, you can spare a spot for a Vice Commander of the Royal Guards, can't you?"
I knew this would happen.
"It is possible, but Baronet Bio says he prefers his current work..."
"Current work? You mean as an academy instructor?"
"It would be an honor beyond my means, but my body is not whole, so I fear I cannot fulfill such a duty."
I declined politely, but the Emperor's expression turned strange.
"Your body is not whole?"
"It may not be pleasant to look at, but if Your Majesty permits, I will roll up my sleeve."
I figured showing him directly would be best.
"I permit it."
I said 'a little,' but I intentionally rolled the sleeve up to my shoulder.
"...So it's true that you lost your arm. However, I heard your performance during the fire was impressive. They say you used 7th Class Magic. For a wizard, missing one arm isn't a great hindrance, is it?"
"It is true that I used magic, but it was not 7th Class Magic."
"The report I received stated that you used Weather Control to rain down earth. Are you saying the report was wrong?"
"It may look like Weather Control, but it's a spell I devised during my active days to counter the White Flame, and anyone of the 5th Class can use it."
The Emperor looked quite skeptical, but the Duke stepped in.
"It is the truth. I have personally confirmed that Baronet Bio has five circles."
"If the Duke has confirmed it, then there is no doubt. Still, with your knowledge and experience, even at the 5th Class, I believe you could be of great help to me."
He's way too obsessed.
Is he planning to squeeze every bit of use out of me until I die?
"Your Majesty, from what I have observed, Baronet Bio's physical condition is quite poor."
"He looks perfectly fine on the outside. Is he suffering from some disease?"
"That is... because he overexerted himself during his final mission..."
"I'll explain, Baronet. Your Majesty, the boundary between Baronet Bio's mana core and his circles had almost collapsed. This was because he drew out power beyond his limits during the final operation."
"Is that a problem?"
"The magic power in the circles and the mana core are essentially the same, but they serve different purposes. If the wall collapses and the two energies mix, one becomes unable to use either magic or aura."
Under normal circumstances, Duke Dylan would be right, but I'm a bit different.
Since I've refined both the magic power of the circles and the core using a Mental Cultivation Method, they've become the same energy...
"I believe I've heard something similar before. But didn't he use magic just fine during the recent accident?"
"...Baronet Bio pushed himself too far. He risked losing both his magic and aura..."
"I believed I was the only one who could resolve the situation at the time. After all, everything I possess was given to me by Your Majesty's empire. I have no regrets."
"Your Majesty, to be honest, I felt a bit disappointed in the empire after seeing Baronet Bio."
"Disappointed?"
"The feats he achieved during his active days were so difficult that I cannot guarantee I could have accomplished them myself. Yet, for someone who retired after losing an arm in the line of duty, all he was given was a small pension and a Baronet title without a fief, making him no different from a commoner."
"...I agree that Daph was a bit too harsh."
"I told him I would speak to Your Majesty to ensure he received proper compensation, but he insisted that what he has now is already more than he deserves."
"...Is that so?"
The Emperor looks at me again.
"I have not yet fully repaid the grace bestowed upon me by the empire and Your Majesty. Although my broken body prevents me from serving by your side, I wish to spend the remainder of my life nurturing the talents who will become the future of the empire."
The Emperor is keeping a poker face, but surely he's a bit touched?
"It's not as if there is nothing in the empire that doesn't go my way. I had forgotten that you were the catalyst for that."
'Did I just screw up?'
'No way.'
He sounds dissatisfied, almost sarcastic, but I know.
I know that the Emperor has given in.
This is just his way of expressing regret.
"You are far too kind, Your Majesty. Should you command it, I would throw my broken body into the flames for your sake..."
"Enough. If I didn't grant Dylan's request, imagine how much he'd nag me."
"Now, Your Majesty, someone might misunderstand if they heard that."
"Bio, there are only two people in this world who dare to nag me, your former boss and that man, Dylan."
"Your Majesty, I was offering sincere advice, not nagging..."
Duke Dylan looks quite aggrieved.
"That's enough. Ah! By the way, did you hear? Dylan is quite fond of you. He's always pestering me to tell him more about you."
So he wasn't just trying to flatter me; it was actually true.
"I didn't do it every single time..."
"I knew you thought well of me, but I am honored."
"Your contributions have been significant. If all my subjects were like you, I would have nothing to worry about."
As he spoke, the Emperor pulled a plaque made of red jade from his robes.
I was genuinely shocked.
"Seeing your reaction, I suppose there's no need for an explanation. Take it."
The Emperor offered it, but I prostrated myself.
"Your Majesty, this is far too generous a gift for someone like me."
This plaque is given only to the Empire's most meritorious retainers and grants the owner three privileges.
First, the power of life and death over nobles; the owner of the Ruby Plaque may execute nobles on the Emperor's behalf.
While nobles of Count rank or higher require a proper trial, record, and report, those below Count can be executed without a trial, with the owner simply requesting a replacement lord.
Second, the ability to borrow any amount of money from the Beluga Central Bank for any duration.
This applies not only within the Empire's territory but anywhere a branch of the Central Bank exists.
Third, the power to grant up to three pardons for any crime except treason, for oneself or others.
It is so rare that even some Dukes have never received one; it seems the Emperor was more touched than I expected.
"Are you planning to defy my will again?"
"Your Majesty..."
"I trust you will not use it recklessly. Do not refuse."
I ended up accepting the Ruby Plaque, but frankly, I don't really need it.
I have plenty of money, no reason to deal with nobles, and I'm confident I won't get caught if I commit a crime.
I plan to head back once the students I'm teaching graduate, so I worry this might become an unnecessary shackle.
However, the atmosphere suggested that refusing again would be a mistake, so I bowed my head and accepted it with deep gratitude.
Only then did he look satisfied and dismiss us, so I left the Great Hall with the Duke.
"I didn't expect him to give you the Ruby Plaque. It seems His Majesty was bothered by the fact that you hadn't been properly compensated. Congratulations."
"It's all thanks to your kind words, Duke. Thank you."
As he continued to shower me with praise, I gave modest replies until we reached the entrance of the Imperial Palace.
I checked my pocket watch; it was slightly past midnight.
At this hour, Princess Helena's classes should be over. She might be at the Magic Tower... or perhaps waiting for me alone at the safehouse.
It would be troublesome if the Duke suggested going to the safehouse to talk...
"It's getting very late. You have classes tomorrow, so you should head home."
Fortunately, he didn't seem to have any intention of following me.
"Um, I still haven't heard the request you mentioned earlier..."
"Ah, right. It's nothing too difficult. We'll both be busy during the week, so are you free this weekend?"
The weekend?
"Yes, I am."
"Then let's have lunch this Saturday. We could have some tea afterward. How does that sound?"
Lunch and then tea?
This is completely...
"Baronet Bio?"
"Yes. That sounds fine."
That's exactly the kind of line someone uses when trying to seduce a woman...
'Bio, I thought it was just fan-like admiration at first, but this might be personal interest.'
'Stop talking nonsense.'
I tried to tell myself it couldn't be, but Duke Dylan looked so happy after my answer that I felt a bit uneasy.